Children's Ministry: Family Devo Guide

For anyone who works in Children's Ministry....

Need a take-home tool to bridge the gap between church and home?  Need a way to communicate with parents about Sunday lessons?  Need a resource to encourage at-home discussion & family devotion time?

I wish I could say I came up with this, but I was given this idea by another ministry worker at the Children's Pastor's Conference this past January.....I simply put my own spin on it!

What we have here is a Placemat Family Guide!   What better time to prompt discussion than during a family meal, so the placemat is perfect!

Special Features:

• A follow-up family guide for each Sunday's lesson within a given unit!

• Scripture for families to look up together!

• Discussion points and questions!

• Follow-up family activities/object lessons!

• Family prayer prompts!

• Kid-friendly activities/puzzles for extra fun!

Yes, this required a bit of preparation, plus I laminate mine for easy food clean-up (and it makes the puzzles reusable with write-on/wipe-off markers), but I have received nothing but positive feedback from parents who have put them to good use!  

Just wanted to pass the idea along for anyone in need of something like this!  Enjoy! 

New Blog...New Adventures!

A new layout! Charming, eh?

I'm trying to get myself re-excited about blogging, but not for the sake of having an audience.  For some reason, the idea of capturing my thoughts...my heart...the things that make me smile...its self-reflective nature seems to get me thinking in ways that I typically brush off as "too much."

So, I'm once again wrapping my mind around this idea of perusing my heart and hoping for a chance to see more and learn more about myself.  What comes to mind first?  I'm a perfectionist....perhaps more so than I should be.  And, by default it seems, this means I'm also much too hard on myself.

So I'm trying some new things, all with the intent of not seeking perfection!

1.  I ordered an Erin Condren Life Planner!  If you know me at all, you know that I live for organization!  The particular layout of this planner, as well as the endless possibilities I've already found on Pinterest to personalize it, are so me!  Although organization is not something new for me, the planner will be.....and it's pretty safe to safe that the anticipation that's building up as I await its arrival is occupying at least 40% of every day!

2.  I opened a Teachers Pay Teachers account:  The Bits in Between.  I've already created a couple documents, and I'm excited to get more ideas out on "paper."  I even learned the basics of my boyfriend's drawing software so I can create templates, graphics, and designs on my own!  Next step...open an Etsy account!

3.  So my boyfriend has a thing for video games, and I have a thing for spending time with him, so I got my own Steam account and have started trying my hand at the art of gaming!  :)  Ok, I definietly can't be a perfectionist on this one!!  And I'm really learning how to go easy on myself, because this does not come naturally to me.  But like I said....it's a fun way to spend time with him.

4.  I've always wanted to draw & paint, but naturally, I'm my worst critic.  So, I was given some art book recommendations that provide strategies and excercises that amount to small steps....which is what I need!  They also have entire sections in the book about giving yourself a break and not being so hard on yourself!!  Right up my alley! :)

So that's what's been on my mind lately.

I'll let you know how my new adventures go!

A Year in Review

Well then...it seems that life got ahold of me and took me on a year-long hiatus!

And what a year it was...

...lovely trips to the beach...learning to quilt...church renovation plans...baseball games...Tough Mudder (twice!)...meeting/holding my nephew for the first time...lots of "I love you"s...one of the best renaissance festivals I can remember...the beauty of Canaan Valley...an interesting interpretation of Hamlet...a renewed love of bike-rides...the most magical Christmas store ever!...North Carolina BBQ...new family traditions...craft festivals...Quiet Night dinners...a whimsical Christmas tree farm...spiders in the Christmas tree!!...Beatles Rock Band...the best Valentine a girl could ask for...The Quest of Palindra...a new love for sushi...24 hour prayer/Bible reading...a hysterical mystery dinner night...snow...Snow...and SNOW...an unfortunate case of Mono...DC cooking class...beautifully relaxing visits to North Carolina...the best words I've ever had said to me...and SO MUCH MORE!

And now??  We'll see.  ;)

48 Hours...

It's amazing what can be accomplished in 48 hours.

Ok, I've never actually stopped everything and only done one thing for 48 hours straight, but based on what I can do in 4 or 5 hours, I can imagine (and use some math) to come to the realization that if 48 hours were set aside to accomplish something, amazing things could be done!  Assuming, of course, that this power were used for good and not evil.

A couple weekends ago, I had the honored privilege of working with Star Wipe Films on their 11th (I think) 48 Hour film project.  Out of these 48 hours came an amazing short film, Distilled.  I recommend watching it............like, now.

http://starwipefilms.com/films/

Now, with my props & costumes responsibilities, I wasn't actually involved from start to finish for the full 48 hours, but I witnessed a lot of what was happening during that timeframe.  48 hours of quick-thinking...48 hours of creativity...48 hours of diligence...48 hours of being on your feet...48 hours of crunch-time...48 hours of improvising as necessary...48 hours of possibly learning how to do something as quickly as you can...48 hours of not sitting around.

As the time ticked on, I have to admit, I began to wonder if certain goals would be achieved, or if certain parts of the movie would have to be changed because the plan wasn't unfolding the way they had anticipated.  But still, they moved forward.  With every hour that passed, they kept working towards their goal.

In reflection, I can't help but think about Paul:  Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.  But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:12-14).

It's amazing what can be accomplished in 48 hours.  It's even more amazing what can be accomplished in our lifetime.....especially if we keep pressing on toward the goal, forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.

**As a side note: I was not skeptical that their film would be awesome.  Star Wipe Films always impress!  But I was skeptical that certain things throughout the process would take place according to plan. :)

A Heart of Prayer

I realized a few years ago that as a teacher, I will forever be a student.  And not just in the form of classes, conferences, and workshops.  As a teacher, learning opportunities sneak up on you as you're preparing your lessons, as you're teaching the kids, or shortly there after as you look back on a unit in review.  As a leader and teacher in Children's Ministry, I look forward to these moments when God speaks Truth to me--whether it's meant to form me into a better teacher, or whether it's meant to form me into a better follower of my Lord.

For all you teachers or leaders in Children's Ministry who are reading along, this brief curriculum review is for you (all, however, are welcome to read along).  For the past few weeks, our Jr. Worship Service (1st-5th grade) has been learning about Prayer using Discipleship Junction: Talking with God.  I rearranged the lesson order a bit and came up with my own Prayer Center activities, but overall, it was a great resource to instruct our students on Prayer.  I highly recommend it.  We even had a Prayer Wall up throughout the course of the unit for the students to add their prayer requests and prayer praises.  It was the perfect way for the kids to share with God all that was on their hearts, while putting into practice all that they were learning about their conversations with God.

So, what did I learn from all this?  Other than the obvious reminder that my prayer life needs more attention that I've been giving it?  

In the middle of one of the lessons, as I spoke to the students about Joshua praying to God with great faith, I realized something.  For some of us, prayer is an obvious response to life.  We confidently turn to God, knowing that not only will He respond, but He will respond in the very best way.  

But what if you lack that faith?  Even if just for the moment?  Is your prayer suddenly meaningless?

It was in this moment of teaching that I was reminded that not only can we pray to God with great faith, but we can pray to God to gain great faith.  There is power in prayer that can change the heart and mind of the weak, the lost, the skeptical, and the unsure.  

Maybe this nugget of Truth is obvious to most.  Maybe most of the time, it's obvious to me too.  But on that day in Jr. Worship, I was reminded what it means to 'pray continually' (1 Thessalonians 5:17).  When I'm strong or when I'm weak.  When I'm nervous or when I'm confident.  When I'm prepared to listen or when I'm not prepared to listen.  When I understand or when I'm confused.  When I'm broken or when I'm whole.  

Pray continually.  When I have great faith or when I need great faith.  Pray continually.

Blue Like Jazz

Blue Like Jazz.  This movie has been on my mind since I watched it last week.  Maybe it's not the film you recommend to friends as a way to share the Gospel, but there is just something about it...something that makes you think--makes you think beyond yourself--or deep within yourself.

Now, movie reviews are not my strong point, so I won't even begin to pick Blue Like Jazz apart in order to list its strengths and weaknesses.  However, I will highlight something that has been pulling at me since the movie closed and the credits began to roll.

Spoiler--Beware.

At the end of the film, Donald Miller asks his unbelieving friend, 'Do you forgive me for misrepresenting God?'  

Hmmmm......

Now at this point, some viewers may quickly begin thinking back to all that Miller had said, done, and thought throughout the movie that got him to the point of realizing that he had, in fact, done a poor job of representing God.   But all I could think was 'How often do I misrepresent God?'  Quite honestly, that's what I keep coming back to, several days after watching it.  As someone who claims to follow God and His Word, and live a life for Him, how often do I misrepresent the very God I love, serve, and call Father, Savior, and King?

Miller continues after asking his question with a simple, 'He's not like me.'  

I agree.  He's not like me either.

God doesn't love the way I love.  His love is deeper and richer than my love, and certainly more so unconditional.  God doesn't forgive the way I forgive.  Sometimes I wait for a reason, and even then, it takes a long time for me to let go of things.  God doesn't make sacrifices the way I make sacrifices, because even my greatest sacrifices are laced with selfish gains.  God doesn't care for people the way I care for people.  I'm a compulsive planner and sometimes find myself tied to my To-Do list, unwilling to make adjustments or allow for unexpected opportunities to serve.

So.  Do you forgive me for misrepresenting God?  He's not like me.

A Farewell to Winter

In honor of this year's sad non-winter, and even sadder attempt at the end-of-season snow storm, which was perfectly sandwiched between two beautiful, practically spring-time weather days, I give you my farewell to winter with, in my opinion, the...

Top Magically Beautiful Snow Scenes that Stick It to Maryland's Eye Roll of a Winter! 

Farewell winter...don't come back until you get your act together!

Communicating with Families

This past January, I went to Orlando for the annual Children's Pastor's Conference created and organized by the International Network of Children's Ministry (INCM).  In one particular workshop, Communicate with Families, I was comforted by the words of Jonathan Cliff when he said, "Stop getting your feelings hurt!"  Weird, right? To find comfort in these words?  He went on to explain himself.

The efforts you put towards communication as a teacher, or in children's ministry, or even youth ministry, to keep families informed or provide them with helpful at-home resources, aren't for the uninterested, they're for the interested.  Yes, we invest a lot of time in communicating with families:  creating newsletters, piecing together informative publicity pieces, researching useful articles, coming up with creative ways to get the word out on whatever happens to be going on, and yes, it is frustrating when there still seems to be a disconnect between us and the families of the kids that we teach.  But we keep doing what we're doing, maybe coming up with a few new ideas every now and then, for those who are interested and motivated enough to utilize what we're offering.  

So, here's my new idea for communication.  

This bulletin board is in the hallway that leads down to our Children's Ministry department.  It displays the mission of our ministry, the birthdays of our kids, a calendar of upcoming events, plus folders on either side containing ministry details, invite tools for upcoming events, parent resources, volunteer resources, activities for kids, and tools to work on spiritual growth at home with the whole family.

Yes, I hope this will be a helpful tool for parents and volunteers to be informed of ministry details, and I hope they find useful tools for at-home spiritual growth opportunities.  However, no, I will not get my feelings hurt if I find that not every parent and volunteer is utilizing it.  I'll just keep up with my brainstorming and hope to find that with every effort, I'm able to reach more people.   :)

To Blog or Not to Blog

Clearly, blogging is not my thing.  It's been several months since my one and only post.

However, I'd like to try again, because I've heard that blogging can be a helpful way to sort through the crazy amount of ideas that race through my mind on a daily basis.  So........

Top 10 Reasons I Want to Blog
~Not in any specific order~

10.  I can't help but love making my blog look pretty.  :)  I may develop OCD as a result of it.

9.  I have so many ideas floating around in my mind, and it seems a waste not to get them out on "paper."

8.  I've been told people might be interested in my ideas.  We shall see.

7.  It's easier sometimes to share my ideas with possibly no one than to share them with people I know and risk negative feedback.

6.  I hear people like reading blogs.  I also hear people like to read blogs instead of doing what they're supposed to be doing.  I'm cool with procrastination, so I willingly offer my blog as a your procrastination outlet.

5.  I don't want to share my ideas on Facebook.  I'm not the status-updating type.  So instead, I'll share what's on my mind with the world through this venue, and those who care to read and come check it out when they're ready.

4.  Sometimes I feel like I'm in a category of my own.  But if there are people out there that can relate to me, and benefit from my kind of creativity, then why not share with them?

3.  I want a reason to try out some of the ideas I see on Pinterest!  How many of you have Pinterest boards, pinned with awesome ideas that you never get the chance to try out?  ME TOO!  I want to try them out, and I want to see if they're as awesome as they look, and I want to pass them onto others if they are in fact, as awesome as they look!

2.   I want to extend beyond the edges of my "world."  I suppose this could mean a lot of different things, but only time will tell what actually comes of it.

1.  Being a teacher, I know that the greatest ideas come from other teachers.  And I also know that teachers can't always afford to pay for great ideas.  Since teaching (mainly ministry-related teaching) is a HUGE part of my life, it's inevitable that I'll be sharing many ideas from my teaching experiences.  If it's at all helpful to other teachers, then I consider this blog a success!

Now....

Top 10 Reasons I May Have a Hard Time Keeping Up With My Blogging
~Not in any specific order~

10. Procrastination
9.  My so-far-unsuccessful plan to read 52 books in 52 weeks this year (I think I've read 2)
8.  I don't want this to become my life
7.  A cozy fireplace inside
6.  Beautiful weather outside
5.  Too many ideas to know where to start
4.  Not enough ideas to do anything with
3.  Naps.....enough said....
2.  My roomies and I watch a lot of movies
1.  Just Dance 3 & 4 :)


I guess we'll see what happens!

We journey from one big thing to the next all too quickly in life.  My new plan is to identify the moments that carry us along.  So this is me and all that I do...especially the bits in between.