Easter: review

Today we read excerpts from the Holy Week account in Matthew. We also made "sweet reminders" as a gift for the congregation. Each little zippy bag had a note and five jelly beans-red, black, white, green and yellow- colors that can remind us of God's great love!

(We used small jewelry zippy bags and bulk tiny jelly beans. The note inside said:
Let this be a sweet reminder of God’s great love for you…
Jesus shed His precious blood (written in red)
to save us from sin and (written in black)
cleanse us whiter than snow!! (written in white)
Now we have new life in Him (written in green)
& an eternal home in Heaven! (written in yellow))

Easter: activity

Our activity today was baking "Empty Tomb" bisquits! Not only did we end up with a yummy treat but the steps involved reminded us that Jesus died and rose again!!

("Empty Tomb" bisquits:
flatten out a tube bisquit
dip a marshmallow in melted butter then cinnamon sugar and place it on the flatten bisquit
wrap the bisquit around the marshmallow pinching it firmly closed
brush the top with butter
sprinkle with cinnamon sugar
bake according to tube bisquit instructions
...the butter and cinnamon remind us of the oil and spices used in burial, the dough reminds us of the sealed tomb and the empty space after baking reminds us that Jesus is alive!!!)

Easter: game

Today we told the Easter story through an egg hunt! The kids searched for eggs that contained pictures and objects that led us through the story of Palm Sunday-Easter. As each egg was opened the kids shared what they knew and then we read the scripture pertaining to that part of the story. Everybody did a great job!

(We used "Resurrection Eggs". The kids were assigned certain colors to search for so that everyone had a chance. We then opened the eggs in story order. Be sure to use a different color egg for each image/item. Also, be sure the teacher knows in what order to open the eggs. For groups larger than 12 add more story details/eggs, have teams or use two sets.)

Easter: craft

Today the kids painted cross-shaped suncatchers. These will be dry and ready to take home next week. We read a rhyming version of the Easter story and discussed how Jesus took on our sins. I also shared how Jesus took the cross, an ugly, fearsome thing and made it beautiful. What once was a symbol of death and punishment is now a reminder of God's amazing grace!! As the kids see these crosses in their homes, my hope is that they will be reminded that Jesus' sacrifice was personal.

(We read out of the Rhyme Bible and painted suncatchers purchased at a craft store.)

Easter: story

Today we began our Easter unit by viewing a portion of The Miracle Maker. Our new memory verse is Matthew 28:6... He isn't here! He is risen from the dead, just as He said would happen.

(The Miracle Maker is a DVD about the ministry of Jesus. We viewed from the Last Supper on. This is a well done claymation that I've found appeals to older kids. As always, please preview for your own students.)

Mission:Possible: review

Besides reviewing the obedience of Joshua and Caleb, we played some games from past weeks!

Mission:Possible: activity

Today we discussed the plenty of the promised land...a land flowing with milk and honey! To help us remember this we made ice cream in a bag! There were many cold hands but most of the kids liked the finished ice cream.

(There are many ice cream in a bag recipes online. The basics: quart size zippy bag with ice cream mixture placed inside a gallon size zippy bag of salt and ice...shake until thick...eat! The mixture is 1/2 cup whole milk [or half and half or mix of the two], 1 T sugar and 1/2 tsp vanilla.)

Mission:Possible: games

Today we continued discussing Joshua and Caleb and their obedience. When they scouted out the promised land they saw the wonderful land that God was giving to them. The other scouts saw a land they couldn't conquer...forgetting God!

The games we played today required looking for things that were there and things that weren't there. This reminds us of how the scouts went to look at what the land had and didn't have.

(For the games I had trays full of miscellaneous objects. With the first tray, the kids had 1-3 minutes to look at what was on the tray. The tray was covered up and two teams took turns naming an item on the tray (without repeating). The team that wasn't stumped won the round. After the kids studied the next tray, they left the room while I removed 11 items. The teams then looked at the uncovered tray and took turns naming an item that was now missing from the tray. Again the team that wasn't stumped won the round.)

Mission:Possible: craft

We continue to learn about Joshua's and Caleb's obedience to God. Today we made paper mache grapes, great big giant grapes! (remembering one of the incredible things Joshua and Caleb saw when they explored the promised land)

(Each student made a paper mache grape out of a balloon. We used newsprint and flour paste for the first two layers. For the last layer we used torn, purple paper napkin (without paste). Any purple that is sticking up can be smoothed down with liquid starch. When dry, the individual grapes were wired into one big bunch. This can be messy...proceed with caution! )

Mission:Possible: story

Today we heard from C and J, super spies extraordinaire! They told us how Caleb and Joshua trusted God while they scouted the promised land! Next we read the account from the Old Testament book Numbers. We finished off the morning with a snack of grape juice, yogurt and honey. Our new memory verse is Numbers 14:9 Do not rebel against the LORD...the LORD is with us!

(Two adults told the story as Joshua and Caleb spying on the promised land. C and J "snuck" from bush to bush until they arrived at the bush in front of the class. While looking through binoculars C and J exclaimed over all they were seeing. The bushes were chairs covered with sheets and labeled "This is a bush" This set lent itself to humor...clumsily sneaking from bush to bush, asking repeatedly "Do you see anything yet?" etc. But in the end proclaiming the greatness of God who gave such an awesome land. )

LOST: review

This Sunday we reviewed the "lost" parables from Luke 15. We also played some games (see LOST: games).

(During review week I normally like to have the kids do something in church or for the congregation. It wasn't possible this week. What I would have done is have the kids lead the congregation in reciting our memory verse...Luke 15:10...There is joy in the presence of God's angels when even one sinner repents... complete with a rousing cheer of joy at the end!)

LOST: craft

Our craft today was a magic trick that we can use to share the Gospel! "I once was lost, but the blood of Jesus covered me and now I'm found!"

(The craft was a basic "magic wallet" trick. The outside of the wallet has Luke 15:10 written out. Inside is placed a "coin" that says "I once was lost". The wallet is closed and a red cloth place over it, "but the blood of Jesus covered me". When the wallet is opened it now has a "coin" that says "and now I'm found!" Full disclosure: This was a very involved project with a lot of prep work. My group was 9 kids, 3rd-9th grade. I knew ahead of time that they are good about following instructions.)

LOST: games

Today we reviewed the "lost" parables from Luke 15. We especially discussed the idea of lost and found. In these parables, Jesus shares a scene we can relate to...finding something that was lost. Today we played "finding" games to emphasize the idea of lost and found. As the kids played the games, they were excited to find what they were searching for. This is just a little taste of the joy of the shepherd, the woman and the father from Jesus' parables. Of course, these parables tell of a joy that is just a small taste of the joy in heaven when even one sinner repents! Today we also started a prayer request list for the kids to share their requests.

(We played three "finding" games. Our main game was a team matching/memory game. The kids split into two teams and took turns flipping over two cards in the hope of finding a match. If a team found a match they got another turn. I used clip art to make matched sets on 8.5 x 11 cardstock. These were spread out over a large area with room to walk in between cards. The large scale of the game let everyone see and made it more interesting as a team game. The next activity was individual hidden picture puzzles. As individual puzzles were finished, small groups worked together on "finding jars". A "finding jar" is a canning jar filled with birdseed and small items to find. The kids are provided a list of what to look for and find the items by shaking and rotating the jar. I used 20 items in a quart jar. Some items were: guitar pick, safety pin, rubber band, paper clip, penny, toothpick, pony bead, pom-pom, button, marble, nail etc. The most important rule for "finding jars"...DON'T OPEN THE JAR!)

LOST: activity

Today we continued looking at the "Lost" parables. We re-read Luke 15 and added the parable of the pharisee and the tax collector from Luke 18:10-14. We need to remember that not only does God love us, He loves others too! As humans, it's too easy to want to justify our thoughts or actions by looking at others and thinking, "at least I'm better than they are!" (thinking like the pharisee) Or look at others and assume their difficult situation is because they're not "good" enough or they don't "deserve" to be treated well. (thinking like the older brother) Jesus' parables speak to people of all times and places!

Our activity today was to serve others. Unfortunately, homeless men and women can sometimes be looked upon as somehow "deserving" their difficult situation. Remembering that the father held a feast in honor of his son's return, we made fun place settings and lunches for a local homeless shelter.

(We decorated plain red placemats [from restaurant supply] with jokes, riddles and stickers. Each placemat included a "God loves you!" sticker. The kids also rolled up a spoon, fork and knife with a red napkin and tied it with yarn. These will be used for dinner at the shelter. We also made sack lunches that will be handed out as guests leave the shelter in the morning. If you decide to do something similar, be sure to check with your local shelter for guidelines and how many guests to prepare for. Another place that might accept placemats is a nursing home. You might also be able to make little gift bags with lotion, lip balm etc. Again, ask first and be sure to make enough placemats/gifts so no one is left out.)