June 5th - August 9th The 10 Commandments

4:30 Prep

4:45 Meet & Greet kids and check in with Parent/Guardians.

5:15 Gather for Circle Time

5:20 Music & Dance

5:30 Pass the Peace & Go Around

5:35 Solidarity Prayer

5:40 Snack, Reading & Dialogue

5:50 Outside or Craft, Game & Building Centers

Gathering Time suggestions: Think of a fun way to round up the kids (sing a song, clap your hands in a call and response, flash the lights). Show and tell kids how and where to gather.

Music Suggestions:  Check in with the music leader for this week to see if you can grab a few ideas from their PM plan. You can also find links to our COH albums and COH music log in the right column of this blog.

Pass the Peace & Go around suggestions: Take a moment to have kids pass the peace to each other. Maybe think of a fun way for kids to do that (high five, elbow bumps, etc.). Ask a simple, fun question to help them settle in.

Solidarity Prayer: This season lets find regions to pray for on the MCC website. Click HERE to find a topic. 

Readings:

The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:2-17). Below is Lauren's rewording of the 10 Commandments. You can choose to either use this format or to reword things the way that you feel most comfortable discussing it with our kids.
June 7th	1.) Keep God first in your life.
June 14th	2.) There is only one God.
June 21st	3.)  Do not take God for granted. Show gratitude for what God offers us each day.
June 28th	4.) Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.
July 5th	5.) Respect your family members.
July 12th	6.) Respect all Life
July 19th	7.) Love the way that God loves.
July 26th	8.) Take only what you need and make sure everyone has enough.
August 2nd	9.) Do not lie.
August 9th	10.) Do not be jealous. Be satisfied with what you have and share with those around you.

Dialogue Suggestions: Remember that our job is simply to create a safe space for dialogue. Some fun ways to do this are by:

• having them take turns drawing parts of the story as you read the sections to them.
• having them act out the story, or creating a song about the story. 
• having or creating props or visual aides. 
• asking them what they think the characters were feeling in the story.
• asking them what they think happened before the story, or what may happen next.

Suggested dialogue questions: Can you think of a time when you ________? What are some ways we can remember to ________ this week?

Outside or Craft, Game & Building Centers:

You can find links to craft ideas on our sidebar under "Favorite Art Making Links", or you can pull up blog posts from past seasons for ideas.

May 2015 Jonah and the Whale

4:30 Prep

4:45 Meet & Greet kids and check in with Parent/Guardians.

5:15 Gather for Circle Time

5:20 Music & Dance

5:30 Pass the Peace & Go Around

5:35 Solidarity Prayer

5:40 Snack, Reading & Dialogue

5:50 Craft, Game & Building Centers

Gathering Time suggestions: Think of a fun way to round up the kids (sing a song, clap your hands in a call and response, flash the lights). Show and tell kids how and where to gather.

Music Suggestions:  Consider adding a Christmas Carol each week. Check in with the music leader for this week to see if you can grab a few ideas from the. You can also find links to our new COH albums and COH music log to the right on this blog.

Pass the Peace & Go around suggestions: Take a moment to have kids pass the peace to each other. Maybe think of a fun way for kids to do that (high five, elbow bumps, etc.). Ask a simple, fun question to help them settle in.

Solidarity Prayer: This season lets find regions to pray for on the MCC website. Click HERE to find a topic. 

Reading & Dialogue Suggestions: 
April 28th Jonah 1
May 3rd Jonah 2
May 10th Jonah 3
May 17th Jonah 4

Remember that our job is simply to create a safe space for dialogue. Some fun ways to do this are by:

• having them take turns drawing parts of the story as you read the sections to them.
• having them act out the story, or creating a song about the story. 
• having or creating props or visual aides. 
• asking them what they think the characters were feeling in the story.
• asking them what they think happened before the story, or what may happen next.

Suggested dialogue questions: Can you think of a time when you ________? What are some ways we can remember to ________ this week?

Craft, Game & Building Centers:

You can find links to craft ideas on our sidebar under "Favorite Art Making Links", or you can pull up blog posts from past seasons for ideas.

Lent 2015 Carving out space for the spirit to resound.

4:30 Prep

4:45 Meet & Greet kids and check in with Parent/Guardians.

5:15 Gather for Circle Time

5:20 Music & Dance

5:30 Pass the Peace & Go Around

5:35 Solidarity Prayer

5:40 Snack, Reading & Dialogue

5:50 Craft, Game & Building Centers

Gathering Time suggestions: Think of a fun way to round up the kids (sing a song, clap your hands in a call and response, flash the lights). Show and tell kids how and where to gather.

Music Suggestions:  Consider adding a Christmas Carol each week. Check in with the music leader for this week to see if you can grab a few ideas from the. You can also find links to our new COH albums and COH music log to the right on this blog.

Pass the Peace & Go around suggestions: Take a moment to have kids pass the peace to each other. Maybe think of a fun way for kids to do that (high five, elbow bumps, etc.). Ask a simple, fun question to help them settle in.

Solidarity Prayer: This season lets find regions to pray for on the MCC website. Click HERE to find a topic. 

Reading & Dialogue Suggestions: Here is a reminder of what the season of Lent is.

1. Ask the kids if they have heard of Lent before. 
2. Ask them to tell you what they know.
3. Fill things in with this short kid friendly explanation:

• Lent follows Jesus from his adult ministry, through his journey to the cross during Holy Week, to his crucifixion and death on Good Friday, and then resurrection on Easter Sunday. 
• There are 40 days from this coming Wednesday (Ash Wednesday) until Easter Sunday. The Sundays in between are not included, since Sundays are always the weekly anniversary of the Resurrection and exempt from fasting.
• Lent is about making life simpler so that we may be more focused on Jesus and his journey. Often fasting a meal or specific food, or giving up something that we would consider a luxury is a way to simplify thing and help us focus. Other consider adding things, like more prayer time or volunteer work to serve others.
• Ask kids what they think about this, and if they would consider giving something up. We of course do not require that they give something up, but I think the conversation is worth having. www.sundayschoollessons.com 
• For Ash Wednesday many of the adults will be coming to Circle for a special gathering time called Ash Wednesday. We put ashes on our heads to remind us that we came from the ground and will go back to the ground. Our ashes are the burned palms from last year, as is tradition. 

Feb. 22nd -Introduction to Lent (use information posted above)
March 1st - Luke 4
March 8th - Luke 5:1-11
March 15th - Luke 5:12-39
March 22nd - Luke 6:24-42
March 29th - John 12 You can probably find a shorter version of this story. 
April 5th - Mark 15 & 16 You can probably find a shorter version of this story.

Remember that our job is simply to create a safe space for dialogue. Some fun ways to do this are by:

• having them take turns drawing parts of the story as you read the sections to them.
• having them act out the story, or creating a song about the story. 
• having or creating props or visual aides. 
• asking them what they think the characters were feeling in the story.
• asking them what they think happened before the story, or what may happen next.

Suggested dialogue questions: Can you think of a time when you ________? What are some ways we can remember to ________ this week?

Craft, Game & Building Centers:

You can find links to craft ideas on our sidebar under "Favorite Art Making Links", or you can pull up blog posts from past seasons for ideas.

January 4th - February 15th "Thats the way love grows".

4:30 Prep

4:45 Meet & Greet kids and check in with Parent/Guardians.

5:15 Gather for Circle Time

5:20 Music & Dance

5:30 Pass the Peace & Go Around

5:35 Solidarity Prayer

5:40 Snack, Reading & Dialogue

5:50 Craft, Game & Building Centers

Gathering Time suggestions: Think of a fun way to round up the kids (sing a song, clap your hands in a call and response, flash the lights). Show and tell kids how and where to gather.

Music Suggestions:  Consider adding a Christmas Carol each week. Check in with the music leader for this week to see if you can grab a few ideas from the. You can also find links to our new COH albums and COH music log to the right on this blog.

Pass the Peace & Go around suggestions: Take a moment to have kids pass the peace to each other. Maybe think of a fun way for kids to do that (high five, elbow bumps, etc.). Ask a simple, fun question to help them settle in.

Solidarity Prayer: This season lets find regions to pray for on the MCC website. Click HERE to find a topic. 

Reading & Dialogue Suggestions: This season we will continue the story of Jesus as he grows up, leading us towards lent and easter.

Jan. 4th John the Baptist prepares the way.
Jan. 11th Jesus tested in the wilderness.
Jan. 18th Jesus rejected in Nazareth.
Jan. 25th Jesus drives out an impure spirit.
Feb. 1st Jesus heals many.
Feb. 8th Jesus calls his first disciples.
Feb. 15th Jesus heals a man with leprosy. 

Remember that our job is simply to create a safe space for dialogue. Some fun ways to do this are by:

• having them take turns drawing parts of the story as you read the sections to them.
• having them act out the story, or creating a song about the story. 
• having or creating props or visual aides. 
• asking them what they think the characters were feeling in the story.
• asking them what they think happened before the story, or what may happen next.

Suggested dialogue questions: Can you think of a time when you ________? What are some ways we can remember to ________ this week?

Craft, Game & Building Centers:

You can find links to craft ideas on our sidebar under "Favorite Art Making Links".

November 30th-December 21st, 2014 Advent

4:30 Prep

4:45 Meet & Greet kids and check in with Parent/Guardians.

5:15 Gather for Circle Time

5:20 Music & Dance

5:30 Pass the Peace & Go Around

5:35 Solidarity Prayer

5:40 Snack, Reading & Dialogue

5:50 Craft, Game & Building Centers

Gathering Time suggestions: Think of a fun way to round up the kids (sing a song, clap your hands in a call and response, flash the lights). Show and tell kids how and where to gather.

Music Suggestions:  Consider adding a Christmas Carol each week. Check in with the music leader for this week to see if you can grab a few ideas from the. You can also find links to our new COH albums and COH music log to the right on this blog.

Pass the Peace & Go around suggestions: Take a moment to have kids pass the peace to each other. Maybe think of a fun way for kids to do that (high five, elbow bumps, etc.). Ask a simple, fun question to help them settle in.

Solidarity Prayer: This season lets find regions to pray for on the MCC website. Click HERE to find a topic. 

Reading & Dialogue Suggestions: We are in the season of Advent. Below are the links to each part of the story. We are following the same sequence as the adults are learning about downstairs. 

Nov. 30th The Prophets
Dec. 7th John the Baptist
Dec. 14th Mary & Joseph
Dec. 21st Shepherds & Magi

Remember that our job is simply to create a safe space for dialogue. Some fun ways to do this are by:

• having them take turns drawing parts of the story as you read the sections to them.
• having them act out the story, or creating a song about the story. 
• having or creating props or visual aides. 
• asking them what they think the characters were feeling in the story.
• asking them what they think happened before the story, or what may happen next.

Suggested dialogue questions: Can you think of a time when you ________? What are some ways we can remember to ________ this week?

Craft, Game & Building Centers:

Click HERE to see some images for Advent crafts from around the world. 

Nov. 9th-Nov. 23rd The Story of David

4:30 Prep

4:45 Meet & Greet kids and check in with Parent/Guardians.

5:15 Gather for Circle Time

5:20 Music & Dance

5:30 Pass the Peace & Go Around

5:35 Solidarity Prayer

5:40 Snack, Reading & Dialogue

5:50 Craft, Game & Building Centers

Gathering Time suggestions: Think of a fun way to round up the kids (sing a song, clap your hands in a call and response, flash the lights). Show and tell kids how and where to gather.

Music Suggestions:  Check in with the music leader for this week to see if you can grab a few ideas from the. You can also find links to our new COH albums and COH music log to the right on this blog.

Pass the Peace & Go around suggestions: Take a moment to have kids pass the peace to each other. Maybe think of a fun way for kids to do that (high five, elbow bumps, etc.). Ask a simple, fun question to help them settle in.

Solidarity Prayer: This season lets find regions to pray for on the MCC website. Click HERE to find a topic. 

Reading & Dialogue Suggestions: This season we are learning about David. Below are suggested videos. Make sure you view the video before you watch them with the kids. Feel free to use another resource for your story if you want to. 

• Nov. 9th David & Goliath
• Nov. 16th David & Saul
• Nov. 23rd David & Bathsheba 

Remember that our job is simply to create a safe space for dialogue. 

Some fun ways to do this are by:

• having them take turns drawing parts of the story as you read the sections to them.
• having them act out the story, or creating a song about the story. 
• having or creating props or visual aides. 
• asking them what they think the characters were feeling in the story.
• asking them what they think happened before the story, or what may happen next.

Suggested dialogue questions: Can you think of a time when you ________? What are some ways we can remember to ________ this week?

Oct. 19th, 2014 The Fruits of the Spirit (Faithfulness)

Kids PM Time Schedule (4pm-6:30pm)

4-4:45 Prep

4:45 Meet & Greet kids and check in with Parent/Guardians.

5:05 Gather for Circle Time
5:10 Music & Dance
5:25 Pass the Peace & Go Around

5:30 Solidarity Prayer

5:35 Snack

5:45 Children ages 3-5 go outside to play games.

Children ages 6-10 stay for Reading & Dialogue

Gathering Time suggestions: Think of a fun way to round up the kids (sing a song, clap your hands in a call and response, flash the lights). Show and tell kids how and where to gather.

Music Suggestions:  Check in with the music leader for this week to see if you can grab a few ideas from the. You can also find links to our new COH albums and COH music log to the right on this blog.

Pass the Peace & Go around suggestions: Take a moment to have kids pass the peace to each other. Maybe think of a fun way for kids to do that (high five, elbow bumps, etc.). Ask a simple, fun question to help them settle in.

Solidarity Prayer: This season lets find regions to pray for on the MCC website. Click HERE to find a topic. 

Reading & Dialogue Suggestions: This season we are learning about the Fruits of the Spirit. We'll be dissecting each one over the next few weeks, using the checklist that is posted in our room. Read Galatians 5:22-23 and ask the kids how they think God shows this weeks fruit of the spirit, how we show this weeks fruit of the spirit, and where we've seen this weeks fruit of the spirit in those around us. 

Remember that our job is simply to create a safe space for dialogue. Some fun ways to do this are by:

• having them take turns drawing parts of the story as you read the sections to them.
• having them act out the story, or creating a song about the story. 
• having or creating props or visual aides. 
• asking them what they think the characters were feeling in the story.
• asking them what they think happened before the story, or what may happen next.

Suggested dialogue questions: Can you think of a time when you ________? What are some ways we can remember to ________ this week?

Playground Time: Todays game is Freeze Tag.

• Give parents a heads up if you decide to go to Shisler playground. (Click HERE for walking directions.)
• Make sure kids have gone to the bathroom.
• Ask someone to be the line leader. 
• Assign adults to specific kids.
• Leave a sign on the door saying where you are, what time you will be back, and a contact number for someone who is with the kids.