March 2nd, 2014 Preparing for Lent

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

4-4:45 Prep

4:45 Meet & Greet/Centers

5:05 Sing a song to gather for worship

5:07 Worship with Song & Dance

5:20 Pass the Peace and Go around

5:25 Solidarity Prayer

5:30 Ages 3-5 go to Snack & and then outside

for Art Making & Game Centers.

Ages 6-10 sit for Snack/Readings & Dialogue

5:50  Ages 6-10 join Art Making & Game Centers.

Center Time (Games, Building, Books, Art Center):

These do not necessarily need to be connected to the theme of the evening. Rather than have each center totally wide open, select a few things you would like the kids to play with. If they want to swap out for a new activity, they must first clean up the old one. Give kids a heads up to let them know what time they will be called to gather for worship.

If you want, check out some of our links for coloring pages and word games and print them out for your 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: The music leaders have been really great about including us in their weekly emails regarding their song list. See if you can pull one or two from there. If you don't recognize the songs, reach out and contact the music leader to learn one. 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: Lets pray for a friend who needs something. It could be as big as a place to live, or simply a little more fun in their lives. 

I have found it best to quickly go around and have the conversation, then start the prayer and ask the kids to call out one or a few words that describes their request/blessing. Then we all close with Amen. You may have other creative ways to do this as well. 

Reading & Dialogue Suggestions: I want us to pause for a minute this week and prep the kids for Lent. This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday and some of the kids are going to see their parents come home with ash on their foreheads. 

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 
• This 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. 
• Today we are going to draw with charcoals, which are made out of compressed ash. 

Art Making/Process Suggestions: Today we are simply going to draw with charcoal pencils. These are made out of pressed ash and remind us that Ash Wednesday is coming up this week. Lay out a large piece of paper on the floor, or tape it up on the wall, then encourage kids to make shapes, lines, drawings, whatever they want. I'm hoping using a new medium will make things fun. Some kids may need boundaries, you can do this by taping off sections on the floor where they sit or sand. Make sure you use smocks! and maybe have a bucket of water with paper towels near by. Lauren will provide the materials. 

• Have a finished sample ready so that you know the project works. Have it out on display on a table with the materials set up under a cloth or blanket, to get kids excited about what is to come.) 
• If you want, check out some of our links in our side bar, and search for more coloring pages and word games and print them out for your centers.