April 27th, 2014 "Given to the Rising"

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 Mark off days on our Lent Calendar
5:10 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:  You can 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: Today we are praying for those in the Sudan. HERE is a link from MCC.org with a recent article. Read over and consider ways to engage our children in praying for those in the Sudan. 

Reading & Dialogue Suggestions: As Jesus was given to rise, we are propelled from death into new life because of Christ. We are exploring the gospel narratives of Jesus post-resurrection as a way to more fully arise and walk ourselves.

Click HERE for a link to a short video on Jesus's resurrection (the characters are felted!). 

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. 

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

Outside Arts & Games Now that the weather is warmer we've decided that each week we'll bring out a few simple art materials for kids to create with as well as lead a few group games to help engage some of the neighborhood children who've started to join us.

This weeks game is Red Rover, Red Rover.