THE THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT - LOVE
Sunday School was held for ALL students this week - Littles, Middles, and Youth Before going downstairs for Sunday School, our students presided at the readings, prayers and lighting of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd candles in the Advent Wreath. Theme for All Students - The 3rd Week in Advent - Love Littles - We read the story of the birth of Jesus and the angels appearing to the shepherds to tell of this miraculous birth from our Spark Story Bible (Luke 2:1-20). We talked about the love God had for his people, sending his son to live with us and teach us. We talked about other people who love us. Craft/Activity - Our Littles made a “stained glass” nativity ornament. Last week they brought home a little paper booklet with the story of Jesus’ birth. This week they are bringing home a booklet with the story of the angels and the shepherds in it. Middles and Youth - We worked on practicing their poems and song for the Christmas Eve service. Then we had a discussion saying, if you take out completely the idea of the giving and receiving of gifts, what are the most meaningful traditions, activities, actions of the Christmas season. How do you experience love at Christmas time in ways that don’t involve gifts? Upcoming Schedule
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THE SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT - FAITH and PEACE
Sunday School was held for LITTLES ONLY this week Before going downstairs for Sunday School, our students presided at the readings, prayers and lighting of the 1st and 2nd candle in the Advent Wreath. Theme - The Christmas Story, a story of faith and peace, for the 2nd week in Advent. Littles - We read the story of the birth of Jesus and talked about how we believe in this story, even though we didn’t see it with our own eyes. This is what having faith means, believing in what we can’t see. Having faith can also bring us peace. Craft/Activity - Our Littles made a nativity ornament. They also got a scratch-off Advent calendar and we got all of our scratch and reveal days caught up to today. They can continue updating this calendar at home throughout the rest of Advent. They are also bringing home a little booklet with the story of the Birth of Jesus in it. THE FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT - HOPE
Sunday School was held for ALL students this week - Littles, Middles, and Youth Before going downstairs for Sunday School, our students presided at the readings, prayers and lighting of the 1st candle in the Advent Wreath. Theme for All Students - The Meaning of Advent and the Advent Wreath Littles, Middles, and Youth - We talked about the meaning of Advent, a time of preparing for the birth of Jesus. And we talked about the Advent Wreath and its symbolism.
Middles and Youth - Also worked on practicing their poems and song for the Christmas Eve service. Sunday School this week was held for ALL students - Littles, Middles, and Youth
Littles Theme - Thank you God for everything! Littles - Since our "Littles" in attendance this week were not with us last week, we repeated last week's lesson on thankfulness. We watched a couple of short videos about giving God thanks for all that we have and also learned the popular childhood prayer of grace, “Thank You for the World so Sweet.” We talked about all of the things in our life and world that we are thankful for. Time permitting, we listened to some other Thanksgiving sing-a-long songs with actions. Craft/Activity - They made booklets of the prayer we learned and also made a cornucopia craft. Middles and Youth Theme - Because of all that God has done for us, we should respond with an attitude of gratitude. Middles and Youth - We began with a mobile phone “game” where the kids had to work in a group and text things they are grateful for. Then we read and discussed Luke 17:11-19. In this bible passage, Jesus was traveling on his way to Jerusalem when he came across a group of lepers. The lepers begged for mercy and Jesus told them to go and show themselves to the priests. They went and on their way, they were healed. But only 1 of them thought to go back to Jesus and thank him, shouting his gratitude and glorifying God. This is a great example of living with an “attitude of gratitude.” God has done much for us. He loves us, provides for us, protects us, and guides us. We should respond with an attitude of gratitude. This means that we need to live in a way that shows thankfulness to God. We discussed ways that we can do this. We also began planning for our presentation during the Christmas Eve service. Sunday School this week was held for our "Littles" group only.
Littles Theme - Thank you God for everything! Littles - We watched a couple of short videos about giving God thanks for all that we have and also learned the popular childhood prayer of grace, “Thank You for the World so Sweet.” We talked about all of the things in our life and world that we are thankful for. Time permitting, we listened to some other Thanksgiving sing-a-long songs with actions. Craft/Activity - They made booklets of the prayer we learned and also made a cornucopia craft. Sunday School was held this week for ALL of our students - "Littles," "Middles," and "Youth." Littles Theme - God loves us so much and also puts people in our world who love us! Littles - We read the book, “I Love You So . . .” by Marianne Richmond. We talked about people on earth who love us as much as the book describes, parents, grandparents, siblings, and also how much God loves us. Craft/Activity - They made God Loves Me fall ornaments. Middles and Youth Theme - Angels in our midst. Key concepts: *Hospitality *Angels in our midst *”Thin places” Middles and Youth - We read a version of the story of Abraham and Sarah and their visit by angels in their desert home (Genesis 18:1-16). Sitting at the entrance of his tent, Abraham looks up and unexpectedly sees three men standing there. Abraham offers hospitality, rest and food to the strangers. He begs to be allowed to serve them. After they eat, one of the men tells Abraham that his wife Sarah will have a son. Sarah, listening from the tent, laughs because she, in her very old age, is unable to bear children. The Lord hears Sarah laugh and says to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Is anything too hard for the Lord?” We discussed the concept of “thin places” as found in Celtic Christianity. A “thin place” exists where the border between earthly, human experience and God is barely there, very thin; it is a place, event or experience in which one feels God’s presence more deeply and more strongly. We also discussed what it means to be an angel. What are the qualities an angel possesses? What does an angel do that sets him/her apart from others? Are there people in their lives that they’d describe as “angels.” They may be family members, friends, people in their community, teachers or members of the congregation. Craft/Activity - They did a quick worksheet about angels in our midst as a follow-up to our discussion. They also made an angel to keep or to give away as a reminder to look for angels in our world. Sunday School this week was for "Littles" only.
Instead of having a regular Sunday School lesson this week, we just had a bit of Halloween fun! Our Littles (and a couple of our older kids as helpers) wore costumes, had treats, made masks, and played some Halloween themed games. We had a great time! **NOTE** Click on each thumbnail below to view the picture in the correct orientation. This week we held Sunday School for all of our students - "Littles," "Middles," and "Youth."
Littles Theme - “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 Littles - We sang several songs, “Jesus Loves Me,” “God Made Me,” and 2 songs about leaves changing. We talked about the season of Fall and what changes we can observe in the world around us. Then we talked about how Jesus/God never changes. He always loves us, cares for us, and watches over us. Sometimes changes are exciting and sometimes they’re scary, but children can be comforted in knowing that no matter what happens Jesus/God never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Craft/Activity - We made several fall crafts, fall leaves, pumpkins and necklaces. Middles and Youth Theme - Jacob and Esau Make Peace, Not War - Key Concepts *Facing one’s sins * Righting a Wrong *Renewing your relationship with God Middles and Youth - We reviewed what we remembered about the troubled story of Jacob and Esau from past lessons and then reread the chapters of Genesis telling of the reconciliation of the brothers. After Jacob stole Esau’s birthright and then, through deception, stole the blessing that their father Isaac meant for Esau, Jacob ran away to escape his brother’s murderous wrath. Now, many years later, Jacob returns home and knows that he must face Esau. The Bible says that “Jacob went on his way and the angels of God met him” (Genesis 32:1). Afraid that Esau will try to attack him and his family, Jacob divides his family strategically and then prepares to meet Esau. Assuming Esau’s wrath toward him, Jacob also sends his servants ahead with portions of his possessions to give to Esau in order to appease his brother and placate him. And he prays to God. The night before his encounter with Esau, Jacob wrestles with a mysterious man who, at daybreak, blesses Jacob and gives him a new name--Israel. But as Jacob approaches Esau, Esau runs up to Jacob and throws his arms around him and kisses him. Both cry. Esau had forgiven Jacob and the brothers reconcile. Activity - Jacob and Esau both made decisions, most of them difficult and life-changing. We are faced with decisions every day, some difficult and others quite simple. We discussed several decision-making scenarios and talked about what choices we might make in those situations and why. Here are a couple of pictures of the project our "Littles" did this week. Sunday School this week was held for our "Littles" only.
Theme - God Begins a New World with Noah (Genesis 6-9) Lesson - We sang, “God is so Good,” again this week. We also sang, “Who Built the Ark.” Then we read the story of Noah and the Ark (Genesis 6-9) from our Spark Story Bible. Seeing the evil that is rampant in the world, God decides to destroy the earth and to begin again. But God saves a remnant—Noah and his family—who are righteous before the Lord and who live in love of God. God commands Noah to build an ark and to place animals of every kind into the ark and then sends rain down upon the earth. When the floodwaters recede, Noah sends a dove to check for dry land. When the dove finally fails to return, Noah knows that it has found a landing place and the flood is over. When at last the ark lands upon a mountain and the inhabitants of the ark leave, Noah offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving to God. God then promises never again to destroy the earth, and sends a rainbow in the sky as reminder for us of God’s covenant that “the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.” We discussed ways we can care for each other and for the earth, as God intended us to do. Noah built an altar to thank God. We discussed what we are thankful for and how we can thank God. God gave us a rainbow to remind us of God and his promise to us. We talked about what else makes us think of God? Craft/Activity - We made a rainbow and ark picture to remind us that God keeps his promises. When they returned to their families during the worship service, they enjoyed sharing with the congregation about what they learned and what they made during Sunday School. And they also loved helping to make music during the recessional hymn at the end of the service. We had no "Littles" in attendance today. We held Sunday School for our "Middles" and "Youth." Middles & Youth Theme for Today - God Makes a New World with Noah Key Concepts - * Discerning God’s will * Caring for God’s creation * Getting a second chance Middles & Youth - We read the story of Noah from The Message Bible - Genesis 6-9 Seeing the evil that is rampant in the world, God decides to destroy the earth and to begin again. But God saves a remnant—Noah and his family—who are righteous before the Lord and who live in love of God. God commands Noah to build an ark and to place animals of every kind into the ark and then sends rain down upon the earth. When the floodwaters recede, Noah sends a dove to check for dry land. When the dove finally fails to return, Noah knows that it has found a landing place and the flood is over. When at last the ark lands upon a mountain and the inhabitants of the ark leave, Noah offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving to God. God then promises never again to destroy the earth, and sends a rainbow in the sky as reminder for us of God’s covenant that “the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.” We discussed what this story means to us, the lesson we think it is teaching us. We talked about how we try to discern God’s will and what we do to help care for God’s creation. We also talked about second chances - what they are, when might we feel we need them, when do we think others deserve them. The students completed a worksheet considering a variety of situations and whether or not we think the people involved should be given a second chance. |
OUR PROGRAMWe hold Sunday School every other Sunday, Sept. through May, during the 10:00 Worship Service. Our program includes students of all ages, from Preschool through Grade 6 Archives
November 2023
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