"For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." -- Jesus
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SSTN # 54 - July 18, 2006
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IN THIS ISSUE OF THE SSTN e-NEWSLETTER:
1) VBS on the Street 2) What happened to SSTN? 3) Christians Unite During Ramadan
Teach The Children Well
4) Labor Day Lesson? 5) Day of the Open Door 6) After VBS
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1) VBS on the Street
Michael,
My husband and others we know have done VBS on the streets of Philadelphia. They often set up in a park or even in a parking lot. A couple of times they have done just a one day lesson on a play street. They didn't need permission to use the parks, but in smaller cities or towns you may. They couldn't do some of the same things as in a church (with scenery, etc.) but they have set up different "stations" so the kids could go to one area and play a game, another for a small craft, another for the Bible lesson, etc. They also do Bible clubs once a week on the streets. It's a great way to get kids to know about Christ.
Wendy
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2) What happened to SSTN?
Hey, what happened to SSTN last week?
--from SSTN: one of two things has happened, the server didn't pick up new postings and they weren't received or no one posted to SSTN. If you did post a response or question, and you don't see it in today's SSTN or the previous one from July 7th, then please resend it.
Remember, everyone's participation makes SSTN possible. ;o) If subscribers don't post their questions and their ideas, then SSTN doesn't go out.
On the 24th of September 2006, many Muslims around you will begin to prepare themselves to fast. In fact, about 1.3 billion people across the Islamic world will all fast - men and women and even children from about seven years old.
This time of fasting happens during the month called "Ramadan", from sunrise to sunset. Since the Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle, a year is 11 days shorter than ours (354 days). Thus, Ramadan moves slowly backwards each year - in 2005 it was in October. In many Muslim countries this year people will be fasting during long, hot days with approximately 16 to 18 hours of sunlight.
The fasting month of Ramadan belongs to the earliest obligations of faith in Islam; Muhammad mentioned this around the year 610 A.D. in partial support to Jewish fasting. Later it became one of the "5 Pillars" of the Islamic Faith.
In Islamic understanding, the patience and obedience of the believer is put to the test during this fasting month. People remember through fasting the qualities of Allah and his care for the poor. Because of the spiritual dimension to fasting, many Muslims study the Koran and visits increase to mosques during Ramadan.
At the same time, fasting becomes a lifelong, heavy burden. Many people don’t get enough water and health problems arise. Although fasting during Ramadan is a statement of Islamic faith, in radical Islam it is punishable not to fast.
World-wide, Christians pray in a united way during Ramadan for Muslims, who do not experience Jesus as their advocate with the father, their unconditional acceptance as loved children of God and the firm certainty of forgiveness and salvation. As Christians have prayed, many people in Islamic countries have in many different ways heard and entrusted their lives to Jesus.
For my fellow USA teachers, do you do anything special in your church to celebrate or observe Labor Day?
Thanks.
AK
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5) Day of the Open Door
Greetings from sunny, southern Austria! This weekend is the IRONMAN competition around Lake Worth. Later, there's the Harleywood motorcycle event around Lake Faaker and I think after that, a gathering of mopeds and their riders. So the main tourist season is underway here. "Exciting" things are offered to attract people. With the "Day of the Open Door" that our church is putting on September 16th, we want to attract people too, especially those in the closer neighborhood of our church who would otherwise not step foot onto our church property. The doors of the building will be open. One of the ladies in our church will display her paintings, my baseball team will have our new, portable batting cage up and running and there will be a drawing for things people are donating. The proceeds for that will go to an orphanage in Russia. There will be free coffee, tea, juice, cake and cookies. Becky and I will do a couple of programs for children. At five in the afternoon, the Aistleitner family will give a Country Concert and afterwards we are inviting everyone for chilli. All visitors will get an envelope with tracts and information about our fellowship. Some might say it is a "gimmicky" way to reach out to people. I think it is like using mammon to the advantage of the Lord. It is just one of many ways to make connections with people. Our "E" team has put a lot of time and energy into planning the event. A list of prayer
requests has been copied and handed out. Every Sunday we are encouraging our people to get involved by praying and signing up for certain tasks and responsibilities to take over on Sept. 16th. We want to see every one in every age group in our church get involved with this outreach. They will all also have the opportunity to help get the invitation out that I have to get ready for approval by the Evangelisation Team when we meet Monday evening.
from Mark & Becky Bryan serving in church support ministries. address: Schilfweg 1, 9065 Ebenthal, Austria, Europe email: marknbecky@aon.at tel/fax from USA: 011-43-463-35902 cell: 011-43-676-4938272
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6) After VBS
People come and go during the summer months due to their vacations. Therefore, our church provides only a short 5 week program on Wed. nights for adults and kids.
Over the past few years our children's ministry has used the Psalm Series, activities from the "Goin' Buggie For Jesus" book, The Good Shepherd Series and the Armor of God series. All of which are available in the Sermons and Lessons section at http://www.SundaySchoolNetwork.com
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However, this year we're using a book of skits called "Quick Skits / New Testament" by Steven James. We've focused our five weeks to skits based on the book of Acts (the beginnings of the church). So far it's going great. Each week we perform an impromptu skit and then video tape it. The kids have had fun performing and watching their skit!
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