The Sunday School Teacher's Network Newsletter - Great ideas for children's ministry!

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Issue #75 - December 1, 2007 Previous issues can be found in the Archives.	Home \| Search \| Support SSTN
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"For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." -- Jesus
1) Parents in children's S.S. Class 2) Advent Stocking 3) Christmas Tradition - Custom 4) Download Star Within A Star 5) Budget Chrismons 6) The Great USA Seal 7) What Are Your Christmas Traditions?	This Old Testament prophet spoke of a special messenger (John the Baptist) who would prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah. (The answer is in this newsletter)
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1) Parents in children's S.S. Class > Teachers who discourage parents in the class may be discouraging the family from attending church. > Just something to think about. If the teachers had asked me not to be in my kid's class, I would have > looked for another church. I think that this parent makes a good point, provided that the parent who needs to be there with a shy child is respectful of the classroom environment and keeps the disruptive behavior to a minimum. Under those circumstances, I can't imagine a teacher asking you to leave. The original post about this issue talked about parents who brought younger siblings, and had conversations during class time.

2) Advent Stocking I have been taking the kids out during the sermon in our church for several years. Knowing I wasn't going to see the kids every day during Christmas, I knew that doing an Advent calendar wouldn't be as much fun to do during this time. So, I came up with an Advent Stocking. The idea is like a calendar only done weekly. Each week there is something different in the stocking to either make, or decorate the church with. This year since I have new kids, I'm starting at the beginning: with the Star. The stocking will have glow in the dark stars to put up around the church to remind us to follow the Star. Stories and songs that have to do with the Star are going to be happening each week, including fleece stars that the kids can take home to carry with them. I've also done little beanie baby animals that they take home because even the animals waited for Jesus. Shepherds, wise men, the barn, all are great topics to find things to emphasis different part of the stories for kids of all ages. Especially pre-k kids and ones who are just starting to learn the stories.

Bible Stack-O! TM *A great gift idea for kids and families!* A fun game to play at home, church and after-school clubs! For ages 8 and Up / 2-4 Players. Three ways to play for younger and older kids. The 66 Bible cards include a content summary of each book. Fun for adults too! *Click here.*

3) Christmas Tradition - Custom One of our customs is to set up a small nativity in our home at the beginning of Advent. But we do not place the wise men in front of it. They are placed at the furthest point away in the living area. Then each day during Advent, one of our children moves the wise men closer to the manger. On Christmas day they finally arrive. It can also be done with the baby Jesus arriving on Christmas and then have the wise men arrive on Epiphany Sunday.

4) Download the Star Within A Star You may download and print at no charge, the Star Within A Star pattern at: http://www.sundayschoolnetwork.com/page8.html

5) Budget Chrismons For churches on a tight budget or as a way to recycle..... foam trays and containers from the grocery store and "doggy bags" at restaurants can be used in place of craft foam. Of course care must be taken to disinfect / sanitize if one is going to use trays that had raw meat on them! Glue works fine on them. Styrofoam can also be used, however it can get expensive and is harder to cut.... could be a great inter-generational project! --from SSTN: for those of you who've never heard of Chrismons, it is an ancient Latin word meaning Christ-Monogram (CHRISt-MONogram), meaning a symbol of Christ or Christianity. To learn more and to download a sample or two, go to the following page: http://www.sundayschoolnetwork.com/chrismon.html

6) The Great USA Seal Last week I gave a talk on the Great Seal of the USA. I was wondering if anyone else has used the seal for a talk. I would imagine it has been done many times before in the States. Perhaps we could share ideas. Here is what I used to give the talk (see below). It listed the different parts of the Great Seal and verses of scripture to go with each part of the Seal. The first thing I did was to study the history behind the development of the Seal and the Scripture application applied very easily to each part. Perhaps it might have been best to have the talk for two meetings. We also had a quiz (this included questions on the flag) The winner of each age group received a one dollar bill. The seal is as you know on the back of the dollar. Yours in the work of the LORD, Billy Dickson Belfast, Northern Ireland. Explain The Great Seal of the United States of America using the following verses and a large illustration of both sides of the Great Seal: 1- COLORS White -- purity and innocence Red-- hardiness and valor Blue-- color of the Chief represents vigilance, perseverance and justice. 2- THE AMERICAN BALD EAGLE Exodus 19 v 4: Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. 3- SHIELD OF 13 RED AND WHITE STRIPES Eph 6 v 16: Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked Isa 53 v 5: But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 4- HELD TOGETHER WITH THE BLUE BAR (CHIEF) Eph 2 v 20: And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone 5- THE MOTTO OF 13 LETTERS HELD IN THE EAGLE'S BEAK 'E PLURIBUS UNUM' MEANING 'OUT OF MANY, ONE' Gal 3 v 28: There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 6- THE OLIVE BRANCH WITH 13 LEAVES REPRESENTING PEACE Matt 5 v 9: Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 7- 13 ARROWS GRASPED BY THE EAGLE REPRESENTING WAR AND UNITY Jer. 15 v 14: Put yourselves in array against Babylon round about: all ye that bend the bow, shoot at her, spare no arrows: for she hath sinned against the LORD. Psalm 133 v 1: Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 8- CONSTELLATION OF 13 STARS (CREST) BREAKING THROUGH A CLOUD symbolizes the new nation taking its place among the sovereign powers of the world. Thirteen stars form one star. The Pledge of allegiance reads: I Pledge Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Matt 2 v 2: Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 9- GLORY (GOLD) 1 Peter 5 v 4: And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. REVERSE (BACK) 1- UNFINISHED PYRAMID SIGNIFIES STRENGTH AND DURATION (UNFINISHED, OUR WORK IS NOT OVER) 2- THE EYE Ps 33 v 18: Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; 3- MOTTO WITH 13 LETTERS, ANNUIT COEPTIS 'HE (GOD) HAS FAVOURED OUR UNDERTAKINGS'. 1st Sam 7 v 12: Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us. 4- ROMAN NUMERALS AT THE BASE OF THE PYRAMID . 1776 THE YEAR OF INDEPENDENCE FROM BRITAIN AND THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW NATION. John 8 v 32: And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 5- THE WORDS UNDER THE PYRAMID, 'NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM' (A NEW ORDER OF THE AGES) II Cor 5 v 17: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. From Billy Dickson Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom --from SSTN: Awesome! It took a great Irishman to explain the great USA Seal to me! Billy, thank you for your research and willingness to share with SSTN! ysic, sarah keith <><

7) What Are Your Christmas Traditions? Would you please share your customs and traditions during Advent and Christmas time?
This issue's Bible Trivia answer is, "Malachi". Used by permission. From the game, Bible Stack-O!
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