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Sunday, May 7th
Fifth Sunday of Easter
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CHRIST IS RISEN!
CHRIST IS RISEN INDEED!
Eastertide is a period of 50 days, beginning on Easter Sunday and ending at Pentecost, when we celebrate the birth of the Church. During Eastertide, we celebrate the Risen Christ and imagine how we might live as Easter people.
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Welcome Table
Pastor Kyle spoke about the history of communion in the Methodist Church. He also spoke to the children about the "Love Feast," created by John Wesley; a service which uses bread and water, designed to keep Christians in constant loving-fellowship throughout the year. Then, Mrs. Durbin led the song, "Welcome Table," by Southern Gospel Revival, teaching us that all are always welcome at God's heavenly banquet. Pastor Kyle invited to the children to share in a special "Love Feast" together during Sunday School too!
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“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In God's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “We do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to Abba God except through me. If you know me, you will know God also. From now on you do know God and have seen God.” | |
Each week, the children color the illustrations in their own Bible story booklet as they read a paraphrase of the scripture passage that helps tell the Bible story we are learning about. | |
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In our Bible story this week, the disciples shared with Jesus how nervous they were about what would happen after He was gone. Jesus reminded them to follow in His ways welcoming all.
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Each week we listen to a book and/or watch a video that coincides with our lesson for connection and enrichment. | |
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This week I read the story:
"The Home Builders"
by Varsha Bajaj
This is a picture book with vibrant illustrations and beautiful poetic text. The book introduces a variety of woodland creatures as they make homes for their families- dwelling places.
The children enjoyed listening to the words and looking at the illustrations. The last page of the book really connected with our Bible story:
"Snug and sheltered
As nighttime falls,
Home is our earth,
Shared by us all."
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We remembered where we are on the liturgical calendar and how we are now in the season of EASTERTIDE, which is a period of 50 days, that begins on Easter Sunday and ends at Pentecost.
We also talked about how during this season of Easter, it is a time when we focus on how the good news of Jesus' resurrection guides how we live.
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We discussed this week's Bible story, and how Jesus reminded the disciples to follow in his ways of welcoming all. We recalled what Jesus told his disciples about God's house: "God's house has many rooms, room enough for everyone!" and, "I will make sure rooms are ready for you there..."
We also talked about what dwelling place means.
A DWELLING PLACE is a building or place of shelter to live in- a home.
We talked about how there are many types of dwelling places/shelters people live in. We discussed how Jesus invited us to live as the household of God, a family of faith, where all belong and are safe.
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In addition to coloring the illustrations in their own Bible story booklets, each week, as time allows, the children will also make a craft that ties with the lesson.
The children painted their own version of God's house
with many dwelling places.
The children used watercolor paint and were encouraged to be creative and paint illustrations of their ideal "dwelling place" on earth and in heaven.
While painting their pictures, we talked about how this week's scripture describes God's house as having "many dwelling places." We talked about how a dwelling place is a safe space to live and sleep.
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We also discussed all the different and unique qualities of the dwellings the children painted. The children also shared what their dwelling place looks and feels like.
We shared how God's love and God's house are expansive; there are no limits to who is included, and there is a special dwelling place for everyone.
*Some of the children chose to use crayons in addition to painting with watercolor paint. I took this opportunity to inspire the children to think creatively about the scripture through art, and also shared a little bit of my love of art with the children by introducing them to a watercolor technique called resist art.
RESIST ART is a technique that uses layers to expose negative space. In our activity- through the use of watercolors and crayons, I demonstrated to the children, drawing on paper with a crayon, and then painting over it with watercolors and watching as the paint "resists" the wax!
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Each week, as time allows, the children will play a game or experience a fun activity together to help them think creatively about the scripture. | |
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The children enjoyed sharing
a "Love Feast" together!
To continue with what the children learned from Pastor Kyle during the Children's Moment, we shared a "Love Feast" together. The "Love Feast" was created by John Wesley. The "Love Feast" is a service which uses bread and water, designed to keep Christians in constant loving-fellowship throughout the year.
The children enjoyed sharing two types of bread- a baguette and buttery bread rolls. They LOVED the buttery bread rolls so much they asked for more throughout our time together!
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We prayed:
Be present at our table, Lord;
Be here and everywhere adored;
Thy creatures bless, and grant that we
May feast in paradise with Thee.
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We ended our Love Feast with a prayer written
especially for the Love Feast by Charles Wesley:
Father of earth and heaven,
Thy hungry children feed,
Thy grace be to our spirits given,
That true immortal bread.
Grant us and all our race
In Jesus Christ to prove
The sweetness of thy pardoning grace,
The manna of thy love.
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Every week, the children will take home an additional coloring page which has an illustration of a short phrase from our scripture passage. I encourage our parents to color with your children to reflect on the scripture and have an even deeper connection with the scripture and each other! |
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Additional practice to help form healthy, spiritual and mindful habits with your child(ren): | |
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Be sure to visit our FUMC Children's Ministry Facebook
page to stay up-to-date on all things children's ministry!
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