Spirit Filled Kidmin

With the move to using "Tru," kids will be faced with the opportunity to learn more about what it looks like to listen to God. The curriculum puts a strong emphasis on spiritual formation and what that really looks like for elementary age students. Along with weekly worship through songs and hand motions, kids will have time to respond to the message. From what I can tell this looks different every week, but some of the lessons that I was looking at the kids would respond to God through art, writing, small group discussions, etc.

At the end of the hour, adult small group leaders will lead and facilitate a time called "bless." During the last five minutes words of encouragement, prayers, scripture, or in other words "blessings" will be spoken over each kid individually and/or as a group. How incredible this could be!

Some of my most memorable moments in my walk with God are times when God spoke through others to reach me. One time that I can remember in particular was during my first summer after college. During that summer I was working at a camp as a counselor. It was after are first week of being counselors. The week was brutal and awesome. The campers at camp that first week were junior high students. It was a very full and fun time, but there were many challenges as well. One of my main hurtles that week was the mold that seemed to be growing in our lodge. I have pretty bad allergies and by the end of the week I had a full blown sinus infection and had lost my voice. It was also a pretty trying week spiritually; many of our kids had some pretty rough home lives and it really showed during a week away.

On our last night we were prepared by the camp leader of the week that we would be washing our camp family (a group of about 6 or so students) feet. They were told to go bare foot all day and we were really excited to get to serve them in the same way Christ did for His disciples. But there was a twist. Before we washed our groups feet, the camp leader asked the counselors to come up to the front and he proceeded to tell us that he was going to wash our feet. I really had gained a respect for this youth pastor throughout the week and was very humbled that he would do this for us. As he washed my feet (and he did the same for all the other counselors) he looked me in the eye and told me, only loud enough for me to hear, the different ways that he saw God use me that week. God spoke through him, and many of the doubts and fears that I was facing in regards to who I was in Christ were shot down through the words he or HE spoke to me. I can still recall that moment very clearly 3 years later.

Our "blessing" time on Sunday mornings will give us an opportunity to allow God to speak through us. These kids will grow up knowing what it means to speak truth over one another, to encourage one another as brothers and sisters in Christ.

I am excited to see how God uses the small group leaders at Christ-UMC. I am excited to see the kids learn what it looks like to pray together and individually...and I am excited to see God move...I wait in hopeful anticipation that He will transform my heart, the leaders hearts, and our kids' hearts.

Dig

Some of you may be wondering what is this "Dig" that she is referring to? Some of you may not even have seen that I had referred to it, either way let me tell you all about Dig!

Starting on August 28th the kids at Christ United Methodist Church will be experiencing something a little different on Sunday mornings (as well as throughout the rest of the children's ministry). We will be going through the Bible stories consecutively. In order for all of the kids to experience the stories, we will be running the same program at both 9:30 and 11:00.

During both of these hours the kids will be worshipping God, responding to Him through prayer and the arts, going through the Bible stories and breaking off into small groups to dig deeper into the stories of the Bible through Scripture memory, group activities, group questions and prayer.

As a part of this "kick-off" and new curriculum we will be introducing a new name to call children's ministry (or kidmin). "Dig" signifies our hope of planting seeds of faith in the lives of kids, laying a Biblical foundation, and digging deep into the stories of God. Anytime you see "Dig" you will know that is a part of the children's ministry.

I feel honored to be a part of watching God teach and transform each of the kids, not only during the Sunday school hours, but also throughout other programs and opportunities! Stay tuned for more ways that you and your family can get plugged into Dig!

Check out the Dig ebook which helps explain the "big picture" It is free so just click download!

Story driven Kidmin

One of the things that I love most about children's ministry is the opportunity to tell the stories of the Bible in new and exciting ways that help the kids to understand more about who God is, His plan for humanity, and the stories that He has given to us. Each and every time that I have the chance to tell a Bible story I learn something new about God. It excites me to see kids make the connections and show interest in the Bible.

During the past couple of years, I have been focusing on finding more and more ways to tell the stories of God through acting, media, dialogue, etc. Interning under Jeremy Mavis has been a real help in this area in guiding me in my storying journey.

So as I said originally I really wanted to write my own curriculum. I love writing and creating and wanted to take this on. But then I found Tru. Tru must have read my mind. Their storying material is just awesome. (I know I can't get too excited until I actually use it a couple of weeks and see what needs to be adapted and all, but still it is cool...okay I am excited.) They include story telling materials such as large posters of the Bible characters, movie clips of the stories, tips for telling the story, and so much more.

One way that I hope to be able to help kids understand the stories is through Bible story telling stations. I want to create different ways that they can help recreate the story. This might include a storyboard (fancy name for big felt board) where they can literally put the character on the board and retell the story. I would also like to have a few art stations that will facilitate using art to retell the stories in another way. I have a couple more ideas, but time will tell!

So, I am excited for Bible storying. I can't wait to see the kids connect the dots between the stories and understand more about who God is. I pray in faith that God will work through His story to form in the kids at Christ-UMC a deep love for Him!

Family Centered Kidmin

So I just purchased the curriculum that we will be using in DIG for the next three years, and I have to say, I am just thrilled about all of it. We decided to go with Tru by David C. Cook. Though initially I was bummed because I really wanted to finish my own curriculum coincidentally called TrueStory, that would also go through the Bible in three years, I realize after going through all of the materials that Tru offers, that they are beyond what I could get done on my own! So for the next few posts I will be sharing with you my excitement about this coming fall here at Christ-UMC.

One of the big pushes for the fall is to encourage families to worship together. The reasoning behind this is to build a faith bond as a family and it will also help children to understand what it looks like to worship God corporately. I am not really all that interested in whether or not the kids sit quietly next to mom and dad reciting the creeds, sitting, and standing when deemed appropriately or... whether they run down the aisle, doodle with all the hearts, or giggle throughout the whole service. It is not necessarily about whether we are teaching our kids how to be "good" Christians, but about teaching them what it looks like to be a part of the Body of Christ. Some of my best memories as a child include sitting next to my mom at church singing and clapping along to southern gospel hymns. That time in the service, learning what it means to be in community, is formational.

Even more so, is the kids time at home. This curriculum, Tru, puts a huge emphasis on the bring it home side of children's ministry. It focuses on empowering families to grow together in their faith. It equips parents to encourage implementing a family devotion time as well as building relationships through everyday situations. Every month each family will be receiving a newsletter which will include some amazing write-ups, family activities, devotions, and so much more. They can access a weekly newsletter from their ipod or iphone with Tru's Homefront app. This fall I am excited to start a journey with the families here at Christ UMC. I am excited to see how God will work through each individual family to grow them together in their faith, as well as seeing how many different families will be able to partner together to encourage each other in faith, empower each believer in relationship, and glorify God through worship!

Pushing Pause

Last week VBS was a great hit not only with the amount of kids being reached for Christ, but seeing them learn and grow throughout the week was very exciting. Though the week was an extremely busy one, it was definitely worth it.

To follow the week and kick off the holiday weekend, I and nine new friends went canoeing 14 miles on the Colorado River. I sometimes forget just how much I enjoy spending time outside. We started the trip off at a small taco stand sitting next to a gas station...skeptical? You shouldn't be, because those breakfast tacos were delicious. After fueling up, we "dropped in." The next few hours were full of paddling, laughter, and a hot sun (we did stop for a nice swim and lunch).

Being in nature feeling light and free was just what we all needed. After canoeing we stopped at a "Fievel Goes West" looking hamburger joint. While the ten of us crammed around a round wooden table, and a cowboy's tunes played behind me, I couldn't help but feel filled.

Ya know those moments where you are just completely and utterly exhausted? Your muscles ache, your nose is a little burnt, your eyes feel like they could give way to the much needed sleep any second, and you can't think past that moment... Those times when you look around and with a deep sigh and a content heart you realize that for just this short moment time seems to have stopped. Around that table with the sun setting in the background and a much needed cheeseburger and milkshake, I (and hypothetically- you) are given a chance pause and get ready for the next leg of the race...

Though I am completely and utterly thrilled to be running full speed in the race that God has placed me in, I am appreciative of the times that He pushes a pause button in my life. I am grateful that I serve a God who rested on day 7 and asks us to do the same.