Some time ago my wife recorded a CD with 12 tracks of improvised piano music titled "A MOMENT IN TIME". Each track was composed (while she was playing) and all the tracks were recorded in the one session. I think it's an amazingly inspired collection for personal reflection, contemplation, healing or worship. Some people who have been ill in hospital have found this music very soothing. I have recently posted this on YouTube and added some of my photos.
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My Advent Leaf
Lowly leaf, still, beside the bush track so scarred, deformed, and common place – Yet your hollows and hues draw me to kneel and look at you. Now lifted, I notice a deeper design in this delicate gum. As Advent begins, I’m reminded of Mary and Joseph labouring along the Galilee trail to Bethlehem. – Two humble souls, though sidelined and shamed remain resolute, faithful, and grateful. God’s plan may seem so flawed to some but this devoted pair soon delight to hold the perfect “Promised One”! As I cradle my fragile “Advent Leaf” I’m reminded I need to stop; to welcome and worship the “Creator King” who has come and who has seen my sin -stained life and still loves me… truly, completely, forever. (c) Don Stott Dec 3 2022 Some resources to start your thinking, planning and praying about children in worship, faith development and the many challenges facing children and children's ministers in the future.
Books Faithfully Different, Regaining Biblical Clarity in a Secular Culture by Natasha Crain , Harvest House Publishers, 2022 Being the Bad Guys, How to live for Jesus in a world that says you shouldn't by Stephen McAlpine ,The Good Book Company, 2021 Evangelism in a Skeptical World, How to make the unbelievable news about Jesus more believable by Sam Chan , Zondervan Academic, 2018 Christians, The urgent case for Jesus in our world by Greg Sheridan , Allen&Unwin, 2021 The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, How to stay emotionally healthy and spiritually alive in the chaos of the modern world by John Mark Comer Hodder & Stoughton, 2019 Going the Distance, How to stay fit for a lifetime of Ministry by Peter Brain The Good Book Company (UK) and Mattias Media (Aust), 2004 Articles and Web Links The Decline and Renewal of the American Church. Four articles by Dr.Timothy Keller Ministering to Generation Z and The Future of Children's Ministry The Future of Kid's Ministry 7 Current and Future Trends of Children's Ministry The Future of the Church is in your Kid's Ministry Sunday School Teaching
https://truewaykids.com/ https://sundayschoolzone.com/ ScriptureUnion.org.uk Schools Live resources Max7.org open source ministry resource library calvarycurriculum.com MessyChurch.org.uk familyworship.org.uk sermons4kids.com primaryresources.co.ukrequest.org.uk/ natre.org.uk request.org.uk Stories http://request.org.uk/ Jeremiah project Stories for children teaching biblical values Gracethrufaith.com the Bible through the eyes of it's writers Assembly or Chapel programs assemblyideas.wordpress.com assemblies.org.uk Bible-basedAssemblies.com ely.anglican.org/education/schools/ Photo/Art Resources freebibleimages.org or distantshoresmedia.org heartlight.org free Power point backgrounds eBibleTeacher.com free Power point backgrounds christart.com lambsongs.co.nz/Mission Bible picture booklets art of Henry Martin Bible story art work theworshipcloud.com burningwell.org public domain image source freefoto.com morguefile.com https://www.pexels.com https://unsplash.com/images SundayGraphx.blogspot.com.au Power Point backgrounds Pentecost Hallelujah!
‘Hallelujah’ - written by Leonard Cohen@Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC Pentecost Hallelujah! words by Don Stott don@eliab.com May 1. 2022 Based on Acts 1&2 He’d suffered on a cross and died But rose again all were surprised Now Jesus is alive, his friends bore witness For forty days Christ taught them all Prepare yourselves ‘await God’s call Get ready for the gift my father promised.’ Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah Will God’s kingdom be restored? The crowd round Jesus now implored “It’s not for you to know the times and seasons But wait and see his authority The powerful Spirit will set you free And you will share God’s news to many nations. Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah The day of Pentecost had come In a crowded house, an expectant hum The believers prayed and gave God all the glory Suddenly a deafening sound Wind and fire, tongues all around Cries of praise and shouts of Hallelujah! Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah Pentecost pilgrims gathered nigh Heard strange sounds and wondered why? Confounding chatter, dazed and seeking reason Peter stood and told them all ‘It’s not from wine, they’ve heard God’s call God’s Holy Spirit gift has come to you!’ Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah Three thousand found their hearts were stirred Baptised, rejoiced at what they’ve heard Full on awe with many signs and wonders Holy Spirit light life’s flame Let love spread, now all proclaim Praise and glory, worship hallelujah! Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah WEBSITES...
A few years ago I created a website as a resource for Christian Education teaching (children aged 8-12 years). I'm now a retired teacher but I have maintained the site for those who might find some of the pages or the activities helpful. Check it out here - http://RE33.net See also the Sunday School website I created during COVID lockdown in Melbourne Aust. 2020 which may be of interest for those who still can't meet as a Sunday School http://kidsvine.blogspot.com Hot Cross Buns
Hold up a hot cross bun and ask the group if they like to eat these buns at Easter. Say that many people all around the world like to eat these buns at Easter time and those that are Christians are reminded of Jesus death on a cross by the cross we find on the top of the bun. “Let’s think about the ingredients needed to make these buns. What are some of the things you think might be used? Flour? Water? Fruit? One thing that’s very important in making hot cross buns is yeast. What do we use yeast for? It helps the bun to rise otherwise they might be called “flat cross buns”. The yeast also might remind us that Jesus rose from the grave. He didn’t stay dead after he was crucified and put in to the tomb – he rose again. Dried fruits are also added to the mixture in making hot cross buns. These might remind us of the good things that come from Jesus’ death. Without his death on the cross we wouldn’t be able to enjoy new life. As you pass around some buttered hot cross buns for the children to eat. Invite everyone just to pause for a few moments and silently thank Jesus for being willing to die a slow and painful death so that we might have eternal life with him. Just in case you wondered about the history of the hot cross bun : We get the word “bun” from the Teutonic equivalent, “boun”, which was an archaic description of a sacrificial ox. The practice of offering animal sacrifices at the vernal equinox became frowned upon. Instead, the goddess in question was honoured with a cake, a sacred ox bun. Imprinted on the cake were the crossed horns of a ox. Christians reinterpreted this as the cross of Christ. Puppet script from Eliab.com “Hot Cross Buns“ Colours for Easter
An All- Age Worship Activity You need : Green, Red,Black, White and Yellow balloon bunches or streamers or flags. Call forward any of the congregation or children’s group who are wearing a green top (t-shirt, jumper, sweater…). Give them the green props and ask them to stand in a group on the far left side of your stage or up-front area. Talk about how the colour green may remind us that Jesus came… and on the way he was welcomed into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Ask the green group to practice their phrase. Continue this process with the following colours and phrases. “Jesus came- and suffered- and died- but came alive again- to bring new life… GREEN —- RED —- BLACK — WHITE — YELLOW Finally invite all those remaining in the congregation wearing other colours to add “for everyone” to finish the phrase. Those holding the balloons can form a rolling Mexican wave of colour as they circle the balloons in front of them as they say their phrase. Leadership Leads
YOU AS THE LEADER Maintain your relationship with God – devotional life, quiet days, reading and prayer. Understand your leadership style and value it. Do things you are good at- find and develop others to do those things you find harder. Develop a support network – mentors, friends, parent support group, administrators, prayer team. Limit the number of programs and ministries you are involved in. YOU AS THE LEADER TO LEADERS Know your vision, mission, values, strategy and goals Communicate these to the Church and your leaders -continually evaluate these with your teams - reports to Church Board or Council. Newsletter items, reports to other staff members, meeting notes or email. Develop a structure of carers for your teams (80/20 principle) Encourage your volunteers – hold celebrations, write notes to them, phone-text email. Give them chocolate and lots of it! FINDING, RECRUITING AND DEVELOPING LEADERS When recruiting leaders - Pray for the right leaders. Some people have the gift of recruiting. Find them and use them well. Know the task you are asking them to do. Spend time getting to know your congregation well Work out whether you are a phone, letter, email or face to face recruiter. As you ask them to be involved remember you are doing them a favor not the other way around. Describe the task in way that appeals to them and is also truthful regarding time commitment, skills needed etc.. Are the right people in the task already or is it hindering you finding volunteers? What is the environment like you are asking your leaders to work in? Have job descriptions Encourage leaders to fill out an application form and code of conduct form Provide training and support for your leaders Liase with other staff members so that you all have a balance of leaders. Put people in the right ministries Include your leaders in the decision making process. "We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing" Psalm 39:6
What is your most profound regret in life? One pastor put it this way.. "Being in a hurry. Getting to the next thing without fully entering the thing in front of me I cannot think of a single advantage I've ever gained from being in a hurry. But a thousand broken and missed things, tens of thousands, lie in the wake of all the rushing... Through all that haste I thought I was making up time. It turns out I was throwing it away." -Mark Buchanan "TIME is a relentless river. It rages on, a respecter of no one. And this, this is the only way to slow down time: When I fully enter time's swift current, enter into the current moment with the weight of all my attention. I slow the torrent with the weight of me all here. I can slow the torrent by being all here. I only live the full life when I live fully in the moment. And when I'm always looking for the glimpse of glory, I slow and enter. And time slows. Weigh down this moment in time with attention fully and the whole of time's river slows, slows, slows.'' -Ann Voskamp -"One Thousand Gifts". |
AuthorDon Stott- 'Aussie' teacher, pastor and children's worker. Archives
July 2023
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