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://RE3.weebly.com
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“

 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.

Check out his website with free Sunday school programs for younger children.
​https://sundayschoolzone.com/

Here's a link to a short Easter Talk I gave at a school assembly using a newspaper.​
​http://childrensministerblog.blogspot.com/2015/02/easter-talk-good-news.html

Here's an activity which I did with students aged  10-12 but could be used with teens or adults.  After reading Psalm 23 from the Bible and underlining and or coloring in key words or phrases, the students were asked to write their own version of the psalm using the template below.
.
 FILL THE GAPS WITH YOUR VERSION OF THE PSALM  
PSALM 23  
 THE LORD THE ………………………….. 
         
A song of  …………………...

​23 The Lord is my ………………….
    I have everything I need.
2. He gives me rest ………………………..
    He leads me to …………………….
3. He gives me new strength.
For the good of his name,
    he leads me on ……………………….
4. Even if I walk
    through a very ……………………….,
I will not be afraid
    because you are with me.
Your ………………..    and your ………………..     comfort me.
5. You prepare a meal for me
    in front of …………………….
You …………………………………...
    You give me more than …………………….
 
6. Surely your ………………………….. will be with me
    all my life.
And I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

FURTHER DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1) What part of this Psalm-poem do you like? Please explain why.

2) Have you ever lain down on green grass or in a field?
​What do you think it would feel like?

3) Is there a part of the Psalm that scares you? Why?
 
4) Is there a part that you find comforting? Why?

5) What do you think David thought God was like?

6) What do you think God is like?

7) Why do you think it is sometimes hard to describe who God is?

8) Why do you think people have different ideas about who God is and what he does?

I found a wonderful series of pictures which tell the story of Jesus' death and resurrection. They are free to download and use.
Free Easter Pictures set (16 pictures)
Biblestorycards.co.uk
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