Thursday, June 25, 2015
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Vacation Bible School
Last week was our Vacation Bible School. This year we used Standard Publishing's Bible Blast to the Past. The Saturday before, we began the process of transforming our church into part time travel, part Bible lands.
I was excited to have our kids experience a little of what it was like during the time that David fought Goliath, or when Paul and Silas escaped from prison. Having the kids get an idea of what it was like to live in Bible times was a great learning experience. Each night our kids learned a little more about God's love for them. One of the things that I loved about this VBS was that everything the kids did each day reflected back on what the point of the day was.
We averaged 90 kids each night at our Vacation Bible School and it was great to have a consistent number to work with, it allowed our leaders to really build relationships with the kids in their groups.
I love VBS because it gives the church a great opportunity to open up to their community in a non-threatening way and plant the seeds of the Gospel in the hearts of the kids and families.
Gratefully Growing at The Grove!
Miss Megan
I was excited to have our kids experience a little of what it was like during the time that David fought Goliath, or when Paul and Silas escaped from prison. Having the kids get an idea of what it was like to live in Bible times was a great learning experience. Each night our kids learned a little more about God's love for them. One of the things that I loved about this VBS was that everything the kids did each day reflected back on what the point of the day was.
We averaged 90 kids each night at our Vacation Bible School and it was great to have a consistent number to work with, it allowed our leaders to really build relationships with the kids in their groups.
I love VBS because it gives the church a great opportunity to open up to their community in a non-threatening way and plant the seeds of the Gospel in the hearts of the kids and families.
Gratefully Growing at The Grove!
Miss Megan
Thursday, June 4, 2015
Coloring Outside the Lines
I was recently talking to a friend who serves as a Sunday School teacher at her church. Through facebook, I see each week the completely awesome things that her 2nd graders experience. In the midst of our visit we began discussing Sunday School curriculum. My friend expressed to me that the curriculum her church has currently chosen is not enough for her and so she researches during the week to see what else she can add to it to make the class come alive. This is not a singularity in churches, so many teachers I have spoken to in a variety of places struggle with getting enough ideas and content from just one curriculum. However, one of the things that I have also heard in accordance to this issue is that these teachers use the curriculum they are given as an outline and then color a bit outside the lines with added content. I am big on encouraging this with those I serve with. There is a wide world of Children's Ministry resources out there.
Just like a child sitting down with a large box of crayons, there are lots of colors (resources) out there to use to make our picture each week come alive. If we were to only stick to the 8 count basics, our picture would have color but it would not be nearly as vibrant as it could be if we use all the colors we are given.
I believe that sometimes in life some of the masterpieces that make the Lord proud are when we color a bit "outside the lines." God gives us rules and directions on how to live a life that pleases Him. He also gave us all talents, desires, and creativity in our own way. It is how we use these other things in our lives in harmony with the directions, our outline, that God has given us that create the most colorful masterpieces that give glory to our creator. When we use all the resources, talents, gifts that the Lord has given us to color our lives, we bring him glory and we also point the world around us to the creator of it all!
Ive heard a quote said before that we should use up every last drop of the gifts and talents that God has given us so that when we meet him face to face we can say with confidence that we are empty. I want to face my savior knowing that I have used what he has given me in the most creative way possible. I want to be known for coloring outside the lines.
Creatively Growing at The Grove!
Miss Megan
Just like a child sitting down with a large box of crayons, there are lots of colors (resources) out there to use to make our picture each week come alive. If we were to only stick to the 8 count basics, our picture would have color but it would not be nearly as vibrant as it could be if we use all the colors we are given.
I believe that sometimes in life some of the masterpieces that make the Lord proud are when we color a bit "outside the lines." God gives us rules and directions on how to live a life that pleases Him. He also gave us all talents, desires, and creativity in our own way. It is how we use these other things in our lives in harmony with the directions, our outline, that God has given us that create the most colorful masterpieces that give glory to our creator. When we use all the resources, talents, gifts that the Lord has given us to color our lives, we bring him glory and we also point the world around us to the creator of it all!
Ive heard a quote said before that we should use up every last drop of the gifts and talents that God has given us so that when we meet him face to face we can say with confidence that we are empty. I want to face my savior knowing that I have used what he has given me in the most creative way possible. I want to be known for coloring outside the lines.
Creatively Growing at The Grove!
Miss Megan
Thursday, May 28, 2015
As Time Goes By
As I am sure is the case in many churches around the nation, school years are ending and we as a children's ministry are approaching promotion Sunday. Our kids are so excited to have finished another grade in school and can't wait to move on to the next Sunday School class, and for our 6th graders, to move up to the jr.high classes. As a leader this is a bittersweet time for me because I am excited to see these kids grow both physically and spiritually, but I am sad that some of them are moving beyond my ministry and up to the youth group.
I began serving within the children's ministry at my church as an eighth grader. So I personally have been through alot of promotion Sundays. But it wasn't until I was in college, and serving along side some of the "kids" that I had taught, that I began to realize that time passes way too quickly.
When most people hear that I am over a ministry that spans 12 years in a child's life I normally get comments like "wow thats a long time!". And to tell you the truth, yes in numeric years, it does seem like a long time. But seeing a child move from the nursery to a toddler class, then to the preschool worship, and then progress upstairs with the early elementary, then to the older elementary, then preteen class, and finally graduate to the youth group, well lets just say there have been alot of happy and proud tears shed over that child. And though it may seem like a long time from an outsiders perspective, from the position I am in, it flies by entirely too fast.
Though I reminisce the times when "my kids" were younger and am sad they are not that way anymore, I cannot help but be proud of who they are becoming. It is so awesome to see the teen, and young adults that God is shaping each of them in to, and I feel extremely blessed that God let me have a small role in helping them along that journey. And lets be honest, they will always be "my kids" no matter how old they get!
Continually Growing at The Grove!
Miss Megan
I began serving within the children's ministry at my church as an eighth grader. So I personally have been through alot of promotion Sundays. But it wasn't until I was in college, and serving along side some of the "kids" that I had taught, that I began to realize that time passes way too quickly.
When most people hear that I am over a ministry that spans 12 years in a child's life I normally get comments like "wow thats a long time!". And to tell you the truth, yes in numeric years, it does seem like a long time. But seeing a child move from the nursery to a toddler class, then to the preschool worship, and then progress upstairs with the early elementary, then to the older elementary, then preteen class, and finally graduate to the youth group, well lets just say there have been alot of happy and proud tears shed over that child. And though it may seem like a long time from an outsiders perspective, from the position I am in, it flies by entirely too fast.
Though I reminisce the times when "my kids" were younger and am sad they are not that way anymore, I cannot help but be proud of who they are becoming. It is so awesome to see the teen, and young adults that God is shaping each of them in to, and I feel extremely blessed that God let me have a small role in helping them along that journey. And lets be honest, they will always be "my kids" no matter how old they get!
Continually Growing at The Grove!
Miss Megan
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
A Few of My Favorite Things Preschool Edition
I am sharing a few of my favorite resources/tools to use when teaching Preschoolers. Please ignore the apparently angry face I have in the thumbnail for this video. After trying to change it repeatedly, I guess its just the way it wants to be.
Hope you enjoy!
Hope you enjoy!
My Absence
No need to worry, I did not in fact fall off the face of the earth!
I have to apologize to all of you for my lack of posts lately. I seemed to have hit a bit of writers block. I have about 4 posts started on my desk top but none of them get much past the first paragraph. And so I have not posted anything for a bit. But I did want to reassure you that I am still here. I am filming a couple of videos this afternoon and so I should have one up and ready for your viewing by this evening.
Let me also take this opportunity to say thank you for reading and watching the things I post on this blog. I am simply a young children's director in the small town of Sweetser, Indiana and I am humbled and thankful that you care about what I have to say.
Now back to work I go!
Gracefully Growing at The Grove!
Miss Megan
I have to apologize to all of you for my lack of posts lately. I seemed to have hit a bit of writers block. I have about 4 posts started on my desk top but none of them get much past the first paragraph. And so I have not posted anything for a bit. But I did want to reassure you that I am still here. I am filming a couple of videos this afternoon and so I should have one up and ready for your viewing by this evening.
Let me also take this opportunity to say thank you for reading and watching the things I post on this blog. I am simply a young children's director in the small town of Sweetser, Indiana and I am humbled and thankful that you care about what I have to say.
Now back to work I go!
Gracefully Growing at The Grove!
Miss Megan
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