Becoming An Apostle

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Monica

How many of you have ever seen someone draw a name out of a hat to choose one person for something special? What are some reasons we might put names in a hat? Allow children to answer. Back in the time of Jesus they would sometimes draw names too. During that time, they believed that the God would help them choose the best name. We might draw names to pick someone to win a prize, or to choose someone to go first. In Jesus time they drew names to help them with really important decisions, like choosing a new apostle!

After Jesus died one of his special friends, Judas decided he didn’t want to be an apostle anymore. So the rest of Jesus’s friends had to choose a new apostle Let’s read to find out how they might have done that. Read Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 from Ralph Milton’s Lectionary Story Bible Year B. I find it very interesting to think about how Jesus’s friends might have chosen a new apostle. First they thought about what was important in a new apostle. What were some of the characteristics they felt an apostle needed to have? Allow children to answer that they wanted someone who was with Jesus from the time of his baptism and who saw Jesus alive again. Once they decided on what was important the thought of two people who both had the characteristics they were looking for and who were good and kind and tried hard to live in God’s way. But they still had to choose. So they drew a name.

In Jesus’s time they believed that there should be only 12 apostles. Do you remember what an apostle is? Allow children to answer if they can.That’s right, an apostle is a leader that help us live in God’s way. Do you think that if we counted up ALL the leaders in all the

churches that help us live in God’s way there would still be only 12? Pull out a hat with slips of paper in it. On each slip of paper should be written the word YOU. I’ve got a hat here, let’s see who God thinks should help people live in God’s way. Have several children draw slips of paper. God wants you, and you, and you, and you…God wants all of us to be an example of how to live. We don’t need to wait for someone to draw our name from a hat! We are all called to be a witness to living in God’s way!

Mindfulness Monday {Amazing Women}

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Monica

We all have amazing women in our lives. Some we call Mother, or Sister, or Grandma, or Aunt, and some we call Friend. All are valued, all are special, and all deserve recognition on this day. Motherhood is about more than bearing children. It’s about loving someone else more than you love yourself. All of us have done that at one time or another. So today I’d like to say Happy Mother/Sister/Grandma/Aunt/Friend Day! YOU are amazing and YOU are loved!

What to Expect When Your Expecting {The Movie}

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Monica

Parenting is hard work! And sometimes we take ourselves too seriously. But when you look back there is so much humor to be found in this parenting thing we do!

If you live in the Kansas City Metro area I want to offer you the opportunity to take time out and laugh a bit! You are invited to attend a free pre-screening of the new movie “What to Expect When You’re Expecting!” This star studded film is said to be hilarious, smart, and heart felt. It’s time for you to get a babysitter and head out for a night to celebrate being a parent!

WHEN: Monday, May 14th at 7:30 pm (theater is overbooked to ensure a full house, seats are first come first served)
WHERE: AMC Mainstreet, Kansas City MO
HOW: Go to www.gofobo.com/rsvp and enter the code: WOMNLS1

Each pass allows 2 people in. You just have to sign up for Gofobo.com and download the passes and print them off. Gofobo doesn’t spam you or cost anything, but they will alert you when there are other free movies available in your area.

Hope you enjoy your night out!

Dive Deep

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Monica

Who likes to go swimming? What is your favorite thing to do when you swim? Allow children to answer (if no one says it, comment about how fun it is to jump or dive in the water). I love swimming on a hot day, because when the cool water is all around me it makes me feel so much better!

Don’t you wish you could go do this right now?!? Show Cool Pool Video: Swimmers in Slow Motion on YouTube. Doesn’t that look like fun? Diving deep into that cool water! We’ve talked before about the way Jesus used stories to help people understand his message. Well today’s story will help us understand how much God and Jesus love us. Read John 15:9-14 from Ralph Milton’s Lectionary Story Bible Year B. This version is necessary for the lesson to make sense because it compares God’s love to cool water.

Why do you think I showed you this video earlier? Begin playing the video again (either mute or turn down the sound so you can continue talking). How does this video relate to the story I just read? Allow children to answer. As you watch the video again, imagine that you are jumping into that water…like you are jumping into God’s love. And it is all around you. When you jump into a pool of water and then climb out do you leave all the water behind in the pool? Or does some of it come with you? It comes with you right? You are covered in it. It changes you by making you wet. God’s love is like that. Once you jump in the pool of God’s love you are changed. The water of God’s love drips off you so that you can share it with others. Just like Mary encouraged Peter to share God’s love with someone he didn’t like very much. This summer, every time you go swimming I want you to remember that God’s love surrounds you, just like the water in the pool. All you have to do is dive in!

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Every Wednesday I share a lesson based on the lectionary. These lessons are meant to be used for a children’s moment (aka children’s sermon, children’s liturgy, children’s church, etc), sunday school, or even as a family devotion in your own home.

I have taken the lesson above and written it into a lesson plan format. I have also added a Respond and Extend section to the downloadable lesson. These are additional ideas for the children to respond to the main lesson and then an extension activity for them to do at a later time. The extension activity includes a handout to send home with directions.

All of this can be yours for less than a dollar!! Just click the Add to Cart button to download your copy today! Payments can be made with Paypal, Google Checkout, or you can enter your credit card as a Paypal guest (no account required). Once you have made your purchase an email will be sent to you with download directions.

Cost: $0.99

Please note: all images and PDF files are my creation. You may use them in your home and with your church family. Please give credit to ChildhoodSpirituality.com. You may not sell these items in part or in full, or in any way claim them as your own. Thank you!

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Mindfulness Monday {Retreat}

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Monica

You may have noticed that I didn’t post on Friday. I was out of town at a women’s retreat offered through my church. It’s always so nice to join other women as we renew our spirits. I connected, I reflected, I laughed, I snacked, I dug deep within, I praised God. I enjoyed every minute!

God Loves Everyone

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Monica

Note to parents and leaders: I like Ralph Milton’s adaption of today’s scripture for children. Because small children will have a hard time understanding castration, the reasons for it as well as it’s implications, Milton’s version of the story is changed to that of a person who is small.

Have you ever been teased or heard someone being teased? How do you think it feels to be teased by others? Allow children to answer. Sometimes people get teased because of how they look, or things they do. People were even teased in the time of Jesus.

Our scripture story today comes from the book of Acts. In this story, Taharka was often teased about being small. Let’s read to find out what he learns. Read Acts 8:26-38 from Ralph Milton’s Lectionary Story Bible Year B. Taharka knew what it felt like to suffer for something that wasn’t his fault. He couldn’t help that he was small, but people teased him anyway. He worked really hard to be the best person he could be, but sometimes he still found it hard to love himself. He almost couldn’t believe that God loved him no matter what. Do you ever worry that something about you isn’t good enough? Allow children to answer. God loves all people! It doesn’t matter what we look like, if you are smart, or play an instrument, or are good at sports. It doesn’t matter if you are tall or short. GOD LOVES YOU! And Jesus taught us that we should love all people too, especially when they are different from us.

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Mindfulness Monday {36 Years}

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Monica

Last Friday I celebrated my 36th birthday. I know that many people hate turning another year older, but I don’t mind. A new year to try new things and enjoy life. I certainly am blessed!

Signs of Spring

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Monica

On Monday I shared with you my joyous moment of discovering robin eggs in a nest in front of my house. Today I want to encourage you to take part in the spiritual practice of mindfulness by taking a mindfulness walk with your children.

We’ve talked about mindfulness, or noticing, walks before. We’ve noticed the Big and Beautiful parts of creation as well as the Teeny Tiny parts of creation. For this walk I want you to notice the SIGNS of SPRING!

As you begin this walk with your child remind them of noticing walks you’ve taken in the past. If you’ve never taken a mindfulness walk it’s a good idea to introduce to your child what you will be doing. Tell your child that today we are going to look around and notice SIGNS of SPRING in the world around us. Don’t restrict your child’s noticings. If they say that construction on a new house is a SIGN of SPRING, say something like, “Construction is often seen in the spring time because the weather is warm enough for the workers to be outside.” You may even want to offer your child a way to document the SIGNS of SPRING they notice. They could use a camera to take a picture, or carry a notebook to record what they see using words or drawings.

When you return home discuss your noticings and how God plays a part in all of it. Say a prayer together thanking God for the SIGNS of SPRING you noticed together and asking God to open your eyes and help you notice more SIGNS of SPRING throughout the week.

PS: If you take a noticing walk with your child I’d love to hear about your experience! Leave a comment and let me know all about it!

Sheep and Shepherds

Posted on April 25, 2012 by Monica

Do you have an animal in your home? What kinds of animals do you or most of your friends have? Allow children to answer. Does anyone have any sheep at home? Well during Jesus time many people had sheep.

Jesus liked to tell stories to teach people lessons. So since most people he knew had sheep he used a story about sheep to help them learn something important. Let’s read to find out what he told them. Read John 10:11-18 from Ralph Milton’s Lectionary Story Bible Year B. I want you to really remember the story Jesus is telling so I’m going to read it again, and you are going to help me act it out. Choose someone to be Jesus and a few children to be sheep. I’m going to read the scripture again and I want you to act out what you hear. Re-read the scripture pausing to give directions as needed (stop before the wolf comes). Choose someone to be the wolf. You could use another child, or it might be fun to randomly call on an adult for the congregation. Continue reading through the shepherd chasing away the wolf. Now choose someone to look after the sheep that is not the shepherd (have the shepherd sit down). Again you could choose a child or randomly call on someone from the congregation to take that role. Continue reading through the caretaker running away and the wolf catching a sheep. Have the wolf and the caretaker sit down and bring back the shepherd. Continue reading. Pause when the shepherd knows the sheep by name and ask the child/shepherd to call the names of the people pretending to be sheep. As you continue reading pause to give directions for the children to act out as needed. Once you have finished the scripture have your helpers sit back down.

That was really fun to act out the scripture wasn’t it?! What did we learn about shepherds? Allow children to answer. Jesus used this story to explain about his love for us. What did the scripture teach us about Jesus? Allow children to answer. That’s right! Jesus is always there watching over us, he knows our name, Jesus would do anything for us…because he loves us so much! How lucky we are to have a shepherd like that in our lives!

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Mindfulness Monday {New Life}

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Monica

The other day I was taking photos of signs of spring for a scrapbooking project I was working on. I had a handful of photos but needed a few more. As I was taking a photo of my son with his baseball gear a bird flew out of a nearby bush. Which reminded me that there was a nest in that bush. Knowing that Mama bird was gone for the moment I stuck my camera in the bush to grab a photo of the nest. Now the nest was too high for me to see in so I held my camera at arms length and snapped. When I pulled it out to check the picture I discovered that the nest contained bright blue robins eggs! My heart seriously went pitter patter with joy! How precious and special to see the beginnings of new life. It makes me want to go out everyday and check for baby birds. I don’t want to scare Mama bird permanently away from the nest so I refrain, but I listen daily for their little chirps.

As the busyness of hurring from soccer practice to baseball practice to piano to games and trying to make sure everyone does homework and eats in between takes over my life this spring, I’m grateful for this little moment I had to pause and enjoy the beauty of creation!