Connect


February 2008 Welcome to Connect, the monthly e-newsletter for those who minister to children in small Sunday schools, midweek programs, and new church plants. *To invite your ministry staff members and volunteers to receive Connect,* click here. Preparing Hearts *Warm fuzzy* n : an unexpected occurrence that leaves you feeling happy, comforted, warm. Years ago I worked at a nursery school where the director opened monthly staff meetings by asking everyone to share a “warm fuzzy.” After a day spent blowing noses, sanitizing hands, and picking Play Doh out of the carpet, we were often tired and a little cranky. Asking us to share a warm fuzzy was a wise move. It meant that instead of focusing on what didn’t work, everyone had to think back to a moment when something unexpected and beautiful happened. Sharing a warm fuzzy set a wonderful tone and refreshed us before we got down to planning for the next month. So today, a chilly day in February that’s six months into the church education year, I’d like you to join me in a virtual staff meeting. I’m going to open with a few warm fuzzies from my church, and I hope you’ll remember some too. Here’s one. Five-year-old Alex recently arrived at small group wearing a new blue polarfleece sweater. When middle-aged me told him how much I liked it, he suggested, “Maybe you could ask your mom and dad and they could buy you one too.” Here’s another one. I was welcoming kids to large group when I first noticed there was only one adult instead of two in the crowd. And “crowd” is key to this warm fuzzy. Our Kid Connection program meets in a rented classroom of a local high school and averages 12 kids a week. On that particular day we were stormed by 28 kids. That’s right—28 kids, one classroom, one Rubbermaid container of supplies and only one small group leader. When large group ended and it became clear the K-3 small group was leaderless, I stayed to teach. We pushed the desks to the walls and sat together in the far corner of the classroom floor. All 17 of us. The leader’s guide suggested a group prayer. “Guys, we’re going to do a popcorn prayer of thanks,” I said, “I’m going to start and whenever you feel like thanking God for something you just go ahead and say it.” I didn’t really think it would work—a third of the kids had never been to our program before and two of them hardly spoke English. It started a little slow. “Thanks for my house.” Pop. Pop. Pop. “Thanks for my older brother.” Pop. Pop. “Thanks for my breakfast today.” As kids warmed to the idea, the words came faster and faster. “Thanks for loving us!” “Thanks for taking care of us!” “Thanks for the rain!” “Thanks for umbrellas!” “Thank you for my grandma who brings me to church!” “Thank you for showing my cat how to get home!” “Merci beaucoup pour mon ami!” When I opened my eyes (how could I resist?) every one of those 17 kids had their eyes squeezed shut and their face scrunched up in deep concentration. The prayers began to overlap and soon all I could hear was this choir of kid’s voices talking to God. If I hadn’t jumped in and ended the prayer when the kid beside me said “Thanks for underwear!” they might still be going. Wow! That AWOL leader never knew what she missed that day—I’m so thankful I was there! Here’s another. I got a handmade present from a kindergartner this year. It was carefully wrapped in tissue and adorned with an off-center bow. Inside were two unusually shaped pieces of green fabric, decorated with a marker and glued-on bits of craft foam. As I opened the package she beamed with pride and said, “It’s a bikini!” One more. In the December Connect I shared that we were excited to try one of Faith Alive’s “Quick and Easy Christmas Programs.” Where I live, December was a snowy month—so snowy that on two separate Sundays we had to cancel church. The only problem was that one of those days was the date of our Christmas program. As a result, our program was bumped ahead one week. That meant that some of our actors were no longer available. Other kids jumped in, we shuffled some roles, and our one and only rehearsal took place half an hour before church began. It was awesome. The kids—especially eleven-year-old Jireh, a recent refugee from Rwanda—read their lines with great enthusiasm. Two kids sang solos, starting shyly and ending with gusto. Even the five-year-olds got into the act, taking turns carrying signs like, “Scene 1: The Shepherds” and “Scene 4: The Angels” across the stage. Some of them stopped to shout the words on their sign to the audience; others preferred a more subtle and silent approach. God is at work in my children’s ministry program; God is at work in yours too. Paul, an apostle not really known for his warm fuzzy approach to things, offers us one in Ephesians 3: 8, 9: And so here I am, preaching and writing about things that are way over my head, the inexhaustible riches and generosity of Christ. My task is to bring out in the open and make plain what God, who created all this in the first place, has been doing in secret and behind the scenes all along. (The Message) Each week God sends you kids and each week you have the awesome opportunity to share God’s love with them. Some weeks it may feel like all you’re doing is blowing noses, sanitizing tables, and picking Play Doh out of the carpet. But focus on the warm fuzzies: those awesome and often unexpected moments when you’re reminded why working with kids can cause so much joy and you get a glimpse of the results of God’s work behind the scenes preparing hearts. P.S. We’d love to hear YOUR warm fuzzies (and anything else you’d like to share!) Please e-mail us at editors@faithaliveresources.org. Recommended Resource There's still time to plan for Easter! Were You There? and other Easter units contain everything you need for a two-week time of discovery and celebration for all levels of your Sunday school (grades K-8): large and small group sessions; two complete dramas; complete programs; songs and a music CD; and craft directions, games, and other photocopiable resources. Click here to order or view sample chapters.
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February 2008

Welcome to Connect, the monthly e-newsletter for those who minister to children in small Sunday schools, midweek programs, and new church plants. To invite your ministry staff members and volunteers to receive Connect, click here.

Preparing Hearts

Warm fuzzy n : an unexpected occurrence that leaves you feeling happy, comforted, warm.

Years ago I worked at a nursery school where the director opened monthly staff meetings by asking everyone to share a “warm fuzzy.” After a day spent blowing noses, sanitizing hands, and picking Play Doh out of the carpet, we were often tired and a little cranky. Asking us to share a warm fuzzy was a wise move. It meant that instead of focusing on what didn’t work, everyone had to think back to a moment when something unexpected and beautiful happened. Sharing a warm fuzzy set a wonderful tone and refreshed us before we got down to planning for the next month.

So today, a chilly day in February that’s six months into the church education year, I’d like you to join me in a virtual staff meeting. I’m going to open with a few warm fuzzies from my church, and I hope you’ll remember some too.

Here’s one. Five-year-old Alex recently arrived at small group wearing a new blue polarfleece sweater. When middle-aged me told him how much I liked it, he suggested, “Maybe you could ask your mom and dad and they could buy you one too.”

Here’s another one. I was welcoming kids to large group when I first noticed there was only one adult instead of two in the crowd. And “crowd” is key to this warm fuzzy. Our Kid Connection program meets in a rented classroom of a local high school and averages 12 kids a week. On that particular day we were stormed by 28 kids. That’s right—28 kids, one classroom, one Rubbermaid container of supplies and only one small group leader. When large group ended and it became clear the K-3 small group was leaderless, I stayed to teach. We pushed the desks to the walls and sat together in the far corner of the classroom floor. All 17 of us.

The leader’s guide suggested a group prayer. “Guys, we’re going to do a popcorn prayer of thanks,” I said, “I’m going to start and whenever you feel like thanking God for something you just go ahead and say it.” I didn’t really think it would work—a third of the kids had never been to our program before and two of them hardly spoke English.

It started a little slow. “Thanks for my house.” Pop. Pop. Pop. “Thanks for my older brother.” Pop. Pop. “Thanks for my breakfast today.” As kids warmed to the idea, the words came faster and faster. “Thanks for loving us!” “Thanks for taking care of us!” “Thanks for the rain!” “Thanks for umbrellas!” “Thank you for my grandma who brings me to church!” “Thank you for showing my cat how to get home!” “Merci beaucoup pour mon ami!” When I opened my eyes (how could I resist?) every one of those 17 kids had their eyes squeezed shut and their face scrunched up in deep concentration. The prayers began to overlap and soon all I could hear was this choir of kid’s voices talking to God. If I hadn’t jumped in and ended the prayer when the kid beside me said “Thanks for underwear!” they might still be going. Wow! That AWOL leader never knew what she missed that day—I’m so thankful I was there!

Here’s another. I got a handmade present from a kindergartner this year. It was carefully wrapped in tissue and adorned with an off-center bow. Inside were two unusually shaped pieces of green fabric, decorated with a marker and glued-on bits of craft foam. As I opened the package she beamed with pride and said, “It’s a bikini!”

One more. In the December Connect I shared that we were excited to try one of Faith Alive’s “Quick and Easy Christmas Programs.” Where I live, December was a snowy month—so snowy that on two separate Sundays we had to cancel church. The only problem was that one of those days was the date of our Christmas program. As a result, our program was bumped ahead one week. That meant that some of our actors were no longer available. Other kids jumped in, we shuffled some roles, and our one and only rehearsal took place half an hour before church began.

It was awesome. The kids—especially eleven-year-old Jireh, a recent refugee from Rwanda—read their lines with great enthusiasm. Two kids sang solos, starting shyly and ending with gusto. Even the five-year-olds got into the act, taking turns carrying signs like, “Scene 1: The Shepherds” and “Scene 4: The Angels” across the stage. Some of them stopped to shout the words on their sign to the audience; others preferred a more subtle and silent approach.

God is at work in my children’s ministry program; God is at work in yours too.

Paul, an apostle not really known for his warm fuzzy approach to things, offers us one in Ephesians 3: 8, 9:

And so here I am, preaching and writing about things that are way over my head, the inexhaustible riches and generosity of Christ. My task is to bring out in the open and make plain what God, who created all this in the first place, has been doing in secret and behind the scenes all along. (The Message)

Each week God sends you kids and each week you have the awesome opportunity to share God’s love with them. Some weeks it may feel like all you’re doing is blowing noses, sanitizing tables, and picking Play Doh out of the carpet. But focus on the warm fuzzies: those awesome and often unexpected moments when you’re reminded why working with kids can cause so much joy and you get a glimpse of the results of God’s work behind the scenes preparing hearts.

P.S. We’d love to hear YOUR warm fuzzies (and anything else you’d like to share!) Please e-mail us at editors@faithaliveresources.org.

Recommended Resource

There's still time to plan for Easter! Were You There? and other Easter units contain everything you need for a two-week time of discovery and celebration for all levels of your Sunday school (grades K-8): large and small group sessions; two complete dramas; complete programs; songs and a music CD; and craft directions, games, and other photocopiable resources. Click here to order or view sample chapters.

This is not spam. You are subscribed to Connect as %%emailaddr%%. To unsubscribe, send a blank email to %%email.unsub%% or click here to edit your member profile.

If you have questions or comments about this list, e-mail us or call 1-800-333-8300.