CBM'S NEW MISSION CURRICULUM

Welcome to my Neighbourhood in Kenya!

CBM's NEW children's mission resource is now available.This FREE VBS contains a set of 5 lessons and a variety of games, snacks, crafts and activities for you to use at camp, summer outreach or throughout the year.

To order, please contact CBM's Communications and Resources Development team at 905-821-3533 or visit www.cbmin.org.

A BIBLE-BASED WEB SITE FOR CHILDREN

The Canadian Bible Society (CBS) has launched an interactive, fun-filled web site for children at www.biblekids.ca.

Children can listen to a Bible story as they colour a picture illustrating the same story. They can watch an entertaining music video that teaches the biblical account of God's creation. They can play a guessing game to identify a "mystery person" from the Bible by uncovering clues and hints, or they can participate in interactive adventure stories from the Old and New Testaments. To encourage children to pursue Scripture exploration with their families, all adventure stories begin by telling visitors where to find the story in the Bible.

Auditory and visual cues throughout the site make it possible for pre-readers to get as much from the experience as older children.

(Canadian Bible Society news release)

GLOBAL WORSHIP SONGS

Children may enjoy singing these global worship songs introduced by worship leader Deborah Ludolph at the 2005 Baptist Women's Convention. "Holy, Holy, Holy" from Argentina and "Glory to God" and "Miren que beuno" from Peru are from Halle, Halle: We sing the world round, by C. Michael Hawn (Choristers Guild:1999). "We have seen the Lord" (Nimemwano Bwana) from Tanzania is published in Renewing Worship 5: New hymns and songs (Augsburg Fortress: 2003). The 3-part Gloria comes from A Wee Worship Book (GIA Publications, Inc.:1999.

OUR 2007-09 THEME PASSAGE

"Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago" (Ephesians 2:9-10, NLT).

35 WAYS TO GET KIDS INVOLVED IN THE LIFE OF YOUR CHURCH

If a child is old enough, big enough, and responsible enough to help with certain tasks around the house, she or he should be able to help with similar tasks around the church, as long as parents and teachers give due consideration to health and safety issues. Some tasks will require adult supervision

1. Have their own offering envelopes
2. Greet worshippers at the door
3. Hand out worship bulletins
4. Pick up papers left in the sanctuary after the service
5. Dust pews or straighten chairs
6. Help tidy up after Sunday School or midweek group
7. Collect the cups after Communion
8. Put a fresh glass of water by the pulpit each Sunday
9. Plant annuals and spring-flowering bulbs in the church garden
10. Help weed the flowerbeds, cut the grass, rake the leaves, and pick up litter
11. Read a prayer or scripture during the worship service
12. Run the PowerPoint or overhead
13. Participate in a bell choir
14. Participate in a junior choir or worship band
15. Sing in an inter-generational choir
16. Play a prelude, offertory, or postlude
17. Replenish visitor cards, envelopes, and other pew literature
18. Straighten the hymnbooks and Bibles in the pew racks
19. Fold and stuff worship bulletins
20. Assist with church mailings by stuffing and stamping envelopes
21. Plan and present a concert in a seniors’ home
22. “Adopt a granny” with cards, notes, and visits
23. Befriend visiting children and new families
24. Pray for people in the congregation
25. Send cards or e-mails to sick children (and adults) in the church
26. Be an e-mail pal to a missionary kid
27. Set tables for church dinners
28. Serve cold drinks at church events
29. Plan and host an event for parents
30. Raise funds for a mission project
31. Help entertain the pastor or a missionary guest in their home
32. llustrate the church newsletter
33. Maintain a kids’ bulletin board
34. Volunteer in the church library
35. Sort groceries for the food bank

By Esther Barnes (from the Spring 2005 Magpie).

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY RESOURCE BOOKS

Available through READOn Bookstore

Arbuckle, Katrina. Pointmaker Object Lessons for Youth Ministry: Collection of 95, 10- 15 Minute Object Lessons for Youth Ministry. Loveland: Group Publishing Inc., 2000.

Chromey, Rick and Beth R. Wolf. Eds. Children’s Ministry Guide for Smaller Churches: Your Step-by-Step Guide for Making a Big Impact on a Little-Bitty Budget. Loveland: Group Publishing Inc., 1995.

Duckworth, John. Instant Skits for Children’s Ministry. Loveland: Group Publishing Inc., 2001.

Hansen, Cindy St. Ed. The Humongous Book of Games for Children’s Ministry. Loveland: Group Publishing Inc., 2001.

Johnston, Ray and Les Parrot. Help! I’m a Sunday School Teacher. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1998.

Jutlia, Craig and Gary Wilde. Leadership Essentials for Children’s Ministry. Loveland: Group Publishing Inc., 2001.

Lingo, Susan L., Jan Kershner and Lois Keffer. Eds. The Children’s Worker’s Encyclopedia of Bible-Teaching Ideas: New Testament. Loveland: Group Publishing Inc., 1997.

Group Publications. No-Work Paperwork for Children’s Ministry. Loveland: Group Publishing Inc., 1996.


TEXTS ON/ABOUT CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES

Berryman, Jerome. Godly Play. New York: HarperCollins, 1991.

Bowden, Boyce A. The Child Friendly Church: 150 Models of Ministry with Children. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1999.

Recommended by Victoria Ford

Comments or questions? Contact webweaver@baptistwomen.com. Copyright 2006, Baptist Women of Ontario and Quebec.