Jesus as a boy, in the Temple: September 2013 Schedule

Posted on by Carol Hulbert

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At FUMC on Saturday nights and on Sunday mornings, our Christian education for children is based on the Workshop Rotation Model. In September kids will spend four weeks learning about Jesus when he was a young boy of 12-years old. Each week they will encounter a different kid-friendly multimedia workshop. When they are done they really know the stories!

Read this month’s story in Luke 2:41-52.

Jesus in the Temple as a boy

For Saturdays at the Green Wood location, here is the schedule…

Date Workshop Activity
9/7 Art Workshop Create a unique book of God-given talents. The design of this book makes it a keeper! It will be easy to add more pages.
9/14 Cooking Talk about Passover and make unleavened bread.
9/21 Video Watch a video that tells the story and one that covers the story theme.
9/28 Games Play a game of “Concentration” and learn story details.

For Sundays at the downtown location, here is the schedule…

Date Our workshops…
9/1 Enjoy worship and Communion with your family
Cooking Games Art Video Drama
Social Hall Room 211 Room 212 Pine Room Room 215
9/8 3rd grade 5th & 6th grade 1st grade 4th grade 2nd grade
9/15 4th grade 1st grade 2nd grade 5th & 6th grade 3rd grade
9/22 5th & 6th grade 2nd grade 3rd grade 1st grade 4th grade
9/29 1st grade 3rd grade 4th grade 2nd grade 5th & 6th grade

What’s happening in each workshop?

  • In the Cooking Workshop students will make unleavened bread. They will learn about Jesus’ celebration of Passover and his experience in Jerusalem – feeling at home in his “father’s house.”
  • In the Games Workshop students will participate in a game of Concentration — with a twist! This game will help them to learn story details.
  • In the Art Workshop students will create a “Book of Gifts” to record skills and talents God has given them. Their book will have a unique cover done with a marble painting. Ask them the significance of the cover!
  • In the Video Workshop students will watch portions of the live-action video Jesus, and the video Finding Nemo.
  • In the Drama Workshop students will enact the story using a Greek Drama complete with masks similar to those used over 2,000 years ago.

If you are in the area please join us for the fun learning at First United Methodist Church in Ann Arbor, MI


Photo credits:
Biblical illustration by Jim Padgett, from now-out-of-print Read’n Grow Picture Bible, circa 1984; via Wikimedia Commons, courtesy of Sweet Publishing, Ft. Worth, TX, and Gospel Light, Ventura, CA. Released under a Creative Commons license.

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Summer schedule 2013

Posted on by Carol Hulbert

Welcome to this small spot on the web where we work together to figure out ways to nurture your child’s spirituality. Subscribe to receive future posts (usually one, maybe two a week). Enter your e-mail address to have posts sent directly to your inbox. Or click on the orange RSS icon to subscribe in a reader.

What’s up for kids and Christian Education in July and August at FUMC?
Starting July 13th and 14th, we’re off to the movies! Our special summer film series will feature six selections from the “What’s in the Bible with Buck Denver” series.  It will be a fun way to enjoy a change of pace while learning some really cool stuff! (This video series is by the creator of Veggie Tales!) And, we voted on special days! Check out the schedule below.

Here’s a preview of this film series:

Here is the schedule for July and August and the beginning of September:

Date Green Wood location
Saturday evening		 Downtown location
Sunday morning
July 13/14 Both locations introduced the What’s in the Bible video series.
(And we voted for special days!)

(If you missed this week, to be introduced to all of the characters in this series watch this short video.)
July 20/21 Attend worship with your parental units Stuffed animal day. Kids brought their stuffed animals to the movies! We learned about Genesis. Here’s an important message from today’s lesson.
July 27/28 Attend worship with your parental units. Missing hearing the theme song? (I figured you were. Here it is.) We’re fast-forwarding to the New Testament. Here’s the trailer.
Date Green Wood location
Saturday evening		 Downtown location
Sunday morning
August 3/4 Stuffed animal day! Today we’ll learn about the first book of the Bible: Genesis. Watch a portion of what we’ll see. Attend worship with your parental units
August 10/11 Pajama Day! What a fun way to view a video; all cushy-comfy in your jammers. However, it would be wise if you at least wore shoes. Or would it be smart? I wonder what the difference is between wise and smart? We are going to find out! Pajama Day! (It will be so easy to get ready for church!) We’ll be watching part two of the Gospels. Here’s something that the adults might be interested in watching. (Kids can watch too but it’s a message for the grown-ups.)
August 17/18 Wear your funky hat day. Yikes, I hope it’s not too hot to wear a hat! Regardless, come and watch part one of the Gospels. You know the Gospels right? (Here’s a review.) Nothing special day? But wait! When YOU are there it’s special! This week you won’t want to miss. It’s all about the special gift that Jesus promised his disciples. That’s right, the Holy Spirit. Is this gift available for us today? Come and watch and see!
August 24/25 Pajama Day – again! Today we’ll be continuing on with the Gospels. There is lots to learn about: healing and miracles and teachings and things that aren’t even talked about in the Bible! But they are important concepts to understand. Watch this one about the Trinity. Pajama Day #2 (just in case you missed the first one.) We’ll be learning about the books of the Bible called the “Writings.” Can anyone name a book in the Writings section? Here’s one.
Aug. 31 /Sept. 1 Backwards Day. That will be strange. Hey, we’ll be talking today about what happened on Pentecost. Now that was amazing strange! Attend worship with your parental units. Have you been singing the theme song?

We are a Workshop Rotation Model church! Yeah for fun, meaningful learning! Join us in two locations: On Saturday evening at Green Wood, or downtown on Sunday mornings at First United Methodist Church in Ann Arbor, MI.


Photo credit: Click here for info on banner photo (not visible in readers or email).

Vacation Bible Camp starts next week!

Posted on by Carol Hulbert

Next week Vacation Bible Camp starts! Are your kids excited?

the logo for VBC - Kingdom Rock

The theme this year is Kingdom Rock, where kids will discover that by trusting God, everything is possible! We’ll learn about standing strong.

  • DAY 1: “God’s love helps us stand strong.”
  • DAY 2: “Family and friends help us stand strong.”
  • DAY 3: “Prayer helps us stand strong.”
  • DAY 4: “Trusting God helps us stand strong.”
  • DAY 5: “The Bible helps us stand strong.”

As usual there will be great music. Take a chance to learn the theme song ahead of time!

Got that stuck in your head yet?

I hope we see you there!

~~ Carol (on behalf of the VBC team)

Registration for VBC this year is now closed! But you can still sign up to help!

Join our readers! Receive new posts to this blog by email by entering your address in the box on the upper right side of this page. (And then clicking the button). There will be one post every day next week of VBC, but usually there is one post a week. No sharing of your email!


Photo credits:
Click here for info on banner photo (not visible in readers or email).
VBC Logo used by permission of Group Publishing.

Joseph in Egypt: June 2013 Schedule

Posted on by Carol Hulbert

You’re in the right spot for tips on how to nurture your child’s spirituality. Subscribe to receive future posts. (Usually one or two a week but every day during Vacation Bible Camp week: July 8-12!) Enter your e-mail address to have posts sent directly to your inbox. Or click on the orange RSS icon to subscribe in a reader.

On Saturday nights and on Sunday mornings at FUMC our Cool Disciples experience Workshop Rotation Model Christian education. (Click on any of those bold words to find out more about our programs.)

In June, we are continuing to cover part two of the Old Testament Joseph story. Read in the Bible all of the passages we’re covering in Genesis 39:1-5, 39:20-45:28, 46:1-7, 50:15-21. Yes, it’s too much to read in one sitting! Here’s the answer: Use the reading plan for this Rotation to help with how to break it down into manageable chunks. This reading plan includes discussion questions – talk about it over the family dinner table and apply this story to your lives.

Joseph reveals himself to his brothers (a painting of unknown origin, in the public domain
Joseph reveals himself to his brothers (Genesis 45:1-15)

For Saturdays at the Green Wood location, here is the schedule…

Date Workshop Activity
6/1 Plant flowers! Support the Green Wood clean-up day and help to beautify the church exterior.
6/8 A visit from Pastor Doug! We’ll play some get-to-know-you games and hear what he thinks about the story of Joseph.
6/15 No workshops today. Worship with your family.
6/22 Photography workshop Retell the story by creating frozen pictures of story scenes.
6/29 Musical Storytelling Tell the story in a musical way! Watch portions of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Sing along!

For Sundays at the downtown location, here is the schedule of workshops…

Date Our workshops…
6/2 Enjoy worship and Communion with your family
6/9 The big game! Are You Smarter than a 6th grader?
Puppets Games Video Musical Storytelling Photography
Room 215 Room 211 Pine Room Social Hall Room 204
6/16 4th grade 5th & 6th grade 1st grade 2nd grade 3rd grade
6/23 5th & 6th grade 3rd grade 4th grade 1st grade 2nd grade
6/30 2nd grade 4th grade 5th & 6th grade 3rd grade 1st grade

What’s happening in each workshop?

  • In the Games Workshop students will play a quiz game using the life-sized game board and an over-sized game die.
  • In the Photography Workshop students will create a series of tableaux (still photographs) of each portion of the story. These will later be made into a slideshow with narration.
  • In the Puppet Workshop students will use handle-bag puppets to enact the story of Joseph and his brothers in Egypt.
  • The Storytelling Workshop tells the story with a musical! Experience Joseph’s feelings and events in his life by viewing and discussing parts of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
  • In the Video Workshop students will watch portions of the animated video Joseph King of Dreams.


If you are in the area please join us for the fun learning at First United Methodist Church in Ann Arbor, MI


Photo credits:
Click here for info on banner photo (not visible in readers or email).
Painting of Joseph revealing his identity, from an unknown origin, in the Public Domain. Courtesy of La Vista Church of Christ. Licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Cool Disciples Schedule – May 2013

Posted on by Carol Hulbert

Don’t miss a chance to learn about bringing faith conversations to your family! Easily read future posts (one a week) by subscribing over on the right. Enter your e-mail address to have posts sent directly to your inbox. Or click on the orange RSS icon to subscribe in a reader.

On Saturday nights and on Sunday mornings at FUMC, our “Sunday’s Cool” is a different sort of Christian education. We are a Workshop Rotation Model church. That means kids spend five weeks learning a particular Bible story, each week encountering a different kid-friendly multimedia workshop.

Joseph interprets Pharaoh's dreams
Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dreams

In May and in June, we are covering part two of the Old Testament Joseph story. Read part two in Genesis 39:1-5, 39:20-45:28, 46:1-7, 50:15-21. (It covers a lot of reading – nine chapters! Stay-tuned, a reading plan will be up next week.) A review of part one (with a printable discussion) is here.

For Saturdays at the Green Wood location, here is the schedule…

Date Workshop Activity
5/4 Puppets Workshop Use handle-bag puppets to enact the story of Joseph and his brothers in Egypt.
5/11 Games Workshop Play a quiz game to focus on story details.
5/18 Video Workshop Watch portions of the animated video Joseph King of Dreams.
5/25 No workshop for Memorial Day weekend. If you’re not at Family Camp, worship with your family.

For Sundays at the downtown location, here is the schedule of workshops…

Date Our workshops…
5/5 Enjoy worship and Communion with your family
Puppets Games Video Storytelling Photography
Room 215 Room 211 Pine Room Social Hall Room 204
5/12 3rd grade 1st grade 2nd grade 5th & 6th grade 4th grade
5/19 1st grade 2nd grade 3rd grade 4th grade 5th & 6th grade
5/26 Memorial Day weekend! Family Camp!
If you’re in town, attend worship with your family.

This Rotation will continue in June!

What’s happening in each workshop?

  • In the Games Workshop students will play a quiz game using the life-sized game board and an over-sized game die.
  • In the Photography Workshop students will create a series of tableaux (still photographs) of each portion of the story. These will later be made into a slideshow with narration.
  • In the Puppet Workshop students will use handle-bag puppets to enact the story of Joseph and his brothers in Egypt.
  • The Storytelling Workshop tells the story with a musical! Experience Joseph’s feelings and events in his life by viewing and discussing parts of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
  • In the Video Workshop students will watch portions of the animated video Joseph King of Dreams.


If you are in the area please join us for the fun learning at First United Methodist Church in Ann Arbor, MI


Photo credits:
Click here for info on banner photo (not visible in readers or email).
Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dream, an illustration by O. A. Stemler and Bess Bruce Cleaveland from the Standard Bible Story Readers: Book 3 (in the Public Domain), made available by La Vista Church of Christ under a Creative Commons non-commercial 3.0 license.

Peter is Forgiven — Workshops we’ve used to teach this story

Posted on by Carol Hulbert

Nurturing your child’s spirituality is a big job; here is help! Subscribe so as to not miss the support you need. Enter your e-mail address to have a post sent directly to your inbox. Or click on the orange RSS icon to subscribe in a reader. (Not over-whelming; usually one post a week.)

The Workshop Rotation Model of Christian Education at FUMC rocks! Here are a couple of reasons why:

  • A Bible story is explored in-depth through a variety of creative teaching mediums (“workshops”) over a period of 5 weeks.
  • Kids from age 3 to 6th grade, whether attending Sunday’s downtown or Saturday’s at Green Wood, are all focusing on the same story, which allows families to share learning at home.

In April, we are continuing our study of Jesus’ forgiveness of Peter.
Can you imagine how Peter felt when he heard the rooster crow?

An angry-looking rooster

What had Peter just done? What was it that Jesus had told Peter about a rooster crowing? Ask your kids! Read our story in John 13:33, 36-38 and John 18:15-18, 25-27 and John 21:1-17.

For Saturdays at the Green Wood location, here is the schedule…

Date Workshop Activity
4/6 No workshop Worship with your family.
4/13 Art Workshop Create a positive space/negative space cut-paper or a stencil collage using symbols from the story.
4/20 No workshop It’s youth-led worship!
4/27 Games Workshop Participate in a quiz game.

For Sundays at the downtown location, here is the schedule of workshops…

Date Our workshops…
4/7 Enjoy worship and Communion with your family
Games Drama Cooking Video Art
Room 211 Room 215 Social Hall Pine Room Room 212
4/14 3rd grade 5th & 6th grade 2nd grade 4th grade 1st grade
4/21 Youth-led worship! Attend with your family.
4/28 4th grade 2nd grade 1st grade 5th & 6th grade 3rd grade

What’s happening in each workshop?

  • In the Drama Workshop students will enact the story of Peter’s denial and restoration using shadow drama.
  • In the Art Workshop students will create a cut-paper collage using symbols from the story and the Japanese design principal of “Notan” (dark and light).
  • In the Games Workshop students will participate in a quiz game (using the game wheel) to reinforce their knowledge of story details.
  • In the Cooking Workshop students will create Peter’s Trail Mix and tell the Easter story with each ingredient.
  • In the Video Workshop students will watch portions of the live-action video The Gospel of John, exploring the story of Peter’s denial and restoration.


If you are in the area please join us for the fun learning at First United Methodist Church in Ann Arbor, MI


Photo credits:
Click here for info on banner photo (not visible in readers or email).
Rooster by Christopher Craig, who licensed this photo on Flickr under a Creative Commons License.

Easter & Beyond: Peter is forgiven

Posted on by Carol Hulbert

You’re in the right spot… for tips on how to nurture your child’s spirituality. Subscribe to receive future posts. (Usually one, maybe two a week.) Enter your e-mail address over on the right, to have posts sent directly to your inbox. Or click on the orange RSS icon to subscribe in a reader.

At FUMC on Saturday nights and on Sunday mornings, our Christian education for children is based on the Workshop Rotation Model. This means that kids spend six weeks learning a particular Bible story, each week encountering a different kid-friendly multimedia workshop. When they are done they really know the stories!

In March, we are studying an Easter related story. Easter comes once a year, allowing us the chance to focus on a different aspect of Easter.
(View the last couple of years of Easter stories here and here.)

This year our focus is on Easter through the eyes of Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples. The big question to ask your kids:

What happened to Peter that gives us a powerful message
of what Easter is all about?

Jesus and his disciples share breakfast on the beach (John 21)
Jesus & his disciples have a post-Resurrection breakfast on the beach

Reading all the various parts of our story takes lots of jumping around in the Bible. (Good practice!) Read our story in John 13:33, 36-38 and John 18:15-18, 25-27 and John 21:1-17.

Here are the schedules of workshops for March

For Sundays at the downtown location…

Date Our workshops…
3/3 Enjoy worship and Communion with your family
Drama Art Games Cooking Video
Room 215 Room 212 Room 211 Social Hall Pine Room
3/10 3rd grade 5th & 6th grade 1st grade 4th grade 2nd grade
3/17 1st grade 4th grade 2nd grade 5th & 6th grade 3rd grade
3/24 4th grade 2nd grade 5th & 6th grade 3rd grade 1st grade
3/31 Enjoy Easter worship with your family!

What’s happening in each workshop?

  • In the Drama Workshop students will enact the story of Peter’s denial and restoration using shadow drama.
  • In the Art Workshop students will create a cut-paper collage using symbols from the story and the Japanese design principal of “Notan” (dark and light).
  • In the Games Workshop students will participate in a quiz game (using the game wheel) to reinforce their knowledge of story details.
  • In the Cooking Workshop students will create Peter’s Trail Mix and tell the Easter story with each ingredient.
  • In the Video Workshop students will watch portions of the live-action video The Gospel of John, enjoy popcorn (can’t have a movie without popcorn!) and explore the story of Peter’s denial and restoration.

For Saturdays at the Green Wood location, here is the schedule…

Date Workshop Activity
3/2 Puppets Wrap up the story of Joseph and his brothers by acting out the story with puppets.
3/9 Cooking Workshop Create Peter’s Trail Mix and tell the Easter story with each ingredient.
3/16

Update!

 Due to a plumbing problem Green Wood is closed this weekend.
3/23 Video Workshop Explore the story of Peter’s denial and restoration while watching the scripture come to life in the live-actor video, The Gospel of John.
3/30 Cooking Workshop Focus on the Resurrection story of Easter making “resurrection rolls.” Experience the empty tomb, just as the women did on the first Easter morning!

What did you think of doing six-week Rotations? Please, give us your feedback!

If you are in the area please join us for the fun learning at First United Methodist Church in Ann Arbor, MI

Photo credits:
Click here for info on banner photo (not visible in readers or email).
Jesus eats breakfast with his disciples an illustration by O. A. Stemler and Bess Bruce Cleaveland from the Standard Bible Story Readers: Book 4 (in the Public Domain).

God makes all things new

Posted on by Carol Hulbert

How is your Lent coming? Have you seen any of these…

crocus peeking out of the snow

Maybe not yet, but soon!

Isn’t it appropriate that Easter and spring coincide? Spring is symbolic of what Easter is all about.

God transforms, and makes all things new.

Did you know that most bulbs like the crocuses shown above, need weeks of darkness and cold temperatures in order to bloom? (On the exception list would be amaryllis and paperwhite narcissus.)

Just as bulbs have spent mandatory time, waiting in the ground all winter, we too need a time of quiet renewal. The purpose of Lent is to remind us of this; to be transformed we need some dark, quietness!

Be ready for the first bulbs you see rousing from their renewing experience. Ask your kids (and yourself!):

  • If you were a bulb what would you think about as you waited in the dark?
  • Perhaps you could talk to God?
  • Perhaps you could listen for God?
  • Perhaps you could use your time to admit your sins? (Sins are anything you’ve done that separates or disconnects you from God)
  • Perhaps you could renew your relationship with God?

    • What are you learning in your quiet darkness?

Lenten blessings!
 — Carol

A cross decorated with palm branches It’s Lent! Here are some resources for the season:

Lenten activities for your family.

Short spiritual practices to try during Lent.

A way to tell the Easter story using plastic Easter eggs.

A small thing to add to your days during Lent.


Photo credits:
Crocus in snow by Liz West, is licensed on Flickr under Creative Commons (CC BY 2.0).
FUMC’s palm-covered cross from my archives. Offered for use under Creative Commons (BY NC-SA 2.0).