Category Archives: Children
Nursery in the Sanctuary
At Linda’s church she has turned a corner of their sanctuary into a children’s area where they remain as their parents and grandparents worship. This space is where the organ used to be, to the right of the lectern. An … Continue reading
Our Children’s Musical
This was our children’s musical yesterday. The First Leon is a Christmas pageant about a Christmas pageant. It tells the story of a boy who changes the Christmas story by accident and teaches us about the blessedness of giving. Watching … Continue reading
Menacing Face
This was my costume from Sunday’s Trick or Trunk event in the front parking lot at church. An artist in our congregation made my face look menacing. There were a lot of children at that event, many of whom I … Continue reading
Crystal Lake
We returned this evening from a two day mini camp at Crystal Lake Conference Center. I was a counselor, and my wife was the dean. Crystal is a beautiful place and my favorite in Michigan. We work at this camp … Continue reading
Spelling Bee
Today I was one of three judges at the fourth grade spelling bee at Alexander Elementary School. Competing students sat in these chairs as parents and other students watched. The winner, Emma, spelled correctly the word telegraph.
Mountain In the Chancel
This is the set for children’s musical on Sunday. It is on the prophet Elijah from 1 Kings. To the right you see Mt Carmel, which is the pulpit covered by a brown canvas tarp. To the left is the … Continue reading
Mr and Mrs Santa
On Wednesday my wife and I posed as Mr and Mrs Santa for two classes of preschool children in Sand Creek, south of Adrian. She made the costumes a few years ago and plans these outings each December. It always … Continue reading
The Story of Britain
The Story of Britain from the Norman Conquest to the European Union, by Patrick Dillon (Candlewick, 2011). With illustrations by P.J. Lynch. I came across this book on a glass display shelf in the young readers section at the library. … Continue reading
On the Shore of Crystal Lake
I have gone to eight church camps in four states. The Crystal Conference Center on the south shore of Crystal Lake is the best I have seen. Its facilities, programs and staff are first rate, and the lake itself is … Continue reading
Little Screens
Ryan Dueck has moved from Vancouver Island back to southern Alberta where he is originally from. At one point in the latter stages of our journey home last week—I think we had just crossed the Alberta border—I asked my daughter, … Continue reading
VBS Veteran
Here my Vacation Bible School materials are going back into storage for another year. The tan drop cloths work well to create artificial walls, rocks or ground for Bible stories; or throw them over a ring of chairs to make … Continue reading
Pretzel Crosses
Group produces the Vacation Bible School curriculum we use, and on Thursday of VBS week they usually plan for us to talk about the cross. “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures.” (1 Cor. 15.3) Since the snacks … Continue reading
PandaMania
The set for this year’s PandaMania Vacation Bible School: Yesterday’s Bible lesson for the older children focused on the creation story, but I couldn’t take part because of a funeral. Today, it’s Elijah on Mt Carmel. The children will build … Continue reading
Pentecost Chaos
Yesterday I taught the K–5 summer Sunday school class. Ten children came, including a visitor from Deerfield staying with her grandmother. The children read the Pentecost story from Acts 2. Then I planned two activities to connect to images from … Continue reading
Silly String Doesn’t Taste Good
Our first Fall Festival took place today on the church’s front lawn. There were activities for all ages: horse rides, wagon rides, pumpkin decorating, face painting, musical groups, games for children and a bake sale. Our pumpkin patch was open … Continue reading
Physically Assaulted
Anti-gay bullying is in the news . Here are statistics: In a 2009 survey of more than 7,000 LGBT middle and high school students… 84.6 percent said they were verbally harassed, 40.1 percent physically harassed, and 18.8 percent physically assaulted … Continue reading
Cross and Flame
On Thursday of Vacation Bible School, the children took white gauze bandages and wrapped them around their arms to show how sin hurts us and those we love. Then they took the bandages and hung them on the cross, where … Continue reading
High Seas Expedition
Here is the set for High Seas Expedition, our Vacation Bible School program this week: The children love to turn the ship’s wheel: The nautical theme was evident today as the Bible story was Paul on the stormy sea in … Continue reading
Children Teach Me
Last Sunday I led the elementary children’s Sunday school, which meets at 9:30 during the adult worship time. Their parents were in the sanctuary, and I was with nine children down the hall in Room 19. Our Sunday school director planned the … Continue reading
Where Will I Find a Rubber Snake?
I gave much of this day to reading through the five Bible lessons for our Vacation Bible School, which begins in a month. I lead the teaching time for the older children. It helps to get a sense of preparation … Continue reading
