Sunday School Supply List

We are looking to start a little movement for any Sanctuary folks with extra resources. Some may need to be purchased. Others you may just as easily have recycled had you not know we could use them :)

Please note what you are willing to bring in the comments section below. There will be a collection bin in the back of the conference room of the Green Bean.

Construction Paper
Dry Semi-Healthy Snacks (Pretzels, Animal Crackers, etc.)
Glue Sticks
Coloring Books
Paper Plates
Paper Towels
Toilet Paper Rolls
Cereal Boxes
Egg Cartons
Cotton Balls
Glitter Glue


Thanks for your support and generosity!

A Dance for Justice :)

Here's a glimpse into what happens while the adults hang out in the main room discussing themes of justice. The kids DANCE for justice!

Preschool: Jesus calls the disciples

We heard the story of Jesus calling the disciples to follow him.

We asked, have you ever been fishing? We pretend to go fishing today! We played follow the leader to the fishing spot. Then we heard the story of Jesus asking all kinds of people to follow him: from poor fishermen to tax collectors. He asked for their help in spreading the message of God's love: that He is the Rescuer. In this way, the would be fishers of men.

For our craft, we made colorful fish to remember that we can be the Rescuer's helpers too, as fishers of men.

Thanks again to Jesse for taking over next week!

Preschool: Baptism of Jesus

Glad to be back after a long week of snow!

We heard the story of John baptizing Jesus.  This is a cool story that reminds us how clearly God tells us that Jesus is the Rescuer.

We began by thinking about water, how it washes us.  We heard about how water is special in the Bible.  It's used to baptize people.  We baptize in our church just like in the bible (put water on our heads to remember how God says I am with you, you are my child).

Next, we thought about birds, especially a bird called a dove.  A dove is a special bird in the Bible.  It is one way God shows He is with us: he sends a Dove.

Finally, we remembered John, the Prophet.  He lived in the desert and ate crickets and honey, he would shout: THE RESCUER IS COMING! Now we know that the Rescuer is Jesus.  He came as a baby and was growing up.  He came to see John the Prophet at the Jordan River to be baptized.

In the story, Jesus asked John to baptize him, like he was baptizing the other believers of his message that the Rescuer was coming.  When John saw Jesus, he said to the crowd, this is the Rescuer!   After John baptized Jesus, God sent a dove to fly down near Jesus to show that God was with them.  Then, the voice of God said: THIS IS THE RESCUER and I AM PROUD OF HIM!

What a cool story.

We made doves to remind us that God is with us in baptism AND that because he has sent the Rescuer, we are washed by grace.

Next week is my last week teaching and Jesse Diaz will take over as the lead teacher-- thank you Jesse!!

Preschool: Anna and Simeon

This week in Preschool we thought about waiting.  Waiting is hard!  Sometimes, we are waiting for presents, waiting for our birthday, waiting for grandparents to come.  In advent, we were waiting for the Rescuer.  We weren't the only ones waiting for the Rescuer... two people named Anna & Simeon were waiting too.  Their people, God's people, had been waiting for the promised Rescuer for many years.  Anna and Simeon both went to the temple (like church) every day hoping to see the Rescuer.  The day that Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the temple, both Anna and Simeon were overjoyed.  They prayed to God thanking him for sending the Rescuer and letting them live to see that baby, Jesus.

Our music, with Mark (thanks Mark!), was Go Tell It On The Mountain and He Came Down That We May Have Love. We used shakers and other rhythm instruments to show how joyful Simeon and Anna were to have seen Jesus.

For craft, we decorated a simplified version of Simeon's prayer to remind us to thank God for sending the Rescuer: Jesus.

Next week, Lydia will lead Sunday School in the story of Jesus returning to the temple, now as a grown boy.

Preschool: Advent Week Three

We arrive at the third week in Advent and we hear the story of the three Wise Men.

We found our third clue: gifts. The wise men brought gifts to the Rescuer, which reminds us the Rescuer is here for the Powerful too.

First we talked about gifts. They received a gift of a Hershey's kiss (and doughnuts too-- sorry about the sugar high!). I asked them, are you going to give a gift this year, and will it be something special? When we give gifts, we want it to be something special. Maybe a picture you made, or a hug and kiss, or helping your mom.

We heard about the gifts of the wise men-- they are very powerful, lived in a palace with a king. They are different from our meek shepherds-- but the Rescuer is coming for them too. They studied the stars and look for ways God moves them, when something special happens: a royal star appears and they go looking for the king. God brings them to the Rescuer following the star, and they give the Rescuer their special gifts.

For our craft, we made pictures of Christmas gifts with coupons for family members on the back side. The ornament craft didn't really happen, sorry!

Preschool: Advent Week Two

Advent Week Two

The Shepherds: The Rescuer is Here for the Meek

This week in sunday school we continued learning about the Rescuer who is coming!  We remembered the Prophet, John, who told Everyone that "The Rescuer is coming!"  

Then, we found this weeks' clue: a flock of sheep. We learned about the word MEEK. Sheep are meek and mild. They are not powerful.  We thought about stories we've heard before, about how the Shepherds take care of their sheep and protect them.  The sheep are meek, but so are the Shepherds. They are not powerful Kings, but the Rescuer is coming for them too.  The Rescuer is coming for the meek.  (Next week we will learn that he is coming for the powerful Kings too-- the Rescuer is coming for EVERYONE.)

We heard the story of the Shepherds:
-at night, watching the sheep-- do you remember another Shepherd? David was a shepherd who said God was like our shepherd who takes care of us
-all of a sudden, it was so bight, they couldn't see! It was angles- so bright and signing a beautiful song.
-shepherds knew something very special must be happening
-the angles told them the Rescuer was here!
-why did the angles tell shepherds about the rescuer, of all the people nearby? They aren't important! Maybe to show the rescuer is for the meek, not just the strong.

We sang with Mark and Jake:
-go tell it on the mountain
-away in a manger

***Next week, in the 1st Service (and if enough people can stay, the 2nd Service), we'll be singing Away in the Manager for the congregation, so be ready for super-cuteness!*****

The craft was supposed to be sheep ornaments for your tree, but the glue wasn't very sticky (sorry!).  We'll use real glue next time :)