Preschool: Mary's gift to Jesus

Today our two classes combined to learn about giving gifts. We talked about when we get gifts (birthdays, holidays) and who gives us gifts (people who love us). We put smelly lotion on our hands to understand perfume and why that might be a nice gift (in case you were wondering why your kid smelled like lavender!).

Then we read the story of Mary, Jesus's friend, who gave him the gift of perfume. We thought about how we can give Jesus gifts-- through songs and prayer to him and also, by giving gifts to other people in his name.

That's when we talked about how some kids don't have water to drink. We though about how we can collect money to give them a gift of clean water in Jesus name. Thus, we made piggy banks to collect spare change for Spilling Hope. The kids took them home and should bring them back on June 12 (for those of us who will be camping, we can bring them on June 5th-- give it to Joey, Paula or Dan Moses).

Next week: Jasmine & Leah will be leading the class.

Preschool: Mary and Martha

This week in sunday school we learned a bit about spending time with Jesus. The kids were introduced to a couple different looking books that had stories about Jesus in them-- even though they looked different, they were all the Bible. We took turns hiding the Bibles around the room and finding them. We talked about how in the Bible there is a story about Jesus and two of his friends, Mary and Martha. Jesus wanted to spend time with them-- talking and listening together. He wanted that more than a clean house or food (hmmm... a lesson for me on mother's day?). One way we can spend time with Jesus is by reading the stories about him in the Bible. So, we made bookmarks (one for Mom, one for the kids) to use when we read the Bible. Happy Mother's day!

Next week: We'll hear the story of Mary's precious gift to Jesus. As part of learning about Mary's generosity, we'll be making piggy banks for the kids to take home to collect coins for the Spilling Hope project Sanctuary is doing.

Thanks for sharing your wonderful kids with us-- they really are a blessing!

Preschool: Woman at the well

Today we heard the story of Jesus and the woman at the well. How Jesus was very thirsty and asked the woman to get him some water. Also, how we are thirsty and how Jesus can give us very special water-- living water. To illustrate thirsty, we went on a walk looking for things that need water and ended up at the park. We came back very thirsty! We finished our lesson off with special water (koolaid:) to quench our thirst like Jesus can.

Next week: Mary and Martha story-- talking about how Jesus wants us to spend time with him!

Preschool: Easter

What a happy day Easter was! We joined the Elementary and Preschool classes together for a very special, very energetic Easter celebration :)

We began reading and thinking about what makes us happy? Is it ice cream, is it soccer, is it climbing a tree or dancing? We learned about Jesus's friends, John and Peter and Mary. We learned about how happy they were. Why? Because Jesus was ALIVE!

What does that mean for our kids? We too are so happy that Jesus is alive because for us, it means NEW LIFE! What is new life? We planted seeds and are ready to watch them grow (I hope your seeds start to sprout here in the next few days). This is new life. A baby who is in their mom's belly and then is born? That is new life too! What a gift that we and our kids are given, a new life in Christ.

Next week: Preschool will learn about Jesus and the woman at the well, focusing on what it means to be thirsty and be given water. How Jesus is our living water.

Some wonderful pictures

Torrey Edwards (aka, Olive's mom) took some really wonderful shots of life at Sanctuary on a Sunday morning a few weeks ago. You can see some of them (especially the great shots of the little beans) here.

Thanks Torrey!

-mark

Preschool: We love a parade!

 

The kids were so cute in the service this morning-- thanks for helping them wave palm branches! I know God was praised and the congregation loved it.

Today in class we celebrated Palm Sunday with a parade! We marched around the room shaking shakers and blowing blowers to get in a celebratory mood. We then read the story of the Triumphal Entry and how those kids waved palm branches at a parade. The kids at that parade shouted Hosanna for Jesus, their King, who was riding on a donkey. We talked about Jesus, our King-- the King of our hearts.

We then made crowns to remember to celebrate Jesus, our King!

Next Week: Easter! We are going to be planting seeds next week and taking them home to watch them grow. We'll talk about new life rising from the earth. Be sure to have a sunny(ish) spot ready at home for your child's bean plant. You can watch it grow together next week and remember Easter means new life.

Preschool: The Parable of the Lost Sheep

Jesus told his followers the story of the Lost Sheep. How the shepherd counted his sheep, looked for his sheep, called for his sheep, and was so happy when he found his sheep! What a great story of love for our precious kids.

We played hide and seek-- the kids were the lost sheep and the shepherd came and found them. Then we made pictures of sheep with cotton balls (as you probably know :) to take home!

Next week: Palm Sunday! The kids will help lead Halelu/Praise Ye The Lord in the 1st service, complete with palm branches. They'll be standing in the aisles, so if you can sit throughout through the theater, that will help. If there are any kids available for the 2nd service, we'll do it then too. Thanks!