Christian Formation Group Ideas

Quarterly, the Christian Formation Group meets to swap ideas for family ministry. Below you will find ideas from their January meeting focusing on the season of Lent.

Kathryn and Sara from Redeemer-Waverly
Redeemer does a Rotation Model Sunday School that has been written to meet their needs. Kathryn shared information about the “Last Supper Rotation” for 2-5th grade they have done in the past. They have five stations that focus on different activities.

“The Arcade”-learning games
Bible Jeopardy Take a heavy shower curtain with ziplock bags taped on with packing tape.
Tic Tac Toe

“Solid Rock Productions”-Recreation
Bowling

“Creation Station”
Arts and Crafts

“Computer Station”
Computers donated by members with software for kids to play on

“Cinema on the Mount”
Puppets, dramas, and skits

They also shared some other activities that they had done during Lent.
• Hosted a Sader Supper-presided over by a Rabbi
• Reenactment of the Last Supper
• Sunday Software
• Eastern WI Synod-swap lessons (http://www.feautor.org/en )

Bev and Diane from Zion-West Union
Shared they had made Bulletin Inserts on half sheets of paper. There was clip art printed and given to kids to be colored. The inserts were placed in bulletins throughout lent. People were encouraged to place the art on their fringes at home.

They host a Christian Ed Sunday in May-All classes present something from what they have been working on all year. .
• Sing the books of the Bible
• Preschool- Table prayer
• K -1 Lords prayer
• 3-4 Ten Commandments
• 5-6 Apostles Creed

Lisa from First in Cresco shared:
Resources she had found at the Congregational Resource Center in Clear Lake (www.lutheranresourcecenter.org )
• Before and After Easter by Debbie Tafton O Neal
o Lenten Candle Cross
She has found Creative Communications for the Parish a valuable resource. They purchase Lenten calendars that families can use during Lent (or advent) ( www.creativecommunications.com )
Lisa shared some Ways to Celebrate Lent and Holy Week that she encourages others to use and has used with her own family-
• Decorate for Holy Week-
Palm Sunday-Palm Leaf from the Worship service
Maundy Thursday-Challis and bread
Good Friday-Cross
Easter-Butterflies
Veggie Tales Easter Carol-Fun video to be used during the season. (www.bigidea.com) Also have event kits for movies/DVD’s that are being released.

Paul from St. Paul, Waverly shared:
Kinderlent/kinderadvent- family friendly service aimed at small children held at 5:30 and lasts for 25 minutes max.
• 6 services during Lent-4 services during Advent
• Songs
• Children’s message
• Something to take home/work on
• Puzzle create a piece a night scripture, artsy activity
• Cross made out of heavy paper-family tapes together

They are working on forming a Mime drama team-


Teresa from Bethlehem shared some information about a Mission Trip to Minneapolis she is planning this summer for middle schoolers.
A possible worksite is: Mary’s Place-Minneapolis more information can be found at www.sharingandcaringhands.org

Other resources are:
www.30minuteseder.org downloadable resource to learn more about the Seder meal. Cost involved

Elayne from St. John in Nashua did a Lenten Fair last year. It was a family oriented event that was done during the Learning Hour on Sunday Morning. There were booths/tables that Sunday School Classes rotated to. If you want to use a Marti Gras theme, you should schedule the Lenten Fair before Lent. The following are some examples of the activities that have been tried and are successful:
• “Prayer placemats” that can be colored with markers and decorated with stickers. There was a small booklet with meal time prayers that went with it.
• “plant a seed”- planted a seed to watch it grow
• “butterflies”- made from tissue paper and clothes pins. The kids made the butterflies and then wrapped them with a strip of paper with the words from II Corinthians 5:17 “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new.” Then the butterflies were wrapped in a small brown bag and sealed with a label that said “do not open until Easter” They were encouraged to open them on Easter morning.
• Cross necklace made out of beads and string.
• Pretzels-premade pretzels that were snacks
• Fish pond- (no connection to Easter, but nicely cleaned out the directors supply closet)
• Guess the number of eggs in the jar. Prize for the person guessing the closest without going over
• Information tables about camp and family ministry
• Past activities have been:
• ID cards
• Pancakes
• Decorate a cookie or cupcake
• Witness bracelets’
• Easter in an Egg-Plastic egg filled with symbols for Easter
• Kings Cake-joyful celebration from Marti Gras- Part of the fun is finding the baby Jesus in the cake that is very similar to a cinnamon roll/braid. There are many recipies available on line but this link will take you to a simplified version and some background of Marti Gras that is tied to Epiphany. http://www.holidays.net/mardigras/cake.htm Cakes are also available at local grocery stores but must be ordered in advance or they will not come before Ash Wednesday. From the standpoint of the traditional use, It would be inappropriate to have King’s Cake during Lent.
• Music and Decorations reflecting the season