As we enter this new year with the
2009 theme: Deepening Spiritual
Living, I want to thank the volunteer teachers in the
Children’s Church for guiding our Inner Light Children to do just
this, deepen their spiritual lives. We all know our children are
the future of our planet and the importance of them having a strong
spiritual connection to each other and to the earth as we
collectively create and embrace our vision of a future of Love,
Harmony and Peace.
Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they
shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are all of you for your
loving service to these present and future Peacemakers.
Rev. Colleen Nerdin
Here is a
Format/Outline of our Sunday Celebrations
1. Welcome the
children
2. Check-In (5
minutes)
Round One: Share name and a word that tells how they are feeling.
Round Two: Share one thing they want to tell the group about the
past week.
Round Three: (Optional) Share a response to the above.
3. Centering
Meditation (Short - 30 seconds-2 minutes depending on the age of the
group) Invite the children to close their eyes, get still and
quiet. Imagine a quiet, beautiful, peaceful place or thing that is
filled with love and light. Suggestions: by a lake or pond, in a
meadow of wild flowers, under a rainbow, in their own special
place. Be still and listen to the silence within.
4. Sing one of the
songs for that month.
5.Story/Lesson and
discussion (5-10 minutes)
This can be focused on values, seasons, holidays or monthly ILC
themes.
6. Lesson related
activity-Art, Movement, Song, etc. (15-20 minutes)
7. Journal writing
(5 minutes) regulars will have their own journal in classroom. For
newcomers you can give them a piece of paper they can take home.
For ones who can’t write yet, the teacher may write a few lines the
child may want to share about what they learned today, or any
feelings the may be having. The journals will have the date on it
and it will be given to parents or guardians at the end of every
year.
8. Lesson related
meditation (Longer than #3, if possible)
9. Sing second
song for the month. (We will have a mini concert every two months
in the sanctuary for the adults.)
10. Group sharing
about the lesson, activity and meditation. (5 minutes)
11. Closing: Hold
hands and stand in a circle for thanksgiving and sending light to
the world.
12. Join the
adults in the Sanctuary when the timing is right.