Begin 2013 with a Few Questions and a Prayer!

Today is the last day of 2012 and of course, this means 2013 begins  tomorrow. As you think about the end of 2012 ask yourself the following questions . . . 

• What did I try in ministry which engaged children and families?
• What did I try in ministry which did not work as I hoped?
• What might I do in 2013 to engage children and families?
• What did I do in 2012 to reach unreached children and families in my community?
• What might I do to reach unreached children and families in my community?
• How did I encourage and support my volunteers?
• What can I do in 2013 to encourage and support my volunteers?
• How did I train my volunteers in 2012?
• What can I do to train my volunteers in 2013?
• How did I grow closer in my walk with Jesus in 2012?
• What can I do to grow closer in my walk with Jesus in 2013?

These are just a few questions to get you thinking, but today is an excellent time to stop and evaluate what you have been doing, what you could do in 2013 and to get on paper some specific steps you will take to accomplish the things you'd like to do in 2013. 

Top Posts from 2012 - 5 Essentials for Your Volunteers #4 – Provide Training!

The tenth most read post in 2012 was "5 Essentials for Your Volunteers - #4 Provide Training!" I'm re-posting it for you today - what do you do to provide training for your volunteers?

Book Review - Animal Tales from the Bible - I'm Giving One Away!

Two of my all-time favorite authors of Bible story books for children are Nick Butterworth and Mick Inkpen. These two men are such wonderful storytellers - the are able to communicate a story with a joy, enthusiasm and sense of humor which makes the stories captivating for children and a delight for adults. So when Zonderkidz announced they are re-releasing a collection of stories from these authors, I couldn't be more thrilled! In Animal Tales from the Bible: Four Favorite Stories About Jesus you'll find, The Fox's Tale (Jesus is Born), The Cat's Tale (Jesus at the Wedding), The Magpie's Tale (Jesus and Zacchaeus) and The Mouse's Tale (Jesus and the Storm)! These stories "re-tell" familiar Bible accounts from the "perspective" of four animals and are sure to be a favorite for young children in your ministry.

Top Posts for 2012 - The Dr. Seuss Quote for Today - Be Who You Are and Say What You Mean . . .

Last year throughout the month of March, I posted a different Dr. Seuss quote each day along with some thoughts about his quotes - March was the birthday month for Dr. Seuss. I as surprised to find one of those posts made my Top Ten  Posts for the year! Here it is in case you didn't see it; or would like to read it again!

The Dr. Seuss Quote for today is, "Be who you are and say what you mean. Because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind!" There are things which are true about this saying, but there are also things which are not true. 

• First the things which are true . . . if someone really loves you, they will love you no matter what you say because of who you are . . . a person who they love! 
• Now for the things which are not true . . . you might, on occasion, say things which people who matter to you get upset about. This can be a painful thing to have happen, but it can, and does, happen from time to time.

Top Posts for 2012 - 5 Essentials for Your Volunteers . . . #3 Thank and Encourage Them!

Another of my Top Posts for 2012 was from the same series as yesterday's: 5 Essentials for Your Volunteers . . . #3 Thank and Encourage Them! In case you missed the post, I'll run it again today . . . 

Top Posts for 2012 - 5 Essentials for Your Volunteers . . . #2 a Listening Ear!

The third most-read post for 2012 on About the Children's Department was a link to a post I wrote for Kidmin 1124 about the #2 Essential things for your Volunteers - Giving them a Listening Ear. Since Kidmin 1124 has "closed", I'm reposting it for you to see here.

Top Posts for 2012 . . . VBS!

2012 is almost over and 2013 is just waiting to begin, so what were the most read posts on About the Children's Department in 2012? Five of the Top Ten posts of the year were related to 2012 VBS. I'm honored to know so many of you take the time to read my VBS posts; thank you!

VeggieTales Lettuce Love One Another

If you are a fan of VeggieTales then you will be happy to hear of a new Veggie release with an "eye" towards Valentine's Day . . . Lettuce Love One Another! This new collection includes three popular VeggieTales episodes—Tomato Sawyer & Huckleberry Larry's Big River Rescue, Abe and the Amazing Promise and King George and the Ducky—in addition to five brand-new 'Bible Bits,' story shorts which demonstrate examples of giving and forgiving, helping, praying and sharing. 

Veggie's says, "Each episode in this collection helps teach a valuable lesson about love, whether it’s through honoring others when we help them, having patience or the importance of putting others first. Our new VeggieTales: Lettuce Love One Another! DVD is an entertaining, humorous and inspiring collection of stories which help kids and families discover ways they can love one another. The stories illustrate in a fun-filled way how love can be shown in practical ways such as being kind, sharing, and forgiving. It’s the perfect title for Valentine’s Day – or any day!”

Happy Day After Christmas!

I hope you all had a wonderful time celebrating Christmas with your families. As you go through today remember; "even when Christmas is over the Light of the World is still here!"

It's Christmas . . .

It is Christmas - while we did our main "celebrating" with family last night and on Saturday, today I'm fixing a roast in the slow-cooker and all the fixings to go with it. All the celebrating is fun; something I look forward to each year, but the most important thing is taking time to thank God for the reason we are able to celebrate . . . the birth of Jesus!

If you know Jesus, then I'm sure you'll be celebrating one of the most important happenings in all of history, too! If you do not yet know Him, I pray this year you will come to know Him Who loves you so much, He was willing to leave Heaven, be born as a tiny baby in a stable and ultimately grow up and give His life on a cross so we can be forgiven! Talk about the best Gift ever!!!

Merry Christmas everyone, and thank you for reading my blog!

My Chistmas Carol for Today - It's About the Cross

Christmas is NOT about the presents. Christmas is NOT about the tree. Christmas is NOT about the decorations. Christmas is NOT about the cookies. Christmas is NOT about a lot of the things we so easily become distracted by . . . Christmas IS about the Cross. It IS about God's love! It is the reason Jesus came to be born as a baby. He came so we can have new life! I've been saving this song for today, the day before Christmas . . . look at the lyrics . . . 

Just a Couple Weeks Until my 2013 VBS Reviews Begin!

This year January 7th is the day my Top Ten VBS Countdown for 2013 will begin. Each day, Monday through Friday, I'll post a review for one of my Top Ten VBS resources for 2013 . . . my Top Pick for 2013 will be released on January 18th. In addition, on Friday January 11th and 18th I'll post a breakdown of costs for each of the VBS resources I reviewed in the previous five days. On January 21st I'll post my side-by-side comparison charts for VBS 2013 - this will include all the VBS resources I'm reviewing.

My Christmas Carol for Today - Christmas Offering

My Christmas carol for today is Christmas Offering. It is so easy for us - and for children - to think about Christmas in terms of the gifts we are giving and the gifts we want to receive. This year, lets take time to focus instead of offering our worship to Jesus instead; no one else deserves our praise! Look at the lyrics:

My Christmas Carol for Today - Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee

My Christmas Carol for today is Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee and this is what Christmas is all about - not the gifts, cookies or "fun" . . . it is about adoring Jesus and the joy He gives! Look at these lyrics . . . 

Book Review - Animal Tales from the Bible - I'm Giving One Away!

Two of my all-time favorite authors of Bible story books for children are Nick Butterworth and Mick Inkpen. These two men are such wonderful storytellers - the are able to communicate a story with a joy, enthusiasm and sense of humor which makes the stories captivating for children and a delight for adults. So when Zonderkidz announced they are re-releasing a collection of stories from these authors, I couldn't be more thrilled! In Animal Tales from the Bible: Four Favorite Stories About Jesus you'll find, The Fox's Tale (Jesus is Born), The Cat's Tale (Jesus at the Wedding), The Magpie's Tale (Jesus and Zacchaeus) and The Mouse's Tale (Jesus and the Storm)! These stories "re-tell" familiar Bible accounts from the "perspective" of four animals and are sure to be a favorite for young children in your ministry.

A Few Words About My Top Ten VBS Picks for 2013 . . .

As you read my VBS reviews for 2013, please keep the following in mind . . . 

My Christmas Carol for Today - Joy to the World

My Christmas Carol for today is Joy to the World! This song is certainly one of the most well known Christmas songs so I wanted to include it in my Christmas carol songs, but I also wanted to share a fun and new "take" on this song from Go Fish Guys! Look at the lyrics -

Kisses from Katie - Book Review

If you are serving in children's ministry, you certainly believe children matter; we believe Jesus when He said, “Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me.” But, in our "world" of "comfort" and "plenty" - at least for most of us here in the USA, how do our lives show this is what we truly believe?

Around the world children are often treated as "unimportant" - even, sadly, in our churches - but nowhere is this more true than in Africa. In the book, "Kisses from Katie" you have the opportunity to see what it looks like when someone takes Jesus at His word and truly values what and who He values. When someone cares for people; "no matter how unimportant they seem" because they believe when they care for those who are deemed "unimportant", they are really caring for Jesus.

Read, "The Invisible Gift" - Do You Reach "Invisible" People in Your Community?

My sister is Loretta Baughan and she writes a blog, Straight4ward with Loretta Baughan. In  her post, The Invisible Gift, she writes, "Have you noticed? There’s someone missing from church. People with disabilities make up about one-fifth of our population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. These are our friends, neighbors and family members. They are, though, for the most part an invisible segment of our society. Some may be homebound or otherwise unable to move about in our communities, but many are mobile. Then why are so few attending church?"

My Christmas Carol for Today - Silent Night!

My Christmas Carol for you today is a very familiar song, Silent Night. Jesus is the Reason for the Season and we can celebrate because of what happened on the Silent Night so very long ago! Enjoy this song sung by Casting Crowns and Merry Christmas!

My Christmas Carol for Today - Christmas this Year!

My Christmas Carol for you today is sure to get your toes tapping . . . enjoy this Toby Mac song, Christmas This Year! Join in and, "For Christmas this year/ Gonna make a sound gonna make it loud/ We're gonna make some noise let the world rejoice/ for ChristMas this year", because, "God is coming near/ unto us a saviors born/ on a midnight clear!" Look at the lyrics - (and the video - I used with Legos because it is so fun - just like this song! Enjoy!!)

VBS 2013 - Top Pick in Music - Gotta Move from Go Fish!

I'm very happy to announce my Top Pick for VBS Music for 2013 - Gotta Move from Go Fish Guys! Go Fish's music is a combination of solid lyrics, great harmonies and lots of "spunk" - all combining for songs children - and adults - will want to sing far beyond the five days of VBS!

Music, Crafts and an Opportunity to See, Touch and Experience 2013 VBS Before You Buy It!

After you've narrowed down your Vacation Bible School options to just two or three kits by determining your goal, finding materials which intentionally engage children in the teaching of the Bible lesson and provides opportunities for them to live what they learn, considered the scope and sequence, theme and setting it is time to look at two components which have the potential to last beyond the five days of VBS . . . the music and crafts!

When you consider the music, look for songs which reinforce the theme, scope and sequence. When children sing those songs they can be reminded of the Bible lessons and how they apply to their everyday lives. I'm very happy to see most publishers provide music CDs for children at about $2 per child. This makes it very affordable for you to give each child their own copy of the songs they learned in VBS!

My Christmas Carol for Today - Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song)

Have you ever wondered what it was like for Mary - a young girl - to be chosen as the mother for Jesus? What must she have thought? How might she have felt? Amy Grant's lovely song, Breath of Heaven gives us some possibilities to consider for these questions. Look at the lyrics - 

A Simple, Fun - and Tasty - Last-Minute Christmas Craft!

I was browsing through Pinterest and happened to find a great, simple craft idea which would be perfect for Christmas Sunday! All you need are a few simple - and tasty - supplies!  

Fun Last-minute Christmas Craft!

If you are looking for a simple, fun and beautiful craft you could make with the children in your ministry for Christmas, consider the Book-page Star Ornaments I saw on Pinterest! You'll find complete directions for making these little stars and putting them into a glass ornament, so have fun! Make several . . . they would make beautiful gifts for parents, teachers, pastors, neighbors . . . . and certainly fun to have on your own tree, too! Use metallic paper for shiny stars or paper your grandchildren colored with chalk, crayons, paint . . . use your imagination and just think of the fun and beautiful ornaments you can make!

My Christmas Carol for Today - Christmas Carol of Love!

To see today's Christmas Carol, you need to visit my facebook page . . . you'll find "Christmas Carol of Love and believe me, it is absolutely worth checking it out! It will put a smile on your face for sure! 

Please join me in "caroling" your friends by sharing this post! :-)

How Will I Determine Which VBS Is My Top Pick for 2013?

I will be reviewing at least 12 VBS kits this year I'm sure all of them will be Biblically sound resources with well developed themes and engaging settings! Regardless of which kits you select to utilize in your ministry, you can be confident of finding quality resources.

I want to give you an idea of how I will make my selections for this year's Top Ten VBS resources. I'm not a VBS publisher and I'm not a bookstore; I'm a children's ministry person so when I evaluate curriculum, I look for the "tools" a curriculum provides which will help equip volunteers so they will be able to most effectively communicate God's Word in a way children will remember and understand so they will be able to live it in their everyday lives, every day!

So . . . What Is "Fluff" in VBS Curriculum . . . and What Is NOT?

Believe it or not, it is almost time to choose your VBS curriculum for Summer 2013! I've been reviewing 2013 VBS resources for the past month and this morning I am surrounded with VBS - my living room almost looks like a book store!!! My 2013 VBS reviews begin to release on January 7th and this year, like last year, I'll provide reviews and side-by-side comparison charts. I'll also have posts covering all things VBS, from recruiting, training and promoting your VBS to additional ways to make use of these resources.

Before my reviews begin, I do want to talk about "fluff" in VBS. Each year there are a number of publishers who like to say their VBS resources bring the Bible back to VBS, but when I review the resources I find the Bible in all of them. So, today I thought I'd take a moment to consider what "fluff" is . . . and what it is not.

Why Your Director's Book Matters in VBS

When it comes down to making your final choice of Vacation Bible School for your 2013 children's ministry, while I wouldn't recommend choosing based on the director's materials, they do matter. If your church has a new VBS director, complete information in the director's handbook is essential so they are able to  be sure they have all the bases covered. If your church has an experienced director, complete information helps assure nothing is overlooked or missed as the plans are made for your VBS.

There may not be "words", "answers" or "reasons why", but there are things we can do

I believe you are like me, still in shock and horror at the tragedy which happened in the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conneticut. There are no words for this type of grief. At this moment I'm so thankful for God's strong arms - they are strong enough to hold the families who lost someone they love. 

Please Pray for the Families from Newtown

Please be praying for the families of the children from the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. I can not imagine the sorrow these families face - they will be in my prayers. 

My Christmas Carol for Today - O Little Town of Bethlehem

My Christmas Carol for today is, O, Little Town of Bethlehem. This familiar song was written in 1835. A simple, little town. A normal, everyday night; and yet, something amazing happened! Someone Incredible was born! Look at the lyrics:

VBS Bible Lessons . . . What Makes a Lesson "Stick"?

Vacation Bible School . . . churches which plan a VBS for their summer ministry - or other time of the year - know their kids will be engaged in activities, games, crafts, mission/service projects, music and snacks, but the most important part of VBS is the Bible teaching. So . . . what should we be looking for when we look at the Bible lessons in a VBS resource? Consider the following absolute essentials -

My Christmas Carol for Today . . . Mary Did You Know?

Yes, I know I just posted this song a couple days ago as my Christmas Carol of the day, but I want to share it again; this time with Cee Lo Green singing the song and let you know about a new movie which is releasing in March . . . the Bible!

VBS . . . or Not???

I have loved VBS for decades . . . it has been a wonderful, and effective tool for engaging volunteers, children in the church, children in the community and families in the churches where I've served! I have to say, though; the past couple years I was stunned by the number of people who posted on-line about the "death of VBS" and called for churches to stop having VBS. So, this year I want to share a couple thoughts . . . 

My Christmas Carol for You . . . Emmanuel

My Christmas Carol for you today is "Emmanuel". Jesus' very name, Emmanuel, is the entire Reason for Christmas - God with us! Jesus came so we could be with God! This is why we celebrate at Christmas Look at the lyrics:

How do Theme and Setting Impact Your Choice of VBS?

When it comes to selecting VBS you first of all have to determine your goal for your Vacation Bible School and have considered if the lessons intentionally engage your children in the teaching of the lesson and give them opportunities to live what they've learned. Doing this should help you narrow down your choices and once you have, it is time to consider the Scope and Sequence, Theme and Setting. First of all, consider the scope and sequence. What are the Bible lessons? Keep in mind which Bible lessons you taught last year and find out what the current scope and sequence is for your Sunday school. If possible, try to find a scope which does not cover lessons taught in last year's VBS or in recent history during Sunday School. Consider your goals for VBS and think about how the scope and sequence supports your goal.

My Christmas Carol for You . . . Mary, Did You Know?

My Christmas Carol for you today is a song by Mark Lowry - Mary Did You Know? This song has become a favorite of many as it has some of the most powerful lyrics of any song. Quite a few singers have recorded it, but my favorite is Mark. Look at the lyrics:

I Have Two Winners . . .

I'm happy to announce Pam Ferrell and Gianna are the winners in the Jesus Storybook Bible give-away (you'll find the review at this link) Thank you Pam and Gianna for reading About the Children's Department (please message me your addresses by December 18, 2012 so I ca have them sent to you) and thank you Zonderkidz for sending them for me to review and for making additional copies available for me to give away!

So . . . Now You Have a Goal for Your VBS; What is the Next Essential Ingredient?

We looked at why we need a goal for our Vacation Bible School and how to determine that goal. Today we will begin considering the essential ingredients we should look for in a VBS resource. What are the most important things? 

Well, first of all the curriculum must be Biblically sound. If it isn't, do not waste your time looking at it. There are many well written Biblically sound VBS curricula available; choose from them.

My Christmas Carol for You . . . the Hallelujah Chorus - Like You've Never Seen It Before!

Okay, today my "Christmas Carol" for you is one which is presented in such a creative, fun and unexpected way, it just has to be one of my favorite Christmas videos . . . sit back and enjoy!!!!

VBS 2013 - How to Find Your Best VBS "Fit"!

In the coming month I'll be sharing about the features to look for in a Vacation Bible School. You'll find my Top Ten VBS Countdown for 2013 complete with individual reviews and a side-by-side comparison chart beginning on January 7th. I realize you may automatically select your VBS based on the publisher you used the precious year, but I ask you to consider the following steps for selecting your 2013 VBS -

My Christmas Carol for You . . . Son of God!

When you think about songs which express worship, wonder and praise to God, you have to think of songs written by Michael W. Smith. My Christmas Carol for today is one of his songs, Son of God. As you listen to this song, make it your prayer to God as you worship and praise Him for the amazing gift of His Son! Just look at the lyrics:

A Week of Fun Christmas Crafts - Really Cool Nativity Ornament!

Today is the last day in my week of Christmas crafts, so today I want to share an ornament I found on Pinterest which is one kids will LOVE! "Find-It's" have become very popular . . . so with this ornament, children can make their own Nativity Find-It Ornament!

My Christmas Carol for You . . . Give This Christmas Away

One of the best Christmas songs I've ever heard was a song on a VeggieTales DVD! I love the message - and the sound - of the song, Give This Christmas Away. Look at some of the lyrics and you'll see why I love this song: