March 9, 2011 JAM Kids

Love, Joy, Peace, Patience,
Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness,
Gentleness, and Self-Control.
Against such things there is no law.

March JAM Kids focused on Patience as a virtue.

The schedule for the evening was posted on the board.

One activity would include the planting of seeds.
We needed to be patient.

Our Spirit Tree is just groaning with the
weight of all the fruit.
We wonder if a real tree could grow fruit like that.

Then came the lesson with a real pineapple.
It takes a lot of patience to cut apart a pineapple.
We must be patient as the fruit is carefully extracted.

Everyone got to feel the outside of the pineapple.

When it was finally cut, we got to try some!
The rest was taken downstairs for dinner.

Play Doh Story Time

Our Bible story for March comes from Luke 15: 11-32.
It is the parable of the Prodigal Son.

We illustrate the story with Play Doh.

A man had two sons.
The younger son asks his father to
give him his part of the family estate as an early inheritance.
Once received, the son promptly sets off
on a long journey to a distant land
and begins to waste his fortune on wild living.

When the money runs out, a severe famine hits
the country and the son finds himself
in a terrible situation.
He takes a job feeding pigs.
He is so destitute that he is even willing
to eat the food he is feeding to the pigs.

The young man finally comes to his senses,
remembering his father.
In humility, he recognizes his foolishness,
decides to return to his father
and ask for forgiveness and mercy.
The father who had been patiently waiting,
receives his son back with open arms of compassion.
He is overjoyed by the return of his lost son!
He even gave the son a ring.
At once, the father turns to his servants
and asks them to prepare a giant feast in celebration

It is time to eat.

We join hands and sing a blessing on the food.
This is followed by a special prayer of thanks.
Then we go downstairs for supper.

Lisa and Judy clean up while kids play in the gym.

We Plant Flower Seeds

These zinnia seeds were planted 2 1/2 weeks before JAM Kids.
It was hard to be patient while waiting for them to sprout.

Each child planted some seeds to take home.

So

Game Time

We were "archeologists" on hunt for dinosaur eggs.
Before going into the gym, we were divided into three teams

First, we had to dribble a basketball.

Then we had to put our head on a bat and turn in circles.

After going through a maze of ropes, we found the dinosaur egg.
It took patience!

It's time to sing around the campfire!

"Ravioli, Ravi ravioli; Ravioli, that's the stuff for me!

By special request, Ryan led the group in a goofy chant.

After a transition to quiet songs,
we sang "God be with you" and then we said good night.

Scriptures for March

From Hebrews 6:12
. . . follow the example of those who have received God's promises because of their strong faith and patience.


Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering,
be constant in prayer. —Romans 12:12