The latest from Coralville

Thursday, January 14, 2010

JAM Kids - January 13, 2010

We had a wonderful time at JAM Kids in January! Our Dr. Seuss story was "Bartholomew and the Oobleck."

Our scripture for January is from a short parable told by Jesus:
Matthew 21:28-29 What do you think?
A man had two sons; and he went to the first and said,
“Son, go work in the vineyard today.”
And he [the son] answered, “I will not;”
but afterward he [the son] repented and went.
[The son ended up choosing to do the will of the father
and turned his direction back to what he knew was right to do.]

Our gathering activity included adding to our signposts and then we got really messy. We made our own "oobleck."

Story Time

King Derwin has a problem with the sky. He is tired of the sunshine, fog, snow, and rain. He wanted something new. Bartholomew tried to tell the king that, powerful though he was, the sky was one thing he could not rule.

But the king would not take no for an answer He called on his magicians to work on the problem; he wanted something new from the sky. They did their job.

Sure enough, the next morning, little green sputters of oobleck began
raining down from the sky. The king is so happy! He orders that
the bell be rung and wants to declare a holiday. But the bell is all
stuck with green oobleck. A robin is stuck in her nest. The royal
trumpter cannot sound an alarm. The oobleck really gums up the
Kingdom of Didd. And it keeps coming

The wise pageboy, Bartholomew, tells the king that the king can end
this whole disaster by saying two simple words; “I’m sorry.” But the
king was too mighty and proud to admit that he was wrong.

Finally, the king says the simple words, “I’m sorry.”
The oobleck disappears and all is well with the kingdome once again.

We talked about the need to "repent" and to say "I'm sorry" when you have
done something that is not right.

Dinner time

GYM TIME!
Relay races were so much fun.

Craft Time

The children made WWJD zipper pulls.
This will be a reminder that they should make decisions like Jesus.

We end each JAM Session with Campfire.
We start with fun, crazy, active songs.

Campfire always ends with a prayer for each person . . .
"May God be with you, and bless you . . . . (name)
May God be with you, (name), and bless you every day."

Friday, December 18, 2009

JAM Kids - December 16, 2009

The JAM Kids celebrate Christmas.

Our scriptures for today are both from the New Testament:

We should keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus, who himself said,
“Happiness lies more in giving than in receiving.” Acts 20:35

“You will be joyful, and no one shall rob you of your joy.” John 16:22

We started with play time in the gym.

And then it was time for our meal.

We all went upstairs to learn more about the First Christmas.

Because we have been using Dr. Seuss books each month,
it was natural that our story for December would be
"How the Grinch Stole Christmas."
Lily talked with the children about the book.

The Grinch hated everything about Christmas,
and he decided that he would keep it from coming to Who-ville.
He is miserable.
The thing that makes the Grinch the most angry, the most miserable, is this:
Other people’s happiness.
He hates anyone who has found happiness, contentment, and love.

Perhaps the Grinch needed someone to love him.
Could he be transformed? YES!
The change took place when the Grinch realized the the Whos
were happy, even if they did not get all of the things
that he had stolen.

He HADN’T stopped Christmas from coming! It came!
Well . . . in Who-ville they say
That the Grinch’s small heart Grew three sizes that day!”

And he brought back the toys! And the food for the feast!”
The Grinch learned to become a giver instead of a taker.

Why are the Who’s always so happy? Because it is Christmas.
Christmas means the coming of God in Christ to all of us.
Christmas brings the kingdom of LOVE to all the people.
Nobody will ever be able to steal Christmas from us
if we hold Jesus in our hearts.