April 25th & 26th

A friend loves at all times.
Proverbs 17:17

This weekend in Beginnings we learned:

1. There are kids who need a friend.
2. I can choose to be kind to someone who needs a friend.

This weekend we told the story of Jesus and how he healed the blind men found Matthew 20:29-34. Jesus chose to be friends with men who couldn't see, even though most people did not want to be their friend. In class we played games to reinforce the lesson. First, we played Good Friend/Bad Friend, the children sat in a cirlce with the teacher and the teacher asked for a thumbs up for a good friend or a thumbs up for a bad friend. The teacher went through many different situations that the kids would give either a thumbs up or thumbs down. For example, If a new boy came to class and they asked him to play with them, that is a thumbs up. Definitely something a good friend would do. Secondly, we played the Blind Man Obstacle Course. The children would pair up with a buddy. One child would close their eyes and the other would "guide" them around the obstacles in the room. Then they would trade places to play again.

Our craft this week was a Blind Man Face. The children would color two faces, one man was blind, he other was not. The children would then put the blind man's face on top of the seeing man's face and then they would connect the two with a brad. This week talk to your child about what it means to be a friend. Talk to your child how important it is to be friends with people that other's do not want to be friends with. Perhaps you have a freind that most would not consider someone to be a friend. Talk to your child about that experience and what that has done for you. Have a blessed week!

April 18th & 19th

A friend loves at all times.

Proverbs 17:17

This weekend in Beginnings we learned:

1. I can pray for my friends.
2.God can help my friends when I pray for them.

This weekend we told the story of Peter in jail found in Acts 12. Peter was put in jail even though he didn't do anything wrong. Peter's friends prayed for him and God sent an angel to help him escape. Wow, what great friends! In class we played games to reinforce the lesson. First, we played Get Out of Jail, the children played a game very similar to Red Light, Green Light. One child (the guard) would stand away from the children. Then s/he would yell "Out of Jail" and turn her/his back while the prisoners would begin to walk toward the guard. Then, without notice the guard would turn around and yell "Freeze". Anyone caught moving would return to the starting line. Secondly, we played Popcorn Prayer. In this game the children all sat in a circle and the teacher brainstormed with the children different ways they could pray for their friends. Then the teacher would pass a ball to one of the children and they would tell everyone how they would pray for a friend. Then that child would pass the ball onto someone else to share how they would pray for a friend.

Our craft this week was a prayer chain. The children all received multiple paper strips and they wrote a name of a friend on them. This friend would be someone they would pray for and they would put each strip together to make a chain. The chain is a special reminder of the friends that they can pray for every day! This week talk to your child about the benefit of praying for your friends. Talk about the friends Jesus would pray for and how important it was to him. Who can you pray for today? Have a blessed week!

April 11th & 12th

He is not here, He has risen.
Matthew 28:6

This Easter weekend in Beginnings we learned:
1. Jesus special job was to show God's love.

2. Jesus came to show God's love because He loves us so much.

This weekend we told the story of Jesus and how he died on the cross. We learned that after Jesus died on the cross and his body was laid inside a tomb. When Mary went to the tomb the three days later, it was empty! It was an amazing Sunday because Jesus was alive again!! In class today we played a game to reinforce the lesson. We played freeze, the children each stood in the room and as we gave directions they would hop, wiggle, dance and then they would freeze. Just like Jesus, he was frozen and unable to move, but then he rose from the dead and he could do all those things again.

Our craft this week was a paper plate sun. The children each received a paper plate to color. Then we glued strips of yellow and orange construction paper to make the rays of sunlight. In the middle of the plate we wrote "Jesus is alive!" The sun is a symbol of His life and that He rose from the darkness to the light to live again. This week talk about the sacrafice that Jesus made for us. He knew He was going to die and He did it, for us. Part of being Godly is showing love for others, discuss this with your child. What have you done recently to show love to others? What can you and your child plan to do to show love? I hope you and your family had a blessed Easter.

April 4th & 5th

Hosanna in the highest.

Matthew 21:9

This weekend in Beginnings we learned:

1. The people welcomed Jesus because He was their friend.

2. I can welcome Jesus because He is my friend.

This weekend we told the story Jesus coming into Jerusalem on his donkey. All of the people were so excited to see him they shouted "Hosanna" while waving their palm branches. In class today we played some games to reinforce the lesson. First we played streamer dance, the children each received two strips of crepe paper to use while dancing. The teacher turned on the music so the children could dance and dance to welcome Jesus. What wonderful dancers we have here at Southeast!! Secondly, we played welcome tag. This game is very similar to tag but the when the first child tags another child, that child would join the first child and try to tag another child. We continued this until all the children were tagged.

Our craft this week was a palm branch. The children traced a palm branch on a piece of green construction paper, then the children cut it out of they were able to use scissors. Then they would cut strips into the palm branch to make it more realistic. Then on the branch we wrote "I can welcome Jesus". What a fun project for the children! They enjoyed working with the scissors a lot. This week as you review the lesson learned this week. Talk to your kids about how important it was for Jesus to make the trip to Jerusalem. Talk about what it would mean to you to meet Jesus if you were in Jerusalem when he came. Have a blessed week!