CTA, Inc. | The Community Website for Christian Ministry Gifts » Fall Festival

S.H.I.N.E. with the Love of Jesus

Anne Conway — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:00:16 +0000

Fall is upon us in all its glory. Families have adjusted to the “back to school schedule,” the temperatures are dropping, and so are the leaves!

I find this to be a very special time of year, yet another beautiful season God sends us to enjoy. With these changes, we also begin to see pumpkins and scarecrows. Whether we live in a farming community or not, we begin to hear talk about the fall harvest.

In my classroom this time of year, we talk about the differences between fall and summer. Although many of my kindergarteners prefer summer, talking about all the positive aspects of fall helps them discover God’s glory in every season. As they name their own fall favorites, cooler days, raking leaves, bonfires, and going apple-picking almost always find their way onto our class list. We talk about the harvest, and about how God has blessed us with food for the winter months ahead.

Children love pumpkins, especially carving them and decorating them. I teach that just as a pumpkin with a candle inside shines with light from one end of the neighborhood to the other, we can shine with the light and love of Jesus. He lives in us and that means his love radiates from us into the lives of all the people we see every day.

CTA has some wonderful resources to help reinforce this theme. Check them out on CTA’s Fall Festival pages or look for G.L.O.W. or S.H.I.N.E. products.

Happy autumn!

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Fun, Friendly, Faith-filled Projects

Debra Kreienkamp — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:40:38 +0000

Pumpkin Prayer Bookmark

As a preschool teacher in a Christian school, I get to create art projects for my students. I look especially for projects that are fun and faith-filled. Parents love to see what their children have created, so art projects can provide the perfect opportunity to share Jesus in a non-threatening way. Connecting an art project with a holiday draws heightened interest from parents.

Halloween is a great example! This year, I plan to cut out bright-colored fish, a heart, and cross shapes similar to those on CTA’s Pumpkin Prayer bookmark. I also plan to cut pumpkins out of construction paper in proportion to the fish, hearts, and crosses.

Then, using the symbols, the children can create their own pumpkin faces. If I send home the Pumpkin Prayer Activity kit or bookmark from CTA, it will explain the project and the symbols in a way most parents will notice.

This can also work a larger scale. If you are responsible for a children’s message or devotion for children’s church in October, think about creating a giant Prayer Pumpkin in front of the group. Then send home a Pumpkin Prayer bookmark or Pumpkin Prayer Activity kit with each child. It is a great way to help equip families with tools they can use to guide them in their child’s faith formation.

Have a fun, friendly, and faith filled fall!

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