Gilead Friends

Good

News!

“Train up the child in the way he should go…” Proverbs 22:6

June 2010 Volume 1 Issue 6

all

new

for 2010!

Church

—Let’s Celebrate Planet Zero!

The following was submitted by: Dina Snow

Greetings from Planet Zero!Although it may sound like science fiction or a place in a favorite video game, Planet Zero is where kids in grades 1-6come to worship in their own space. Since last September, we have been using a curriculum called 252basics, whichdraws from Luke 2:52:

“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and favor with God and men.”

Each monthfeatures a particular virtue, such as honesty, discipline, friendship, and individuality, with songs activities, Bible storiesand scripture that drives home the point about that virtue. We open with all the kids together. There is typically askit or funny action going on to introduce the Bible story for the day. Sometime, the opening skits include volunteersfrom the audience, and we have several willing participants each week!!! The large group activity also includes singingand prayer. The kids then break up into small groups based on their grade. This is always a fun time of activities,games or crafts that get the kids thinking more deeply about the virtue or memorizing a Bible verse.

Some of Scott Morrison’s goals for Planet Zero were focused on getting parents to partner with us to make

the most of this worship time for the kids.

Ways you can do this include:1..

Encourage your children to come

—

having a large energetic group builds excitement. With so few childrenattending Sunday School,

it is one of the only times some are hearing the Bible stories or learning the verses.

It is also a rare opportunity for children from different schools to get to know each other rand bond over the Wordof God.2.

Teach them about the importance of worship

—

particularly singing

. This is currently our most difficultarea, so we are trying to work hard to acquire more of the music that Planet Zero curriculum recommends.

Please tell them that it is ok for boys and men to praise the Lord through song.

Consider being a small group helper

. Helpers come for one month three times a year. It is a great time to getto know the kids better and share with each other. All the lessons are planned, and while leaders may occasionallyask some of the more experienced teachers to gather their own supplies or make copies, we will work with you if

you’d like to give it a try.

Our goal was to have a small group helper for each grade

, but so far, this has nothappened.

4. Pray.

This year has not gone like we had hoped due to Scott’s illness. Those of us who have taken on this projectknow we can’t ever live up to the creativity and gifts that Scott has to reach the kids, but

we are committed tokeeping the Planet Zero alive.It is our prayer that kids come to look forward to this time that is set aside just for them,

and we pray thatthe older kids realize that they can be great leaders and great examples for their younger friends. We have a greatgroup of kids and we love spending time with them. We especially loved the song we sang last fall based on 1Timothy

4:12 “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, inlife, love, in faith and in purity.”

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Submitted by

Dina Snow, on behalf of Jim Card and Steve Curts and all the Planet Zero team!