Sunday school activities - October 31, 2021

Mark 12: 28-31

28 One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” 

29 Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; 

30 you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 

31 The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 

This week’s scripture reading is probably the most familiar lesson that Jesus taught. Two things are important:

1. Love God

2. Love your neighbour as yourself

The second one wasn’t a brand-new idea for Jesus and his followers. It was an important part of the Jewish faith that Jesus grew up in. It is often called the “Golden Rule” and it shows up in almost every culture and faith in the world. Sometimes we hear it said like this: “Treat others the way you’d like to be treated.”

For Discussion

1.     Can you think of some times when this has been a difficult rule to follow?

2.     What do you think would happen if everyone in the world actually followed this rule?

3.     If you follow this link (PDF), you will see this message in the writings of thirteen different faiths! Which ones do you like the best? Why?

Response Activity Ideas

Storytime: Do Unto Otters – Laurie Keller

Listen and watch this story:

Give examples of times you’ve been friendly, said “Please and Thank you,” cooperated with others, shared, and done the other things Mr. Rabbit expects from the otters.

Draw a picture of you or the characters in the book following the “Golden Rule”!

Boomerang

A boomerang is a great object to represent the idea of the “Golden Rule” that we give what we want to get back. 

What do you ‘get back’ when you help, serve, and love others?

Following the directions on the video make your own boomerang! 

Write the Golden Rule on it, or another culture’s variation of the rule, and decorate.

Circles of Love

Print out the worksheet or make one of your own by drawing concentric circles or cutting out larger and larger circles of paper.

• In the centre circle, write your name and write ways you care for yourself.

• In the next circle, write ‘My Family’ – How is love shown in your family?

• In the next circle, write ‘My Friends’ and record ways you are kind and considerate with your friends.

• In the next circle, write ‘My Community’ – How can you be a loving neighbour?

• In the last circle, write ‘The World’ and write some ways you can spread love beyond our church and city.

Click to pring PDF

Sunday school activities - October 24, 2021

This week we are celebrating SOSA Sunday - that stands for Service, Outreach, and Social Action. These are things that are very important to us at BCUC! Jesus’ life was an example of reaching out to helping others and of working hard to change things in our world that make life difficult or exclude people. These are the things we do to show that we love our neighbour.

Did you know there are people in our own community who struggle to buy enough food for their families? If your school has a breakfast programme or provides snacks, you will know that it is one way that the community reaches out to make sure every student has the nutrition they need for good learning.

Take a look at Rosie’s Story in the video below.

Discussion

Breakfast and snack programmes are offered to every student who wants to take part. You don’t have to “prove” that you need it. Why do you think this is important?

I wonder... if you have ever felt so hungry that you couldn’t concentrate at school.

I wonder... what you would do if you found out one of your friends or classmates was hungry.

I wonder... how our country or leaders could work together to make sure no child goes to school hungry.

Response Activity Ideas

Healthy Meals

Using grocery flyers, cut out foods for a healthy breakfast, lunch, and dinner for someone your age that would help them play hard and focus at school.  If you help with grocery shopping, maybe you could choose some of those items off the store shelves and put them in your cart, then drop off the items into the food bank bins on your way out of the store!  If not, perhaps you can add some items to your family grocery list for your grown-ups to buy and donate!

Wants vs. Needs

What’s the difference between things we need and things we want?

Make a T-chart of the things you NEED to live (shelter, clothing, etc) and things that you WANT or HAVE (such as ice cream, hockey skates) that make life better, but aren’t necessities.  How would you feel if you were without some of the things on the NEED list?  How would it change how you acted, worked, and played?

Older Children / Youth: Guaranteed Livable Income

Currently, a single adult in Ontario who needs support receives $733 dollars per month through social assistance.  This amount leaves a person below the poverty line and this money is only there for people who have no other options. Talk to your family about some of your household expenses – how far would $733 dollars a month go?  What would you prioritize?  

The idea of a ‘guaranteed livable income’ is to make sure everyone has something more like $1900 per month, which is more realistic to cover the cost of necessities like food, shelter, water, heat.  With this amount of money may be able to do more than just (barely) survive, and be able to contribute to the community in positive ways.  What difference would it make, do you think, if you knew at least your basic necessities were covered?

Find out more about about GLI at https://united-church.ca/social-action/act-now/create-guaranteed-livable-income-program

(Source: Sheridan-Jonah, Thea. “Racism, Poverty, and a Livable Income” 40 Days of Engagement on Anti-Racism accessed on Oct. 18, 2021. https://united-church.ca/sites/default/files/2021-10/antiracism-40_day08.pdf)

Sunday school activities - October 17, 2021

Theme Discussion

This little video will tell you about today’s scripture reading:

James and John were two of Jesus’ closest disciples. They wanted to be sure that they got the best seats in heaven – right beside Jesus – so that everyone would recognize how close they were to him. They wanted to be singled out as the closest friends of Jesus. They asked Jesus to promise them those seats. The other 10 disciples were pretty angry when they found out what James and John were up to! They all thought of themselves as Jesus’ BFF.

Well, Jesus not only tells them that he wasn’t in charge of assigning seats, but he tells them that sitting right beside him would also mean that they would have to live the way he did, do the work, and accept the suffering. They say they can handle that – but then he adds something interesting! He says that in order to be the leader, you have to be a servant.  It’s not all about getting what you want; it’s about being the kind of person people can rely on to help and to make sure that everyone else has what they need first.

The disciples wanted the power and the prestige that being right next to Jesus would bring – but Jesus reminded them that they had to give up a lot and work hard for others to earn that place at the head of the table.

Have you ever wished that something would just magically happen without your having to work for it? Maybe you wished for the highest marks in the class, or to be recruited to the NHL! We know these things take a lot of work and dedication – and that once you have them, then you are expected to continue to strive to be the best. Can you think of some other examples of this?

Who do you think makes the best leader - someone who pushes their way to the front of the line to make sure they get what they want, or someone who helps everyone in the line get what they need?

Have you ever made a “wish list”? Often these include gifts we want for our birthday or for Christmas. Try making a new kind of wish list that would make both you and others happy.

Response Activity Ideas

Helping Hands

Jesus told the disciples that people who work hard for others are the real winners!  What are some ways you could help others in your family and neighbourhood?

Trace your hand on coloured paper and cut out several times.  On each write or draw a job (clearing the table, taking out garbage, etc.), or a kind action (giving a hug, reading to someone, etc.) that you could do for someone else.

You could display your hands in your home by making a wreath or mobile out of them to remind you to look for ways to work for others.  Or maybe staple them together as coupon book to give to your family that they could cash in for your services!

Super Leaders!

Print out the super-hero template.  Inside the outline, write down (or draw) as many qualities or actions you can think of to describe the kind of leader Jesus is and calls to be.  Which of the ideas will you strive to be or do this week?

Outdoor option:  Have someone in your family lie down on your driveway in a ‘super-hero’ pose and trace around them with sidewalk chalk.  Inside the person-shape, write all your combined ideas about the qualities of the best leaders.

Older children/youth extension:  Compare your list of good leader traits to people in authority or power that you know (principals, elected government officials, public health leaders, CEOs in big corporations, etc).  In what ways do they live up to your ideals?  What kind of perks do they get from being ‘at the top’?  What are some challenges and responsibilities they face?  How would you feel if you were in their roles and how would you aspire to act?  

Click to print PDF

Wordsearch

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Sunday school activities - October 10, 2021

Theme discussion

Today we are celebrating Thanksgiving! We folks here at BCUC sure have many things to be thankful for, don’t we? Strange as it may seem though, when things are going well in our lives, we often forget to give thanks. Thanksgiving is a day to remind us of all the wonderful things that are in our lives.

The story we read in the Time for the Young at Heart today, “The Secret of Saying Thanks” reminds us that we are surrounded by many things to be thankful for every day – in nature, and in the people who love us – things we often take for granted. It’s a reminder to look for those things that make us feel comfortable and loved and happy.

The ‘secret’ that this story shares with us is this:

“The heart that gives thanks is a happy one, for we cannot feel thankful and unhappy at the same time… We don’t give thanks because we’re happy. We are happy because we give thanks.”

How can you use this secret to make you feel happy, even when you’re having a hard day?

The examples given in the book don’t talk about new toys, or nice clothes, or big parties. They are things that are around us every single day: sunshine, flowers and trees, rocks and hills, birds and animals, the moon and stars, the people who love us…

Today when you celebrate the things you are thankful for, take a look around you at the wonderful things that are there for you every day. Take a moment to say “thank you” to those things. This is what makes Thanksgiving Day special. It reminds us of the secret:

“We don’t give thanks because we’re happy. We are happy because we give thanks.”

Response Activity Ideas

Thankful Yoga

This activity from kidsyogastories.com matches up key lines from the story “The Secret of Saying Thanks” to a yoga pose.  Read the ‘story line’ in the first column, then try the pose described and illustrated in the other two columns.  Breathe deeply and focus your mind on being grateful for God’s gifts and the sense of happiness these thoughts bring.

Click to print PDF (5 pages)

Daily Gratitude

Does your family have a special time each day to practice an attitude of gratitude?  Some people do this around the dinner table, others before bed. Today, make a plan to build a time for gratitude into your family’s routine.  It doesn’t have to be complicated, but it’s great to have a plan or routine so you can keep it up! 

Some ideas:

• Hang a white board in a prominent place and encourage each family member to write down something they’re thankful for sometime during the day.  Read them together before bedtime!

• Good, Great, Wow! - When you’re getting tucked into bed, think of something good, something great, and something fantastic (wow!) that happened that day. Grown-ups could share, too!  This helps keep looking for the positives even on not-so-great days.

• As a table grace before dinner, have everyone contribute something they feel grateful for that day.

• Gratitude journal - Get a little notebook for each member of the family (or one shared book), and make a plan to pause for 5 minutes together each day and record 3 things you’re thankful for.

Gratitude Tree Craft

Check out this brief video and make your own tree for Thanksgiving.

Materials: small branch, vase, construction paper, scissors, writing tools, hole punch, string (alternatively, use real leaves that aren’t too dry and brittle, and write on them with Sharpies)

Sunday school activities - October 3, 2021

Theme Discussion

Mark 10: 13-16 - Jesus Blesses Little Children

13 People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. 14 But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. 15 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.

This is a familiar story, one that we often use at baptisms in our church. It’s a message that Jesus welcomes everyone – even little children – with open arms.

Why do you think the disciples tried to keep the children away from Jesus?

Do you feel welcome or unwelcome at church? What makes you feel that way?

Do you think there might be some people who don’t feel welcome at church? What things can we do to change that?

In this story, Jesus tells the people gathered that you need to receive that welcome to God’s kin-dom the way a little child does. Let’s unpack that a bit…

When someone welcomes you with arms wide open, how do you react? Is it different if that person is someone you know well or someone you have just met? What makes that difference?

Trust, love, and acceptance are all important parts of being able to open your arms to receive a welcome like that – and they are all important parts of being open to God.

Do you think this is easier for children than it is for adults? Why?

Response Activity Ideas

Loving You THIS Much

Materials: construction paper, scissors, colouring tools, glue/tape

Trace your hands on construction paper and cut out.  Cut out a long strip of paper (glue or tape 2 strips together to make it longer if you wish) and accordion-fold it. Attach a hand on each end of the strip.  Finally, write a message on the hands and/or paper strip that reflects your ideas about this Bible passage, maybe:

“Jesus Welcomes Us with Open Arms” OR “God Loves Me THIS Much – and more!”  OR “All Are Welcome Here!” OR “I love you SO much!”

Jesus Loves Me Song – Rock You version

Tap twice on your legs and then clap once.  You’re ready to listen and sing along with the CGS and Bell Canto camp version of Jesus Loves Me!

Challenge!  Can you write a new verse about Jesus welcoming everyone in place of the ‘Jesus loves me, this I know’ section?

JESUS LOVES ME/WE WILL ROCK YOU

Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so, little ones to him belong in his love they will grow strong.

Singing Na na na na na na na na na Whoo! Na na na na na na na na na Na na na na na na na na na Whoo! Na na na na na na na na na

Sing about his love, His love is what we sing about Sing about his love, His love is what we sing. Sing about his love, His love is what we sing about Sing about his love, His love is what we sing.

Singing Na na na na na na na na na Whoo! Na na na na na na na na na Na na na na na na na na na Whoo! Na na na na na na na na na

Yes, Jesus loves me (clap, clap) (2X) Yes, Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so

Jesus loves me when I'm good, when I do the things I should. Jesus loves me when I'm bad, even though it makes him sad.

Singing Na na na na na na na na na Whoo! Na na na na na na na na na Na na na na na na na na na Whoo! Na na na na na na na na na

Sing about his love, His love is what we sing about Sing about his love, His love is what we sing. Sing about his love, His love is what we sing about Sing about his love, His love is what we sing.

Singing Na na na na na na na na na Whoo! Na na na na na na na na na Na na na na na na na na na Whoo! Na na na na na na na na na

Yes, Jesus loves me (clap, clap) (2X) Yes, Jesus love me, The Bible (clap) tells me (clap) so.

Word Search

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Sunday school activities - September 26, 2021

September 30 has been designated as a “Day for Truth and Reconciliation”. You might know it as “Orange Shirt Day”. This morning, in the church service, we heard the story about Phyllis Jack’s orange shirt that sparked the “Every Child Matters” movement. It’s a story about how one little girl’s experience on her first day of school made her feel that she didn’t matter, that her feelings weren’t important, and that no one cared about her. Here’s the story again, in case you missed it:

“I want to share a story with you about a little girl who was going to school for the very first time. Her name is Phyllis Jack and she lived on a reserve in northern British Columbia with her Granny. When she was 6 years old, she went to the Mission School. Just like you, she was really excited about going to school. Her family didn’t have very much money but somehow her Granny managed to buy her a new outfit to wear to school. She remembers that day clearly. Here’s what she says:

“I remember going to Robinson’s store and picking out a shiny orange shirt. It
had eyelets and lace, and I felt so pretty in that shirt and excited to be going to school!”

She sounds like every little girl and boy I know who is excited about starting school – especially with a brand-new special outfit.

But, Phyllis’ first day of school was very different from yours. It was a Residential School, a place where she stayed night and day. The teachers spoke a different language and she couldn’t understand what they were saying. On that first day, all of the students had their clothes taken away and they were given different clothes to wear. Phyllis never saw her special orange shirt again. She couldn’t understand why they wouldn’t give it back to her. It was her shirt, a special shirt, a gift from her Granny that she had picked out herself.

So, that little girl who was so happy and proud to be going to school, didn’t feel happy or cared for anymore. She didn’t want to stay at this school. She wanted to go home – and she wanted her orange shirt back. Phyllis wasn’t just feeling sad on that first day of school. She felt sad and unloved for much of her life. The colour orange always reminds her of that feeling.”

This story reminded me of another one that we have used at church: “Have You Filled a Bucket Today?” You can listen to it here:

Can you give some examples of when your bucket was filled?

Have you ever felt that someone was dipping into your bucket?

How are some ways you can fill someone’s bucket?

Think about Phyllis’ story.

When was her bucket filled?

Who dipped into her bucket?

Phyllis’ story is her personal one, but the way she was treated and the way she felt was experienced by all the First Nations children who were sent to Residential Schools. They grew up with empty buckets.

Can you think of some ways that we can help to fill the buckets of First Nations people in Canada?

Response Activity Ideas

Fill the Bucket

Let’s Collaborate! – Visit this document and add a text box or two to the bucket on page 1 with your ideas for filling the buckets of Indigenous Peoples of Canada.  Read the ideas others have posted as well!

            OR

On your own – Print out the bucket template on page 2 of the above presentation and fill it with your own ideas.

First Nations Schools

How does your school experience compare to that of Phyllis and some of the other residential school survivors whose stories you’ve heard?  Write or draw about some of the differences and similarities in your school experience and what you know about theirs.

Many current First Nations schools are not well-funded enough to provide the resources and safe spaces the students need to learn.  Find out more by reading about Shannen’s Dream and learn about ways to respond.

Colouring Sheets – by Michelle Stoney, Gitxsan artist

Feather – “First of all the feather represents so much in our culture. Maybe too much to even explain so I’ll just say what it means to me in the hand and this one. To me it means strength and healing, we really value the feather and it means so much to us. I know we use it for smudging, and to me that represents cleansing .

Inside the feather is the spirit of the 215 children. The face on the bottom is not an animal. That is how I draw people , and I wanted to make long flowing hair, that they were forced to cut.”

Click to print PDF

Leaf – “This is a truth and reconciliation day colouring page I made…I don’t really have a story behind it, but this is what I was thinking … September 30th is the first truth and reconciliation day, it takes place in the fall. The tree these trees fall from represent their nation to me. And these are the children that left and didn’t come back. I added the same things I added to the feather I did last year. And added some hearts, because we will never forget them.”

Click to print PDF

See more of her work and find other generously-offered colouring images for personal use at: www.facebook.com/mstoneyart/photos/

Sunday school activities - September 19, 2021

Theme Discussion

Reading: Mark 9: 30-39

Do you always like to be first in line? What about being first in games or contests? Would you like to receive an award or a prize for being the first? I’m sure most of us do. The person who ran the fastest, or sang with the most beautiful voice, or shot the most goals wins the prize. That’s normally how it works, right? But if we think about it, we cannot be first or the greatest or the best all the time.

In our Bible story today found in Mark 9: 30-39, Jesus heard his disciples arguing about which one of them was the best or the greatest. Jesus stepped in to end the argument. Jesus said that those who are last will be first and those who are first will be last. This really sounds weird and confusing, doesn’t it? What do you think Jesus means by this verse?

Well, I think Jesus was saying that greatness is not about being the first all the time although that is very good in many ways. Greatness or being the best means to think of others first before ourselves. When you help those in need or when you care for others or reach out to those who are lonely, you are actually putting others first before you.

Have you let someone go first in line? Have you given your seat to someone in the bus? Or let your brother or sister take the first pick of freshly baked cookies? Have you shared your favourite toy with someone that is not a close friend? How did you feel?

Jesus wants us to win by loving others and showing that you care. When you make others feel special, that is also being a winner. Do you think this makes sense? Do you agree with Jesus?

There’s also another part of the Bible story which is really neat. Jesus took a child and showed the child to his disciples and said: “Whoever welcomes this small child welcomes me and whoever welcomes me, welcomes God who sent me.” Children were not very important at the time of Jesus. They had no rights. They were not considered the greatest members of the society. But Jesus thought otherwise. Why do you think Jesus uses a child as a model of teaching greatness to his disciples and to us?

Jesus upholds that children are very special.  To be the greatest or the best, you have to pay attention to children, to notice them and give them love. Do you think children are special? Why?

Response Activity Ideas

Great People

If you were asked, who are some of the greatest people in history, who comes to mind?  What is it that has made them ‘great’?  Do an internet search to learn more about some great people.  There are some ideas below. What can we learn or copy from their life and experiences?

https://kids.kiddle.co/Mahatma_Gandhi

https://kids.kiddle.co/Nelson_Mandela

https://kids.kiddle.co/Kublai_Khan

https://kids.kiddle.co/Marie_Curie

Topsy-turvy

This is another one of Jesus’ teachings where things seem backwards – the last shall be first – which can seem confusing until we think about it for awhile.  It’s like an optical illusion – it seems one thing at first, but when you study it, or change your view point, something else becomes clear. 

Follow the tutorial here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B29Y-fkPVTY to draw a double-sided person – one that is happy on one side and sad at the other.  Try modifying it by adding more details (eyebrows/mustache?) to make it your own.  As you view from the ‘happy’ direction, think of ways you and your family can be great by putting others first!

Rainbow

Did you hear Rev. Kim’s Storytime this week?  If not, check out the video or text version of it on the BCUC website.  Using watercolours, (or other colouring tools on hand), illustrate the story she tells of all the rainbow colours arguing, but learning that they are all important and valued.

Sunday school activities - September 12, 2021

Theme Discussion

Hello!  What’s your name?  Nice to meet you!  There’s more to a person than just their first name, though, isn’t there?

Go around the room taking turns with your family talking about each other: What are some (kind!) names and adjectives you have to describe the others?  (Sister, helper, reader, best cupcake baker, etc.)

If other people were asked to describe you, would they all say the same thing? What they say about you will depend on how they have experienced you. Your parents, your siblings, your friends, your teacher, your coach – each one would likely describe you in a different way. Who do you think knows you best?

Today’s Bible story, Mark 8:27-38, has two parts to it:

In the first part, Jesus asks the disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” They give many different answers. They have heard people say Jesus is John the Baptist, or a prophet like Elijah, or Jeremiah, come back to life. When Jesus asks, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter says, “You are the messiah.” Jesus tells them that they must keep this a secret because the people coming to see him wouldn’t understand.

The disciples have spent more time with Jesus than most other people and so they are beginning to understand that God has given him a very special role to play in the world. I think Jesus might be worried that if they call him the Messiah or the Saviour to other people who don’t know him so well, they will expect him to be like a king or a great military leader.

How does the way someone describes you change the way they act with you, or expect you to act? 

Next, Jesus tells his disciples that there are going to be some hard times ahead and that the leaders will not like what he does and says. He tells them he will suffer and even die. Peter isn’t happy with this kind of talk. He takes Jesus aside and tells him to stop scaring everybody with this negative talk. Jesus gets cross with Peter and tells him that they all need to hear these things because they need to know what they are getting into by following Jesus. It will be hard and even sometimes scary and dangerous.

What do you think it would have been like to travel with Jesus as the disciples did?

What do you think is the hardest thing Jesus asks us to do as his followers?

How do people around you react when you do those things? How do you feel about yourself when you do them?

Response Activity Ideas

Jesus is like…. I am like…

Gather colouring tools and print out the worksheet (or use blank paper).  At the top, draw a picture that represents the name or image you have for Jesus, and fill in the sentence to explain what you drew.  At the bottom, think about yourself.  What skills, qualities, gifts can you share with others?  What are you like for the people around you?  Again, draw a picture and explain with words.

Doing the Right Thing Poster (WWJD?)

Choose an inspirational quote or Bible verse that could remind you to consider what the right thing to do in a situation might be, even it’s not the easiest choice or the option you’d prefer.

Using markers, paint, or crayons OR working on the computer with different fonts and colours, make a small poster to put up at home or get tucked into your planner or a binder at school.

Here are some ideas to consider:

Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching. – C.S. Lewis

Do the right thing. It will gratify some and astonish the rest. – Mark Twain

When in doubt, don’t. – Benjamin Franklin

Knowing what’s right doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right. - Theodore Roosevelt

Wordsearch

Click to print PDF

Sunday school activities - September 5, 2021

Reading of the story: God sends the holy spirit

Theme Discussion

In today’s story we see the Holy Spirit giving the apostles the ability to talk in all languages so that they can share God’s teachings with everyone. When they were filled with the Holy Spirit, they were capable of performing miracles to help people and open their hearts. 

When the people heard the apostles speaking in their own language, they became believers, and many wanted to be baptized.

The Holy Spirit is always around us and helping us and we often don’t notice. It can help you get the confidence to talk to new people, or do scary things. It can help when you’re having trouble remembering something. You can also give the gift of the Holy Spirit to others. This happens when you can help someone who’s hurt or sad, or when someone’s lost and you tell them where to go. 

How do you think the apostles felt when they were able to talk to everyone and spread God’s teachings to everyone?

How has the Holy Spirit helped you or your friends and family?

How have you shared the Holy Spirit with people?

Craft

For today’s craft you’ll need one of the colouring pages, colouring tools, scissors, string or yarn, and glue or tape. 

Colour the kite shaped colouring page however you like, then cut out the kite. Next cut 3 pieces of string or yarn about 8 inches long, attach them to the longest point to make a tail for your kite. You can continue to add tails or decorate your kite however you’d like.

Have you ever thought about how kites fly? They get lifted up by the wind, we can’t see the wind but we can see it working. In this way the wind is similar to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is always around us and with us and we just can’t see it. We can’t see the wind but we can see it’s great power, we also can’t see the Holy Spirit but we can see the good that it does.

If you attach another string to the front of your kite and find an open place you can try to fly it, it will have to be a very windy day to fly since it’s just a paper kite.

Colouring sheets

Click to print PDF

Click to print PDF

Click to print PDF

Sunday school activities - August 29, 2021

Song about the story: Deuteronomy 6:4-9 song

Story and Discussion

Today’s story is about Moses and the most important commandment that God gave him. When Moses was wandering through the desert with the Israelites God gave him commandments to follow. Moses told the Israelites about all the commandments and he made sure to tell them all about the most important one, Moses said “Listen up, everybody! God is our God, the one true God! And here’s what we’re asked to do: Love God with everything we’ve got, love God with your whole heart, with all your soul, with every ounce of strength you’ve got. Remember what God asks of you, memorize it. Tell God’s words to your children. Talk about God’s words when you wake up in the morning, when you’re sitting still or walking around, when you go to bed at night. Write them down and tie them to your finger, to your forehead. Write them at the doorway of your home, and at the entryway to your town, so whenever you’re going in or out, you see God’s words, and you remember to love God.”

That commandment was followed by Moses and the Israelites and we should follow it too. It’s such an important commandment because if you follow it then you’ll be following the other commandments too.

How do you think the Israelites felt when they heard this commandment? How did you feel?

Why do you think loving God with our whole self is what God wants most from us?

How can you follow this commandment at home, in school, or with friends and family?

Craft

For this craft you’ll need Post it notes and something to write and draw with.

God told the Israelites to remember what God asked of them. To help us remember what God asks of us we’re going to write on the Post it notes, you can write things like “Love God” or draw a heart, whatever helps you remember. 

God told the Israelites to put their reminders on their doorways and on their foreheads. Can you think of any good places to put your reminders? You could put them on the mirror in the bathroom or on your bed.

These Post it notes will remind you, your family, and your friends to love God.

Colouring sheets

Click to print PDF

Click to print PDF

Click to print PDF

Sunday school activities - August 22, 2021

Reading of the story: Lydia is baptized

Theme discussion

Today’s story is a story of hospitality, Lydia showed hospitality in a number of ways. She opened her heart to God and she opened her home to Paul. Hospitality is more than having people over to your house though. It’s opening our lives and making space in our hearts for others. It’s helping people around us feel welcomed and important. Paul showed Lydia hospitality by baptizing her and Lydia returned the hospitality by inviting him into her house. God wants all of us to show hospitality to each other, just like Paul and Lydia did. How can you show hospitality to people around you?

Why do you think God wanted Paul and Lydia to meet?

Why do you think Lydia wanted to be baptized? Have you been baptized?

Craft

Today’s craft is making a baptism scene where characters can be baptized. This craft requires two white paper plates, scissors, markers, and something to attach the plates. If you don’t have plates you can also use pieces of paper.

The first step is to cut waves and a sky out of the plates, you can use the picture below as inspiration for how to cut it.

Second step is to attach the waves and sky to the second plate. I recommend stapling around the outside but you could also glue around the outside or use tape.

Once the plates are attached you can draw on them to make it look like a sea and sky.

You now have a baptism scene, you can baptize objects or you can make characters. I recommend making a Paul out of paper and having him baptize things.

Colouring sheets

Click to print PDF

Click to print PDF

Click to print PDF

Sunday school activities - August 15, 2021

Reading of the story: The Most Important Commandment

Theme discussion

God is big on love, today’s story tells us that the most important commandment is about love. The commandment tells us to love God and to love others as we love ourselves. This means we should treat others how we would want to be treated. If we love God and love others as we love ourselves then the other commandments should be easy and should happen naturally.

When the Pharisees tried to stump Jesus by asking him which commandment was the most important Jesus knew what to answer. Jesus knew that loving God and others as we love ourselves was the most important because all the other commandments will happen naturally if you follow this one. When Jesus said this to the Pharisees they were amazed by his knowledge and all agreed with him.

Did Jesus’s response in this story surprise you?

What do you think it looks like to love others like you love yourself?

Have you ever experienced God’s love through an action someone else did?

Craft

Today’s craft is making a heart necklace to remind ourselves of the most important commandment. For this craft you’ll need paper, string or ribbon, markers, and scissors.

Watch this video for directions on how to make the necklace, you should stop watching once you get to 5:03 or when the second craft starts.

Colouring sheets

Click to print PDF

Click to print PDF

Click to print PDF

Sunday school activities - August 8, 2021

Reading of the story: Jesus and Zacchaeus

Theme discussion

The story of Jesus and Zacchaeus teaches us about God’s forgiveness and new beginnings. Zacchaeus had been a greedy and a cheating tax collector his entire life but that didn’t stop Jesus and God from loving him, God saw his potential for good.

When Jesus called out to Zacchaeus to come down from the tree and asked to be his guest, Zacchaeus realized something. Jesus and God still loved him even when everyone else hated him. When Zacchaeus arrived home with Jesus, he knew he had to change his ways. He found his potential for good and said he would give half his wealth to the poor and pay back anyone he had cheated, four times over.

This story shows that God’s love is unconditional and because of this,we are able to transform our ways knowing that God will forgive our wrongdoings. Everyone can have a second chance to do things right.

Why do you think Jesus wanted to go to Zacchaeus’ house?

How do you think Zacchaeus felt when Jesus wanted to come to his house? How would you feel if Jesus wanted to come to your house?

The crowd didn’t think Zacchaeus deserved to have Jesus in his house, how do you think Jesus felt when the crowd spoke about Zacchaeus like that?

Craft

For today’s craft you’ll need paper, scissors, and markers.

First draw a heart on your paper, then cut out the heart with the scissors.

Now you’re going to write names in the heart, start with your own name and then do your family and friends, you can also do pets if you have any. This is a reminder that we are all loved by God all the time.

Once all the names are in you can decorate the heart however you like.

Colouring sheets

Click to print PDF

Click to print PDF

Click to print PDF

Sunday school activities - August 1, 2021

Reading of the story: Jesus is Lost

Theme discussion

Children are very important. They're not only our future but also our present in many ways. God knows this and loves children. When Jesus was young, about 12 years old, according to Luke, God worked through him and gave him truth and wisdom so that he could speak with religious leaders and have conversations with them.

When Jesus grew older, he recognized the importance of children and would let them come sit near him and listen while he preached. Jesus put to practice what God taught him when he was young and so he continued to welcome children and taught his disciples that the children are the greatest in God’s reign. Jesus recognized the truth that everyone was a child at some point in their life. 

As a child, it is important to ask as many questions as you like and learn everything that interests you. The knowledge that you learn may help you to make a great invention or maybe scientific discovery in the future or maybe you’ll be a great leader or a fearless adventurer. 

Sunday school is organized so that God’s teachings and the good news that Jesus preached can be shared with children. Where else do you learn important things?

Have you ever felt ignored because of your age? How did you feel?

God was working through Jesus at such a young age, how do you think God might be working through you?

Craft

Today’s craft is using puppets to recreate Jesus talking to a religious leader. This craft will require popsicle sticks, glue or tape, markers, and a printer.

First, print out this picture and cut out the figures. Jesus is the shorter one on the left and the religious leader is the taller one on the right.

Click to print PDF

Then colour in the characters and stick them to popsicle sticks using glue or tape.

With your puppets you can act out the scene, what do you think Jesus and the religious leader were talking about and saying?

Colouring sheets

Click to print PDF

Click to print PDF

Click to print PDF

Sunday school activities - July 25, 2021

Reading of the story: The Daughters of Zelophehad

Theme Discussion

Zelophehad’s daughters had an unfortunate dilemma before them when they learned that they couldn’t inherit their father’s land because they were female. They felt it was unfair for inheritance to only go to sons because it left them with no place to live or have a future. God also thought this was unfair and when the daughters brought their issue to Moses he was instructed by God that the daughters were right. God said that if there were no sons for the inheritance to go to then it may go to the daughters. When Moses heard this, he made it the new law. 

In this story, God teaches us about equity which means that everyone, male or female, has every right to be treated fairly and justly according to their needs. Like in our story, the daughters needed a place to live so they were able to inherit their father’s property. The story also teaches that equity is more important than equality. Equity is when we give different people the different help they need. Equality, on the other hand, is when we give that help to everyone even if they don’t need it. We are called by God to offer equity to everyone. This is what God asks of us.

What was your favourite part of this story? Were there any parts you didn’t like?

Imagine you, like the daughters, were told you couldn’t have what you needed to have a full life when others were allowed to. How would you feel? What would you say?

Was there ever a time you saw something unfair happening and you spoke up or got involved? If there was, what happened?

Activity

For this activity you’ll need paper, something to draw with, and a sibling or adult.

For this activity you’re going to trace your feet. Each person will do one of their feet. You’ll then put the tracings beside each other and compare them. You should notice that everyone has differently sized and possibly differently shaped feet. If we were going to give people shoes would you give them all the same size? If everyone got the same size that would be equality, they would fit some people but not everyone. If everyone got a shoe their size that would be equity, everyone would have shoes that fit. This is why God teaches us that equity is more important than equality.

Colouring sheets

Click to print PDF

Click to print PDF

Click to print PDF

Sunday school activities - July 18, 2021

Reading of the story: Jacob's Ladder

Theme Discussion

In this story, God talks to Jacob while he is dreaming. This surprises Jacob because he wasn’t anywhere special.  The place he had chosen to sleep was just an ordinary place. When Jacob woke up, he realized God was everywhere and all around him seemed to have been touched with holiness. He called the place Bethel to denote that the place was sacred and that God was present in that time and in that space. We can learn from this story that God is all around us and always with us no matter where we are or what we are doing. 

Was there anything in the story that seemed strange to you?

If you were Jacob and you woke up and realized God was in your dream, how would you feel?

Was there ever a time where you felt God’s presence, maybe in a dream or while you were doing something?

Craft

Today’s craft will be making reminders that God is everywhere like Jacob did with the rock in Bethel. You’ll need paper, scissors, crayons or markers, and any other decorations you want.

First cut the paper into rectangles about 15cm long and 10cm wide.

Then write “God is always with us” or an activity where you need a reminder that God is with you, for example “God is with me when I swim”.

Finally, you’re going to decorate your reminders however you want!

Colouring sheets

Click to print PDF

Click to print PDF

Click to print PDF

Sunday school activities - July 11, 2021

Reading of the story: Hagar and Ishmael

Theme discussion

In this story, Abraham faces a difficult decision when Sarah tells him to get rid of Hagar and Ishmael, Abraham isn’t sure if he should send Hagar and Ishmael away and so he looks to God for guidance. God tells Abraham to listen to Sarah and God will make sure everything will be okay. God is there for Abraham and helps him when he needs it most. Just like for Abraham, God will always be there for us and will help us with difficult decisions we face.

Later, when Hagar and Ishmael were crossing the desert, they ran out of water. God hears Ishmael crying and sends an angel to show Hagar that there is a well nearby. God is always watching over us the same way God watched over Hagar and Ishmael and will help us when we are in need.

Did anything in the story surprise you?

Have you ever faced a situation, like Hagar, where you needed help and were afraid?

Did you feel God’s presence in that situation?

Have you ever had to make a difficult decision, like Abraham?

Did you experience God’s guidance in that situation?

How do you think Hagar felt when she heard God’s voice and saw the well?

How can you carry God’s love with you to new places and people?

Craft

Today’s craft is making a God’s eye, this craft will remind us that God is always watching out for us and there for us. This craft requires:

• Two sticks (either popsicle sticks or from a tree)

• Yarn (string, ribbon, or twine can also be used it just won’t work as well)

• Glue can be used to stick the sticks together but it is not required.

Here is a good video showing how to make a God’s eye:

Colouring Sheets

Sunday school activities - July 4, 2021

Reading of the story

God's Story: Abraham and Sarah

Theme discussion

Trust is something that a lot of us struggle with, it’s hard to know who we should trust and when we should stop trusting them, especially when they make promises. If god had told you to leave your home and go to a new place that you’d never seen before, would you? Abram and Sarai trusted god and followed him, and he kept his promise because god always keeps his promises and we should trust him when he tells us to do something.

Was there ever a time that you had to leave something or someone you loved? If you did what or who were you leaving?

Was there ever a time that you trusted someone? Was it a good idea to trust them, did they keep their promises?

How does it feel to be always connected to God as part of his big family? Does it help you to trust people?

Craft

We are going to make a paper chain to remind ourselves how we're all connected to God as part of his family. For this craft we will need paper, scissors, crayons or markers, and tape.

Step 1: Cut the paper lengthwise into three strips.

Step 2: Fold the paper accordion style, each fold should make a square. Cut any extra off.

Step 3: Draw a person on your paper, the arms should touch the sides.

Step 4: Cut out your person by cutting along the line, be careful to leave the arms attached.

Step 5: Decorate your paper chain and customize your people! 

Step 6: Tape the ends together to make a circle, if you want a longer chain connect multiple strips of paper.

Colouring sheets

Click to print PDF

Click to print PDF

Sunday school activities - June 6, 2021

Theme Discussion

Listen to the story, “Stolen Words”:

This week, the news was full of the sad story of indigenous children taken away from their families and sent to Residential Schools. The idea was to make the children more like the European settlers in Canada, to make them forget their language and their culture. It broke apart families and caused a lot of hurt for our First Nations neighbours. They are still hurting today and the news of so many children who died and were buried in Kamloops has made all of us both sad and angry.

Have you ever hurt someone? Maybe you struck out in anger, or maybe you just bumped them by accident. When that happens, we are usually asked to apologize, to tell the hurt person that we are sorry. Does that help? Does it make all of the hurt go away? What else do we need to do to make the situation better and to be friends again?

When we become friends again with someone we have hurt, that’s called “reconciliation”. That’s what Canadians hope will happen between the indigenous people and all the other people who call Canada home. The United Church of Canada said “sorry” for the Residential Schools in 1996 but we are still working to make things better. We need to make life better for indigenous people in our country and we need to show them love and respect. It will take a lot of work and a lot of time for the hurt to go away.

Jesus taught us to love our neighbours. How can we show our indigenous neighbours that we love them and that we really want to make up for the hurt that was caused by the Residential Schools? One way is to listen to their stories and to learn about their culture. They have so much to teach us about caring for each other and for the earth.

In just a couple of weeks we will be celebrating the Indigenous Day of Prayer at BCUC. What a great opportunity to learn and share stories! We are so blessed to have Esther and Marlon Stewart in our congregation. They love to share their culture with us. This is one way we can get to know each other better – and that’s a big part of reconciliation.

Response Activity Ideas

Show of Support Shoe

Many are responding to the recently discovered burial site at the Kamloops Residential School by leaving shoes as a memorial to the many children who lost their lives.

(Image source: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/survivors-families-react-ottawa-to-215-bodies-kamloops-residential-school-1.6047161)

Write and/draw a message of support, a promise to do better and learn more, a call for more action, or a prayer on this shoe.  Where will you post it?  How will you act upon what you wrote?

Click to print PDF

Four Directions – Sacred circle

Materials: colouring tools, scissors, glue, cardstock/construction paper, hole punch, yarn/string

Read about the significance of the Four Directions and the Seven Sacred teachings common to many First Nations peoples on the print out.  What connections can you make to our Christian beliefs and teachings?

Cut out the Sacred circle and glue it onto cardstock or construction paper.  On the back of each colour, write/draw the key elements and meanings of each section. 

Next, cut out the feathers.  On each, write one of the Seven Sacred teachings, then attach them to your circle with yarn or string to hang below.

Share what you learned with someone else!

Click to print all 3 PDFs

Nature Printmaking

A connection to our natural world is a vital part of indigenous cultures.  As part of this year’s Solstice Festival, Algonquin artist Emily Brascoupé-Hoefler taught students about printmaking using natural materials in a virtual presentation.  Try it out yourself!

Materials: paint, flat tray or plate, brush or small roller, paper, collection of leaves, petals and/or flat stones, etc. (This can also be done with markers instead of paint!)

Choose the first item you would like to print.  Set it on your tray and paint a very thin layer of paint over it (or colour it heavily with marker).  Carefully pick it up, then press the item down onto the paper, coloured side down, and press firmly all over the backside, before lifting gently away.  Repeat with other items, experimenting with colour, repeated prints, and layering of prints.

Inuit and First Nations Music and Games

Learn more watching these videos!

Throat-singing:

Inuit games:

The bear song:

Sunday school activities - May 30, 2021

Theme Discussion

Do you know what a simile is?  It’s when we compare something to something else using the words ‘like’ or ‘as’, such as when we say “I’m as busy as a beaver!” or “I sing like a bird!”.  We aren’t really beavers or birds, but these sentences help make a picture in our minds to explain how things are; we are LIKE those things.

Can you complete these similes?

It is as straight as…

My uncle is as tall as…

The decoration shines like…

Those kids are as loud as…

She runs like…

It is as sweet as…

I am as fast as…

My friend swims like…

Now what if you were asked to describe God?  It is so hard, isn’t it?!  Many of us come to church and Sunday School to ask questions and figure that out.  The Bible and our discussions are often full of similes and symbols to try to explain God and God’s vision for the world.

When Jesus was on Earth, he talked and taught a lot about what God was like, what God kin-dom was all about, and people asked him lots of questions.  One of those people was Nicodemus.  Here’s his story:

Jesus used similes and other comparisons to help Nicodemus understand.  He told him to really be part of God’s kingdom, it’s like being born again!  What do you think that really meant?  Maybe Jesus meant Nicodemus needed to start all over in learning about God wants for us - to stop worrying about all the laws and rules and to let his decisions and actions be based on love.

Sometimes those comparisons are still tricky to understand, aren’t they?!  But the great thing to remember is there is not just one way to explain or know God. In the Storytime today, Rev. Karen showed us the triquetra symbol that helps to explain and show how there are many ways to thinks about God.  Sometimes we try to explain God as a loving caregiver with words like Creator, Father, or Mother.  Other times God seems closer to being human, like Jesus, and the love and support shared between people around us.  Other times God is like a Holy Spirit giving us encouragement to live well and do good.  God can be like more than one thing for us, and God may mean different things to different people. 

Where do you ‘see’ God?

How or when do you feel God’s presence?

What is God ‘like’ for you? 

Response Activities

Triquetra Drawings

Print out the triquetra page or draw one of your own (Click here for an easy tutorial!).  Think of the 3 different loops of the knot as three different ways you understand God or feel God’s presence.  Draw something that represents each of the ideas inside the three loops. 

Click to print PDF

Alphabet Challenge

Can you think of a way to describe God using each letter of the alphabet?  You could use adjectives – God is Loving! Or similes – God is like a Mother hen! Or short phrases – God Guides us!

Celtic Knot Colouring

Print and colour the designs or try your hand at drawing your own!

Click to print PDF