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​"Train a child in the way he should go,
when he is old he will not turn from it."
~ Proverbs 6:22 ~

Sunday School Distance Learning 
When God is NOT Distant!

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SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON - May 17, 2020 - HOLY SPIRIT our GUIDE & COMFORTER 
OPENING ACTIVITY:  
  1. Have your child(ren) bring a comfort object to today’s lesson (i.e. a blanket, stuffed animal) and talk about the comfort/peace that it gives them when they need it. God gives us something to be there with us and comfort us always.
  2. Who are helpers in this world? (Moms & Dads, Police Officers, Doctors, Nurses, etc.)They are helpers set in place to take care of our earthly lives. Jesus gave us a special helper, too, to take care of our earthly and heavenly lives!..The HOLY SPIRIT.. and this is what we are going to learn more about today in our Sunday School Lesson.
  3. Give your child(ren) a piece of paper and ask them to blow on it. What happens? Why? You can’t see the wind visibly, but you see its impact when you blow on it. It moves and flutters around. We can’t see the HOLY SPIRIT but we can see what it does and feel its power. 
READ FROM THE BIBLE: John 14: 15-21 (Use your Bible or click here for the link.) 
VIDEO: This week’s video is a “Children’s Sermon” about the reading:  https://youtu.be/49V2TIE8y-4
CRAFT: Holy Spirit Pinwheel (From ministry-to-children.com) (See Materials & Directions at the end of this lesson.) 
FOR YOUNGER KIDS: Click HERE to print a coloring sheet.
FOR OLDER KIDS: Click HERE for a worksheet on the Holy Spirit.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Dear God,
Thank you for all of the words of Jesus.
Thank you for the comfort of your Spirit.
Help us to remember what that means.
And to live always in your presence.
Thank you for your love.
We love you, God!
In Jesus name, Amen!

HOLY SPIRIT PINWHEEL Craft
Materials Needed:
  • One SQUARE piece of Construction Paper
  • Scissors  
  • One Thumb Tack/Pin/Glue could work too
  • Pencil (with an eraser), preferably brand new
  • Crayons, Colored Pencils, & Stickers for decorating the Pinwheel
Procedure: (See additional “Tips” below before starting.)
  1. Fold the construction paper on the diagonal from corner to corner.  Open the paper up and fold on the second diagonal across the other two corners.  When the paper is opened flat, the folds make an “X” across the square.
  2. Make one cut along each fold beginning at the corner and cutting toward the center.  The cut should stop about halfway toward the center.  The cut should not go all the way to the center of the square.
  3. Decorate each section of the square on both sides of the construction paper using the materials provided.
 



​
  1. Take every other corner, one at a time and gently pull it up to the center of the square.
  2. When all four corners meet at the center, take the thumb tack/pin and push it through all four corners through the center of the square.
  3. Push the thumb tack/pin through the eraser of the pencil.
  4. Blow on the pinwheel and watch it spin!
Use this craft to teach the children about how we can hear and feel the wind, but we cannot see it.  We can see the results of the wind, but we cannot see the wind itself.  Relate this to God/Holy Spirit.  We can hear His voice through His Word and feel His peace, comfort, joy, etc.  We cannot see Him, but we can see the results of His work.
Tips:
  • I recommend using a square which is 6 inches or smaller in diameter.  You want the length from one corner to the center of the square to be shorter than the pencil.
  • The thicker the paper you choose to use, the more sturdy the pinwheel will be.  Thick paper will better withstand the wind and blowing by a child.
  • Do not push the thumb tack all the way through the pencil eraser causing the pinwheel to attach tightly to the pencil.  If pushed in too tightly the pinwheel will not turn.

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SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON - May 10, 2020 - Jesus is the WAY, the TRUTH, & the LIFE
OPENING ACTIVITY:  
    MATERIALS NEEDED: A bunch of keys and one key that unlocks a door in your home or a lock box.
    ACTIVITY: Go to a room in your house that has a locked door, stand outside your house with the door locked, or use your                          lock box. Give your child(ren) a bunch of keys to various places. Have your child(ren) try to see if they can get                          into the locked door. Celebrate when they finally enter! 
    DISCUSSION FOLLOWING ACTIVITY: Did all the keys work to get in? (NO) Why not? (Each key is for a specific door,                                item, etc.) Will any of these keys get me into Heaven? (No) The keys won’t do that...but what                                           will?... There is something or rather someONE who is the way to God’s kingdom. Who is that?? (Jesus)                              Let’s hear what our Sunday School Lesson has to say about that.
READ FROM THE BIBLE: John 14: 1-14 (Use your Bible or click here for the link.) 
VIDEO: This week’s video:  https://youtu.be/wZPWf2jWTmw
QUESTIONS TO ASK: 
  1. God is a good locksmith. He had a plan to bring us to heaven through the One He sent. WHO is our key to heaven? (JESUS! The one who died on the cross for our sins)
  2. If you know Jesus, who else do you know? (God, The Father)
  3. In our Sunday School Lesson, Jesus describes Himself as being what? (The Way, the Truth, and the Life)
  4. Where was he going? (To Heaven)
  5. What was he going to do in Heaven? (Prepare a place for us)
It isn’t something we do ourselves. Just like we can’t wiggle and force a key into a lock, we can’t earn or force our own way into Heaven. We have to come through Jesus. When we put our faith in Christ and trust that His death and resurrection save us, we can rest assured that we are in God’s family. 

CRAFT: “I Am The Way” Door Hanger
    MATERIALS NEEDED: 
  • Paper...You can make your own or print a template from HERE.
  • Scissors
  • Markers
    DIRECTIONS:
  1. Print or Cut Out a Door Hanger Template
  2. Write the following on the Door Hanger, ‘Jesus said, “I am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE.”’  John 14:6
  3. Decorate around the Bible Verse
  4. Hang it on their bedroom door or a door in the house that they frequently go through
  5. Tell them that this door hanger can be a daily reminder to them of who is the way and who they should follow with their thoughts, words, and actions.
FOR YOUNGER KIDS: Click HERE to print a coloring sheet on being the Good Shepherd 
FOR OLDER KIDS: Click HERE for a worksheet related to the Bible Passage
                                   Click HERE for a word find on John 14:1-14
CLOSING PRAYER: (Have kids repeat each line)
Dear God,
You are the way, truth, and life
You are the key to all things
Please help us to know how to follow you
Thank you for unlocking the door to life
Thank you for your love
We love you, God!
In Jesus name, Amen!

Opening Activity, Coloring Page and Closing Prayer Ideas were found at Ministry-to-children.com
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON - May 3, 2020 - JESUS is Our Good Shepherd
OPENING ACTIVITY:  
INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITY: Have your child close their eyes or blindfold them. Lead them to walk around the house or through some obstacles you place on the ground by strictly listening to your voice. 
FAMILY ACTIVITY: Pair everyone up. Blindfold one person from each pair and have him/her stand in the middle of the room or outside.These are the sheep. Scatter up the others and have them stand at the edge of the room or outside. These are the shepherds. Ask all the sheep to turn 3 rounds on the spot. On “Go”, the shepherds will call out to their respective sheep, to give them instructions to walk towards them. (No running allowed.) The first pair of sheep and shepherd to reunite wins. Switch roles and repeat. (Taken from Ministry-to-Children.com)
​

When the activity is completed, you can ask them questions like…
  1. What was it like to walk with your eyes closed and listen to directions?
  2. Did you trust that your shepherd would lead you safely “home”?
  3. If you have other children that tried to interfere.:) What did you do when your brother/sister started to shout out directions? Did you listen to them? Or did you ignore them?
  4. Whose voice should we always listen to? (God/Jesus)
Today, we are going to hear a story that Jesus told about following him, like sheep follow a shepherd.
READ FROM THE BIBLE: John 10: 1-10 (Use your Bible or click here for the link.) 
VIDEO: This week’s video:  Click Here
QUESTIONS TO ASK: 
  1. Who is Jesus speaking to in this scripture? (Pharisees)
  2. What do the sheep listen to? (The Shepherd’s voice)
  3. Who is the ‘shepherd’ in this story? (Jesus)
  4. When Jesus says, ‘I am the gate for the sheep.’ Who are the sheep he is referring to? (Us)
  5. Why does Jesus come? (‘so that we may have life and have it to the full’ John 10:10)
CRAFT: Here is a pdf of a few different crafts. They were all so good, we couldn’t choose. You and your child(ren) can choose together or do all of them. :)  Click HERE for materials, directions, and a video. (CRAFTS INCLUDE: Sheep in the Pen, “Jesus is the Door” Hanger, and Listen in Cup Phone)
FOR YOUNGER KIDS: Click HERE to print a coloring sheet on being the Good Shepherd 

FOR OLDER KIDS: Click HERE for a worksheet on Prayer.
CLOSING PRAYER: (Have kids repeat each line)
Dear God,
Thank you for being the Good Shepherd
Help us to listen for your voice
And to follow you and trust you
We know you will guide us and protect us
Thank you for caring about us
Thank you for your love
We love you, God!
In Jesus name, Amen!


SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON - April 26, 2020 - Jesus Appears on the Road to Emmaus
OPENING ACTIVITY: Encourage your students to come to “Sunday School” in some sort of disguise.  Act like you don’t recognize them right away until they do something “typical” of them.  In our story today, they will learn about how Jesus appeared to two of his disciples and they did not recognize him until he did a very familiar action.
READ FROM THE BIBLE: John 24: 13-35 (Use your Bible or click here for the link.) 

VIDEO: This week’s video:  CLICK HERE

QUESTIONS TO ASK:
    1.Who were the two men walking on the road to Emmaus? (Two of Jesus’ Disciples)
    2. Who came up alongside and walked with them? (Jesus)
    3. Did the two disciples recognize Jesus right away? (No)
    4. What did Jesus do that made them recognize him? (Broke bread and gave thanks..like Last Supper)
    5. What happened when they realized it was Jesus? (Jesus disappeared)

CRAFT: LOOKING FOR JESUS BINOCULARS (Taken from ministry-to-children.com)
*It is always important as we go through life to look for the ways that Jesus is working among us. We need our binoculars on. We don’t want to miss it right away like the disciples in our story.
    MATERIALS NEEDED: Toilet paper or paper towel tubes, Masking tape, Markers, stickers, or other decorating materials                                                 (Optional: Scissors, Yarn or string, Hole punch)
    DIRECTIONS:
  1. Tape your toilet paper tubes together, perhaps placing a small piece of paper between the tubes to separate them slightly.
  2. Write on the binoculars, “I’m looking for Jesus.” 
  3. Add colorful decorations, if desired, stickers, or pictures.
  4. Punch a hole in the sides of the tubes.
  5. String yarn through the holes to make the binoculars wear-able.
  6. Peer through your “binoculars” and keep an eye out for what God is doing.
COLORING PAGE: Click HERE to print or color online.​

CROSSWORD PUZZLE: Click HERE to print a crossword puzzle for older children. HERE is a fill-in-the-blank for them, as well.
CLOSING PRAYER: 
(Have kids repeat each line)
Dear God, 
Thank you that we can celebrate Jesus.
Thank you for all He did for us. 
And all that He continues to do. 
Help us to trust in you. 
Even when we don’t understand what’s happening. 
We know you work things for good. 
Thank you for your love.
We love you, God!
In Jesus name, Amen!


SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON - April 19, 2020 - Jesus Appears to His Disciples & Doubting Thomas
OPENING ACTIVITY: 
        MATERIALS NEEDED: 2  bags(that you can’t see through) each with one item inside.
        
SCRIPT:
            SAY: “Today we are going to talk about trust, and how we can know that something is true…what if I told you that I                          have climbed Mount Everest? Would you believe that?”
            SAY:”Why or why not? What if I told you I brushed my teeth this morning? That might be a little more believable,                            but you still didn’t watch me do it, so you would have to take my word for it. Well, look at this bag. Would you                          believe me if I told you I had a (your item) in this bag? How do you know?”
            Have someone come up to look
            SAY: “Is it a (your item)?”
            
Ask everyone else.
            
SAY: “Do you believe him/her? Do you believe me?”
           
Hold the item up.
           
SAY: “Now we can know for sure, right? Okay, well, here’s another bag. What do you think is in here?”

           SAY: “This time, I want (someone else) to come up, but you can’t look at the inside of the bag. You may only touch                             the item. What do you think it is? Can you know for sure without seeing it? It might be a little trickier… To                                 everyone: Would you believe him/her if you didn’t see what this was? 
Well, in our Gospel lesson today, someone had a hard time believing what others tried to tell him. The story of Jesus appearing to his disciples after Easter is so exciting. Imagine watching Him die, and feeling so upset, and then seeing Him alive again! But one disciple missed out.
He wasn’t there in the room when Jesus came, and didn’t see him personally. He did not believe what his friends told him about witnessing Jesus, and promised that he wouldn’t believe it until he saw Jesus face to face. When Jesus did show up later, and showed His wounds, Thomas must have felt embarrassed. But the neat thing is that Jesus said “blessed are those who have not seen, and yet still believe.”
He commended people who believed in Him without witnessing face to face. Do you know who that is? That’s us! We haven’t physically seen Jesus, but we can still believe in Him. How? How do we know about Jesus? We might hear about Jesus from other people, and that is great. But we have the word of GOD, most importantly!”

READ FROM THE BIBLE: John 20: 19-31 (Use your Bible or click HERE for the link.) 

​VIDEO: This week’s video is filmed with Legos:  https://youtu.be/GYmJSMe3AU8

QUESTIONS TO ASK:
    1.Who did Jesus appear to in the locked room? (His Disciples) 
    2. What is the name of the disciple that wasn’t in the room and doubted? (Thomas)
    3. What did Thomas want to see in order to believe? (The holes in Jesus’ hand and side)
    4. Did Jesus appear to Thomas? (Yes!)
    5. What was Jesus' response to Thomas? (“Because you have seen me, you have 
        believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29)

CRAFT:
    MATERIALS NEEDED: White Paper, Colored Piece of Paper, Markers, Scissors, & Glue
    DIRECTIONS: 
  1. Trace BOTH hands on a white piece of paper and cut out.
  2. Glue hands to a colored sheet of paper
  3. Draw and color a heart on each of the palms where the nails were 
  4. Around the hands on the paper write the following: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe. John 20:29”

COLORING PAGE: Click HERE to print or color online.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE: Click HERE to print a crossword puzzle for older children.

CLOSING PRAYER: Dear God, Thank you for saving us. Thank you for your love. Help us to believe.
                                    Even in what we cannot see. Thank you for Jesus! In His name, Amen
.


Looking for a Good Friday Activity to do with your child(ren) today....
1. Read John 18 & 19
2. Watch the Video:  Click Here.  ...STOP at 4:00 minutes or you’ll give the secret of Easter away. ;)
3. Let your child(ren) pick their own Good Friday coloring page to print and color. Click Here.
Tell the the story to them! 
Looking for a Maundy Thursday Activity to do with your child(ren) today?
1. Read John 13: 1-7, 34
2. Watch the Video: Click Here. 
3. Enjoy Coloring the Page Online or Print It! Click Here.
Tell the the story to them! 

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SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON - April 5, 2020 - PALM SUNDAY - Triumphant Procession Of Jesus
(Download PDF of the lesson here.)
READ FROM THE BIBLE:  John 12: 12-43
(Use your Bible or here is a link:  Click HERE
VIDEO:  Click Here.
CRAFT:  Palm Branches
(Activity Taken & Modified From:  https://tinyurl.com/s4r2oy8 )
   MATERIALS NEEDED:  Scissors, Construction paper (green), Markers, Glue/Tape and Paper
                                            Towel Tube or Popsicle/Paint Stick
   DIRECTIONS: (Can make more than one. :)
       1. Trace 4-6 hand prints onto green paper.
       2. Carefully cut the hands out of the paper.
       3. Decorate the hands with words, phrases, or verses like:
                ● Hosanna to the Highest!
                ● Jesus is our King!
                ● Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
                ● Blessed is the King of Israel!
      4. Glue/Tape the hand prints onto the sides of the stick/tube.
      5. Here is song to wave your palms to and shout Hosanna to:  Click HERE.

QUESTIONS TO ASK:
1. Who was this story foretold by many years before it happened? (God)
2. What was Jesus riding on? (A donkey)
3. What town did Jesus come riding into? (Jerusalem)
4. What were people waving as Jesus entered the town? (Palm Branches)
5. What did people lay on the ground as Jesus entered the town? (Palm Branches and coats)
6. What were they shouting as Jesus entered? (See phrases from craft)
COLORING PAGE: Click HERE
CROSSWORD PUZZLE FOR OLDER KIDS: Click HERE
CLOSING PRAYER:  Dear God, Thank you for sending Jesus. “ Blessed is the King who comes in the
name of the Lord !” Help us to remember and worship Jesus throughout this Holy Week as we prepare
to celebrate His resurrection from the dead on Easter! Hosanna in the Highest! Jesus is our King!
Amen.


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SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON - March 29, 2020 - Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead
(Download PDF of the lesson here.)
OPENING ACTIVITY: Cocoon to Butterfly
(Activity Taken & Modified From: https://childrensministry.com/jesus-raises-lazarus-dead/ )
MATERIALS NEEDED: Paper, Pencil, Scissors, & Colored Pencils/Crayons
DIRECTIONS:
1. Have your child place their hands on the piece of paper with their thumbs pointed up and
    touching each other(this is the body of the butterfly). Keep the remaining fingers together
    as they go out in opposite directions(these are the wings of the butterfly). Trace your
    child’s hands to create the butterfly
2. Have your child cut out and decorate the butterfly.
3. Gently, have your child roll up their butterfly with the blank side facing out (like a cocoon). Talk about how a butterfly          has new life when it emerges from its cocoon (unroll the butterfly).
**Today we are going to hear about a story about how Jesus gave one man new life.
READ FROM THE BIBLE: John 11: 1-43 (Use your Bible or Click HERE for a link.)
VIDEO : Click HERE.
QUESTIONS TO ASK:
1. Who was Mary and Martha’s brother? (Lazarus)
2. Why was everyone crying when Jesus arrived at the home of Mary and Martha? (Lazarus was dead.)
3. How long had Lazarus been dead? (4 days) Where was his body? (in a tomb)
4. What did Jesus do with the people as they mourned Lazarus’s death and walked to his tomb? (“Jesus wept.” John 11:35)
5. Why did Jesus cry? (The Jew said, “See, how he loved him?” John 11:36)
6. What happened when Jesus called Lazarus’ name in front of the tomb? (Lazarus came alive and came out of the tomb!)
COLORING PAGE : Click HERE
WORD FIND FOR OLDER KIDS: Click HERE
CLOSING PRAYER:  Dear Jesus, it is comforting to know that when we cry, You cry with us. But it is even more comforting to know that You have power over death and the grave and that one day we will be in heaven with You--and then there will be no more tears. Just like a butterfly finds new life when it comes out of its cocoon, and You gave Lazarus new life, we will have new life with you in heaven someday! In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY:  If you have enough toilet paper to spare. :) Use rolls of toilet paper to “prepare a body for burial” by wrapping them up in it and letting them “come alive” when “Jesus” says, ‘Lazarus, come out!’
​

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON-March 22, 2020-Jesus Heals A Man Born Blind
OPENING ACTIVITY:  Blind Drawing
  1. Have your child take out a piece of paper and something to write with.
  2. You are going to tell them what to draw, but they have to do it with their eyes closed or blindfolded. 
  3. Here is an idea of what to draw or you can make up your own:
    1. Draw a sun in the top right corner
    2. Draw some grass at the bottom of the page
    3. Draw a house in the center of the page
    4. Put a chimney on the roof of the house
    5. Draw 4 flowers in the grass
    6. Draw 3 clouds in the sky
    7. Draw 2 birds in the sky
    4. When you’re all done, discuss with your child what it was like to do something when you can’t see/blind.

READ FROM THE BIBLE: John 9: 1-41 
(Use your Bible or here is a link… https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+9&version=NIV)

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4qZ2KSbdxI
​
QUESTIONS TO ASK:
  1. What did Jesus do to the blind man? (Jesus made mud with his saliva to put on the man’s eyes)
  2. What did the man do after Jesus put mud on his eyes?(He went to wash his eyes off in the Pool of Siloam)
  3. What happened after the man washed his eyes? (He could see!)
  4. Who wanted to speak to the man after he was healed?(The Pharisees)
  5. Did the Pharisees believe him? (No, so they threw him out of the synagogue)
  6. Who found the man after he was thrown out? (Jesus)
  7. Did the man believe in Jesus? (YES! He said “‘Lord, I believe.’ and worshipped him.” John 9: 38)

​COLORING PAGE: Print the following picture to color or color it online.  Click on the following link: https://kidsplaycolor.com/kindness-is-jesus-healing-people-coloring-pages/

Sunday School,  10:30 –11:30 AM - All Ages!

10:30-10:45 AM – Singing for PreK-5thGrade
10:45-11:30 AM – Lesson Time PreK-5thGrade in classrooms

PreK and Kindergarten – Answers in Genesis “A is for Adam” Teaching the Gospel from Genesis.
o   Students will learn:    §  God created the world in 6 literal days and rested on the 7th day.
                                       §  Man disobeyed God’s command.
                                       §  Sin separates us from God.
                                       §  God provides a way for us to be reconnected to Him.

1st through 3rd Grade
o   Students will learn the 7 C’s of History.
        §  Creation
        §  Corruption
        §  Catastrophe
        §  Confusion
        §  Christ
        §  Cross
        §  Consummation

4th and 5th Grade
o   Students will learn about God’s Promises.

6th through 8th Grade
o   Students will continue and enrich their Confirmation topics.

9th through 12th Grade
o   Students will grow in evangelizing their faith and worldview.

Adults
o   Pastor Johnson invites ALL adults are to join together to grow in God's Word!  This is a difficult world we live in, come and hear how others cope with all of the challenges and how to better apply your Faith to daily living!

Need to sign up your youth?  Please click here.
Christmas Program
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