image credit -- bless it. 

{you} as editor

*i'm away on vacation this week and re-posting a few of my favorite posts. i thought this one might be especially helpful as we're putting the final tweaks on our summer curriculum. don't forget -- you're the expert this summer. only you can make the lessons perfect for your kids.  

good news. today, you're adding a new title to your resume. you are a curriculum editor. congrats! {mention to your boss for a bonus! or at least a fresh cup of coffee.}

job description: a person who is in charge of and determines the final content of a text.

let me explain more. i'm a curriculum writer. in this job, i work hard to plan and create age-appropriate engaging activities that connect with focused biblical content for children. my job is to write so that you don't have to start your lessons from scratch.

here's the hilarious thing: publishers hire me to write original curriculum, but you are my editor. it's ultimately up to you to delete, add, tweak, and improve my work.

when i write, i apply child development principles and teaching methods with easy to understand instructions. but when you edit, you add the interests, personalities, theologies, and backgrounds of the children in your church to make the lessons perfect for your specific children.

i create a good, solid foundation. you edit for unique and targeted applications.

we're a good team -- you & me.

i believe every lesson of every curriculum must be edited and customized for each church's context. as editor, maybe you'll do a whole lot or maybe just a few nips & tucks. but, please promise me that you'll never pull the curriculum out of the box and teach as is.

scratch that. you should try that one time. and then you'll realize you should never do that again.

i'll never know your kids' learning styles, the community and culture in which they live, their diverse family situations, and the unique theological nuances.

but, you do. so go crazy and get tweaking. and, proudly display your editor badge.

i'll continue writing if you'll continue editing. deal?

children in adult worship services {summer}

*i'm away on vacation this week and re-posting a few of my favorite posts. i thought this one might be especially helpful as we're all in the midst of creating summer programming for children. consider these options if you're considering canceling children's classes in order to include them in the adult service. oh! and, definitely read through the comments -- so many good, additional ideas. 

i apologize. a brief rant is on the agenda for today. what's wrong with me? i used to be such a nice person! blame it on the chicago winter. it's been cold for a very long time.

with the summer months approaching, i thought i might share my thoughts on including children in adult worship services. it seems to be around the summer and the holidays that many churches consider canceling the children's ministry classrooms instead choosing to invite children into the adult worship service.

while i really do love imagining children, adults, and families worshipping together, i find that many churches invite children into the adult service without offering any interaction aimed specifically toward children.

please, don't do this.

consider these two options [in no particular order]:

option 1: continue with children's ministry programming just like you do all year. and, don't just offer childcare, but create an inspiring special summer program with games, and art, and music unlike the rest of the year. children's regular routines are already tweaked so take the opportunity to try something new, something fun, something summer-ish. then, do the same for adults. children in their age-appropriate, creative, meaningful environment, and adults in their practical, worshipful, connective environment, and families connecting after the service to share their experiences.

option 2: create an intergenerational, adult & child-minded worship service where all ages celebrate in the same room. plan music, video, sermons, and activities that encourage both adults and children to engage together in worship. for example: consider what trinity church planned during the sermon-portion of their easter multi-generational service: the children's director led the service and preached the sermon, while children followed along with their service booklets. adults connected as the director spoke, and children engaged as they completed activities directly connected to the sermon. i love it.

not an option: planning an adult service and then inviting children into the experience. save the hot topics, challenging videos, and for grown ups only worship music for next weekend. instead, consider this a fantastic opportunity to creatively plan for multiple generations to worship together.

on being good enough

*i'm away on vacation this week and re-posting a few of my favorite posts. i thought this one might be especially helpful as we're finishing the week heading into busy weekends of leadership. regardless of what happens on sunday -- you are good enough. always.

last weekend, before speaking to a group of children's ministry leaders i said to my husband, i don't think my talks are good enough. they need more content, and flash, and jokes, and interaction. in perfect-husband form, he replied, sit down crazy lady. your talks are good enough. 

and yesterday, after a great day of curriculum meetings, on my drive back to the airport, i thought, i didn't do enough. i should have brought charts and graphs and pretty pages filled with brilliant new ideas. next time, i'll do more and then i'll feel like i contributed enough. that i was enough. 

oh, and last week, after a meeting with local children's leaders, after they had left, i reviewed every word of the conversation. i should have suggested more creative ideas, and listened more, no wait, i should have talked more, and smiled more, and bought their coffee. yes, next time. i'll do enough. 

do more, be more, think more, create more, execute more, lead more. you are not enough. 

the usual mantra running through my head. there's always more. don't ease up, relax, or pat yourself on the back for too long, because there's always one more thing. to feel, and think through, and do. 

go, go, go. 

but, jesus. he says, crazy lady, slow down. stop. you were made in my image, you are my creation, and each day i sustain you. which means you are fully enough. live like you believe my words. 

before the day begins and i get lost once again in my own efforts, i'm choosing to live and believe that i'm good enough already. without any effort. i'm a child of the divine, and he declares i am his masterpiece, his prize, and his favorite. in response, i offer jesus my best. my belief, and my trust.

i'm silencing the critic, the inner voice trying to convince me that one more email sent, one more phone call made, one more curriculum lesson edited will be the ultimate answer. the one thing that finally quiets my spirit and makes me believe i really am good enough. 

jesus says, you & me together. that's enough. 

curriculum tips {for new volunteers}

*i'm away on vacation this week and re-posting a few of my favorite posts. i thought this one might be especially helpful as we're all planning to train summer volunteers -- either for camp, VBS, or as substitutes for sunday morning small group leaders. enjoy! 

a few months ago, a children's ministry friend asked for a few tips that he could share with his new volunteers. he specifically wanted ideas for how to train these new volunteers to best utilize the prepared curriculum he gave them. here are my tips:

please prepare! spend time {preferably before sunday morning} reviewing the lesson, reading the bible story, and praying for the children. allow the story and lesson to speak to your spirit, so that you can lead the children from your own place of transformation. know the lesson, supplies, and activities well so that you don't have to rely on the physical curriculum paper. this will allow you to facilitate the activity while relationally engaging with the children.

go with the flow! be open to god's leadings while you are facilitating the lesson. a child might have had a difficult week at home, or suffered a loss, or have various questions on his mind that don't necessarily match up with the day's key concept. it will feel like you have to do every activity, and say every key word, but really, you don't have to stick to the lesson. your job is to lead the children into an experience with god. if you have to set a few questions from the curriculum aside in order to meet kids where they are at - do it! and, advanced preparation will empower you to be open & flexible. 

notice your body language & tone of voicce! pay attention to the way you use your body to communicate the lesson. are you using your hands, your smile, and your eyes to communicate energy and excitement to the children? also, consider changing your voice levels as you tell the story - use loud and soft voices. this will draw children into the story, and encourage participation.  

{aaron reynolds' book the fabulous reinvention of sunday school is an excellent resource for creatively & mindfully telling stories.}

encourage wondering & imaginative questions! facilitate a deeper level of thinking for children by asking open ended, imaginative questions before & after they hear the bible story. for example: what would you have done if you were in that story? what do you think the people in today's story felt? how will you live this week now that you know this story?

what tips have you passed along to new volunteers concerning curriculum? and, PS: you can actually share these tips with your volunteers by clicking the share button below.