It is a shame that so many do not come to the conference, or if they come they do not bring their whole team! This is especially sad when I hear from so many in kids ministry just do not feel encouraged, or resourced.

Here are just a few of the top reasons for going to Kidsreach:

1. Networking opportunities – get to meet hundreds of others kids ministry workers.
2. Always lots of new, cool stuff to look at and examine in the resource centre.
3. Great speakers, presenters and workshop leaders. Have a look at the workshop subjects alone. There is something there for everyone.
4. It is only for one day – and such a good price.

Download the brochure

Freshwater Uniting Church

Saturday Nov 19 5 – 7pm Advent theme ‘Getting ready to come close to the mystery of Christmas’

Umima Uniting Church

A family fun Christmas event on Saturday December 17th at 5pm

Oatley Uniting Church

Sunday 4 Dec 4 – 6pm

Gordon Uniting Church

Saturday 3 Dec 4.30 – 6.30pm see their website for details

Cromer Uniting Church

Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd December 2011 from 6:30 to 9pm. Come and explore the Christmas Story. Start the festive season out in tune with the Christmas Spirit. Play with light and make your own light masterpieces. Or just take some space to reconnect with the beaty and hope of Christmas.

Balmain Messy Church

Sunday 27th November, 4-6pm. Balmain Uniting Church @ The Circle Cafe, 344 Darling St, Balmain. Contact: Nicole 0438639258 or nfleming74@gmail.com

Over 300 people came and enjoyed the baby animals, the Knox Grammar bands, the story tent, the free gingerbread decorating, fruit and sausage sizzle, the Tooth Fairy who blew lots of bubbles, the singing, the face painting and the playdough.

This free event was organised by the Uniting Church in Australia, in particular the Berowra Uniting Church and St John’s Wahroonga, and was supported by the Baptist Union. To find out more contact Judyth Roberts.

Click to view the A Day in the Park 2011 photos

About this time of year schools are already planning for the next intake of kindergarten children, and most schools will have parent information evenings and one or more “orientation” days for the new kindergarten children to have a taste of “big school”. These may already be taking place, but will certainly be taking place soon after the holidays.

This is a most opportune time for SRE coordinators and advocates to speak to school principals or staff SRE coordinators about informing the new parents about SRE. Many new parents still refer to it as “Scripture” or do not know it even exists.

ICCOREIS has produced a Kinder Orientation Pack which could be used in a number of different ways. 

• There is a brochure which can be customized with information about your school to be given out to parents. 
• There is a PowerPoint which could be used at a parent information session.
• There are sample letters to be given to parents and to the classroom teacher.

These resources can be downloaded from the links below.  Read the Orientation Pack Overview first as it outlines what is contained in the pack and how it can best be used.   

These resources are editable so they can be customised for your particular school and with the appropriate local details. If you would liek any more information please feel free to contact Emma Parr (02 8267 4290; emmap@nsw.uca.org.au )

SRE Kindergarten Orientation Pack Overview - Advice on how to use the resources below

SRE Orientation – Powerpoint Presentation - a slide show for use on computer or data projector

Sample letter for Class Teacher - template for a letter from the SRE teacher to the classroom teacher.

Sample Letter for Parents – template for a letter from the SRE teacher to the parents/carers of children in their class.

SRE and your Child - a tri-panel brochure for parents outlining what available at your school

Download

Download the A Day in the Park Poster

When?

Thursday October 27th, 10am-1pm

Where?

Wahroonga Park, next to Wahroonga Station on Coonanbarra Road

Why?

Celebrate Children’s Week 2011

Who?

Children and families

To find out more ring 0409 154 625

Or email judythr@nsw.uca.org.au

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These were the sort of questions we wrestled with:

• As a dad, what would I learn about the reign of God from playgroup?
• Why do people come to Playgroup… and why do they come back?
• Where is God at Playgroup? How can you tell?

After a superb lunch (thanks to the amazing catering efforts of Yvette and her mum), people had the opportunity to choose two workshops, with titles like Music at Playgroup, Grant Writing and Fundraising, Managing Challenging Behaviours, Baby Playgroup, Craft at Playgroup and Evangelism Unpacked it was a hard choice.

Kathy Blazewicz had travelled from Adelaide to share her expertise in music playgroups and baby playgroups. Lots of playgroups had sent a couple of people and so could spread their options. The feedback from participants was encouraging – “Great”, “Wonderful”, “Brilliant”, “Inspirational”, “Practical”, “Thought-Provoking” – and another Playtime Conference is already being planned for 2012.

Download Workshop Notes

Grants and Fundraising – Judyth Roberts

Christian Crafts – Judyth Roberts

Baby Playgroups – Kathryn Blazewicz

Music and Preschoolers – Kathryn Blazewicz

Cromer Uniting Church advertise their quarterly Messy Church events here

Engadine Messy Church had fun celebrating Pentecost with a party

Delicious cup cakes

Fun crafts

High school student Shane, who is 16, is a musician and leader at Messy Church

East Maitland Uniting Messy Church got messy making Pentecost puppets and cakes.

Flame cupcakes and Pentecost puppets

St Andrew’s Uniting Church at South Turramurra is not following the Messy Church formula, but is having great fun connecting with local families in a weekly Friday evening gathering they call Family Fun Church.

Enjoying a story

Sharing a meal

Making a messy invitation to their end of term party

Older members can remember the momentous event when three separate denominations joined together to form the Uniting Church in 1977. But it is worth taking the time to tell the story to younger generations or new members, so that the joy of that occasion and all that has been achieved is not lost.

Here are few suggestions for telling that story using the UCA logo and a variety of materials:

Story in felt

I used this recently in a church worship service and not only the children but adults too were fascinated to see the logo emerge…

I have a story in this box (Hold up box, but leave lid on) – I wonder if the colours of the box are a clue? What are the colours? Mmm, three colours in one box. Let’s see what is inside.

(Place black felt circle on the floor and smooth it out slowly) What does this look like?  (Usually someone will say “it is a black circle”) Yes, well the person who first told this story said this is like a darkened earth … (Move your hand over the felt in a slow circle) Have you ever seen photos of planet earth in the dark?

(Get the next piece out of the box, a white felt u-shape, and place it on) This makes a difference. What does it look like now? (Usually someone will say “a smiley face”) It certainly looks brighter now.  What could it mean?  I wonder if this is a bowl … or a letter ‘u’…?

(Get the next piece which is a long white strip of felt) I wonder what this means? (Someone usually says it is like an anchor or boat) It could be those things, but what happens when we add this? (Place the other strip of felt to form the cross)

(At this point it looks strikingly like an anchor and you can agree with that suggestion, and perhaps point out that it also looks like a boat without a sail. Sit back and pause, looking puzzled) Hmmm, this is good, but it needs something more.

(Get the red felt dove out and place it in the middle) Ahh, this makes all the difference! This brings it to life! What do you think it is? Yes, it is a bird, but not just any bird. This is a dove, a sign of the Spirit, and it is red, like Pentecost. The red dove is flying not resting. Do you think it looks like a red flame too?

(By now people realise it is a familiar logo and they are intrigued) The three colours represent the three churches that formed the Uniting Church – Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational. The darkened earth has received the light of the cross, the u-shape stands for the Uniting Church but also helps form an anchor or a boat, both early symbols of the church. But the red dove expresses the movement of the Spirit, and just like it brings this logo to life, it brings the church to life.

(Get out some small red feathers) In the box there are also some red feathers, from the red dove, so take one and remember the red dove and what it means, and when you see this logo on a building, it might be a school or a church or an aged care centre or a shop, you will know what it means.

The story in a biscuit (sweet)

Take a plain dark chocolate biscuit like a wheaten.

Using white icing, either roll it between your hands to form shapes, or roll it out on a board and cut it out in shapes, form a u-shape on the biscuit.

Next add the cross the same way.

Then add the red dove, either cut out of fruit strap or using red icing in a squeeze tube.

See the felt story above for the meaning of the logo. Tell the story as you decorate the biscuit, then let children make their own.

The same technique can be used to decorate a cupcake. If desired a large round cake can be iced with dark chocolate and decorated with whipped cream in a can and fresh strawberries or frozen berries to form the UCA logo. This makes a spectacular morning tea after a church service.

The story in a Jatz/vegemite/cheese style (savoury)

Take a plain Jatz biscuit or something similar, like a round water cracker.

Spread with Vegemite.

Add the u-shape cut out of cheese or bent with string cheese. Add the cross in cheese.

The red dove can be cut from tomato or red capsicum or even a squeeze of tomato sauce.

See the felt story above for the meaning of the logo. Tell the story as you decorate the biscuit, then let the children make their own. They might like to make lots for morning tea for everyone!

Colour-in Uniting Church Logo

Download a colouring in version of the Uniting Church logo

Uniting Church wrist band

The three colours represent the three churches that came together to form the Uniting Church – the Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational churches.

Children can plait together three colours of ribbon or dyed leather straps to form a wrist band.

Black and white and red beads can also be used to remember the three denominations that formed the Uniting Church.

You might also be interested in Pentecost ideas

“Christian Playtimes can be such a productive and innovative way to reach out to young families in your community.

This conference will give you effective strategies to help your existing Playtimes become mission focused and help connect you with other Playtime leaders.”

Download the Playtime Conference 2011 brochure

Messy Ministry!

A residential in-service for those who work in children, family, youth ministry, also rural ministry and pastors, lay preachers and resource ministers.

Monday August 15 – Friday August 19 2011 at the Centre for Ministry, 16 Masons Drive North Parramatta.

Keynote speakers Lucy Moore and Duncan Macleod.  Ph: 02 8838 8910

Costs

$300 for 5-day program (includes 5 lunches, 3 dinners, but not including Accom)
$200 for 3-day program (includes 3 lunches, 2 dinners, not Accom)
$80 per single day (includes 3 sessions and lunch)
$40 per single evening (includes dinner)

The live page for Registrations is at:
http://www.elm.org.au/lay-ministry-is-2010/

Messy Church at North Parramatta

Sunday 14th August Kaos Church are hosting an open Messy Church event from 4 – 6pm at the Chapel, Centre for Ministry, 16 Masons Drive, North Parramatta

Come and share as Lucy and Paul Moore lead a Messy Church experience, including gathering and creative time, worship and a light meal. Details contact www.elm.org.au Ph: 02 8838 8910

Messy Master Class

Monday 15th 7.30 -9.30pm come and hear Lucy Moore talk about the history and evolution of Messy Church and share insights for Messy church leaders.

Cost $20 (unless registered for residential in-service) Centre for Ministry 16 Masons Drive, North Parramatta.  Details contact www.elm.org.au Ph: 02 8838 8910