Looking for inspiration

[Fitzwilly]

It's time for a new thread in this category, so here goes.

When I am looking for inspiration for writing ministry scripts I go to the children's department and ask for a couple old teaching quarterlies. The four to seven year old classes work really well for me. One, they break down the stories to their essense and they include the key supporting texts from the Bible. Now it is a matter of thinking (that is the hard part) 1) am I going to mis-tell the story and have the children correct me? 2) am I going to misunderstand a key word or point and shoot off on a tangent where either the children or a partner need to correct me and teach me the real meaning. 3) am I going to tell it pretty straight and simply juice it up a bit?

This is a fun exercise when you are not under a severe time constraint. It works when you are in a hurry as well, but if you have time to choose the stories you want to work on you can brainstorm with a friend or three. If there is a time crunch at least you have a well defined theme to work with.

[Baloo]

these teacher quarterlies? are they available to the public? I am not a current member of a church and being we just moved into this area I don't know if the local churches will just let me walk in and ask for these.

[Fitzwilly]

Many times they are. Altough you are probably right about people looking at you stragne just walking in. I would check out the Christian bookstores in your area, as well as what is available online. If the teacher's editions are not available a regular children's version should help.
Are you thinking of anything in particular? A theme perhaps? If so let me know? Either post it here or privately. I'll be glad to brainstorm. Also I'm sure I have some extras around here I could send you as well. Or even do a hand off at MooseCamp in July.

[saphireSue]

Good idea, drawing from the teacher books, I teach 4-6 grade in Sunday school. Our ministry group using some published and some I've adapted from bible stories, ie Good Samaritain. Still working on having another Creative Ministry night, but illness and just bad timing has slowed it down, but I since I traded the other weekend I now have a musical group for that night.

A few years ago I saw one were they were cleaning out a church and went with a theme concerning lost time, putting things off. Which gave me the idea of a yard sale.

So we had a band to play prior to the show and had the stage set up for a big yard sale. I had people to come out and set up with, each scene leading up to a clown skit or puppet, or magic skit. ie while gathering up plastic bag one lady reminded another to keep some for the food drive. Which led to 3 kids doing a skit on helping other by feeding him.
I'm having trouble figuring out how I want things to flow and I don't have all the same people I had before. I tried to incoorperate as much diverse talent ie two people sang during the show, 1 told a story, and 2 girls did interperative dance as part of the openig.

[Baloo]

Fritzwilly, I am tring to get enough material together enough material to do a VBS style evening program around the christmas season. like the week between Christmas and New Year. I may be going out on a limb here I don't know if it would be marketing or not but I want to do something. What are your ideas? and I would like to hear anybodies idea on this subject.

[Fitzwilly]

Correct if I'm wrong, I want to make sure I understand. You want to create a program that you can sell to churches in the week between Christmas and New Years. Is that right?

Since Christmas is over I would probably not use that at the center theme, unless your character is celebrating Christmas late because of the sales. The typical theme might be "new beginnings". Lazarus had a new beginning after he was raised from the dead. Abraham had a new beginning when he became a father. Lot, when he left Sodom in somewhat of a hurry.

This is just for starters.

[Baloo]

No I am looking at creating a progam that covers a couple of days to help entertain bored children while home from school and get them to realize that church is fun. I am not looking at getting paid for these shows but I am thinking of possible shows coming from these shows. birthdays, family events. the reason I am trying to stay generalized is due to the various churches that my family members attend, and in different areas. so I am not "Selling" the show as I am offering at no cost, hoping to do advertising and to teach the youth that church can be the answer that they are looking for.

[Fitzwilly]

Bingo, now I begin to understand. How many days are you looking at. I don't assume you are planning on the full week? How long are you planning on entertaining them each day? Are you thinking of perhaps a few games or mainly a continuing show? We can easily create an outline that crosses various church lines. Then we will slowly hang the supporting skits and bits on the outline. I would also start Googling activity sheets or start going to dollar stores and look at the Biblical coloring and activity books. Each night send home an activity sheet with your information on it. Maybe a maze where Baloo is trying to get to Bethleham. A coloring sheet of Baloo on one side and a simple Bible trivia game on the back. Always use both sides of the paper. If you don't have one have Angel Contreras www.art4clowns.com draw you a coloring sheet. It is a great inventment, he is fantastic. I think a cartoon version of your avatar would look good. Make a little banner maybe an inch or so tall that goes along the bottom of the paper.

[Baloo]

I was looking at maybe three days, having some kind of contest for who ever brings the most friends by the final day. I think an hour clown show with other things that would make a two hour show? (pizza party, games, activities?)

[Fitzwilly]

Do you have someone to work with? They don't have to be a clown, just so long as they are comfortable working with you and you are comfortable with them.

It would probably be a good idea to pick a few stories... (Wheels turning, adding oil, so the squeeling stops) Both out of the Bible and also stories that are contempory but biblical based. Pick a Bible story and find the central theme. Then find or write a modern day parable using that theme. For example there are four books written by Joel Thompson. They may be hard to find. They are from the Kids Are Christian Too series. Each book has 8 to 10 stories about children facing issues and learing what the right thing to do is. In one story two boys are kicking a soccer ball and accidently break the neighbor's window. They both run but one of the boys feels guilty and returns and appologizes and offers to do chores to pay for the window. The neighbor lady thanks him for telling the truth because she actually saw them playing and knew who they were. Another one is about a little girl who has 100 chickens and one gets loose.

I side tracked myself. I would tell a Bible story during one part of the program and a modern parable during another part. Since the children are more likely to be somewhat aware of the Bible stories I would incorporate volunteers and role playing into these. A few simple props to create fun and Kodak moments.