The search for curriculum

Okay people, the search is on! I am looking for affordable elementary Sunday school curriculum for a small Anglican church.  The curriculum we are currently using is okay, but I am wondering if there would be anything out there that might be a better fit.
If you know of any curriculum that I should be checking out, please let me know! it doesn't have to be Anglican, just solid theology for a small classroom setting.
I will be searching and 'reviewing' curriculum on this blog over the next little while.  Feel free to help me out with suggestions!
I am also currently a student for a master's degree related to child development and I heard a rumor that I may be able to write/create a curriculum as my thesis project next year, so if that happens I will keep everyone posted about the progress along the way.

Thanks guys and gals!
K

life as a volunteer children's minister

Okay, so here is the deal. I find myself without a paid ministry position but attending a great little church that meets in the Westmount area of Montreal.  It is a small church, approximately 150 people including a number of children.  They have one full time priest and two other part-time staff, one as a youth coordinator and one as a administrator and the current budget is stretched as it is. So when the need for a Sunday school coordinator came up I was approached.  Our priest knew of my 15 years of children's ministry experience, both paid pastoral experience and volunteer experience, and he was very careful as he expressed the need while stressing the fact that there was no budget for an extra staff.  He stated that he didn't want me to feel taken advantage of, being asked to do for free something that I used to be paid for.  That got me thinking. Why should I withhold something that God has given me a passion for, experience in, and the right education, just because the church can't currently pay for it.  I heard a sermon once, many many years ago about giving God our very best, not just what is left over at the end of the week, and it has stuck with me over the years.  So many times as a pastor I would hear people say that they didn't want to use their gifts, talents or experience to further God's kingdom. Well actually it sounded more like this "I don't want to teach Sunday School because I am a teacher and I teach all week" "I don't want to work on the church books because I am an accountant and do that all week"  and so on and so forth.  But what I heard was that they didn't feel like they could give their best to God. They didn't have the energy.  Don't get me wrong, I totally understand, everyone needs a break at times.  We have all been there, But who better than to teach the children than the teacher? Or to be trusted with the finances that the accountant?  I was challenged by that sermon so much and still am that I in turn I try to challenge all those who use that reasoning with me to really think about the reasons they are not using those specific gifts in the church. Maybe they really need a break, they are burnt out, craving restoration. If that is the case, I would encourage a time to step back from may things, focusing on renewal, not just to look for a change in activity.  God has blessed us with education, experience and talent in many different areas, why would we step out of those giftings and do something in the church that we are less skilled, less talented and less experienced, just so we can have some variety in our lives.  Well I think we can all get a new hobby or join a book club for variety, and stick with what we are best at when it comes to serving the Church.
I don't know, this is just a passionate thought on my part right now, as I have been working through my own volunteer experiences of late.  Maybe I will think differently after spending some time in a classroom.  Maybe not.  Only time will tell I guess.  In the mean time, I am now a volunteer children's minister, as I just can't let a need go unfilled, especially when I  have the training, education and experience to do it well.

All is quiet on the Eastern front

Well I haven't posted much recently on this blog, as I am no longer in children's ministry.
Quick catch up:
I left my job at the church this past July so that I could move with my son to the city where my husband has found fulfilling work, which just happens to be Montreal.
So at this point for the next few weeks/months I will be ministering to my child only.  I still love children's ministry and I very much love the Church, but find that I am staying at home for now and exploring what God has planned for me in the future.  Things are different here.  Leaving the last church was not easy, I loved it there and I am not sure I am able to pour that much into another group of people right now.  So I am waiting, resting and caring for those around me.
God has a plan and will be shown to me in the timing that he chooses.

I am still blogging, just about different topics at
 http://highballsandhairdos.blogspot.ca
and you are welcome to follow me there.
Keep checking in, as I am sure I will post here from time to time.

Thanks everyone.

Parent supervised play group

I love our parent supervised play group. It is loud, messy and in a room of 40 preschoolers it is almost a  guarantee that at any given time someone is crying. 

It is just such a good time for the kids to run off some energy and for the parents to have a convo and coffee. 

Come on out! 

Christmas Eve service

I am in the process of planning a family Christmas Eve service and I have to admit that I am struggling with it a little.  I am trying to find something to do that will be engaging and fun.  Something that will tell the Christmas story in a clear and concise manner and if it happens to be heart warming even better.  Usually I would just put some kids up on stage to act out the nativity in cute costumes and tinsel halos but this year that will have already been done, just days before.  So what to do. 

Tired

One day I'll post more. And I will post about how God has been sustaining me through this insanely busy time of being a married single mom who also happens to be a full time pastor. 

But for now I'm tired. I'm even a little sad. But I know that I am doing what I feel God wants and that is what matters. 

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

psalm 56

Ok, so I realize I am not a blogger.  That's ok.  I may or may not post often.  I like to write but don't take the time to do it.
I did have the opportunity to write and present a sermon two weeks ago on Psalm 56.  This was a great experience.  I enjoyed pouring over the scripture and the commentaries to form my points.  I also enjoyed sharing stories, and personal life lessons.  God spoke to me through my sermon prep and I hope that he spoke to others through the presentation.

There was no audio recording of my sermon, but because I script my sermons word for word I have attached a link to the pdf.

I hope you enjoy the read

psalm 56