quote:Originally posted by Cheri:
I'm interested in seeing some discussion about how others handle the gathering or opening each week. We gather all our kids in our "Courtyard Square" right at the beginning. Shephards are there to greet, take attendance, give out nametags. We have someone playing music CD's and sing with early arrivals. I usually do a brief overview of the current story, but sometimes by the end of our four-week cycle, I'm really stretching to find a way to fill the 15 minutes we allow at the beginning before the kids go off to workshops!
We are using PowerXpress off and on. They do provide openings...but often they are not too great or just plain silly.
Reply to "Ways to do the "OPENING" or "GATHERING before the Workshops"
This was posted 2003 (5 years ago) but I'll still put in my 2 cents. Our gathering time has become a time of leader and children interacting. We call our time by opening with prayer and an upbeat song. Leader then asks all to be seated and asks what great a wonderful thing has God done in your week? The responses are plentiful from I got a new Webkin to my Grandma isn't sick anymore. Children need to hear from other children what God is doing in others lives so they can identify Him in their own. We continue with another song, offering (done by a different group each week) with a thanksgiving prayer, and a Birthday Bank (Wooden church bank). children that celebrated a Birthday will bring a penny for each year and all are recognized with the Birthday song. the money collected goes to our missions ministry., and a closing song and prayer.