Week #7

3-19-08

1. This week I spent an hour and forty-five minutes with the splash children’s service and I also attended the 747 service for about two hours.
2. This week in Splash we did not have a teaching time, instead this time was replaced with the continuing of a movie that has been being watched over several consecutive weeks. As the kids came in they were directed, as most weeks, to find a game to play while everyone was getting there. When I arrived there were already several kids there playing some games. I find this time interesting because this seems more like just a time to keep the kids entertained and not really having any substance. I guess that is needed in a service and although some weeks they have an activity for the kids during this time, most weeks that I have been there the kids have just had time to play games. ( a funny but not needed story, I was watching some kids play chess and one of those kids is Morgan. Morgan was watching the two guys play chess and several times say in a loud voice, “WOW that was a terrible move!” and then continue to tell them why. Genius.)

After game time had concluded, they gathered together and had a time of worship. At the end of the worship time they always take offering. I like that they use this time in the children’s lives to demonstrate the importance of the offering. Although they did take the offering, I noticed that no one really gave anything and it seemed like none of the kids cared about giving. Although I do not know if they have explained the importance of offering, I think it would be beneficial if they maybe they took one Sunday and had a lesson on tithing and challenged the kids to maybe bring money from their piggy banks or had they look for change in their couch cushions to encourage them to remember to give back to God.

After the time of worship they then watched a movie for the remainder of the service time. I am not really sure of the importance of the movie because it didn’t seem to have a overarching spiritual application.

After the movie they joined the rest of the church watching the baptism of about 5 kids on the screen. I think that the kids were really following this because they all stayed quiet as they watched some of their peers get baptized into the Body of Christ.

3. Do you think it is appropriate for young children to give an offering since they really don’t have an income? Or should this come at a later point in life?

What do think about showing a video for Sunday school instead of teaching?