March/April 2007
Holy Week Reflection
This year, take time each day of Holy Week to reflect on the meaning of the season. We've compiled a list of readings and meditations to help you.
Click here to download a PDF file of ideas.
Answering Questions About Prayer
What you teach children about prayer can affect their relationship with God. When children ask questions about prayer, it's important to take them seriously. Here are common questions children ask, along with suggested answers.
If God already knows what I'm thinking, why should I pray?
God loves you and wants you to talk to him. When you spend time talking to God in prayer, it shows that you love God, too. Once you open the channel of communication, it's amazing how good you can start to feel!
How can God hear me if I don't say the words aloud?
God can hear you because he knows your thoughts, and God can understand you no matter what language you pray in. Whether you shout, sing, whisper, or use sign language, God listens to your prayers.
Should I kneel, stand up, or sit down when I pray?
God can hear you no matter what position you're in, even if you're lying down in bed. The important thing about praying isn't whether you kneel, stand, or sit, but that you reflect an attitude of reverence or respect for God.
Why should I thank God for my food if I don't like it?
Gratitude is the act of being thankful for what God gives you, even if it's not what you'd choose to eat. Thanking God for the blessings he provides helps us have an attitude of gratitude.
If God hears my prayers, why don't I get everything I ask for?
Prayer is not about giving God a list of things you want and then waiting to see if he'll give them to you. It's important to feel you can tell God anything, including what you wish for. But this is more about sharing your feelings and opening your heart – just as you would share such things with parents or best friends.
Click here to download a PDF file of these questions and answers.
What Makes a Great Teacher?
An article in the 2006 January-February Children's Ministry magazine about the 7 characteristics of a great Christian educator got us thinking. What would those be for an Armenian Church Sunday School teacher? Not all that different. Click here to download a PDF listing some suggestions of what makes great teachers.
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