Spirit Safari News

Spirit Safari Club presented "They Followed a Bright Star" on December 11.  We would like to thank everyone who helped make this play a success:   Lauren and Theresa Hemmelgarn and Shelly Smart for helping with the awesome set; Beth and Vern from the Crescent Players for working the lighting or sound; Kristi Voisard, Myra Hanenkratt, Regan Miller, Megan Hanenkratt, Kristen Nelson, Dana Bornhorst, Brook Schmitmeyer, Katie Jackson and Andrea Huber for help with the kids before and during the play; Shelley Dicke for narration; and the Junior choir and June Kinsella for their presentation.  I would especially like to thank the kids.  They worked hard to learn their parts and adapt to our fast-paced learning schedule.  IF I missed anyone please know that I feel really blessed to ALL that helped.

Spirit Safari will start on January 8th with "Jesus: Images Within the Arts."  We will have 4 weeks of class.  On February 5th we will be practicing for the following week’s February 12th Children's Worship Service at 10:15 a.m.  The 4-year olds through second graders will be singing a song that they will have practiced since our return on January 8th.  Please plan to attend and celebrate our kids’ hard work!  Please plan to have kids attend Sunday school on February 5th and February 12th so we can have a successful service.  Thank you.

Stephanie Dicke

 


We are in need of Spirit Safari teachers.  We have three to four teachers who are teaching all the time.  Our focus for 2012 is Jesus.  Starting with "Jesus: Images Within the Arts;” then "Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet."  Would you please consider volunteering three Sundays of your time to assist these teachers with their mission of teaching the children of God's greatest gift to us? 

Lesson and Fun has been revamped for 2012.  Our new Children's Church will be called "Discover."  The children will leave church at the same time in the service.  From there they will discover how to praise God with a positive attitude through song, organized games and crafts.  We will be using a curriculum called "Kids Own Worship." This will be taught by me and a host of volunteers.   If you are interested in serving in this awesome way to reach children, please let me know.

God bless all of you during this joyous season.

 

Stephanie Dicke

 

 

SPIRIT SAFARI CLUB

The rotation system of Sunday School was begun in September 2004. Parents and Sunday School staff expressed enthusiasm about this new way of educating our young into the ways of Christ and His church.  The Sunday School rotation system involves using different learning techniques, different activities, different teachers each rotation, flexible commitment periods for teachers and less cost by using our own resources.

In 2005, the Board of Christian Education continued the rotation program, with plans for room alterations and decorations to convey a child-friendly atmosphere.  The implementation of the rotation Sunday School program was approved by Council in the spring of 2005.  The name of this program was to be "Spirit Safari Club.”  During that summer, five of the Sunday School rooms plus three of the corridors of the Educational Building were renovated/painted, each room having a different function in the Spirit Safari. The rooms used for Spirit Safari were named “Tribal Hut” (worship, music), "Monkey Business” (arts, crafts, cooking), “Jungle Mania” (storytelling, mission), “Congo Computers” (computer learning), and "Night Owl Theater” (movies, drama).

 

Tribal Hut

Monkey Business

 

 

Jungle Mania

Nite Owl Theatre

 

 

Jungle Mania

Congo Computers

 

Due to the remodeling for Spirit Safari, the Sunday School was not in session during the summer months of 2005. Sunday, May 29th, was the last session before the summer break. Classes resumed on Sunday, September 11, 2005.

College student Kim Monnier from Sidney was engaged to paint the hallways in the Educational Building. A host of other artists, painters, carpenters, pillow makers, computer fixers, etc. contributed to the renovation of the Sunday School rooms. The total cost for all renovations was $18,734.65.

Over 60 members of the church volunteered to help with the new rotation Sunday School, “Spirit Safari Club”.  One family committed to fund the “Monkey Business” room for $2,375.39.

Computers were donated for the “Congo Computers” room.  A gift of software was also received. This software is directed mostly towards the New Testament - it has pictures, stories, Bible studies, games, maps, etc.

Larry & Ann Kuhn donated 25 theater seats and Dan & Kathy Nedderman donated a popcorn machine for the “Nite Owl ­Theater” room.

A semi was provided by Lloyd Schroer to store some of the extra items from the clean-up & remodeling of the Sunday School rooms, and Tom Thieman provided storage space for the semi at Thieman Stamping.  So many people in our church gave and shared so graciously. We are very blessed! 

The Spirit Safari Club held its grand opening on September 11, 2005, for the Sunday education of St. Paul’s children.  There was a great turnout for the grand opening. Everyone was so excited!

Various themes for the rotations have been “Creation”, “Advent, the Christmas Story”, "Jesus at the Temple", “The Spread of Christianity", "Daniel & the Den of Li­ons”, "Jeremiah's Blessing", “Communion” and “This Train is Bound for Glory”.

The Spirit Safari Club does not hold classes during the summer months, but resumes in late August.