CRAFT SUPPLIES: Eliminate Headaches!

HOW TO TAKE THE HEADACHE OUT OF GETTING AND KEEPING CRAFT SUPPLIES FOR YOUR CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

By Betty B. Robertson

Churches commonly face two problems when it comes to children's craft supplies:

1. Can't afford
Try a Children's Ministries "Money Shower" for Craft Supplies. Have the children draw pictures of various craft supplies which you regularly use. Post these on a bulletin board. Write the name of each item on the picture, how many you need, and the approximate cost. Encourage church members to take one of these cards, attach a check to it, and drop in the offering plate. One church raised $300 by doing this!

2. Can't find
Does someone regularly organize your supply area? Perhaps an individual in your
church would take on the job description of keeping the supply area organized and
stocked. The following "Craft Supplies" checklist may be helpful.

CRAFT SUPPLIES CHECKLIST


Baby food jars with lids
Butcher paper or newsprint
Card Stock
Cardboard
Chenille stems
Christmas cards, old
Clear contact paper
Colored pencils
Construction paper
Black
Blue
Brown
Green
Orange
Red
White
Yellow
Cording
Cotton balls
Craft sticks
Crayons
Felt markers
Felt scraps
Finger paint
Finger paint paper
Glitter
Glue Sticks
Hole punch
Lace and other trims
Lunch sacks
Magazines (old) for pictures
Masking tape
Newspaper
Paint
Paint brushes
Paint shirts
Paper brads
Paper cups
Paper plates
Pencils
Poster Board
Ribbon
Scissors
Scotch Tape
Sponges (cut in different shapes)
Stapler
Stickers
Tissue Paper
Yarn

BORN AGAIN CERTIFICATE

Born Again Certificate

Print the information below onto a sheet of certificate paper and give to each child who accepts Jesus as their personal Savior. If possible, frame the certificate, and encourage the children to hang them in their homes.


According to my prayer accepting Jesus Christ as Savior,I,____________________________ have been born again.

Every sin I have ever committed was forgiven! (1 John 1:9)

Angels in heaven rejoiced when I made this decision! (Luke 15:7)

I am now a child of God! (Luke 12:32)

I will live forever in heaven! (John 3:3)

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son
that whoever believes in Him shall not perish
but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

God freely gives me His blessings. I can pray and ask for what I need! (John 14:13)

I have protection from satan's power! (John 17:15)

I have power to live as I should! (2 Peter 1:3)

No one can take God's love away from me! (Romans 8:37-39)


A date to remember: ______________________

HOW TO TRAIN CHILDREN TO ACT LIKE PROFESSIONALS

HOW TO TRAIN CHILDREN TO ACT LIKE PROFESSIONALS WHEN PERFORMING IN CHURCH PLAYS
By Betty Benson Robertson


Stage Positions and Movements


1. All direction is from the performer's point-of-view, facing the audience. Downstage is the area closest to the audience.

2. The term "cross" means moving to another area. Parallels are avoided on stage, so when crossing, arc. Be sure the audience can see your face at all times.

3. "Counter-cross" means movement in the opposite direction to adjust to the cross of another actor.

4. A moving performer is usually the one on which attention should be focused. Therefore, it is a basic rule to move downstage of other performers. The only time this is not applicable is when the moving actor should not receive attention.

5. If another actor stands downstage of you, attempt to make an inconspicuous, adjusting movement.

6. Do not stand in front of another actor.

7. Stand so that you can focus on other actors, keeping in mind that the audience also needs to see your face.

8. There should be a motive for every movement you make on stage.

9. When standing with one foot forward, be sure it is the foot away from the audience.

10. When you start walking across the stage, start with the foot away from the audience.

11. Gestures must be exaggerated and definite because of the distance away from the audience. Always gesture with the upstage hand or arm. The gesture always comes a split-second before the speech. Words can be lost by the noise of movement if both happen at the same time.

12. When you are taking no direct part in the action of the scene, stand still. Let your hands hang loose and relaxed by your side. Any movement draws away audience attention.

13. The entire acting area of any scene should be used so an effective picture is created.

14. When two characters enter together, the speaking one enters last.

15. Project lines as if speaking to the person in the last row. Make certain your chin is never dropped, sending the sound down instead of out into the audience.

16. Be quick on cues. In dialogue, set cues early enough so there is no waiting to respond.

17. Acting is the natural outcome of study, inner feeling, and emotion. Learn everything possible about the individual you are portraying, so you can become that character.

18. The value of your character is not determined by the number of lines.

19. Inflection and stress give the meaning to lines. By stressing and varying the pitch of the
voice, the entire meaning of any simple sentence can be changed. Practice with a tape recorder for a variety in inflection and stress.

20. Stay in character during your entire scene. Don't drop character when the lines belong to
another actor.

21. The movement and position of hands is vitally important in making a character real. Close
observation of other people will show the difference between a domineering type of individual and a weak, passive person.

22. Don't go back and correct a word if it is said wrong by mistake. Fix the meaning, then try to end with the right word.

23. If a line receives a laugh, don't come back in too soon. Begin speaking again just before the laughter fades out.

24. Learn how to listen to other characters' words as if hearing them for the first time. Speak your lines as if you've never spoken them before.

25. A certain amount of tension makes acting alive, but too much hinders character portrayal and will make you appear wooden and unnatural in movements. Breathe deeply and try to relax before going on stage.

Tips For Memorization



1. Highlight your speeches.

2. Clearly mark your entrances and exits.

3. Understand what you are memorizing. Look up unfamiliar words in a dictionary.

4. Read, and re-read, what you are trying to learn. Do this until you get a picture of the words in your head.

5. Repeat out loud what you are attempting to memorize. In this way, you will see, feel and hear the words.

6. Cue yourself. Pick out a key word in a passage and link it mentally to another key word that follows.

7. Learn your cues together with your lines.

8. Do memory work in short blocks of time when your concentration is high.

9. A tape recorder enables you to record your speeches and play them over until learned. Or you
may tape the other actor's parts for cues, stop the recorder, say your lines, and then pick up the next speech.

10. Read through your lines just before turning off the light at night. Your subconscious will aid in the memorization process while you sleep.

11. Ask God for His help in the ministry you are undertaking.


Know and Understand Drama Terms



Apron - Any addition to the stage which extends into the auditorium.

At Rise - On stage when lights come on.

Blocking - Positioning of performers in the acting area.

Break Character - Saying or doing anything not consistent with what the character portrayed would do or say.

Bump Up - Bringing up the intensity of lights.

Business - Purposeful actions or gestures used to reveal character, establish atmosphere or
explain a situation.

Characterization - A performer's portrayal of a role on stage.

Clip Cues - To say lines before the preceding performer has had time to finish, destroying the
meaning of that speech.

Cross - Moving from one position to another on stage.

Cue - The last words or action prior to another performer speaking.

Downstage - The part of the stage nearest the audience.

Dropping Lines - Letting the voice trail off in volume.

Fade Up - Bringing lights up gradually.

Flat - Scenery on a wooden frame covered with paper or canvas.

Flexible Staging - Using the stage in combination with the forestage, or leaving the stage
altogether such as making use of the audience aisles.

Freeze - Holding an expression or position while the attention of the audience is elsewhere.

Ground Plans - Layout of the stage showing location of properties.

Hand Props - All items a performer handles.

Light Plot - Sequence of light changes from beginning to end of play.

Open Up - Turn to the audience.

Position - Places on stage for actors as set by the director.

Preset - To place properties in position prior to the first scene of the play.

Projection - Throwing the voice forward to the audience.

Prompt Copy - A copy of the script with marginal notes including business, action and notations.

Prompter - Person who cues performers.

Prop Table - Table offstage where hand props are set prior to the curtain for easy access.

Properties (Props) - Items used for a play which furnish and ornament the stage, including
hand, trim and set props.

Read Through - Reading the script from beginning to end.

Royalty - Payment made for privilege of performing a play.

Scene Dock - Area where properties are stored.

Spike - Mark the position of set piece on the stage floor, usually with masking tape.

Strike - Clear the stage of props and scenery.

Telescope - Overlap speeches so one actor begins speaking before another has stopped.

Type Casting - Selecting actors for roles because they resemble the characters they play
in real life.

Unit of Action - Occurs when a new character enters, begins a new approach or another
character takes the initiative.

Upstage - Away from the audience.

Upstaging - When one performer is positioned above another so the first has to turn his back
to the audience when speaking.

POWER FOR LIVING (ABC Scripture Verses)

Power for Living ABC Verses For Children to Memorize

"All things work together for good to them that love God" (Romans 8:28 KJV)
"Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10)
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28)
"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4)
"Every good and perfect gift is from above" (James 1:17)
"Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God" (Isaiah 41:10, NKJV)
"God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1)
"He who promised is faithful" (Hebrews 10:23)
"I can do everything through Him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13)
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8)
"Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His" (Psalm 100:3)
"Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in Me" (John 14:1 KJV)
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9)
"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5)
"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good" (Psalm 34:8 NKJV)
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you" (John 14:27)
"Quietness and confidence shall be your strength" (Isaiah 30:15 NKJV)
"Run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus" (Hebrews 12:1,2)
"Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever" (Psalm 23:6)
"The joy of the Lord is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10)
"Underneath are the everlasting arms" (Deuteronomy 33:27)
"'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord" (Romans 12:19 NKJV)
"When I am afraid, I will trust in You" (Psalm 56:3)
"EXcellent is Your Name in all the earth" (Psalm 8:1, NKJV)
"You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your Word" (Psalm 119:114 NKJV)
"Be Zealous for the fear of the Lord" (Proverbs 23:17)

--Source Unknown