Children
Leaves & Pumpkins
In-Person Activity: Zentangle Leaf Project at the Rakow Brach of the Gail Borden Public Library on Tuesday, September 10, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. for children ages 6-10.
Devotional: 2-Minute Fall Devotions for Kids
Activity: Turn Leaves Into Fun, DIY Artwork!
Summer Fun
Devotional: Creepy Crawly Family Devotions
Activity: Create a Race Track On Your Driveway
Fishing
In-Person Activity: Get hooked with the South Elgin Parks and Recreation Department at the 2024 Tuna Kahuna Fishing Derby on June 15, 2024 at 9:00–11:00 a.m. for children 15 and under. You do not need to be a resident to participate.
Devotional: Lessons from a Teenage Fisherman
Growing in God
Craft: Create a Butterfly Puddle
Devotions: Spring-y Ways to Share God’s Word
Birds in Spring
Activity: Create Your Own Birding Book
Bible Lesson: Trusting God
Video: Kindness—The Good Pigeon
All About Love
Devotional & Activity: How BIG is God’s Love?
Craft: Floating Hearts Glitter Jars
Science Experiment: Dancing Hearts
Video: Douglas Talks—What is Love
Kindness
Object Lesson: The Domino Effect
Craft: Coffee Filter Banners
Video: The Little Bear Movie
The Truth of Christmas
Bible Lesson & Activities: The Perfect Tree
Craft: Easy Ornaments
Video: Veggie Tales: The Best Christmas Gift / Finding Hope & Joy!
Gratitude
Games, Music, Videos: Encouraging Thankfulness
Craft: Leaf Garland
Video: Berenstain Bears Meet Bigpaw
Fall Fun
Lesson & Activity: Jesus Never Changes
Activity: Door Decoration Ideas
Back to School
Devotion & Coloring Pages: Back to School
Video: Back to School with Franklin
July
Devotion & Activities: 4th of July
School’s Out
Activity: 30 Days of Summer Crafts & Activities
Lesson: Quick & Easy Summer Devotions
Video: Forgiveness: Forgive and Forget
Tom made a big mistake when he lost Barry's glasses! Now, feathers are ruffled between these friends.
Spring
Activity: Spring Scavenger Hunt
Lesson: Nature Bible Study
Video: Trusting God (fun experiment)
Video: Berenstain Bears Too Much Vacation and Trouble with Grown Ups
Easter & Gardening
Activity: Create and Edible Sensory Herb Garden
Object Lesson with Activities: Easter Eggs
Video: This Little Light of Mine
St. Patrick’s Day & Lent
Activities: St. Patrick’s Day Crafts
Lessons: Family Lessons about Lent with Downloadable Resurrection Eggs Easter Activity Guide
Video: Veggie Tales How Do I Fight Temptation? A Lesson for Lent
Love
Crafts: Simple Bird Feeder
Winter Kindness
Activities: Winter
Lesson: Kindness in Action. Kids need school supplies all year long, not just at the start. In July and August there’s a big push to collect school supplies for kids who can’t afford them. But the need is ever-present as supplies run out, new kids arrive mid-year, and supplies are lost or damaged. You can help. Contact local schools to discover needs. Collect needed items, and organize and decorate supply packages for each school, teacher, or child in need. Encourage kids to include kind and encouraging messages about Jesus’ love, then go with them to personally deliver the packages.
The First Christmas
Craft: Paper Roll Nativity
Activities: Scriptures, Advent Calendar, Coloring Sheets
Video: VeggieTales “Merry Larry and the True Light of Christmas"
Thankfulness
Lesson: 3 Object Lessons on Gratitude
Craft: Thanksgiving Placemats
Autumn
Activities: 17 Fall Bible-Themed Crafts and Activities
Video: “Finding Jesus”
Grandparents Day
Game: Noah’s Ark BINGO
Activity: Footprint Art
Activity: I Love My Grandpa, I Love My Grandma
Video: “You Are Good”
Jesus Heals (Luke 5:17)
Activities: Watermelon Fun
Activities: Four Friends
Coloring Page: Jesus Heals
Video: LEGO Movie About Cooperation
Summer
Music: Bible Songs Collection 2022
Devotions: 5 On-the-Go Family Devotions for Summertime
Activities: Science-Based Activities for Summer
Father’s Day
Father’s Day: Matching Daddy/Child T-shirts
Video: Douglas Talks Father’s Day
Craft: Secret Message in a Bottle
God’s Creation, Spring
Lessons for Parents: 5 Lessons from Spring for Our Kids
Craft: God’s Creation Art Projects
Activity: Spring Virtual Field Trips
Understanding Easter
Devotion: The Very Best Morning
Craft: Easter Egg Decorating
Activity: Easter Resurrection Garden
Video: (The Beginners Bible) The Story of Easter
Valentine’s Day
Activity: 1 Corinthians 13
Craft: Kids’ Valentine Crafts
Video: (Veggie Tales) Lettuce Love One Another
The True Meaning of Christmas
Activity: Christmas Crafts
Activity: Christmas Tree Crafts
Thanksgiving
Activities: Thanksgiving Crafts
The Lord’s Prayer
Read Matthew 6:9-12 with your family.
Activity: The Lord's Prayer Mini Book
Video: The Lord’s Prayer Explained
Called to Community
Devotion: What does it mean to be a community of faith? Jesus taught us that the greatest thing we can do with our lives is to love God and love each other. Christianity is centered on intentionally loving relationships. This month, we will look at the example Jesus gave us and the guidance we find in scripture so that we can live and love as the community of faith that we are created to be.
Parent Resource: How to Instill Faith in Children
Craft: Jesus Calms the Storm
Prayer: Prayer Chart
Video: Jesus Calms the Storm (based on Mark 4:35)
The Plans God Has for You
Devotion: Jeremiah 29 Puzzle Object Lesson
Coloring Page: Jeremiah 29:11
Craft: CD process art
Video: Life Kids' The Dreamer (based on Jeremiah 29:11 "Why did God make me?")
Jesus Heals, 4th of July
Read Mark 2:1-12 & Mark 5:21-43 with your family.
Lesson & Activity: There is Power in the Touch
Maze: Four Friends
Activity Pages: 4th of July
Crafts: Jesus Heals
Video: Jesus Heals the Sick
Queen Esther, Summer
Activity: Enjoy God's Creation! Hike some family-friendly trails in Elgin
Summer Reading Plan: Running the Race
Activities: Summer Activities
Coloring Page: Queen Esther
Video: (Veggietales) Queen Esther
Youth
Leaves & Pumpkins
Devotional: The Pumpkin Prayer
Activity: 25 Fall Crafts for Tweens and Teens
Video: Lenny the Wonder Dog Movie
Summer Fun
Devotional: Create Your Safety Net
Activity: Painted and Woven Stick Bouquet
Video: The Lion of Judah
Fishing
In-Person Activity: Get hooked with the South Elgin Parks and Recreation Department at the 2024 Tuna Kahuna Fishing Derby on June 15, 2024 at 9:00–11:00 a.m. for children 15 and under. You do not need to be a resident to participate.
Devotional: Lessons from a Teenage Fisherman
Video: Kindness Matters
Growing in God
Craft: Make Flower Seed Bombs
Devotion: How to Read Your Compass
Birds in Spring
Activity: Begin Your Bird Journey
Bible Lesson: Trusting God
Video: Piper (Pixar Short Film)
Video: The Pilgrims Progress (Full Movie)
All About Love
Devotional & Activity: God Loves People
Challenge: Minute-to-Win-It Games
Video: Kindness Matters
Kindness
Object Lesson: Being Kind
Craft: Coffee Filter Banners
Video: The Silent Child
The Truth of Christmas
Bible Lesson & Activities: The Perfect Tree
Craft: Easy Ornaments
Video: Christmas Ranch
Gratitude
Games, Music, Videos: Encouraging Thankfulness
Craft: Leaf Artwork
Video: The Maldonado Miracle
Fall Fun
Lesson & Activities: Bible Lessons and Leaf Art
Activity: Door Decoration Ideas
Back to School
Devotion: Back to School
July
Devotion & Activities: 4th of July
School’s Out
Activity: 100 Summer Activities for Teens
Lesson: Surviving Summer Vacation
Video: Not Broken (2022 full-length movie; 1 hour, 11 minutes)
Young Winter Knight is profoundly dyslexic and equally artistic. Despair sets in as she finds herself defined not by her talents but by her disabilities. As her dyslexia begins to impact virtually every area of her life, she becomes convinced that she’s hopelessly broken. Until that is, she discovers the purpose behind her pain.
Spring
Activity: Paint a Beautiful Geode
Lesson: Nature Bible Study
Video: Trusting God (fun experiment)
Easter & Gardening
Activity: Create and Edible Sensory Herb Garden
Object Lesson with Activities: Easter Eggs
Video: Story of Easter
St. Patrick’s Day & Lent
Activities: St. Patrick’s Day Crafts
Lessons: Family Lessons about Lent with Downloadable Resurrection Eggs Easter Activity Guide
Video: Veggie Tales How Do I Fight Temptation? A Lesson for Lent
Love
Crafts: Simple Bird Feeder
Winter Kindness
Activities: Winter
Lesson: Kindness in Action. Kids need school supplies all year long, not just at the start. In July and August there’s a big push to collect school supplies for kids who can’t afford them. But the need is ever-present as supplies run out, new kids arrive mid-year, and supplies are lost or damaged. You can help. Contact local schools to discover needs. Collect needed items, and organize and decorate supply packages for each school, teacher, or child in need. Encourage kids to include kind and encouraging messages about Jesus’ love, then go with them to personally deliver the packages.
The First Christmas
Craft: Christmas Finger Puzzle
Activities: Scriptures, Advent Calendar, Coloring Sheets
Thankfulness
Lesson: 3 Object Lessons on Gratitude
Craft: Blessings Jar
Craft: Thanksgiving Placemats
Autumn
Activities: 17 Fall Bible-Themed Crafts and Activities
Video: “Finding Jesus”
Grandparents Day
Game: Noah’s Ark BINGO
Activity: Chalk Art
Activity: I Love My Grandpa, I Love My Grandma
Video: “You Are Good”
Jesus Heals (Luke 5:17)
Word Search: Jesus Heals
Word Jumble: Jesus Heals
Video: “Abandoned” A young girl’s loss of vision challenges her faith in her father.
Video: “Letters to God” Meet an extraordinary eight-year-old boy armed with strong faith and courage as he faces his daily battle against cancer.
Summer
Music: Christian Music Party Mix
Devotions: 5 On-the-Go Family Devotions for Summertime
Activities: Science-Based Activities for Summer
Father’s Day
Activity: Create a Father’s Day video! Have someone record you as you hold up large signs that tell Dad you love him, or share a funny story about why he's a good father!
God’s Creation, Spring
Activity: Paracord Cross Necklace
Video: Heaven’s Reward
Understanding Easter
Devotion: Understanding Easter
Craft: Easter Egg Decorating
Activity: Easter Resurrection Garden
Video: The Easter Story in LEGO
Valentine’s Day
Activity: Yarn Hearts
Object Lesson: Valentine’s Day
Craft: Valentine Potato Stamps
Video: The Skit Guys’ Little Billy
The True Meaning of Christmas
Activity: Ribbon Ornament
Activity: Face Mask Angel Ornaments
Thanksgiving
Activities: Thanksgiving Crafts
The Lord’s Prayer
Read Matthew 6:9-12 with your family.
Journal: Prayer Journal Template
Video: The Our Father Explained
Called to Community
Devotion: What does it mean to be a community of faith? Jesus taught us that the greatest thing we can do with our lives is to love God and love each other. Christianity is centered on intentionally loving relationships. This month, we will look at the example Jesus gave us and the guidance we find in scripture so that we can live and love as the community of faith that we are created to be.
Activity: Create Your Own Sacred Space
Video Podcast: Science + God “Control Freaks”
The Plans God Has for You
Devotion: Jeremiah 29:11 (the plans God has for you)
Craft: CD dreamcatcher
Coloring Page: Jeremiah 29:11
Video: Actor Chadwick Boseman's Speech "God has a plan for you"
Jesus Heals, 4th of July
Read Mark 2:1-12 & Mark 5:21-43 with your family.
Start a journal with Prayer Doodling. Here are some ideas.
Coloring Page: Flag
Craft: Salt Painted Fireworks
Activity Pages: 4th of July
Queen Esther, Summer
Activity: Enjoy God's Creation! Hike some family-friendly trails in Elgin
Summer Reading Plan: Running the Race
Activities: Summer Activities
Word Search: Queen Esther
Video: Queen Esther