This fall our First Look curriculum introduced Creation to preschoolers with an all out extravaganza. With lessons that included making a Creation mural in large group and tons of hands on activities, the Creation two month unit was a hit with preschoolers and leaders alike. Perhaps the best part of the entire unit was “The Creation Musical.” This fun and purposeful song taught preschoolers the days of Creation through great music and lots of movement. Here is one church that brought their preschoolers to main service to show everyone what they had learned about Creation.

“It truly was a blessing for our congregation to see this little guys worshipping with all their hearts. Countless parents came up to me afterward explaining what a joy it was to see them. One mom in particular, who was visiting our church that Sunday, came to me in tears because she volunteers in the preschool environment at her church (where they also do First Look) and so she was able to sing along. She explained how amazed she was to see how God is uniting different churches to invest in their children in the same ways. And how it was just made her appreciate our curriculum. So thank you guys for all you do to help create those first impressions of our Heavenly Father and how you are bringing churches and families together across the nation!” (Video and Testimony from Daniel De Jesus, Children’s Pastor at Collin Creek Community Church.)

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Yep. It happens.  More often than I care to admit.  But, as a writer I have to find ways to push through it.  So, what I do to cure writer’s block is… write.

When my brain shuts down and says,”I can’t do it!! Why must you torture me like this?  I just wrote a script yesterday…isn’t that good enough for you? What do you want from me?!?” I put my fingers on the keyboard and start typing anyway!!

Here are a few funny examples of plot lines I have written while battling writer’s block:

1. An entire 252 FX written in iambic pentameter (Shakespeare style)

2. Everyone said the same word  (Every word, every sentence for every character was simply “meh”.  ”How did it turn out”, you ask?  Meh.)

3. No plot (I’ve written a million versions of this)

Vinny: Hey, Dudes!  What’s up?

Gordo: Nothing.

Vinny: Oh.

Gordo:  Yeah.

Vinny: So, what do you want to do.

Gordo: Nothing.

Vinny: Okay.

(beat)

Vinny: So, what do you want to do?

Other ideas to break through writer’s block:

1. Play a round of Globe Ball (see earlier post by me)

2. Go do something you absolutely can’t stand doing.

3. Scream out loud at the top of your lungs… actually, that one has never worked.

By the way, I am writing this blog post right now because…you guessed it… I have writer’s block.

So… anybody got a good plot?  What’s your cure for writer’s block?  I’ll give it a try! by Jon Williams

HCC FXPN from HCC on Vimeo.

Hauser Community Church’s FX called FXPN (Family Experience Night)

Crash the Conference FX Cast Challenge! There’s enough time for your cast to send us an audition video! We’re looking for energy, chemistry and heart of your cast. Don’t spend time competing with editing, your set or toys! Creatively tell us why your team wants to be chosen and include some highlights of the cast in action. Remember, one of our ReWriters will come to YOUR church to lead an acting workshop, your cast will be given free tickets to Orange Conference and be the featured cast in the FX Bare Bones breakout!

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Back in October, we encouraged our UpStreet kids to show the virtue of Individuality…”discovering who you are meant to be so YOU can make a difference” by coming up with ways to raise money to buy pajamas for the Daraja Children’s Choir.  Kids love helping other kids, so they made crafts and novelties to sell, baked and sold cupcakes, did lemonade stands and did chores at home throughout the month.

The last Sunday, we had a PJ Party and our kids brought in all the money they raised.  Our UpStreet Praise & Dance Team stood in the hall with pillowcases and collected the money which our Coaches counted throughout the morning.  I just kept praying it would be at least enough for the kids to buy pajamas. In just one amazing morning our kids brought in over $1,762.68 for the Daraja Choir!!!!  

Check back tomorrow to read the Daraja Choir’s response to this outpouring of love.  (This story was sent in from Southside Church in Peachtree City, GA.) The letter we will post was read on January 24 by the lead pastor at Southside to inspire and encourage the entire church body. What response have you had when you’ve included the children in your church in efforts to give generously?  We’d love to hear your stories too.

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I’m the next Food Network Star. Yes, it’s a bold claim but I have uncovered a food secret even Alton Brown doesn’t know.

Years ago, I was teaching a high school Sunday School class. The previous teacher brought a buffet every week with pizza, subs and doughnuts, and I was also expected to feed these students. But I just didn’t have the time or the money to pull that off.

So one day, I discovered this crumb coffee cake mix in the baking aisle and decided to give it a try. I followed the directions on the mix (yes, guys can follow directions), baked the coffee cake, threatened my childrens’ lives if they ate a piece, and took it to the church.

Now Sunday School for teens is, well, gut wrenching. It’s the last place they want to be. But they devoured the coffee cake. They talked about it. In fact, they talked more about the coffee cake than they did Jesus. So I made it again the next week and the week after that. After a while, it was the first thing they asked for when they walked in the room.

But I started seeing something different happening with the students. They seemed more connected with me. We started talking more.  The coffee cake opened the door for me. In fact, I still use that same $2 mix now with my small group. It’s magical. Sometimes I wonder if the way to a teenager’s soul is through their stomach.

NewPointe Community Church sent in highlights from their KidStuf Family Experience for the Crash Orange 10 Contest– deadline to turn in your 3-4 minute video through YouTube or Vimeo is February 8th.  The winners get free tickets for your entire cast and a chance to shine on the Bare Bones Showcase stage.  Can’t wait for a sneak peek… your church might be the next one posted on Orange Leaders! Any questions?

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You and I lead imperfect organizations.  And sometimes that disappoints us.  As much as we think we’ll be part of the perfect church (or start the perfect church), eventually people’s flaws surface (including our own).

Bottom line: Church people will always behave like people.  If we think of the early church as idyllic, please read 1 Corinthians.  Ten minutes into that book I promise you that you’ll be glad you are not leading them:  people were having sex with their father’s wives, suing each other and giving up hope in the resurrection.  (And all that was after conversion too.)

My temptation as a leader is that I can despair when the church behaves like the church, simply throw my hands up or I can even drop down to a lower level of behaviour.  But this thought gripped me recently:  When the church behaves like the church, leaders need to behave like Jesus.

Jesus loves the world.  So much so that He died for the world and the church was born.  Jesus calls the church His bride.  His beloved. Love covers over a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8).  There are seasons where Christ confronts us for sure, but mostly, He loves us.

There are (many) days when the church behaves like the church, and on those days, you and I need to behave like Jesus.

What’s the hardest part of loving the people in your church?

What are some of the most challenging moments you’ve faced and how have you overcome them?

AND Check out one of our submissions for a contest started during Orange Week.

If you host a family experience- send us a 3-4 minute audition or highlight video.

Your Cast might win free tickets to Orange 10 and be in the Bare Bones Showcase!

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Wish you all could have been there as Orange Tour finished up yesterday. Over 300 leaders gathered in Orlando and listened eagerly as Reggie encouraged leaders to evaluate their current systems and make changes to remain relevant to the students and children in their ministries. Sue Miller and Kevin Ragsdale led breakouts where leaders were given the opportunity to ask specific questions related to preschool, children and student ministry.

They were given a sneak preview of the upcoming companion book to Think Orange, where they were able to examine the 5 Essentials, as they relate to their own ministries. Leaders left encouraged, knowing they had other leaders to network with and excited to see how God could use them to influence the next generation.

Search Twitter for #orangeweek and #reggiejoiner to follow the buzz. Which lines are the most “retweetable” in your mind? Let’s encourage other leaders by spreading the word and giving them some food for thought!

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What an amazing ORANGE week led by so many Orange Thinkers and Leaders– if you’ve been reading some of their blogs- be sure to comment here or there on what’s resonated with you and your situation.  Many of them will be blogging at Orange Conference 2010 as well.  Isn’t it cool to see all the Orange variations and different stages in implementation?

I didn’t want you to miss out on Gina McClain’s Elevate Community post- the onion analogy is very fitting and original!  Then she can kick off our Leverage Influence day:

Gina McClain (Love her titles- pull you right in!)

Matt McKee

Nick Blevins

Anthony Prince

JC (Great post, questions, picture and Brown analogy!)

Jonathon Cliff

Kendra

Kenny It seems fitting to end Orange Week highlighting Kenny’s post since he helped kick this whole thing off. He emphasizes that serving makes the difference and brings up a great thought. Kenny believes he is in ministry today because he served in his church as a youth.

I wonder– how many of YOU reading served as a youth in your church or outside the walls and think that it’s one of the main reason you are in ministry today? How are you handing students in your world the keys to ministry and letting them drive?

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Over 700 Orange Leaders converged on Dallas yesterday!

Energy was high as Reggie talked about the need to constantly update our systems.  Churches evaluated the 5 Essentials that we’ve been talking about all Orange Week (look back at the archives for Integrating Strategy, Refining Message, Reactivating Family and most recently, Elevating Community) using the Orange-o-meter tool… coming out in a Think Orange companion book this spring.

For a sense of the amazing day, what leaders took away from it and some of our speakers, check out this video.  Next Tour Stop:  Orlando, Florida on Jan. 26th.

PS- We’ll share our final Orange Week blog list about Influencing Community next Tuesday.  Don’t forget there are several ongoing contests and giveaways– be sure to enter to win lots of free prizes, even a trip to Orange 10!  And we want to hear from you- add your comments and how you’ve been encouraged by all the Orange bloggers this week.

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So many Orange Week contests- how will you choose?

You’re Orange Leaders- set apart- you know a lot so you’ll want in on Kenny at Children’s Ministry Online’s guessing game with a very special prize.

So… do you know Reggie Joiner’s middle name? Kenny says you do… because it’s actually Reggie. But he keeps his first name top secret. One of the other Orange Week bloggers- Matt McKee- got Reggie to confide his first name.

If you can guess Reggie’s first name, you’re going to get an autographed copy of Think Orange- with his FULL name- as well as a copy of the new companion workbook. The workbook isn’t out yet, so you’ll get both books as soon as it’s ready. This contest will run through Sunday. The person who guesses his first name or gets closest to his first name wins the books. Feel free to post as many guesses as you’d like or fill a comments with as many guesses as you want.

Drum roll please, here are the blogs focused on Elevate Community:

Kenny

Dan

Matt

Anthony

JC (We love his personal story of someone that leaned into his life!)

Nick

Sam

Who else blogged on Elevating Community? Have you already started brainstorming or working on your Family Experience audition or highlight videos to send in to win tickets for your cast to Orange 10? We’re attaching the instructions here in case you didn’t see it the first time around. Jump in…

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Orange Week is spreading– today we’re talking about how to Reactivate the Family. Be sure to check out Dan Scott’s middle post (2 of 3) where he breaks down the anatomy of an FX or Family Experience. That’s perfect timing for an Orange Challenge we’ve highlighted here on the Orange Leaders Blog- look back in the archives to see how you can win free tickets to Orange 10.

Dan Scott- Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3

Kenny

Kendra

Matt

Jonathan

JC

Sam posts AND Sam’s the one who gave something away- a DVD called “Everybody Needs to Hear This: Exit Interviews”

We also want to give a shout out to some special bloggers that commented or tweeted so we’d know they too were blogging about Orange. Welcome Tamera Kraft and Nick Blevins (who did a great job talking about the tools he and many other Orange leaders use!)

Who else is blogging this week that should be on this list? Do you want to see your name and share your thoughts here? Next up: Elevate Community!

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