UJAMAA: STRONG FAMILY TIES

a Varick’s Children workshop

affirming the diversity of Black Families

developed by the

A.M.E. Zion Church Christian Education Department Varick’s Children Ministry

Rev. Dr. Michelle Searles, Co-Director Sis. Nora McNeill, Co-Director

Dr. Brenda G. Smith, General Secretary

June 2021

Scriptures are quotations from New International Reader’s Version (NIrV), © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.TM and

New Century Version (NCV), © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Image credits: Cover photo purchased from Dreamstime photos (Image ID: 182150134). Vector images purchased from 123RF Stock Photos.

Table of Contents

Introduction to VC Christian Camps 1

Day 1: VC Friday Night Fellowship 2

Day 2: VC Super Saturday 3

Day 3: VC Worship Service 4

APPENDIX VC Lesson Handout 6

Family Photo Album Template 8

Children’s Day 2021 Bulletin 9

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Introduction to VC Christian Camps

Christian educators prepare children for living with God right now; not just in the future.

Varick’s Children (VC) Christian Camps are workshops designed to train Zion’s children in four

key areas of learning and development – faith formation, scholastic engagement, leadership and

service. Student curriculum and teacher resources for VC Christian Camps are distributed in

December for the Christian Education Winter Meeting and in June for Children’s Day.

The activism of young people this past year has challenged institutions to look at their systemic

practices, which cause trauma and unfair treatment of certain groups of people. The black church is

one of those institutions that must also look at its biases. UJAMAA: Strong Family Ties is a hands-

on learning experience based on Proverbs 17:6,17 that celebrates the diversity of black families.

Some of the subject matter may lead to difficult conversations.

Children’s Day is traditionally observed the second Sunday in June. This guide offers suggestions

for activities to make Children’s Day weekend an engaging time for participants and teachers. If you

are not able to implement all activities during Children’s Day weekend, don’t worry, the activities

can be done at any time throughout the year.

About the Founder of VARICK’S CHILDREN Helen C. Scott-Carter, Ph.D. was a teacher in DC Public schools for more than 34 years and an

administrator for six years. She was appointed as Director of Children’s Ministry for the A.M.E. Zion

Church Christian Education Department in 1994 and served in that position until 2012. Under her

leadership, Zion’s children’s ministry became a renewed entity in the Christian Education

Department and a new age group at the Winter Meeting. She submitted a resolution to the General

Conference in 2004 proposing VARICK’S CHILDREN as the name of Zion’s Children’s Ministry. Dr.

Carter served faithfully to the call of children’s ministry until her death on April 13, 2020.

About the Co-Directors of VARICK’S CHILDREN Ms. Nora McNeill and Rev. Dr. Michelle Searles were appointed Co-Directors of Varick’s Children

Ministry for the A.M.E. Zion Church Christian Education Department in 2012. Ms. McNeill is a

Conference Director in the Eastern North Carolina Episcopal District. Dr. Searles is an associate

minister in the Mid Atlantic Episcopal District and the Senior Editor of Children’s Curriculum for

A.M.E. Zion Church School Literature. They both worked with Dr. Carter during her tenure and are

continuing her legacy of love for Zion’s youngest members.

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Day 1: VC Friday Night Fellowship It takes a village to raise a child. (African proverb)

God created families to meet the human need of belonging. A family is the most important group to

which most of us belong. Families can be characterized as “patriarchal or matriarchal, single-

headed or dual-headed, extended or nuclear, fictive kin or blood lineage, legal or common, black or

interracial” (2021 Black History Theme). Ujamaa means familyhood in Swahili. It encompasses the

importance of maintaining strong supportive ties among the extended family connection.

No one family structure is necessarily a better child-rearing environment than another. The

experiences of nurturing love or dysfunctional conflict are not exclusive to a particular family type.

Children are capable of thriving in any family structure because an entire community (or “the

village”) can provide support wherever there is a need and most importantly, God can elevate

anyone out of anything. All things, including the hard, painful, and seemingly unbearable things,

work together for our good (Romans 8:20). Tonight is all about teaching participants how to affirm

their family identity.

Suggested time for this session: 45 minutes

Activity 1 – Discuss the different types of family structures. (10 minutes)

Teacher Notes: [Be sure to select the sound option when you share your screen to show the PowerPoint

presentation].

▪ While you are on slide 1 say, God created families to meet the human need of belonging. A

family is the most important group to which most of us belong. Families are put together in

different ways. [Click Strong Family Ties to play the video of the Disney’s Proud Family theme

song. Close that window when the video is over to go back to the PowerPoint.]

▪ Share the definitions below for slide 2 [Click to activate the animation for each definition]

­ Single-headed: a family with one parent living in the home

­ Dual-headed: a family with two parents living in the home.

­ Kinship family: a family where relatives other than the biological parents are the guardians

­ Foster family: a family where persons not related to a child are the guardians

▪ Share the definitions below for slide 3 [Click to activate the animation for each definition]

­ Blended family: two parents combine their families with children from previous relationships

­ Adoptive family: caring adults provide a permanent home for children through a legal process

­ Extended family: relatives beyond the immediate family live in the home

­ Village: good friends and persons in the community provide support wherever it is needed

▪ Before moving on to the next activity say, What makes a family is the people who take care of

each other. No family structure has less value than another. Children can receive love and care in

any of these family structures.

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Activity 2 – Play “Family Show Throwback.” (15 minutes)

Teacher Notes: Children will need their own smart device to play the Matching Pairs game. The class can

view your screen to play the Random Wheel game as a group.

▪ For slide 4 say, “We are going to play “Family Show Throwback.” These are television shows about

different types of families that your parents and grandparents watched back in the day. [Read the

titles of the shows and ask if the students have seen any of them.]

­ Matching Pairs, https://www.wordwall.net/resource/16303092 [Put the Matching Pairs link in the chat or share it aloud so students can click it and start

playing the game.] Students select matching pairs of the television shows. Play until all the

matches are found.

­ Random Wheel, https://www.wordwall.net/resource/16303497 [Click Family Show Throwback to open this game.] Spin the wheel and read the tagline for the

television show at which the arrow stops. Ask children to say the family type based on what

they learn from the tagline. If the answer is correct, remove (or eliminate) the image from the

wheel and spin again. If the answer is not correct, spin the wheel again (or resume). Play until

the wheel is left with one image. [Close the window when the game is over to go back to the

PowerPoint.]

Television Show Tagline Family Type

Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Will's mom sends him away from his rough Philadelphia neighborhood to live with his wealthy Uncle Phil, Aunt Vivian, and cousins, Hilary, Carlton, and Ashley in their Bel-Air mansion.

Kinship and dual-headed

One on One A former athlete-turned-sportscaster becomes a full-time father when his ex-wife decides to accept a job out of the country and his teenage daughter, Breanna, moves in with him.

Single-headed

Good Times Florida and James Evans struggle to raise their kids - JJ, Thelma, and Michael - in a Chicago housing project. They have help from wisecracking neighbors and friends.

Dual-headed plus village

Different Strokes Two black kids from Harlem, Arnold Jackson and older brother Willis, are adopted into the family of a wealthy New York businessman Philip Drummond when their mother, his housekeeper, passes away.

Adopted

Sister Sister Tia Landry and Tamera Campbell are twins separated at birth who learn of each other's existence and come together as teenagers after Tamera's adoptive father reluctantly allows Tia and her mother to move into his home.

Adopted and blended

In the House After an injury ends his professional football career, Marion Hill agrees to take a job as a "manny" to help his tenant, divorcee Jackie Warren, with her two children, Tiffany and Austin.

Single-headed plus village

My Wife and Kids Michael Kyle longs for a traditional life, but his day-trader wife Janet, son Michael Jr., and daughters Claire and Kady make his dream just that ... a dream.

Dual-headed

The Bernie Mac Show

A standup comedian suddenly becomes a father when he and his wife take custody of his sister's three children.

Kinship and dual-headed

Smart Guy After losing his wife to a heart attack, Floyd Henderson is raising their 10-year-old genius son, TJ, who goes from elementary school to high school with his older siblings, Yvette and Marcus.

Single-headed

The Parent Hood Former New York college professor Robert Peterson and his wife, Jerri, share their Manhattan brownstone apartment with their four kids, ages 3 to 15.

Dual-headed

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Activity 3 – Review the lesson handout. (20 minutes)

Teacher Notes: Distribute double-sided copies of the lesson handout on pages 8-9 in the appendix.

▪ For slides 5 read the scripture and then say, Repeat after me. “Familia yangu.” [You can use

Google to hear the pronunciation.] This means “my family” in Swahili. Let’s look at your handout

to see what Javon, Chantel, Tobias, and Sherese have to say about families. [Click to activate the

animation for each callout. You can choose volunteers to read them aloud. Remind children it is

okay to talk to a trusted adult if their hurt feelings are causing them to be sad more than usual or

angry more than usual. Then give children 5 minutes to complete the front side of the handout.]

▪ For slide 6 say, The back side of your handout has a sign with a popular Swahili quote that

means “family is not an important thing; it’s everything.” Use your creativity to color and decorate

the quote. [Optional: Encourage children to glue objects like felt, pom-poms, yarn, or furry fabric

on some of the letters to make the sign sensory.]

Day 2: VC Super Saturday I am the product of the sustained indignation of a branded grandfather, the militant protest

of my grandmother, the disciplined resentment of my father and mother, and the power of

the mass action of the church. (Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.)

Affirmation is a core value of the Black Lives Matter movements being led by young people

today. It is critical for faith communities to be welcoming to all families whether they are led by

single, dual, same gender, or ethnically diverse parents and guardians. Today is about

encouraging participants to celebrate their familial heritage.

Suggested time for this session: 90 minutes

Activity 1 – Write family intros. (30 minutes)

Teacher Notes: Distribute 3 copies of the Family Intro template in the appendix on page 10 to each student.

▪ For slide 7 read the definition of affirm and then say, Family faces are like mirrors. We can

see our past, present, and future when we look at people who belong to us. How many of you

have you ever been told you like or remind others of someone in your family?

▪ For slide 8 say, You are going to write affirming poetic introductions for members of your family

and village. [Ask volunteers to read the examples on the slide.]

▪ For slide 9 ask the following questions to build a word wall that students can use when

writing their intros [Students should write the words in the Word Wall section of their template.]

­ Who is raising you?

­ What do the people raising you say to help you make the best choices? ­ What other action words can we use for the word “raise”? [Examples: teach, educate, nurture.]

▪ Before allowing students to write their intros in the Notepad section say, If you speak a

different language at home, consider writing part of the introduction in that language. Choose at

least one immediate family member, one extended family member, and one person from your

village. [NOTE: Younger children can write affirmation statements like “Mama is smart” or “Pop-

Pop tells the funniest stories” instead of stanzas.]

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Activity 2 – Make a Family Photo Album. (30 minutes)

Teacher Notes: Send an email to parents prior to conducting this session to ensure students have the

supplies on hand during the lesson. View https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZI7qyIJIuJ0 so you have an

idea of how to demonstrate each step.

Materials: copy of the Family Photo Album patterns (see page 11), family intros, family photos (2x2 inch), empty tissue box, two scrap pieces of fabric, one sheet of cardstock paper, tacky glue, tape or spray adhesive, scissors Instructions: Use the hard cover pattern to cut out two 4.25 x 5.5 inch pieces of cardboard from the empty tissue box. Use the soft cover pattern to cut the two pieces of fabric that will cover the cardboard. Glue the fabric to the pieces of cardboard (see video). Fold the cardstock paper lengthwise and cut along the fold. Tape the two cardstock rectangles together along the short edge. Fold the cardstock in halves like an accordion. The final shape will look like an “M” when you unfold the cardstock. (See images below.) Tape a family intro to the inside cover. Then tape or use a spray adhesive to affix the family photo to the next cardstock square. Turn to the next cardstock square and glue the second family intro. Affix the second family photo to the next cardstock square. Open the photo album from the back and glue the last family intro on the left cardstock square. Then affix the last family photo to the right cardstock square.

Activity 3 – Host a Family Escape Room. (30 minutes)

Teacher Notes: Invite families to participate in this activity.

▪ Choose a prize. Families can play to win something that will help them engage in another family

experience like a gift card to a restaurant, trampoline park, arcade, go-kart track, miniature golf

course, or movie theater. Put the prize in a small travel bag that can be secured with a luggage

lock. The clues should help families find the key to the lock.

▪ Design the escape room. Here are some websites that can help you create an escape kit. The

clues can be about anything. This is an excellent way to introduce bible verses and stories. You

could base clues on stories of different families in the bible. [Examples: How many brothers did

Joseph have? How was John the Baptist related to Jesus?]

­ https://lockpaperscissors.co/escape-room-design-blueprint/

­ https://cassiestephens.blogspot.com/2016/08/in-art-room-art-rocks-escape-game.html

­ https://teachingideas.ca/2020/05/17/escape-room-2/

­ https://activity-mom.com/2018/05/make-your-own-escape-room/

You can also create virtual escape rooms. Here are two websites that can help you.

­ https://www.bespokeclassroom.com/blog/2019/10/4/how-to-build-a-digital-escape-room-

using-google-forms

­ https://roomescapemaker.com/

Fold

and

cut h

ere

Tape

pieces

here

make accordion folds

at these distances

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Day 3: VC Worship Service

Train a child in the way he should go. When he is old, he will not turn away from it.

(Proverbs 22:6, NIrV)

Children are full of energy so Children’s Day will be a lively experience for them to learn

traditions of A.M.E. Zion worship and to share contemporary expressions of praise.

Suggested time for service: 60 minutes

Suggested guidance for order of worship:

1. Children should wear red or white tops and khaki bottoms.

2. Assign specific children to lead the Responsive Litany, Affirmation of Faith, Scripture

Lesson, Prayer and Acknowledgement of Visitors.

3. Select a 5th or 6th grader to write and deliver the Morning Message. The theme of the

message should be “Family Is Everything.”

4. Teach all participants the VC Theme Song, “Jesus Loves Me.” Teacher Notes: Consider teaching the song in Swahili (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZruc7ma14w)

5. Creative expressions can be a choir selection, instrumental selection, liturgical dance,

step, spoken word or some other type of youthful praise.

6. Lead the congregation in singing the CED Benediction if you know the tune.

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APPENDIX

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FAMILIA YANGU | my family Old people are proud of their grandchildren, and children are proud of their parents. A friend loves you all the time, and a brother helps in time of trouble. (Proverbs 17:6,17 - NCV)

MY HOUSEHOLD HAS…

(circle one)

one parent or

guardian two parents or

guardians extended family

members

MY VILLAGE INCLUDES…

(check all that apply)

members of my church

teachers or leaders at my school

my godparents

a coach or staff at the recreation center

someone in my neighborhood

family friends

What would a tv show about your family be called?

There is no shame in any of the different ways families are put together. God’s grace will always stand in the gap of what you need. That grace can come through the support from another relative, your church, a coach, a teacher, a neighbor, or a family friend.

People are not perfect. Even family members can hurt your feelings. They may not show up as often as they should. They may not show up at all. Whether a family member is present or absent, remember it is within your power to rise above any circumstance.

Grudges are like walls that keep you from enjoying your family. Instead of holding a grudge, pray for your family members and ask God to heal your heart

when it hurts.

The family unit will be a valuable source of strength throughout your life so it is important to keep UJAMAA or strong family ties with extended family and the people who become part of your village.

JAVON

CHANTEL

TOBIAS

SHERESE

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Family is not an important thing.

It’s everything.

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Family Intro Template

WORD WALL

Notepad

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Family Photo Album Patterns

Hard cover pattern

soft cover pattern

About the Founder of VARICK’S CHILDREN Helen C. Scott-Carter, Ph.D. was a teacher in DC Public

schools for more than 34 years and an administrator for

six years. She was appointed as Director of Children’s

Ministry for the A.M.E. Zion Church Christian Education

Department in 1994 and served in that position until

2012. Under her leadership, Zion’s children’s ministry

became a renewed entity in the Christian Education

Department and a new age group at the Winter Meeting.

She submitted a resolution to the General Conference in

2004 proposing VARICK’S CHILDREN as the name of

Zion’s Children’s Ministry. Dr. Carter served faithfully to

the call of children’s ministry until her death on April 13,

2020.

About the Co-Directors of VARICK’S CHILDREN

Ms. Nora McNeill and Rev. Dr. Michelle Searles were

appointed Co-Directors of Varick’s Children Ministry for

the A.M.E. Zion Church Christian Education Department

in 2012. Ms. McNeill is a Conference Director in the

Eastern North Carolina Episcopal District. Dr. Searles is

an associate minister in the Mid Atlantic Episcopal

District and the Senior Editor of Children’s Curriculum for

A.M.E. Zion Church School Literature. They both worked

with Dr. Carter during her tenure and are continuing her

legacy of love for Zion’s youngest members.

Call to Celebration (in unison) This is the Lord’s day. This is the Lord’s house.

We are the Lord’s children.

Let the praise begin! Opening Hymn “They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love” Invocation (in unison) Lord God, we welcome your presence in our service

today. Let all that we do be pleasing in your sight. In

Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Choral Response “He is Lord” VC Theme Song “Jesus Loves Me” Responsive Litany Leader: Jesus wants us to DO what he taught; People: Not just keep it in our heads or talk about it.

Leader: Even a child is known by his or her

actions;

People: So do what is pure and right.

Leader: Our bodies are temples of God. People: Remember to keep them healthy and holy.

Leader: Train up children in the way they should go. People: So when they are old they will not turn away

from it.

Gloria Patri /Affirmation of Faith

Scripture Lesson Proverbs 17:6,17 (NCV)

Prayer Hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” Morning Prayer/Prayer Response

Children’s Moment Creative Expressions Announcements/Acknowledgement of Visitors Offering/Offertory Song of Preparation Children’s Choir Morning Message Invitation to Christian Discipleship CED Benediction Every member a Christian (every member a Christian) Every Christian a worker (every Christian a worker) Every worker trained (every worker trained) That need not be ashamed (that need not be ashamed) Oh, this we ask in Jesus’ name Amen (Amen) Amen (Amen) A-men.