KidMission is Coming!

Here's How to Prepare:

With the Internet literally at our fingertips, this will be quick and easy!  Have fun learning about Northern Mexico, the city of Monterrey specifically.   Here are a few website links to make things even simpler:

God's work in Monterrey: 
http://www.mtw.org/pages/searchresults.aspx?q=Monterrey

http://www.mtw.org/Pages/LOC_MexicoMonterrey.aspx

Mission To the World's website has great articles on what God is doing in Monterrey (even an article written by Andres Garza, who will be a key speaker this weekend at Christ Community; it's so encouraging, as is appropriate for upper elementary kids and older).  As well, there is a helpful page dedicated to preparing groups to take mission trips to Monterrey, which is where our church will be sending a group of teens and parents next summer, 2015! 

Fun facts about Monterrey, Mexico:
www.tripadvisor.com  

 http://www.kidrex.org/results/?q=Monterrey%2C+Mexico&cof=FORID%3A10&ie=UTF-8&safe=high&cx=005531940451544459472%3A_wxzudlmale&sa.x=0&sa.y=0


Check out the climate, the geography, topography (any ography!).  Read about museums like MARCO - what does that stand for? - and The Museum of Mexican History.

Got ink to spare?  Find and print your favorite photo of Northern Mexico and bring it to KidMission on Sunday morning.  Imagining and actually "seeing" another culture are worlds apart!  Let's close the gap of our understanding. 

This is going to be a marvelously-missional weekend for Christ Community Kids!  May we catch the vision and a glimpse of God's heart for the nations. 

Parenting in the Pew, take 2

Having our children sitting alongside of us in a worship service...  There are sweet moments:  You look down to see/hear your child singly softly or belting out the words during congregational singing!  The offering is being taken and your child is eager to give allowance money.  Another adult is blessed by the friendly greeting your child gives.  There are good moments.  But there is plenty of patience-testing, too!  (Can I get an "Amen!"?)

 The distractions, the struggle, the humbling.  Oh the humbling.  Has your child ever been:

1. The loud, distracting one,
2. The funny-looking, rumply, mismatched one, 
3. The nose-picker, 
4. The artist who can turn a pen into the loudest instrument during the quiet moment,
5. Ditto with the gum-chomper,
6. The petter - you know, your child suddenly wants to pet you like a puppy in all the awkward places?
7. The turn-around-and-stare-you-down one?

I can get frustrated when my expectations are not met with my children's behavior in church.  Why?  Is my pure-heart desire that my children  drink in the goodness of God at a tender age?  Sometimes.  More often, though, I confess that what I see in myself are selfish desires.   I wonder if you have ever thought this during church:  "Don't distract me."  "Don't embarrass me!"  "Don't hit your brother."  (Wait, that last one is uttered out loud!)  And, "Can't I have just a few moments when you don't need me!?" 

Desiring to fully participate in worship is a good thing!  It is normal that we struggle  as we "parent in the pew."  (In fact, if the struggle has ended, your kids are likely either  grown or you are not working on training them, or you have a perfectly compliant child.  Congratulations!)   Yet- such a powerful, little conjunction- yet even though I feel like I really need a break during church, if my church has children stay with parents for all or some of the service, there is a lesson for me to learn.  Here's the good lesson, albeit tough:  God has granted the opportunity for me to worship with my kids.  That means it is for my good, and for my kids' good.  This means it is for the entire congregation's good.   It's all good!  This part of the parenting struggle is God teaching me just as I am teaching my child. 
Note to worshipers sitting nearby families with young children:  This is God teaching you, too, through the distractions, through the blessing of watching younger parents in action!  I wonder what new friendship could be formed through a timely word of encouragement or by sharing your own funny, "parenting in the pew" story?

Last week I mentioned bringing practical tips.  Next time.  For now, we'll let the foundation set before we start building!

Onward.

"Parenting in the Pew"...or chairs, or stadium-style seating- you get the idea!

Parenting in the Pew, by Robbie Castleman, is a book I am reading thanks to my friend and former Director of Children's Ministry here at CCC, Donna Harris.  This little book has big vision for children in church.  It is encouraging and inspiring!  Help me get a conversation going on how  parents can "Guide your children into the joy of worship" (the subtitle of the book).

Let's be real:  Bringing children into a worship service each Sunday can be difficult!  We want Sunday morning worship to be a time of spiritual respite. With toddlers to teenagers in tow,  respite does not always describe our experience.  Recipe for distraction can be more like it!  "The temptations to just stay home, or at least to keep the kids out of the sanctuary, are real.  It's hard to pay attention to God and children at the same time"  (p 16, emphasis mine).  Can you relate?

Fresh perspective can make a big difference!  Imagine that we are building something and this is our foundation:  We desire our children come to know and love Jesus.  To love Jesus is also to love his people, the church.  One way we express this love is in commitment to corporate worship.  Worshiping with other believers in Christ can be a delight, not duty.  When we delight in something good, we want to pass it on to our children.  And here's the catch:  Delighting in worship with our children is going to take effort.  Planning.  Yes, even humility!   But it's worth it.  Jesus said, "Let the children come to me" and he wasn't in kids' church or a Sunday School classroom!  He was with presumptuous adults.  Our cooing babies, squirmy preschoolers and sometimes-sulking teens are welcome in worship.  Together we make up the family of God! 

Practical tips to come....

http://www.christianbook.com/parenting-revised-edition-with-study-guide/robbie-castleman/9780830823406/pd/823409?dv=c&en=google-pla&kw=family-0-20&p=1167941&gclid=CKjz4Yr7t7wCFckWMgod-gEATg