Sunday in Review - Oct 19

Rooted In Jesus

• Children sang songs like:   “Good Morning God” “The  Caterpillar Song,”  and “The B-I-B-L-E"
• Children learned that GOD gives PEACE!
• Just like God gave Joseph peace when his brothers were angry with him and sold him, God gives us peace, too.
• Romans 5:8b "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

• The Preschool Community team is comprised of led each week by Mike and Doris Alderink, Heidi Sweet, Nancy Richter, and Sara Nist.

Kids' Community

• God is faithful to all his promises.
• Isaac was born to Abraham and Sarah after a 25 year wait - God can do anything!
• Psalm 100:1-2, "Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
       Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs."
• Kids’ Community is comprised of:  Lisa Burkes, Barbara Mussler, Andy Nist,  Kristin Livermore, Patti Fraley, Todd Barrett.

Children's Worship

• Gen. 15:6, "Abraham believed the LORD."
• Memorizing Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers,  Deuteronomy AND now Joshua, Judges and Ruth!
• Looked at The Present:  Abraham was asked by God to give up something/someone very special- his only son, Isaac.
• God provided a sacrifice in Isaac's place - a ram. God later provided his only Son, Jesus, as a sacrifice.
• Led by Matt and Sarah Perkins.

Sunday In Review - OCT 12th

Rooted In Jesus

• Children sang songs like:   “Good Morning God” “The  Caterpillar Song,”  and “The Gospel Fuzzies."
• Children learned that GOD gives JOY!
• Just like God gave Paul and Silas joy while they were in prison for telling others about Jesus, God gives us joy, too.
• Romans 5:8b "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

• The Preschool Community team is comprised of led each week by Mike and Doris Alderink, Heidi Sweet, Nancy Richter, and Sara Nist.

Kids' Community

• Kids learned that there are consequences when we fail to trust in God's promises, but that God is compassionate and gracious; slow to anger.
• We reviewed that God kept his promise to Abraham to become a father of many nations, and learned that God kept his promise to Noah.
• Psalm 100:1-2, "Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
       Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs."
• Kids’ Community is comprised of:  Lisa Burkes, Barbara Mussler, Andy Nist,  Kristin Livermore, Patti Fraley, Todd Barrett.

Children's Worship

• Gen. 15:6, "Abraham believed the LORD."
• Memorizing Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers,  Deuteronomy AND now Joshua, Judges and Ruth!
• Looked at the Son of Laughter:  God's special promise to Abraham- his son Isaac.
• God promised that he would give Abraham a very large family, and that he would rescue his people through Abraham's family.
• Led by Randa Nader and Ann Crenshaw.

Sunday In Review - October 5th

Rooted In Jesus

• Children sang songs like:   “Good Morning God” “The  Caterpillar Song,”  and “The Gospel Fuzzies."
• Children learned that God is LOVE
• Just like the parable of the prodigal son, God loves us like the father loved the son that ran away
• Romans 5:8b "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

• Preschool Community is led each week by Mike and Doris Alderink
• Music is led by Heidi Sweet
• Teachers are Nancy Richter and Sara Nist

Kids' Community

• Worshiped with our student band, VOO, and the entire Student Community Group!
• Kids learned that God always keeps his promises. Why?
• He is able to keep his promises because he is limitless, and He desires for us to trust His character .
• Psalm 100:1-2, "Shout for joy to the LORD all the earth..."
• Kids’ Community is led by two teams that each serve twice monthly:

1) Lisa Burkes - teacher, Barbara Mussler- girls’ leader, Andy Nist - boys’  leader

2) Kristin Livermore - teacher, Patti Fraley - girls’ leader, Todd Barrett- boys’ leader

Children's Worship

• Gen. 6:5, "The LORD saw that the human heart was only evil." 
• Memorizing Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers,  Deuteronomy AND now Joshua, Judges and Ruth!
• Looked at the Tower of Babel story from Genesis 11.
• The people thought they didn't need God and tried to get to heaven on their own.  We learned that the only way to heaven is through a person - JESUS!
• Led by Nene Akinbola and Lucie Nader.

Prayer and Praise Night: The Good, The Bad & The Blessed

Last Thursday was my daughter's 14th birthday.  I have been preoccupied lately and when Hannah's birthday reached out and grabbed me by the throat (!), I was unprepared.  That is an understatement.  

Hannah's birthday had been celebrated with friends the previous weekend, yet we still seek to make a big deal on the actual day.  So, Thursday began okay.  Birthday breakfast as a family - check.  Treat packed for school lunch - check.  Plans for a friend coming over that night for a sleepover (crazy, right?) - check.  The birthday intentionality started to fade towards late afternoon.  The plan was to watch a cross country meet of Micah's.  Oh, right....not the most fun for a girl who cannot run due to a hip fracture.  The meet is delayed; we wait around, grumbling.  Birthday girl begins a query into the rest of the evening.  

"Oh, yeah, remember what we talked about Hannah?  Chick-fil-A and Prayer & Praise tonight, then Emily comes over."

Um, 14 year olds apparently don't feel celebrated over fried chicken and praying at church.  Strange, I know.  Our birthday tradition is always a special dinner at home, family members taking multiple turns saying what we love or admire in the celebrated one. Followed by decadent dessert.  Not this birthday:  The five of us are sandwiching Chick-fil-A between cross country meet and swimming for Andy and Eva and prayer night for me, Hannah and Micah.  Oh, this day...

5:45 pm - Driving over to the meet, hurt feelings emerge.  Adding to disappointment is stress over unfinished homework and studying.  Pastor Tim Kirk frequently points out that discipleship is a series of hard conversations. Commence Hard Conversation:  I confess to Hannah that I have blown it with her birthday; I have put my needs and concerns first.  I ask her to forgive me.  She does.  Hannah requests that we skip Prayer & Praise.  Hard Conversation, Part Two:  No, I am compelled for us to go (truth be told - I am questioning whether the Lord is really compelling me or if I am merely being stubborn).  

6:15 pm - The meet finishes; we divide into two cars for a pit stop at Chick-fil-A before going our separate ways.  I point the minivan south on Keystone and speed towards Main Street.  I am beseeching the Lord silently to redeem this day but am skeptical.  
Oh ye of little faith.

7 pm - At church, Hannah and I settle into our seats in a back row.  Micah chooses the front row, slurping a Blow Pop he was given at the XC meet.  (This is keepin' it real, people!)  A passage of Scripture that was chosen is one that I can just blow right by and miss.  Luke 11 finds Jesus answering his disciple who says, "Lord, teach us to pray!"  Jesus talks to them about a man with a need who persists with his friend until he gets what he is after.  He talks about a father whose son asks for food - a father would never give his son something harmful, but instead something good.  And in between, Jesus instructs his followers to be persistent:  Ask!  Seek!  Knock!  "For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, it will be opened."

At 7:30 pm, we divide up into smaller groups to pray.  I ask Hannah to pray with me outside and she consents but first seeks a friend to bring along.  Coming up empty, she tentatively walks with me, outside. We have just read how Jesus has sent his followers out into the world.  So, Hannah and I pray for those people and places to whom and where we have been sent.  We pray for specific school friends, for teachers, for coaches, and for other moms and daughters.  Persisting in prayer with my oldest daughter on her birthday- knowing she is sacrificing her desires to do so - what a birthday blessing.  My heart is full. I am so thankful for a persistent God who gives good gifts to his children, and who gives his very "Spirit to those who ask him." 

You've Got Mail.... & a Magnet!

 Parents and Grandparents, 

We know you appreciate the time and investment that Children's Ministry teachers and small group leaders give to your family.  Now we have a simple, sweet way for you to easily express your thanks:  

• Check out the white mail box in the Children's Wing.  
• On top you will find envelopes and cards.  
• Encourage your child to take one, write his/her teacher or leader a note, or draw a picture.  
• Then, with the name clearly printed on it, place it in the mailbox.  Heidi Sweet and I will be checking it weekly to deliver the notes and cards to our awesome team members!
• Thank you for participating in this fun exchange!

Have you had ambitions for family Bible memory yet fallen a little short of your goal?  I know our family has.  

We are seeking to make Scripture memory a priority in an easy, accessible way.  As a church, we will memorize John 15:1-5 this year. 

Get a jump on it and grab your *family's copy of the Memory Verse Magnet yet.  Look for them in the lobby this Sunday.  

*One per family; these hot commodities are going fast!

Sunday In Review - Sept. 28

Rooted In Jesus

• Children sang songs like:   “If You’re Happy and You Know It,” “The  Caterpillar Song,”  and “The B-I-B-L-E."
• Children learned that God gives us the Holy Spirit to help us grow.

• Preschool Community is led each week by Mike and Doris Alderink
• Music is led by Heidi Sweet
• Teachers are Nancy Richter and Sara Nist

Kids' Community

• Worshiped with our student band, VOO, and the entire Student Community Group!
• Kids learned that God has to make promises to even unbelievers.
• Kids learned that because hell is a real place, our hearts are all the more grateful for Jesus's death and resurrection, paying our price so that we don't have to, but instead get salvation and heaven.
• Kids’ Community is led by two teams that each serve twice monthly:

1) Lisa Burkes - teacher, Barbara Mussler- girls’ leader, Andy Nist - boys’  leader

2) Kristin Livermore - teacher, Patti Fraley - girls’ leader, Todd Barrett- boys’ leader

Children's Worship

• "A New Beginning" was the story of Noah and the flood God sent- God's grace was the cause of saving his people, not people's goodness.
• Gen. 6:5, "The LORD saw that the human heart was only evil." 
• Memorizing Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers,  Deuteronomy
• Thanked God for sending Jesus to solve the problem of sin in the world and for promising to one day make the world perfect again.
• Led by Pastor Steve Sandvig and Mr. Chuck Boots

Sunday In Revew - September 21

Rooted In Jesus

• Children sang songs like:   “If You’re Happy and You Know It,” “The  Caterpillar Song,”  and “The B-I-B-L-E” and created a finger-painted thumb-print tree.
• Children learned that "We love because He first loved us!" (1 John 4:19)

• Preschool Community is led each week by Mike and Doris Alderink
• Music is led by Heidi Sweet
• Teachers are Nancy Richter and Sara Nist

Kids' Community

• Worshiped with our student band, VOO, and the entire Student Community Group!
• Kids learned that God makes promises to individuals
• Kids learned that Christians are descendants of Abraham by faith and heirs of the promise.
• Kids’ Community is led by two teams that each serve twice monthly:

1) Lisa Burkes - teacher, Barbara Mussler- girls’ leader, Andy Nist - boys’  leader

2) Kristin Livermore - teacher, Patti Fraley - girls’ leader, Todd Barrett- boys’ leader

Children's Worship

• "The Terrible Lie" was our story from the JSB - Satan lied; Adam and Eve disobeyed.
• Gen. 6:5, "The LORD saw that the human heart was only evil." 
• Memorizing Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers,  Deuteronomy
• Thanked God for sending Jesus to solve the problem of sin in the world and for promising to one day make the world perfect again.
• Led by Matt and Sarah Perkins.