That Time of Year Again...Time To Say Thank You...

Parents,

On behalf of Jim and my wife Dee, I would like to thank you for the honor of having your child in Children's Ministries this year. It is an privilege to come along side you and assist in their Christian development. Where has the year gone? It seems like yesterday we held our first class and I can still see the nervousness in the children's eyes when we had each one come to the front of the class and answer silly questions. Everyone had a good laugh by the end of the class and we knew we had a great group of kids. The "Game On" event at the Warehouse provided fun for the kids and helped us get to know each other and intern Stephen a.k. "Farley" gave a great message from God's Word. Mr. Bruno learned a valuable lesson that day...if you every hold an event and tell people that the child who brings the most people will get to smash a whip cream pie in your face remember it could end in a tie...or a 4 way tie...I still laugh when I see the pictures...Through all the activities, contests, games, "Class Open House" and "Questions of the Week" we remained focused on sharing God's Word. After each week of providing the lesson we often wondered if the children understood what was taught and had multiple reminders that, yes they were learning. Either by additional questions from the children or comments from the parents it became apparent God is opening their eyes a little bit more each day. This class will be remembered by us all as one that really liked to learn, really liked to laugh and was always very respectful. We are going to be sad to see them leave and wish them the very best when they are "officially" 5th Grade Children Ministry students. We hope you and your children continue to say "hi" when we see you and God willing, I look forward to seeing your children at the Middle School Club JV when they enter sixth grade.

We would like to thank:

God - for giving strength during the year and for teaching us when needed.

You the Parents - your words of encouragement and thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated!

Kelly Coy - Children's Ministry Head Coordinator - for always listening, always helping and always caring. Parkside has been truly blessed by your leadership!

Renee, Kyle, Melissa and the entire staff  - no matter what was requested you always came through. Your efforts are appreciated!

To Mr. Kelvington - you are a great mentor and a great Brother in Christ. I value our time together even if we are the "Odd Couple"

To my wife Dee: For always supporting me and being at my side, I cannot wait to see what God has in store for us in the future! (Happy 20th Anniversary June 22nd!)

To the Children - thank you for being in our class this year and for learning God's Word. You are an awesome group of kids!

We look forward to finishing the year out strong but we wanted to take a moment to reflect and say thank you. This will be the last blog update (we hope you found the "Keeping in Touch" emails and the blog useful and helpful) but feel free to contact us with any questions you may have. We pray that your children continue in God's Word, introduce friends to Jesus, and continue to build a deep relationship with Jesus.

In Christ,

Harry, Dee, and Jim

The Schedule for the Last Few Weeks

June 26th: The Prodigal Son...it's about the son who went off on his own...right? (Mr. Bruno)
July 3rd - No Class... Happy 4th of July!
July 10th - Ambassadors of Sport (Tentative)
July 17th - Mr. Kelvington will not be in class - Lesson Ten (Mr. Bruno)
July 24th - The Year in Review (Mr. Kelvington)
July 31st - PARTY! Outside if the weather is nice or in our classroom!

KID CONNECTION: Make It a Summer to Remember

So....your out of school for the summer...so have some FUN! I hope you all have a great summer! Make sure you take time to help someone this summer, maybe a neighbor could use some help with yard work, or some other project. Remember it is awesome when we help others out of the kindness of our heart - be a positive impact on someone!

Lesson Nine: Life In God's House

"I am writing you these instructions so that...you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household." 1 Timothy 3:14-15.

Writing probably from somewhere in Macedonia during his fourth mission trip, Paul penned his first pastorial letter to Timothy, his former traveling companion, faithful co-worker, and beloved son in the faith. Paul had stationed Timothy in Ephesus to combat false teaching with the truth of the gospel as well as deal various relational and organizational issues in the fledging church there.

Born the son of a Gentile father and a Jewish mother, Timothy had a unique background. Childhood training in the Scriptures at the hand of his mother and grandmother gave Timothy the knowledge that made hime "wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ." The faith that his mother and grandmother had was now his. Paul had traveled through Timothy's hometown of Lystra, a Roman colony in the province of Galatia, on his first mission trip.

When Paul returned to Lystra on his second mission trip, brothers in the churches spoke well of Timothy. Paul decided to take him along on his trip. Set apart and equipped for ministry by the laying on of hands, Timothy traveled and worked with Paul throughout most of his second and third mission trips. This week we learn about Timothy and what he was like.

Scripture: 1 Timothy and Acts 20:29-30

Bible Truth: Paul wrote to a young Timothy, his coworker in the faith, to encourage and instruct him in leading the church in Ephesus. Paul deals with false teaching, sound doctrine, and godly living.

Memory Verse: For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 1 Corinthians 13:9-10

Monkeys, Cows, and Grandma...OH MY!

Last week all of us had quite a laugh as one of the kid's gave a great example that God was like the trunk of a tree. That of course, led to Mr. Bruno drawing a tree on the board, which led to him drawing a monkey in the tree and naming it after one of the students (you know who you are!) which then led to him drawing a cow in the tree for "how now brown cow". Pretty funny stuff (guess you had to be there!) At the evening service I had the pleasure of meeting a Grandma of one of our kids. It was great to hear such encouraging words!

KID CONNECTION: The Decision To Be Patient and To Trust God

Trust in Him at all times, O people, pour out our heart to Him, for God is our refuge. Psalm 62:8

As kids, grownups, and even our nation, we are impatient for changes or things that we want. We want solutions to our problems and we want them right now! But sometimes what we want is not an easy problem to solve or we sometimes do not get our way right away so we must be patient. Believe me, I know that is hard sometimes, to wait on something.

Psalm 37:7 commands us to "rest in the Lord , and wait patiently for Him" (NKJV. But for most of us waiting is God is hard. Why? Because we are imperfect beings who seek solutions to our problems and things we want today, right now, if not sooner. We seek to manage our lives according to when we want something rather than when God want's us to have it. That's a mistake on our part. Instead of pouting we should pray. When we do, our heavenly Father will reward us in His own miraculous way and in His own perfect time.

MoRe To ThInK AbOuT...
"Be patient. God is using today's problems to make you stronger for tomorrow. He is equipping you. The God who makes things grow will help you bear fruit" Max Lucado

ThE BIG IdEa.....

God has big plans instore for you - so trust Him and wait for those plans to unfold. And remember God's timing is best so don't allow yourself to become discouraged if things don't work out exactly as you wish. Instead of worrying, put your trust in God.

HeY...OnE MoRe ThIng....

Everyone has problems or maybe gets down because something did not happen like they thought it would. Sometimes talking it out with your parents, friends or someone at church helps a bunch. So don't keep it inside...TALK IT OUT!

KID CONNECTION: A COOL IDEA

Hey...Kid Connection is taking a break this week (bummer) but I was really surprised to learn last week how many of you have never attended a Parkside on the Patio evening service! So this week I thought for Kid Connection I would recommend that you ask your parents to bring you to the Parkside on the Patio in June 26th. It is fun to bring lawn chairs or sit on a blanket and eat FREE ice cream! The worship band plays and it is a lot of fun...did I mention the FREE ice cream...yummy!

If you go, look for us and say hi!

Lesson Eight: June 12th Living for Christ's Return

Timothy gave a good report to Paul concerning the Thessalonian congregation. The apostle wrote the believers he had visited just once, expressing joy and gratitude for what God had done among them. They had received God's word through Paul's ministry and were passing on the gospel to others, so that the report of their faith was spreading throughout the region.

Paul prays fro the Thessalonians and encourages them to please God while looking for the return of Christ. "It's God's will that you should be sanctified," Paul explains. Holy living is pure, peaceful, and productive.

"We believe that Jesus died and rose again," Paul affirms, helping the Thessalonians understand that believers who have already died will be raised when Christ returns. Then he gives his readers some details about Christ's second coming.

Scripture: 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Acts 17:1-10

Bible Truth: Paul offers the Thessalonians words of encouragement, instructs the believers to live responsible lives pleasing to God, and teaches then concerning the return of Christ.

Memory Work: Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongue's, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 1 Corinithians 13:8

June 5th:Lesson Seven - Christ is Supreme and Sufficient

This week we will look at Colossians. If Paul had titled this letter, he might have called it "The Supreme and Sufficient Savor." He stresses that Christ is supreme over all creation because he is God. He created all things, visible and invisible, and he is the Lord, the supreme ruler of all that he made. Christ alone is the head of the Church, his community of believers whom he reconciled to God through his death and resurrection. His work is completely sufficient to give full salvation to all who believe in him. Nothing needs to be added to what he accomplished for his people.

Scripture: Colossians and Acts 19:10

Bible Truth: Paul affirms that Christ is supreme over all. Christ is completely sufficient to bring full salvation, and Christians must live in dependence on Christ alone.

Memory Work: Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:6-7

KID CONNECTION: Choosing To Not Give Up

Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:57-58 NIV

Do you want to live a life that is pleasing to God? If so, you must remember that life is not a short run or sprint, but a long run like a marathon. Are you one of those people who do not give up easily, or are you quick to give up when the going gets tough? If you developed the habit of giving up at the first sign of trouble, it's probably time for you to have a heart-to-heart talk with the person you see in the mirror everyday (that's you!).

Jesus finished what he began, and so should you. Despite His suffering, despite the shame of the cross, Jesus was never gave up on His faithfulness to God. You, too, must remain faithful, especially when times are tough.

Do you want to build a closer relationship with God? Then don't give up. And if you are facing a difficult problem, remember this: whatever your problem, God can handle it!

the BIG idea....

Never give up - always try your best and remember to pray!

HeY...OnE...MoRe...ThInG....

If things don't work out at first, don't quit. If you never try, you'll never know how good you can be!

May 22nd Lesson Six: Rejoicing in the Lord

Paul was under house arrest in Rome. It was his first Roman imprisonment, around A.D. 60-62. Paul wrote a letter to the Philippian church, describing himself as "in chains for Christ." His future was uncertain, but whether he lived or died, his main concern wasn't for himself; Paul's passion was for the glory of Christ and the advancement of the gospel.

The Epistle to the Philippians emphasizes several key doctrines and themes: the sovereignty of God, the humiliation and exaltation of Christ, Christ as our example, union with Christ, justification, sanctification, the communion of saints and the sufficiency of Christ Jesus. In this lesson with the children however, we will explore just a couple of the themes found in Paul's letter in ways the children can understand. We will study the great hymn to Christ in Chapter 2 and what it means to pattern our lives after him in humble sacrifice, giving thanks to and for him always.

Bible Truth: Paul encourages the Philippians to stand strong despite opposition, to maintain their unity, and to rejoice in the Lord always. They are to have the same attitude as Christ in humility and service.

Scripture: Philippians and Acts 16

Memory Work: Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. 1 Corinthians 13:6

KID CONNECTION: When You Make Unwise Choices

He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

Proverbs 28:13

When you make a mistake due you get really mad at yourself...or maybe really, really, really mad? Hopefully not! After all everybody makes mistakes, and nobody is expected to be perfect .

Even when you make mistakes, God loves you....so you should love yourself too!

So the next time you make a mistake, make the smart choice: choose to learn from it. And after you've learned your lesson, try never to make the same mistake again. But don't be to hard on yourself. God doesn't expect you to be perfect, and since He loves you, you should feel that way too.

MoRe StUfF tO tHiNk AbOuT...

God is able to take our mistakes and when we ask for forgiveness to Him, He makes them something for our good and for His glory. Wow!

Hey....OnE mOrE tHiNg....

When you make a mistake (and you will) the best time to fix those mistakes is now, not later...

Well your vacation from Mr. Bruno is over (LOL) as I will be back in class this coming Sunday. I missed you guys and look forward to learning the Bible with you again!

May 15th: Lesson Five - Putting on the New Self

The apostle Paul wrote his letter to the Ephesian Christians from Rome around A.D. 60 while under house arrest. Paul had spent three years in Ephesus, a Greek city in Asia, Minor, on his third mission trip and used it as a center for regional evangelistic work. Ephesus was a large and important city in the Roman Empire. The biggest attraction and the center of it's pagen culture was the temple of Artemis (Diana), a revered greek goddess.

Paul begins his letter with praise to God for the grace he has lavished upon believers in Christ. "In Christ" is an essential idea in Ephesians; every blessing comes to us through Christ. This week's Bible Truth is Paul celebrates the Church's blessing in Christ. He tells the Ephesians to live out their new life in Christ by putting off the old self and putting on the new.

Scripture: Ephesians

Memory Work: It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs. 1 Corinthians 13:5

Student Questions of the Week!

Here are a few of the questions from the children that were asked during the May 8th class:

Why didn't God stop Adam and Eve?
Where is heaven?
When Jesus was on the cross didn't people know he was going to rise?

Great questions to discuss with your child and see if they remember the answers!

KID CONNECTION: TOTALLY TEASING

Hey...it's Mr.B...I recently watched a television show that told the story of Nick Vujicic. I was familiar with Nick's story but it made me think "I can only imagine how much this guy was teased as a kid". If you are not familiar with Nick's story he was born with no arms AND no legs. I was teased alot as a kid and I bet a lot of you get teased...and sometimes we tease others too...

I want to take a moment this week to share a little of Nick's story and then I want to give you some examples from the Bible for you to think about. Teasing hurts. It hurts us when someone teases us, and it hurts others when we tease them. A little about Nick...

Imagine being born without arms. No arms to wrap around a friend ; no hands to hold the ones you love; no fingers to experience touch ; no way to lift or carry things. How much more difficult would life be if you were living without arms and hands? Or what about legs? Imagine if instead of no arms, you had no legs. No ability to dance, walk, run, or even stand. Now put both of those scenarios together… no arms and no legs. What would you do? How would that affect your everyday life?

His parents wondered how would their son live a normal happy life? What could he ever do or become when living with such a massive disability? Little did they or anyone else know that this beautiful limbless baby would one day be someone who would inspire and motivate people from all walks of life. God uses Nick to touch lives and bring the hope of Jesus Christ to people across the globe.

Throughout his childhood, Nick dealt not only with the typical challenges of school and being a kid such as bullying and self-esteem issues; but also struggled with depression and loneliness.  He constantly questioned why he was different than all the other kids surrounding him; why he was the one born without arms and legs. He wondered what the purpose behind his life was, or if he even had a purpose. According to Nick, the victory over his struggles throughout his journey, as well as the strength and passion he has for life can be credited to his faith in God. His family, friends and the many people he has encountered along the way have also encouraged him.

By the age of 19, Nick started to fulfill his dream of being able to encourage other people and bring them the gospel of Jesus through motivational speaking and sharing his testimony about how God changed his life and gave him a future and a hope. “I found the purpose of my existence, and also the purpose of my circumstance. There’s a purpose for why you’re in the fire.” Nick wholeheartedly believes that there is a purpose in each of the struggles we each encounter in our lives, and that our attitude towards those struggles, along with our faith and trust in the Lord can be the keys to overcoming the challenges we face.

Now at 28 years old, this limbless young man has accomplished more than most people accomplish in a lifetime. Nick recently made the massive move from Brisbane, Australia to California, USA, where he is the President of LifeWithout Limbs. Since his first speaking engagement back when he was 19, Nick has traveled around the world, sharing his story with millions of people, speaking to a range of different groups such as students, teachers, youth, businessmen and women, entrepreneurs, and church congregations of all sizes.  He has also told his story and been interviewed on various televised programs worldwide. “If God can use a man without arms and legs to be His hands and feet, then He will certainly use any willing heart!” When asked why he does it Nick replied: 

 "If just one more person finds eternal life in Jesus Christ....it is all worth it". 

Wow...what an incredible story...when people told Nick he looked funny, was different, wasn't cool, and never would amount to anything what did he do? Give up? Tease back? Quit? Agree with them? NO WAY! Nick used the special gifts God gave him to help spread the gospel across the world! Maybe someone is teasing you now by saying things about you that is not true and spreading rumors. It's easy to want to do the same to them isn't it? We automatically want to fight back to make them feel hurt or embarrassed too. The Bible tells us in Romans 12:21 "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good". Hmmm...what doe that mean? Well if someone is teasing you that does not mean they are evil, but how we can use this verse? Let's insert the word "teasing" where "evil" is in the verse and see what happens:

"Do not be overcome by teasing, but overcome teasing with good"...hey now that is starting to make sense...I know it will be hard (and you will have to keep practicing it) but the next time someone teases you, say something NICE or KIND back to them...WHAT? YOU WANT ME TO BE NICE TO THEM? Yes. Think about this...when Jesus was dieing on the Cross for us, many people were mocking (or teasing) him. Jesus did not say anything bad back to them and he did not quit. Yes Jesus was perfect, but we are called to be like Jesus - to be the Body of Christ, so if we remember to say something nice to someone when they tease us and ask them nicely to please not tease I bet the teasing will stop soon. And I bet the kid's teasing you begin thinking inside themselves that you really are pretty cool and it's not right to tease. Even if they don't change or stop, hey remember you control your own actions and you can respond just like them, or with kindness.

When I think about teasing and the Bible I think of some of the following people:

Moses had a speech problem and was afraid to speak to people...and God used his brother Aaron to help Moses tell the people what needed to be heard...

You have heard the story of David and the giant right? David then just a small boy with a slingshot tells the giant he will fight him and the giant laughed and teased him...and God used David and his slingshot to bring down the mighty giant...

What about Saul? After Jesus spoke to Saul on the road to Damascus and opened his eyes to the truth, Saul now Paul went on to be the greatest missionary of all time. But people at first did not think Saul/Paul had changed and told everyone what Saul had done in the past...and God showed He can use anyone to spread the gospel.. 

MoRe To ThInK AbOuT....

It is easy to bring someone down (say bad things about them or tease them), but it is really cool when you build someone up (say nice things about them). Try building someone up the next time you are teased and remember it will take practice!

HeY...OnE MoRe ThInG...

Remember Nick's story..no matter what we go through in life, we all have a purpose. Never quit, never give up. Teasing can hurt, it's not funny, and can have a great impact on someone. Use the opportunity to show kindness when you are being teased, be like Jesus! Nick is an awesome example!

May 8th Lesson Four: Justified by Faith Alone

As Christ multiplied the number of believers who then spread the gospel over much of the Roman Empire, ungodly forces engaged in a fierce-though unachievable-attempt to destroy the fledgling, first-century church. In Galatia, for instance, where Paul had started a number of churches on his first missions trip, Jewish teachers of a false gospel appeared, probably from Jerusalem. By adding to the gospel, they were denying that justification is by faith alone. This contradicted God's word.

It is uncertain when Galations was written, but this controversy might have occurred soon after Paul returned to Antioch in Syria following his first missions trip. Troubled when he received word of it, Paul wrote to the young churches in Galatia, warning them against false teachers and their heresy. He forcefully announces these Judaizers, asserting that they should be condemned for preaching a different gospel, which he declares "no gospel at all."

Scriptures: Galatians

Bible Truth: Paul warns the churches in Galatia to resist false teachers who insist salvation comes by faith in Christ plus obeying the law. Paul says believers are to be filled with the fruit of the Spirit rather than behave according to sinful desires.

Memory Work: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 1 Corinthians 13:4

KID CONNECTION: Avoid People Who Behave Foolishly

Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character"

1 Corinthians 15:33

If you hang out with people who do dumb things, pretty soon , you'll probably find yourself doing dumb things, too. And that's not good. So here is a sure rule for earning more self-respect and more rewards from life: If your friend group is headed in the wrong direction, find another friend group. Otherwise before you know it you'll be caught up in trouble that you did not create and you don't deserve.

When you feel pressured to do things -or to say things-that lead you away from God, you're heading straight for trouble. So don't do do the "easy" thing or the "popular" thing. Do the right thing, and don't worry about winning any popularity contests.

MoRe StUfF tO ThInK aBoUt...

Remember your friends may not know about the Good News of Jesus. Think about inviting them to Sunday School or Geokidz. And remember, all we can do is introduce someone to God, the rest is up to them and God!

HeY....OnE MoRe ThInG....

Try to remember we should not always follow the crowd...but we should always follow Jesus...

I missed all you this week and look forward to seeing each of you when I return to class in a few weeks. Keep the "Questions of the Week" coming! Also, make sure you help Mr. K and Mrs. B with the class! I heard someone lost a tooth in class last week...now that was a first! Ouch!

May 1st: Lesson Two God's Call To Holy Living and Lesson Three Christ's Strength in Our Weakness

There was trouble in the church in Corinth. Divisions, immorality, false teaching, and wrong practices had arisen since Paul's visit there on his second missionary journey. Corinith, a port city in Greece and a link between Rome and the East, was filled with more than 500,000 people of various ethnic and religious backgrounds. At first, Paul preached the gospel in the synagogue there. But when the Jews rejected his message, he went to the Gentiles with the good news.

Jesus told Paul in a vision that Corinith contained many of God's chosen people and to keep preaching. Through Paul's ministry, Christ established a thriving church in Corinith and the apostle stayed for 18 months to disciple the believers. Some years later while in Ephesus on his third missionary journey, Paul heard troubling news about the church in Corinith and also received a letter from them, asking him various questions. The church had divisions in it caused by pride, immaturity and lack of love. So Paul wrote to deal with the problems, to answer questions, and to emphasize the centrality of the cross of Christ and Christ's resurrection.

Paul addresses the Corinthian church as "sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy." He expresses thanksgiving for the believers because of God's grace on them, pointing out that God could be trusted to complete his work in their lives.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians, Acts 18:5-11

Bible Truth: Paul wrote to the church in Corinth to correct bickering, wrong doctrine, immorality, rebellion and lack of love. He emphasizes the centrality of the cross in preaching the gospel.

Memory Work: If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:2

KID CONNECTION: Choosing to Forgive

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:13-14

Are you the kind of boy or girl who has a tough time of forgiving and forgetting? If so, welcome to the club. Most of us find it difficult to forgive the people who have hurt us. And that's too bad because life would be much simpler if we could forgive people "once and for all" and be done with it. Yet, forgiveness is never easy. Forgiveness is a journey that requires effort, time, never giving up and prayer.

If there exists one person whom you have not forgiven (and that includes yourself), obey God's commandment: forgive that person today. And remember, anger is not part of God's plan for your life. forgiveness is.

If you sincerely wish to forgive someone, pray for that person. And then pray for yourself by asking God to heal your heart. Don't expect forgiveness to be easy and quick, but you can be assured with God, you can forgive...and you will.

MoRe StUfF To THiNk AbOuT...

Each week when we do the Lord's Prayer reflect on:
Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors

If we are asking God to forgive us, shouldn't we forgive others???

HeY OnE MoRe ThInG....

Holding a grudge? Drop it. Remember the best time to forgive is now.

Don't forget to pray and what did you thank God for lately?

May 1st Lesson Three: Christ's Strength in Our Weakness

Months after writing his first letter to the Corinthians, Titus brought Paul encouraging news regarding the Corinthians. Filled with gratitude and relief, Paul wrote the church again, this time a tender and personal letter from the heart. Writing from Macedonia, Paul begins by discussing the joys, concerns, hopes, and assurances he has for the believers in Corinth, expressing thankfulness for their repentance and spiritual progress, and sharing at length about his own life and ministry. Paul then exhorts the Corinthians to give generously to meet the needs of Christians in Jerusalem. In his closing section, Paul defends his apostleship, warns against false teachers, and urges unity.

Scriptures: 2 Corinthians

Bible Truth: Paul used his own life and ministry as examples of how Christ comforts his people in suffering and how Christ shows his grace and strength when they are weak.

Memory Work: If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:3

Vacation Bible School Volunteers Needed!

All Aboard! We are looking for volunteers to help with this year's VBS which will be held June 20-24 from 9:00 to noon each day. This is a wonderful way to meet others in our church and help young people grow or be introduced to Christ. If your schedule permits and you would like to help please click the link on the bottom of the blog or you may contact Kelly Coy at the church office. Thank you!

Let's Sing...But Remember To Think

Parents I want to urge you to take time during all services, but especially the Easter services to sing and worship. While singing in services, due to we have sung some of the songs many times we sometimes get caught up in the music beat or sing the words without really thinking about what we are singing. The Easter Choir has been reflecting on this for the past few weeks and taking the time to really concentrate on what we have been singing has been a blessing. There are very powerful words in every song that will be sung. We are sure there will be many people in attendance who do not come to worship regularly, those who may not know Christ, those struggling with a difficult situation in life, or those who have lost their way. Ponder these lines from a few of the songs:

"Come those whose joy is morning sun, and those weeping in the night. Come those who tell of battles won, and those struggling in the fight. For His perfect will will never change, and His mercies never cease, but follow us through all our days with the certain hope of peace."

"See Mary weeping "Where is He laid?" as in sorrow she turns from the empty tomb. Hears a voice speaking calling her name - it's the Master, the Lord raised to life again! The voice that spans the years speaking life, stirring hope, bringing peace to us, will sound till He appears, for He lives Christ is risen from the dead!"

"Thank you for this love Lord. Thank you for the nail pierced hands. Washed me in your cleansing flow, now I know  - your forgiveness and embrace. High and lifted up, Jesus Son of God the treasure of heaven crucified"

"Scorned by the one's He came to save. Till on that cross as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied, for every sin on Him was laid. Here in the death of Christ I live."

"Jesus is Lord whose words sustains the stars and planets. Yet in His wisdom laid aside His crown. Jesus the man who washed our feet, who bore our suffering became a curse to bring salvation's plan. Jesus is Lord the tomb is gloriously empty. Not even death could crush this King of love. The price is paid, the chains are loosed and we're forgiven and we can run into the arms of God.

Powerful words for those who know Christ and for those who do not. Powerful words for the rich and the poor, those hurting and wondering why and those who are searching for something missing. Please sing from your heart and reflect on the words you are singing as you are doing so.

We wish you a blessed Easter   - He Is Risen! Risen Indeed!

KID CONNECTION: The Decision to Be Thankful

Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord,

for he is good; his loves endures forever.

Psalm 160:1 NIV

As you reflect on Easter and the love God gave us by providing His Son to take the suffering for our sins so we could become right with the Father and live with Him in heaven one day - think about this:

Are you basically a thankful person? Do you appreciate the stuff that you've got and the life that you're privileged to live? You most certainly should be thankful. After all when you stop to think about it, God has given you more blessings than you can count.So the question of the day is this:

Will you slow down from playing, sports, dance, and other things you may do long enough to thank your Heavenly Father...or not?

Sometimes life here on earth can be complicated, demanding on kids and adults, and frustrating. When our schedules and demands of life leave us running and rushing from place to place without a moment to spare, we may fail to pause and thank our Creator for the countless blessings He has given us. Failing to thank God I guess can be understandable...but it's wrong.  So here's something to remember: when it comes to knowing God, a thankful heart isn't just helpful, it is very important!

MoRe StUfF To ThInK AbOuT....

"A Christian who walks by faith accepts all circumstances (stuff that happens to them) from God. He thanks God when everything goes good, when everything goes bad, and for the "blues" somewhere in between. He thanks God whether he feels like it or not." - Erwin Lutzer

HeY....OnE MoRe ThInG....

When is the best time to say "thanks" to God? Any time! God never takes a vacation, and He's always ready to hear from you. So what are you waiting for???

Here is a prayer I said this morning - don't worry about how your prayer sounds, it can be short like "Thank you God for my friend" - just remember to take time to thank God!

Father, thank you for this day. When good things happen I will praise you. When bad things happen, I will praise you. Thank you for the children who attend our class. Thank you for their parents, who love them. Thank you Father for Jesus, your Son, who we are forever thankful for. Father thank you for your promise to never give up on me and you're constant reminders that you are not finished with me yet. Thank you that by grace alone I am saved. Thank you Lord. It is in your Son's glorious name I pray - Amen!

John 3:16

FOR GOD

SO LOVED

THE WORLD

THAT HE

GAVE HIS

ONE AND ONLY SON

THAT

WHOEVER

BELIEVES

IN HIM

SHALL NOT

PERISH

BUT HAVE

ETERNAL

LIFE

JOHN 3:16

He loves. He gave. We believe. We live.

There was a GLO to the Easter Lesson Today

Today, using an Ipad and the Glo Bible App, the children were able to experience many things in class that revolved around Easter. The Glo Bible App provides the ability to take Virtual Tours, Watch Video, View Pictures and much more.

Today the children were able to view a short video on the Crucifixion and learned what it was like for Jesus as he was led to the cross. This video gave the children a great understanding of the love Jesus has for us and what he endured for us.

One of the questions the children had was "What did the tomb look like?" Using the Virtual Tour feature of the Glo Bible App the children were able to view the stone in front of the tomb and then by using their fingers go inside the tomb. As a follow-up to a past "Question of the Week" the children also had the ability to see the Tabernacle from far away, then zoom in and see how the people's camped outside the Tabernacle. As they drilled deeper they were able to enter the Tabernacle, see the rooms and see the curtain. It was a great tool that the children could visualize many of the things they are learning. We were also able to see what these locations looked like today.

After viewing this material Mr. K then followed up with more instruction on Easter with a great "Because of this..." lesson that tied in Christmas (birth of Jesus) and Easter (Resurrection of Jesus).

We hope you have a wonderful Easter! When class resumes the week after Easter we will be combining two lessons to get back on track with the lesson plan.

KID CONNECTION: Carefully Choosing The Words You Speak

Hey it's Mr. B...each week as your parents are checking out our blog, I will be putting something just for you. Make sure you check it out each week - deal?

 Carefully Choosing The Words You Speak

Read Matthew 12:36-37

Someone ever get you so mad that you just blurt out something that you really did not mean? Boy, I sure have. Sometimes we get in a bad mood and we are just "mad". Sometimes we treat people bad when we use words to say bad things or make someone feel bad. Sometimes someone treats us bad, and we just want to say things back to them to hurt them. Or maybe sometimes we think we are "cool" when we try to get others to like us by making someone else feel bad.

The world can be a difficult place (for kids and adults), a place where many of our friends and family members are troubled by the challenges of every day life. And since we can never be certain who needs our help or a word of encouragement, we should be careful to speak helpful words to everybody who crosses our paths. In the book of Ephesians (4:29 NIV), Paul writes, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen". Paul reminds us when we choose our words carefully we can have a powerful impact on those around us.

Give this a try: Today let's share kind words, smiles, encouragement, and hugs with family, with friends, and with the world!

MORE STUFF TO THINK ABOUT:

"The battle of the tongue is won not in the mouth, but in the heart" - Annie Chapman

HEY...ONE MORE THING...

Cool off before you spout off: If you're too angry to talk to someone in a way that is nice and loving, put things on hold until you simmer down...

That's it for this week gang - remember to pray and feel free to leave a comment on the blog if you have a question.

Reminder - No Class Next Week Easter Sunday

Just a reminder there will be no class next week. We hope to see you at the Easter Service. The songs being sung at the services are wonderful! Classes will resume the week after Easter!

We Have a Winner!

Thank you to all the parents who entered their children in the contest to win the Adventures in Odyssey CD Set.! The winner received her prize this morning!

Next Week - April 17th - Pulling the Old Switch-A-Roo

We decided this morning that next week rather than doing the scheduled lesson, we will provide the children a lesson on Easter. Please note there will be no classes on Easter Sunday but we look forward to seeing the children in the services in the "Big Church". Look at the Easter choir carefully and you just may see two people you know...

With this change, Lesson 2 (1 Corinthians) God's Call to Holy Living and Lesson 3 (2 Corinthians) Christ's Strength in Our Weakness will be combined into the first class after we return after Easter.

April 10th Lesson One Review: How Paul's Letters Are Structured

This lesson introduces us to Paul's letters to the churches. We discussed how each of the letters has an opening, body and closing and why Paul was writing these letters (he could not be in two places at the same time, display thankfulness and needed to provide instruction).

The children were able to use Paul's structure to write a letter to a parent, friend or anyone they wanted. This lesson sets the stage for us to dive into Paul's letters to the churches and will help the kids understand what Paul was trying to accomplish.

As an added surprise to us all, Mr. K made it back from vacation very late last night but was able to join the class! By the looks at Mr. K it was very sunny where he was at....

THE YOUTH WORKER'S CREED

This past Saturday I attended the Center of Parent/Youth Understanding's Hope and Healing for Broken Kids seminar in Pittsburgh. Over 200 Youth workers assembled for an incredible one day seminar by Dr. Marv Penner and Rich Van Pelt. In our workbook was The Youth Worker's Creed which I would like to share with you:

The Youth Worker's Creed

We believe in the dignity and value of every young person in our care

gifted for greatness

made in the image of God

and deeply loved by Him.

We believe that young people are the church of TODAY

called to reach their generation

with a hope eternal.

We celebrate community

and want to provide a safe place for every young person to belong.

We believe that as lovers of young people

we can accomplish more together

than when we work alone.

We believe that youth ministry is a unique privilege

and that God has called us for such a time as this.

We believe that effectiveness is measured one kid at a time

and that we are called to a ministry of obscurity

with immense eternal consequences.

We believe in the power of prayer

the power of presence

and in the power of God to transform young lives

through ordinary people like you and me.

Amen.

Win Adventures in Odyssey The Truth Chronicles Right Here!

Parents - here is an opportunity to win your child a 4 CD set of the Adventures in Odyssey's "The Truth Chronicles" - over 5 hours and 11 stories of  The Power of God's Truth with a bonus 16 page family discussion guide! To enter send an email to h-bruno@sbcglobal.net stating "I want (child's name) to win! Please list your first and last name (as well as your child's name).

The four CD set includes:

1. Here I Am - Christian Worldview
2. The Truth Be Told - Absolute Truth
3. The Science Club - Intelligent Design
4. Three in One - The Trinity and Natural Order
5. In My Image - False Gods
6-8 Kidsboro - Responsible Self-Government - Parts 1,2, & 3
9-10 Stepping Stones - The Founding of America
11. The Final Call - Compassion For Others

What is Adventures in Odyssey?
It's original audio stories brought to life by actors who make you feel like part of the experience. These fictional, character building dramas are created by an award winning team that uses storytelling to teach lasting truths. Over 20 million products have been distributed worldwide. Dust off your imagination and join the kids of Odyssey for inspiring adventures that are flat out fun!

How Will a Winner Be chosen?
Everyone who responds with an email will be entered into a random draw (one entry per child). Responses will be put in a bowl and a winner chosen.

Date of Contest:
Entries can be made up until Saturday, April 16th. Prize will be provided to the child during class on April 17th. Good luck!

Student Question of the Week

"When did the curtain in the Tabernacle tear?"

Great question! The tabernacle consisted of an outer area, a room called the Holy Place, and a room called the Most Holy Place. The Most Holy place had a curtain that separated it from the Holy Place and only once a year could the High Priest enter the Most Holy place and come before God. When Jesus died on the cross, God tore the curtain and gave us direct access to him - we no longer needed a High Priest (or anyone else) to speak directly to God! God demonstrated Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice and and provided a way for all to individually go directly to God. Go God!

Keep the "Questions of the Week" coming!

Books of the Bible Lesson and Game

This week upon arrival to class the children discovered the floor of the room had been turned into a giant board game and they were going to be human game pieces! The object of the game was to review the books of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation and see if they could move all the way around the "board" and land on the Cross which was the winning space. The children had to role a dice and move to a space that had the name of the books of the Bible and they had to answer correctly (Old or New Testament) to remain there. The game was very fun as the children also learned they could land on a spot and become "Stuck in Sin", lose a turn for "A Day of Rest" and also land on "Pick A Card" which the cards had person from the Bible and could move them forward or backwards on the board game. Lastly the "Chance" spots gave the children an opportunity to roll again if they could explain sin, justification or sanctification. The children had help as we listened to two "Books of the Bibles" songs as we played. Congratulations to our winner!

April 10th: Lesson One - Paul's Life and Letters

In the first century, letters were the main form of communication between people who lived far apart. People wrote them on papyrus or parchment and then rolled, tied, and sealed them for hand delivery. In his wisdom, God led Paul and others to write 21 of the 27 New Testament books as letters to teach and apply the gospel of Christ to particular churches and to address the struggles they faced.

We have already studied Paul's letters to the Romans and we will now begin studying Paul's 12 remaining New Testament letters to discover how Christ continued to provide for, grow, and protect his Church through Paul and his ministry.

This lesson's Scripture is selected verses from 1 Corinthians to Philemon and we will discuss the Bible Truth that Paul wrote 13 books of the New Testament. They were letters written to teach, encourage, and correct the early churches and their members. Paul shows the sufficiency of Christ for our lives in this world. He includes application and answers for the problems and needs of the churches.

Memory Work: If I speak in tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 1 Corinthians 13:1

Spring Quarter Begins April 10th

Letters: 1 Corinthians to Philemon

Lesson 1: Introduction: Letters - Paul's Life and Letters
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians - God's Call to Holy Living
Lesson 3: 2 Corinthians - Christ's Strength in Our Weakness
Lesson 4: Galatians - Justified By Faith Alone
Lesson 5: Ephesians - Putting on the New Self
Lesson 6: Philippians - Rejoicing in the Lord
Lesson 7: Colossians - Christ is Supreme and Sufficient
Lesson 8: 1 and 2 Thessalonians - Living for Christ's Return
Lesson 9: 1 Timothy - Life in God's House
Lesson 10: 2 Timothy - Guarding the Gospel
Lesson 11: Titus and Philemon - Practicing the Faith
Lesson 12: Review - God Used Paul's Life and Lessons
Lesson 13: Review - God's Story from Genesis to Philemon

Coming Next Week, Sunday April 3rd: Genesis to Romans...in 45 Minutes or Less!

God had a plan. It's a perfect plan that stretches from eternity past to eternity future. It's fail proof and hasn't deviated from its course throughout all of history. Before Adam took his first steps in the Garden, God had planned to redeem a people to be his own through his covenant of grace. When Adam and Eve sinned God promised to send One who would crush the head of the serpent (Genesis 3:15).Many generations later, God promised to Abraham to make him a great nation through whom all nations would be blessed. The promised son, Isaac, became the father of Jacob, whose 12 sons formed the nation of Israel. Through one of those sons, Judah, God's plan for a Redeemer would come forth.

God raised up leaders such as Moses, Joshua, and many others to guide the nation of Israel as it grew in numbers and strength. God brought them into the Promise Land and brought Israel to its zenith under the leadership of King David and Solomon. After Solomon, the kingdom of Israel was spilt into a northern (Israel) and a southern (Judah) kingdom. In Israel, all the kings were evil, and eventually God sent them into exile to the Babylonians. The prophets' warnings of judgement came to pass, but God in his mercy brought back a remnant of Judah - through whom the Messiah would come-to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and renew their worship of him. Throughout all of this, God was faithfully fulfilling his plan to send the Messiah, the Perfect Prophet, Priest, and King who would redeem and rule his covenant people.

This week's Bible Truth that will be discussed with the children is the Bible is God's story of salvation from Genesis to Revelation. God reveals his redemptive plan to save his people through Jesus in both the Old and New Testaments.

This Week's Memory Verse: Review Romans 1:16-17 and Romans 5:1-8

PICTURE THIS...

Last week the children became part of the lesson as each child had the opportunity to join Mr. Bruno in drawing on a poster size sheet of paper what Mr. Kelvington would be discussing next. The rest of the class then had to guess what Mr. Kelvington was going to speak about next. The children's drawings included:

The Holy Spirit Poured out at Pentecost
Peter's Ministry and the Early Church
Stephen's Speech and Death
Saul's Conversion
Peter's Escape from Jail
Paul's Three Missionary Journeys
Paul's Arrest and Trials
Paul's Voyage to Rome
Paul Being Bit by the Snake
What the Church Looks Like

All the kids did a great job and every picture was guessed correctly!

We had four more children earn I DID IT certificates for knowing the Lord's Prayer! Certificates will be distributed in this upcoming class. Children can earn certificates for the Lord's Prayer, knowing the Apostles and knowing the books of the New Testament. Awesome job!