Posts

Sunday Spirit November 18, 2018

Gratitude

During the Children’s Sermon this past Sunday I showed the children various pictures. One was a picture of an empty kitchen table and on the back side of the page was a picture of a table filled with people. The next picture was an empty backyard and the flip side showed folks playing a game of baseball in the same yard. The final picture was of an empty sanctuary and the flip side showed the sanctuary pews filled with people. The children guessed immediately what I was trying to teach – gratitude for the people in our lives.

If I had to pick one thing to be grateful for this Thanksgiving, it would be the people in my life, my family, my friends, my church.

Spend some time with your children thinking about what it would be like for your dinner table to never have people sitting around it, or your yard to never have people in it, running around, playing or our sanctuary to never have people sitting in its pews.

Ask your children to share someone they are looking forward to seeing this Thanksgiving.

And to delve deeper into what Gratitude is all about I suggest the following Veggie Tales Video: Madame Blueberry. One of my favorites!

Pray together
Dear God, I am grateful for the people in my life, at my table, in my yard and in the pews of my church. Amen.

Sunday Spirit October 21, 2018 God’s Love for Hagar and Ishmael

Read Together Genesis 21:5-21

A Summary……...Abraham has two sons. The mother of Ishmael, his first-born son, is Hagar. The mother of Isaac, his younger son, is Sarah. Sarah feels jealous about her son sharing his father’s love and home. Seeing Isaac and Ishmael together makes her angry. Abraham sends Hagar and Ishmael into the wilderness. Soon the little water they were able to carry with them is gone. Hagar and Ishmael both weep. God’s messenger comes to comfort Hagar. When Hagar looks up, she sees a well, and draws water from it to share with her son. She knows then that God is with them.

Did anything in this story upset you? Have you ever faced a situation, like Hagar, where you were hurt and afraid? How did you find comfort? Do you believe that God’s love could comfort you in situations like these?

Share God’s Love
Think of someone in your life who might feel forgotten, scared, or alone-maybe it’s another kid at school, a family member, or someone you don’t know very well. Perhaps make a card for this person and share it with them this week. Each family member could make a card or one could be made together as a family.

Pray together……
Dear God, thank you for your love that is for everyone and everything, and which breaks down all barriers. Amen.

Sunday Spirit October 14, 2018 God Invites Abram and Sarai

Read Together Genesis 12:1-3; 15:1, 5-6 
A Summary……..God Invites Abram and Sarai to leave everything they know. God promises that through Abram and Sarai’s family, all people on earth will be blessed. God calls Abram outside to look at the stars and imagine his descendants. Abram trusts God’s promises.

Abram and Sarai were very brave to leave everything they knew. Think of times when you had to be brave. What was that like? How did you feel? Often when we are brave we become a blessing for others. An example for others to follow.

Chain of Blessing
What are some ways we can be a blessing toward others? Brainstorm together as a family. Take it a step further and write down your ideas on strips of paper. Roll the pieces of paper and connect them with glue or tape to make a Chain of Blessing.

Pray together…..
Dear God, give us courage to trust you like Abram and Sarai, so we can be a blessing to others. Amen.

 

Sunday Spirit June 3, 2018

What are some games that require another person to play?  Games that couldn’t be played without that other person?  Some examples are checkers, thumb wars, catch, and ping pong, just to name a few!

One of the most important relationships we will have in our lifetime will be the friends we make.

The following scripture represents what Friendship is all about.

From the Book of Ecclesiastes:  “Two are better than one. For if one falls, the other will lift her up. But woe to her who is alone when she falls and has not another to lift her up.”

What do you think this passage means? Can you name one friend who would be there to help you up?  What qualities does this friend have? What is most important to you in a Friendship?

A Friendship should make us feel good about ourselves. After spending time with a friend, analyze how you feel. You should have a smile on your face and feel good inside.

Sunday Spirit March 18, 2018

The first class in a series of 8 bible study classes took place yesterday.  Children in third grade and older are eligible to participate!  Did you know that the Bible has been in existence longer than any other book?  Did you also know that the bible is the most widely read book in all of history and has sold more copies than any other book?  These are just some of the fun facts learned by our students yesterday.  To get the students excited to partake in Bible Study, we read Psalm 23 (the most famous Psalm) and shared The Gospel Project video called The Big Story.  See link below.  We hope you enjoy our posts as we take you through our weekly Bible Study Class!

Sunday Spirit February 4, 2018

At dawn, as the sun slips over the horizon, kids around the world get up, wash up, and celebrate a new day.

Our homes may look different, we may go to different schools, speak a language others don’t understand, and eat foods that are strange.  However, we have more in common than we realize.

Ask your child; what do other children do every day that you do every day?

Book Suggestion:  One World, One Day by Barbara Kerley