Get Ready for Ash Wednesday – Lent Begins February 22

February 19.  I hope you now have a Family Discipleship Calendar.  Children and families received them today.  There are extras available–you will find them by the main entrance to the church.  Be sure to pick up a copy of the Lenten Devotional:  Bread for the Journey – Sharing Around God’s Table.  All the reflections were written by the people of the Messiah Church community.  They share with you their witness of God at work in their daily lives.  During Lent we will be talking about Faith Practices.  Just like athletes we need to practice!  Seven important practices as Christian disciples are:  Praying, Studying, Worshiping, Inviting (hospitality), Encouraging, Serving, and Giving.  I encourage you to model these in your interactions with your family and to use both the Lenten Devotional booklet and the Family Discipleship Calendar to help guide your Lenten journey.

God Loves Us

February 12.  We had a wonderful morning talking about who we love and who loves us.  Because God loves us and sent Jesus into the world we are all connected and are called on to love one another.  Ask you child about what they did today.  I would like to highlight the ritual and tradition from today’s Taking Faith Home:

Post a “Question of the Week” on a piece of paper or a whiteboard in a
common area of your home, together with a pen or marker. Questions
might include, “What are your favorite foods?”; “What is a birthday
gift you’d like to receive?”; “What is your favorite Bible story?”; “What
annoys you?” Invite household members to post their answers during
the week. Use the answers as the basis for sharing and conversation.
Change the question each week. Ask household members for their
question suggestions.
It is good to create rituals of family strengthening in our daily lives. It is
not uncommon for one child or person to feel “left out” as compared to
a sibling whom they view as “better” or more favored by their parents. In
responding to the behaviors and achievements of their children, parents
can unconsciously send the message that one child is preferred over and
against another. It is important for us to be intentional in showing love to
all of our children in ways that are not behavior-dependent. When a child
misbehaves, take time to explain, “I don’t like what you did, but I still like
you.” Compliment them for their own unique and special qualities. Give
unconditional affection.

Daniel had…grrrreat faith!

February 5.  We studied Daniel and the Lions’ Den today.  Daniel had great faith (say great with a good lion’s roar!).  Daniel had faith in God and three times each day he prayed.  Suddenly prayer was forbidden by the king–except for prayer to the king.  Daniel remained faithful to God, but that caused some problems. Daniel relied on God and God kept him safe. Ask your child to tell you the story of Daniel’s grrrreat faith!  How can you include prayer in your family life?  The Taking Faith Home for today has the following suggestions:

Learn and practice this “five finger prayer” as a household. Put
your hands together, palm to palm, with your fingers pointing upwards.
Each finger on the hand represents a topic for prayer.
Thumb: Your thumb is nearest to you. Pray for the people who are
closest to you e.g. family, friends.
Pointer Finger: Pray for those who point the way – those who lead,
teach, guide or heal others (e.g. government leaders, teachers, medical
professionals, and pastors).
Tallest Finger: This finger reaches up towards God. Give thanks and
praise for all the good gifts God has given you and the world.
Ring Finger: This is our weakest finger. Pray for all those who are sick, in
trouble or in pain. Pray also for God to forgive you for your weaknesses.
Little Finger: This is the smallest finger of all, and reminds us of where
we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As Jesus says,
“The least shall be the greatest among you.” So last of all, pray about
your own needs and worries.

David:  Giving Thanks in All Circumstances

January 29.  Pastor Gil Splett joined us for a special illustrated story this morning during the Sunday School opening.  During class we studied the story of David and Goliath–a favorite story for many children.  Pastor Gil told us one of his favorite stories about King David, a story about David giving God thanks in prayer even after a major disappointment had occurred.  God had decided it would not be King David who would build the temple at Jerusalem–and David was saddened.  Yet when he prayed he gave his thanks and praise to God.  See 2 Samuel 7:18-29 for David’s Prayer.  We were reminded that God loves us and for this we can always give thanks!

Epiphany – January 6

Epiphany is the church season we are entering.  It begins with the celebration of the Magi arriving in Bethlehem to pay homage to the baby Jesus.  The season concludes with the celebration of the Transfiguration of Jesus which will be on Sunday, February 19.  Ash Wednesday (February 22) marks the beginning of Lent.  Just as God’s good creation has the season’s and rhythms of the natural, so too, our church marks changing seasons that guide our faith journey.  For a blessing ritual to use at home you can go to the Blessing page.  The blessing can be used on January 6 or can be used anytime during the Epiphany season.  May the light of Christ guide you in this season of light, a light shining in the darkness!

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Christmas is a day and it is a 12 day celebration which culminates on January 6 the festival of Epiphany.  See the page with the blessing ritual for use at home.  It is just the right time to think about giving one another non-material gifts and sharing caring comments with each other.  With blessings for the new year!

A Very Blessed Christmas!

Many thanks to all the children, parents, teachers and volunteers who made our recent Christmas Program such a meaningful and joyful experience!  The children truly embraced learning God’s story from the beginning and understanding why God sent Jesus to rescue us.  They did this through music, art, building, painting, puppetry and more.  They studied the stories and worked hard to tell the story to all who gathered!  Thank you to all who made costumes.  Thank you to all who put the art work up on the display board.  Thank you to all who baked and brought paper goods and juice.  Thank you to all who helped coordinate the reception and the program.  Thank you for sharing your wonderful children with us and giving us the privilege of helping them to learn the story–and tell the story, too!  Thank you Dear God for sending us the Newborn King!

Birthday Party for Jesus

December 18.  Thank you for generously giving baby food and other baby items so that those in need will feel God’s love.  I will post a photo of wonderful collection we received and be delivering the items to the food pantry this week.  Some items will go to those seeking shelter from abuse.  It was a good reminder to each of us of how blessed we are–not only materially, but we are blessed to be the children of God.  The children are excited to be getting ready to present the Christmas Program this afternoon.  It will be taped, so watch for news on the posting of the video and also the Powerpoint of the wonderful art they created to help tell the story.  Our “Birthday Party for Jesus” concluded we a reminder that it is not about the tree, it is not about the cookies, and it is not about the presents we hope to receive.  It is all about Jesus!  My prayer is for each of us to have an open heart and to welcome dear Lord Jesus into our families and into our daily lives.  Have a very blessed Christmas!

We Can Tell the Story!

December 11.  We are the storytellers!  At Sunday School we have been learning the story of God, as story that begins with creation and culminates in the birth and life of Jesus.  We are the storytellers and we are exploring the Bible with music, art, drama and in many other creative ways.  It is God’s story and we are invited to be part of that story.  On December 18 we invite you to come to see and hear our young storytellers as they recount Creation, Adam and Eve, Noah’s Ark, Abraham and Sarah, Moses, the Prophets and more!  It is the story of God who is and who was and who will always be.  It is the story of the birth of an infant in a humble manger.  It is our story and it is still being written.  Encourage your child to share what they are learning and come to see them tell it.

Waiting and Making a Place in Our Hearts for Jesus

December 4.  I have very clear memories of the days between Thanksgiving and Christmas when our two sons were young.  Something about the short days, cold weather, being indoors (cooped up) and the excitement (and impatience of) waiting for Christmas was just too much!  It was a challenge to adults and children to stay patient and in good humor with one another.  Lightening our loads by taking less important things off the “to do” list is one way to reduce the stress:  God does not expect or want us “to do it all”.  It is not a contest for the best decoration, nicest gifts or the most types of cookies baked.  It is about finding time to let Jesus into our lives, a little newborn baby Jesus who is waiting to fill our lives anew with joy and wonder!  Take time to give each other your full and undivided attention.  Share extra hugs!  Look out the window and see what is changing and beautiful in God’s good creation–even when it is in this time of season change there is much to notice and marvel at.  Sing a song together, pop a bowl of popcorn, make cocoa and take a few minutes to relax together.  I promise you this:  your children will remember these simple, loving moments long after the new toys are unwrapped!  Find those cozy times to share.  You may also find it helpful to add some indoor activities in motion to restore good spirits.  Here is a prayer with motions that is fun to do with your children:

Christ be with me (cross hands to each shoulder and place opposite hand on each shoulder)

Christ within me (still hugging shoulders, twist to the right and then to the left)

Christ behind me (stretch arms behind, grasping hands behind back)

Christ before me (reach arms straight in front)

Christ beside me (stretch arms like an airplane, tilt to the right and then to left)

Christ beneath me (crouch and touch floor with fingertips)

Christ above me (reach for the sky)

Christ in hearts of all that love me. (make a heart shape with your hands and then end by sharing a hug!)

Amen.  (This prayer is a lot like the blessing Pastor Jeff gives us at the end of each Sunday liturgy!)

Happy Thanksgiving – Giving Our Thanks!

Thanksgiving Week.  I’d like to highlight the devotion idea from this week’s Taking Faith Home.  Make a “Thanksgiving Box” with your children by decorating a small box or basket with turkeys, colorful leaves and a cornucopia.  Put the basket on your kitchen table or somewhere you will see it.  Each day ask family members to think about their day and things for which they are thankful.  Write each on a slip of paper and place the slips in the Thanksgiving Box.  On Thanksgiving Day or soon after gather to pull slips from the box one at a time and read them aloud.  Say a prayer of thanks for all God ahs done for you and given to you.

Getting Ready for the Christmas Program

Sunday, November 13 and 20.  We learned music for the Christmas Program and created the artwork on November 13 and November 20 during Sunday School.  Class photos were be taken and will be included in the multi-media parts of the program.  The Christmas Program is on Sunday, December 18, at 4 p.m. and will be followed by a reception with cookies and cider.  Children are learning Old Testament stories leading up to the birth of Jesus!

Oh, When the Saints Go Marching in!

Sunday, November 6.  We sang “oh, when the saints…” as we marched and clapped, celebrating all those who have taught us about Jesus.  Ask you child to sing this song with you sometime during the week ahead.  Marching tied in well to the story of Joshua and the Walls of Jericho (Joshua 6:1-20).  God gives the people who have been 40 years in the wilderness (after leaving slavery in Egypt) a very interesting way to bring down the walls of Jericho.  This story reminds us to trust God, to persevere–to not give up.  God will lead us in good times and in difficult times.  With trumpets and horns we celebrate God’s work!

Shine with the Light of Jesus!

Sunday, October 30.  Many thanks for Teresa Palumbo for designing and leading this lesson to help us learn what it means to let our light shine!  We had a number of fun activities, stories and music to enjoy together.  The following prayer is one you can use when carving a pumpkin at home:

A Month Later in the Wilderness…

Sunday, October 23.  Moses and the Israelites have now been out in the wilderness for a whole month.  Food is running short and water is hard to find.  The people begin to long for the comfort of their old lives–hard to imagine slavery actually looking good!  Who will feed them?  Who will clothe them?  Who will see to their needs?  They turn to Moses, but he can’t provide all that is needed–only God can do that with manna from heaven each morning and quails for dinner.  Talk with your children about trusting God to care for all our needs.  Discuss the meaning of true needs and the difference between needs and wants.  See Exodus 16 for the whole story!

Fast Forward:  Moses leads God’s People to Freedom!

Sunday, October 16 – Moses is now grown up and called on by God to lead the Israelis out of Egypt to freedom and the promised land.  The journey won’t be easy–and won’t quick either.  The destination is not somewhere reached by car, plane, train or even boat.  The people went on foot taking only the necessities they could carry.  They had to pack and leave quickly before Pharaoh changed his mind.  The Bible basis is Exodu14.  Talk with your child about what it means to trust God.  How do we live as people of faith, people who know God will lead us?

A little baby hidden in a basket!

Sunday, October 9 – “This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it!”  Ask your child to sing this with you in the car or at home sometime this week.  This beautiful call and response song is a great way to remember that each day is truly a gift from God and one that we can give thanks for.  We heard the story of baby Moses today, how this baby not only needed care, but how his family had to hide him in order to keep him safe!  We looked at a basket big enough to hold a new baby and talked about what it would take to make that basket safe enough to float on the water.  Babies take a lot of care and caring for them lets us practice being responsible.  Find ways this week to involve older children in helping younger ones with some tasks or care and be reminded of the story of the baby Moses and the courage of his family as they cared for him.

As many as the stars in heaven!

Sunday, October 2 - Today we learned the “hand jive” and began learning a new song:  “His Love’s for Real – It Won’t Fade Away”.  Ask your child if they remember how to do the hand jive and get them to teach you!  We talked about the story of Abraham and Sarah (from Genesis 18:1-15; 21:1-7).  God promised Abraham and Sarah they would become the parents of a great nation, more numerous than the stars in heaven–despite the advanced ages of both.  And they had to wait a very long, long time for this promise to  come to completion in the birth of little Isaac!  Waiting is not easy even for something we are promised by someone we trust.  As people of faith we are called on to wait, with patient and to trust the promises of God, our families and our friends.  Key Verse (a great thing to memorize):  Is anything too wonderful for the LORD? Genesis 18:14
 

Mission Trip Youth Lead the Way!

Sunday, September 25 – What a joy it was to have 22 High School Youth lead our music opening today–and to hear a message from Youth Director, Teresa Palumbo, about why we want God to “open the eyes of our heart” so that we can see others like God sees us:  with hearts that are filled with love.  Thank you so much for sharing your enthusiasm and your love for Jesus with us today!

Rally Sunday – Prayer Cubes and More!

We had fun together on Rally Sunday–it was great to have some many children and families there!  Our theme for the year is:  God’s Work, Our Hands.  We asked everyone to make a hand tracing and to add it to our colorful banner.  It will remind us that we are called to share the Good News and be kingdom workers.

We made Prayer Cubes to use at home as a visual cue for some of the things we can pray together about:  our families, our church, our schools, God’s creation/our world, those who are hurting, and our friends.  These are just a few examples of what we might pray about!  We can pray to thank God.  We can pray for God to guide our lives.  We can offer words of praise to God.  We can ask God to help those who are ill, sad, or grieving.

If you did not get a chance to take part in this project, contact me for supplies to make a prayer cube with your children.  For more information about using a prayer cube please use the following link to the ELCA’s website:  Prayer Cubes

With gratitude to parents, grandparents, guardians, the children of our community and our wonderful teachers and room helpers,

Catherine