children and communion

We are getting ready to make some important changes in our children’s ministry regarding communion. A little background — we as a church do communion weekly. In the children’s worship for elementary children used to do communion weekly as well. As our ministry is growing larger and larger, it was becoming difficult to determine which children took communion, which didn’t, not making anyone feel left out, or allowing the child to take it when the parent’s weren’t ready for them to. We believe that communion is something taken by Christians, those who have professed Jesus as Lord and have a relationship with him, being saved and baptized. Anyways, as I stated it was becoming increasingly more difficult. For an adult, you can understand that communion is something you do when your heart is in the right place, for a child – you need concrete terms and we used the symbol of baptism as such. Which inevitably led to some feeling left out, etc. etc. etc….. So, for a few months now, the responsibility of communion is on the parents. Children are in adult worship the first Sunday of the month, which provides a great opportunity for them to take communion. In Sept. we are making a change that will have children not in adult church. Therefore, this opportunity is not there.

As a result of this, and to esteem parents in the spiritual formation of their child, we are creating a Family Communion Room. This room will be available after chuch for families to visit together to share in the Lord’s Supper. There will be scripture and devotional prompts each week they can use as a springboard for discussion with their child.

I really missed not doing communion as a group with the children because it was such a rich teaching opportunity. We talked frankly about it, answered the questions the kids had, and really were able to get deep. However, I think this is a great opportunity for parents to take the lead in their child’s spiritual development. They can be the teacher. For some families, this might be the only time in a week they open the Bible together. We don’t know if it’ll work, but it’s worth trying!

How do your children take communion? Is it a First Wednesday type thing? What does your church do? I’d love feedback on this!  

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wanting so much more

Have you ever been in a place where you can’t get comfortable? Where no matter what seems to be going on, you crave more. You want more? I’m there. I am so dissatisified with where I am currently at ministry wise. I tend to get ahead of myself – wanting what is beyond where I am at. I want bigger, more lives changed, more kids attending, more of God’s presence in my life, etc. I have a great week teaching the kids on Sunday, but yet go home discouraged because I want something greater for them.

We’re gearing up to make some big changes in the Fall to our programming. I know it will be a good choice, but yet I already want more. One verse I was reading stood out to me, maybe this is why we want more — Hosea 13:6 – “When I fed them, they were satisfied;
       when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me.”

If we are ever at a place of being satisfied, what do we need God for? If we have arrived and have it all figured out, where can we grow to? Why do we need dependence on Him? One of my daily prayers is for humility. Maybe my lack of contentment is only an answer to my prayer, keeping me from being proud.

Do you ever feel this way in ministry? What are some practical things you do to move beyond it or to overcome it?

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going camping

The fam is going on an overnight camping trip tomorrow. My parents are already relaxing on Lake Hartwell and my hubby and our boys will be joining them tomorrow. I am looking forward to being in God’s creation, just reconnecting after this hectic Summer we’ve had as a family. Need to reconnect with God, with my kiddos, and my dear hubby. Should be a great time! Besides the point we’re staying in a primitive cabin with no AC, no running water, bring your own everything, and cook over an outdoor fire.

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Fall changes…

I have decided today that rather than going with the Elevate curriculum from Fellowship Church, we are going to go with 252Basics by ReThink Group (North Point Church). So our Fall line up will be First Look for Preschool and 252 Basics for Elementary. We will be taking the content, using a portion of it — the small group portion during our church’s Sunday School hour. It won’t be like traditional Sunday School for the kids, more like small group time. The kids will come together and hangout for 10-15 minutes then we’ll meet in small groups. They’ll be introduced to the Bible Story and concept for the day, do activities together, and then dig deeper with the truths. During our church hour, the kids will meet in whole group for crowd breakers, games, presentation of Bible Story, Worship, offering, and prayer. We may do a family production program 2-4 times a year.

I am really excited about this decision. I struggled with moving from KIDMO to Elevate. But Elevate just didn’t feel right for me. Very production driven, and we’re not quite there yet. I also felt that their activities were paper/pen oriented and I prefer hands-on actvities like 252 Basics offers. This Fall should be BIG for us!

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job positions available…

I have 2 paid job openings for the 2007-2008 school year for our Mom’s Morning Out program. I am looking for a 1 year old teacher and a 4 year old teacher. If you’re interested, drop me a line — kids4christ at dutchfork dot com. It is for 3 days a week, 9-12. Obviously, you have to be local, attend a church, and love kiddos.

 Last year we were overstaffed and had few children, this year we have many children and few staff! Always something!

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lead by example…

I believe we are to live our lives in a way that not only is pleasing to the Lord, but also that is an example to others. I am faced with this daily as I am a parent. A parent of a 3 year old parrot, who will mimic or repeat the very least of what you wanted repeated. It keeps me in check that little eyes are watching and learning. And boy! Do we underestimate their learning. However, not only in the realm of our own children watching us, but what about leading by example to those around us in our ministries? We have the potential to influence so many – the children we minister to, their families, their siblings, our volunteers, other paid staff, church leadership, etc. Are we leading by example? Is integrity important? Are we on Sunday who we are on Friday? Do we talk about people when they aren’t present to other workers or staff? Do we show that we’re walking close to God in our own lives? I think more important than most lessons we can teach, or devotions we can share, is how we carry on and how we lead our lives. My challenge. Your challenge.

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Summer Slam weekend wrap-up

Well, today was great! We had an awesome service that is hopefully the start to leading our church in a new direction. It was full of excitement, passion, and diversity. We have the most talented worshp leader around and he really stretched everyone hard for this special week. It paid off! The Spirit was so evident among us and it was great seeing people worship of many and various skin colors. Awesome!!!!

We saw some families return from yesterday’s BMX event. It was awesome knowing they heard a life-changing message today on being bound by the shackles of sin, wiping out in life when we do it on our own, and the saving gift of Jesus. I know our message for the kids today was based on belief and the gift of God’s Son. My prayers are that:

* lives were changed by this weekend — spiritually, potentially physically, and emotionally

*this week’s service, a bit different from what we typically do, was a catalyst for what’s to come

*families return next week.

God is SO good. He was present throughout the entire planning for our Summer Slam event. I could do a list of things that His hand was guiding and His protection throughout it all. I can’t wait for next Sunday to see how many lives are changed through our baptism service.

JD and my summer is officially o-v-e-r. Now it is onto planning for the Fall…..:-)

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Summer Slam follow-up

Whew! Summer Slam is half-way over. The BMX show we had today was awesome! The group that came in to do it was above and beyond great with their tricks, but also with their message of bike safety. The weather was absolutely beautiful! I had half-heartedly been praying for a cold front, but that is what God brought! The weather news called it an actual “cold front!” Isn’t that crazy? That’s just one of MANY ways that God took care of today as it was HIS Summer Slam, not ours.

The volunteers we had were in great moods, everyone showed, they just brought such a spirit of love to those that came from our community. The support was awesome. Our turnout was good too. We think we had around 500-600 people there. 200+ registered kids.

It was the largest event our church has pulled off, and it was great. I am even more excited about tomorrow. We have a local gospel group singing back-up to our worship team. We heard of families today saying they’ll be back tomorrow, that’s what we’re praying for! We want to change lives. Bottom line. Let people know about our Savior who saves us from the wipe outs in life, picks us up, and cares for us, calling us to Himself. I know some site referred to our weekend as a “bait” — no, it was never that. It was a church opening it’s arms to the community in a life changing way (hey! If a kid’s life is saved because they now have a bike helmet or are motivated to wear it…). Day 2 is worshipping our wonderful Creator and inviting people back to hear the gospel message presented — sin, salvation, all of it. We just thought out of the box and did something creative for a church.

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freedom…

I was watching my youngest, Benjamin, tonight act as silly as can be. He is full of himself. At 1 1/2, he has one of the most colorful personalities I know – bright and bubbly if he’s excited and happy, red and angry if he’s upset. But he is definitely colorful. He feels most things in extremes. Anyways, I was sitting here thinking as he was walking around with a clear bucket on his head, dancing like a goof, that he has such freedom to express himself. He doesn’t care about really anything. He can do it.

We all start out that way. As children, I see it all the time working with kids, we have such a sense of freedom in how we act. Nothing holds us back. At what point do we lose that freedom to be “us”? In Christ, we should have all thr freedoms in the world — freedom from the bondage of sin being #1. We can live a new life, without having shackles tied to our ankles weighing us down. We should have freedom to dance and sing passionately in worship, not caring what others think. We should have freedom to dream and to dream BIG. God is a BIG God and can do anything through us. Look at Moses, Jeremiah, Noah, David, etc. for examples of that.

But at what point do we get away from believing we have freedoms? When do we start just conforming to the mundane world we make for ourselves? When do we become complacent and settle for less than living for our freedoms?

We need to step back, watch a young child for a bit. Shake the burdens of life off your shoulders and live in complete and total freedom. That is what a life in Christ gives us.

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trusting God, part II

So a good friend of mine pointed out to me that she was reading my latest blog posting, which had me kind of freaking out about Summer Slam. Well, she pointed out to me that I needed to look at the post previous to it which was all about trusting God. I guess I need to listen to myself more often! Thanks Linda! This is SO true. If I told you all the ways that God has had his hand in this event, it’d give you chills. Why would we get this far and I can’t trust him to go any further? Not true! Now is when I can REALLY trust Him! Maybe last week’s lesson on trust was preparing me for this week’s events and trials. Hmmmhh…..

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