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Special thanks to those parents who brought their children to sing in the Palm Sunday worship services and also Good Friday. It is such a blessing when the children enrich our worship with their praise. The Interpretative Liturgical Dancers once again danced their praise to “stir our souls” on Easter Sunday. We thank the parents of these girls for their support and dedication to this ministry also.
It is spring and new life is all around us. We celebrate the new life we have in Christ. What a great opportunity to share with others about that new life at the New Life Festival. Special thanks to those who so graciously were willing to be a part of this event and share God’s love with those who came. Thank you to those who brought their children to hear more of the Good News of Christ with other children. Thank you for inviting your friends to come and see what God has done for you and me. Remember to wear your New Life t-shirt this summer as a witness of your faith to others. There are New Life In Christ t-shirts available for sale if you would still like to get one.
Right before the Parable of the Lost Sheep in Matthew 18 Jesus says, “See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.” How blessed the children are whose parents, teachers and those caring for them honor and respect them enough to consider their feelings and questions important and worthy. The time spent listening to children, sharing and guiding them in our heavenly Father’s steps is precious to Him. Their little hearts and spirits are so tender, easily crushed yet longing to grow up strong and healthy in the “sonshine” of God’s love. We must take much care to tend these seedlings in the garden of life. The children who grow in love will bloom in love.
Pray for your children every day. How wonderful it is to help your child begin praying at an early age. Before and after meals, in the morning before they get up and at night before they fall asleep are good starting places. In the Sunday School, April begins a unit on prayer. It will be special for the children to be a part of the K.I.P. (Kids In Prayer) Club. We will be learning that prayer is a great privilege and command for those who believe in Jesus Christ. Prayer is talking to God in words and thoughts. There are four types of prayer: praise (“Dear God, You are so great!”), confession (“Dear God, I am sorry that I … “), thanksgiving (“Thank you, God, for … “) and request for self and others (“Dear God, please help … “). Older children will remember ACTS: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication (self)/Intercession (others). Jesus gave us the Lord’s Prayer to show us how to pray. Enjoy talking to God together with your children and as a family.
A big thank you to all the children who participated in the Children’s Lenten Art Show in the Large Fellowship Hall. This year we featured the story of Jonah to go with this year’s Lenten theme. The children of the Sunday School worked hard at home on their artwork and brought them to church to tell the story with their pictures. We were so happy to have the Open Arms Preschool join us for this art show. What an awesome preschool director, Mrs. Alma Kirk, we are blessed with. She is such a joy to work with and a great blessing to all the children who attend Open Arms.
June 21–25 is when Saint John’s is going on vacation to the “High Seas!” You are invited to come along and “Explore the Mighty Love of God.” Those are the dates for Friends & Family Night Vacation Bible School 2010. Be watching for more information to come!
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