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One of the most valuable and important programs in Children’s Ministry is the Sunday School. That is where the children are fed the very words of God and are given opportunities to praise, pray, learn, worship, witness, give and grow. By helping parents nurture their children’s faith in God, the children will develop a personal relationship with Jesus and become lifelong disciples.
The Sunday School will celebrate Rally Day on August 29. The word “rally” means to come back together for a common purpose and to revive. We will all come together back from our summer vacations, be inspired and get excited about the new year of study in God’s Word. Children will “jump” or advance to their new levels of learning. Some will have new teachers and some will have new classrooms. Last year’s sixth graders will “jump” from Children’s Ministry to Youth Ministry. The Youth will welcome them with open arms. Our new theme for the year will be “Fishing For Christ.” This refers to the time when Jesus called his first disciples and said, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19) We will share the love of Jesus with others in hopes to “catch” them so that they might too come to know Jesus and have eternal life in Him. Christian Education Sunday will be celebrated later, Sunday, September 29.
Here again is a little excerpt from the book titled: Parenting in the Pew, by Robbie Castleman. I hope these words will continue to be an inspiration to you and a special encouragement.
The challenge of worship is to sense yourself more fully in God’s presence, to sit at the feet of Jesus with the people of God, … to bring him a “sacrifice of praise’ (Hebrews 13:15). Worship means that for a time all else is set aside to be with Jesus, the Bridegroom of the church—to be together with Him. To be alive in His presence!
To do this, and to give our children a sense of this passion, is to worship the Lord “in spirit and truth.” A great deal of parenting in the pew is letting our children see us celebrate before the Lord. King David once taught the nation of Israel what it meant to worship. “ I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes”. (2 Sam. 6:21-22)
Joy is the last word many parents would choose to describe what it’s like to sit in a pew with their children. Resentment and frustration are not uncommon feelings for people who “before we had kids” experienced and hour of peace and calm in the pew. Parenting in the pew can be a hassle. Or it can be holy. It depends on who we are and how we see ourselves. Do we sit with our children “in church” or “in worship”?
Too many adults who learned how to be quiet in church are still doing just that. And many of them are passing this along to their children. A family can learn to sit very well, but be unmoved by the holy presence of God.
God invites families to “be still and know” Him. Jesus desires the praise and worship of children. He delights in the songs of infants. God calls us to worship Him. He commands it.
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