Who are your "Who's"?

Whose voice do you hear crying out for help? For our Elementary kids it was the clients at the Way Station. We decorated stickers for water bottles and wrote messages on snack bags to hand out to the people we see on the street corners of our city. Postcards with directions and information about Palmer's Way Station can be found in the front office. Grab a few postcards and add a snack or battle of water to give out as you travel around hearing "Who's".

Let the Wild Rumpus Begin

Sunday school this week made me wish I was 4 again! Michael and Jan Rybarski, along with a few helpers, introduced the kids to Jesus spending time in the wilderness and the temptations he faced by paralleling the story in Matthew 4 with the Maurice Sendak classic, Where the Wild Things Are. The kids made Monster Puppets and had a "wild rumpus" and then, like Jesus (and Max) resisted temptation and returned to the safe and loving arms of their parents.

People can change!

This week in Sunday school we read How the Grinch Stole Christmas. After we got past the questions on WHY we were reading a Christmas story in July, great things began to happen. I learned that I could listen to Sarah Oldrin read the phone book and if the silence in the room is any indication, the kids agreed with me! Along with the Grinch, we read the story of one of my favorite Bible grouchy guys, Zaccheaus. We had some wonderful examples from the kids of times when we took our anger and frustration out on other people as well as examples of acts of kindness that changed our attitudes. I pray for us all to have fewer Zaccheaus/Grinch moments, and more opportunities to be Jesus/Cindy Lou Who. You never know when an invitation to dinner can change the size of a heart.

Forgive us our trespasses

Elementary Sunday School read The Zax by Dr. Seuss. There are two kinds of Zax's; those that go north and those that go south. When a north-going Zax and a south-going Zax find themselves on a collision course, what happens is a lesson in pride. The kids discussed times that their pride stood in the way of doing what was best. They read the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32 and talked about how hard it was for both the son and the dad to set aside their pride and admit they were wrong. They found a great answers in the Lord's Prayer. "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us." Setting aside pride and forgiving ourselves and others is a wonderful place to start. Stop by the hallway outside the formation office and take a look at the banner they made to illistrate this weeks lesson.

Guess How Much I Love You.

Pre-k and Kindergarten explored the depth of God's love by learning John 3:16 and reading the book Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney. Like Big Nutbrown Hare, God will always love us more than we can love God. The ultimate proof is in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Christ. Aren't we all glad that God loves us SO MUCH!!!

Parents Welcome!

This Sunday, I heard from several parents that their kids were shy, nervous, or generally unsure about going to Sunday school. They seemed shocked when I suggested that they go to class with their child. Please, consider this an open invitation. Any and all parents are welcome to sit with their child in Sunday school. I promise you will be amazed at the way the spirit moves with and through our children. You will be awed by their understanding and expressions of faith. You might even be inspired to join them on their journey as a leader or assistant in a Sunday school class. I hope to see your family in a classroom soon.