Matthew 19:14

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

Friday, April 30, 2010

Parents of children ages 2 and under!

Your Family is invited
To the First Footsteps Luncheon on
May 2nd, 2010 After 2nd service
in the Fellowship Hall at
First United Methodist Church

Please join us to get to know other
Newborn families, The Newborn
Ministry Team, Ministry Staff,
And Nursery Staff.

R.S.V.P. to Cathy Saunooke at 806-8703
Or via e-mail to catcrank@hotmail.com

We hope you can join us as we
Celebrate the arrival of our newest
family members!

Finding the Way

If you are going on a trip, you need to know where you are going and how to go to get there. I have a two things with me this morning that you might use to help you to find your way when you are traveling. I have a map and a compass.

I'm sure all of you have seen a map, but perhaps some of you have never seen a compass. The map will show you where you want to go, and the compass will point you in the right direction. The compass shows you whether you are going north, south, east, or west.

I heard about a lady who was taking a group of children to a soccer game in another city. She knew the right road to take, but she became confused and turned east instead of west. They had traveled for almost an hour before one of the children told her that they were going the wrong direction.

When we are trying to find your way through the journey of life, we need some help in finding the right way to go too, don't we? Each day we face many difficult decisions and it is sometimes hard to know which way to turn.

Some people use their feelings to make decisions. They say, "Im going to do this, because it just feels like the right thing to do." That's no good. Our feelings may change from day to day, and just because we feel good about something doesn't mean that it is the right thing to do.

Some people make choices by what's popular. That is no good either. Just because everyone else is doing it doesn't mean that it is the right thing to do, does it? Besides, tomorrow everyone might be doing something else.

There is only one way to know if we are going the right direction in life and that is to follow Jesus. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Well, we know where we want to go. We want to go to heaven. And now, we know the way. Jesus is the way. If we follow him, we know we are on the right path and headed in the right direction.

Dear Father, help us each day as we journey through life to follow Jesus, because we know he is the way, the only way. Amen.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Kidz Nook

Kidz Nook
190 Lexington Green Circle, Lexington Kentucky 40503
859.273.1552 thekidznook@yahoo.com

April Showers bring May flowers
and just in:
summer fun from Peaches n' Cream
lined raincoats for boys & girls
Bailey Boys bathing suits
white sandals
and scheduled to arrive this week:
Vineyard Vines trunks and flip flops
Come see us
Monday - Saturday, 10am - 6pm
Open at 9am on Wednesday and Friday

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Summer Music and Arts Camp

Summer Music and Arts Camp

Our Children’s Music Ministry is offering a Summer Music and Arts camp for students who have completed grades k-5 during the week of August 2-6, 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. each day. Students who have completed grades K – 2 will participate in choir, crafts, creative movement and musical games.

Students who have completed grades 3 – 5 will participate in choir and may also select classes such as Drama, Liturgical Dance, Orff instruments, Handbells/Handchimes, and African Drumming. There will be a closing concert on Friday evening preceded by a family potluck dinner at 6:00 p.m. The concert will include presentations by the choirs and classes. Campers will also participate in worship on Sunday, August 8. Registration for the camp begins on April 5 and the total cost is $40 if paid by July 1. The cost of registration after July 1 is $50. There is also an option for full-day activities if needed at a cost of $70 for the week. You may download registration forms or complete the entire registration process online at www.1stumc.org beginning Monday, April 5. For additional information contact Rev. Kevin Holland at 859-233-0545, ext. 240 or kevin.holland@!stumc.org.

http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e2sys4zp0622178a

Monday, April 5, 2010

Sermon on the Mount

A good Monday thought...

Matthew 5:1-12 1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into the mountain: and when he had sat down, his disciples came unto him: 2 and he opened his mouth and taught them, saying,
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets that were before you.


Jesus wants us to be happy!

Easter Sunday




Stare at the four dots in the center of this picture for about thirty seconds. Then, close your eyes and wait for an image to appear. What did you see? Did you see an image of Jesus? Some people see the image of Jesus and some don't. That is the way it really is. Some people don’t see Jesus because they are looking for Him in the wrong places.
That is what happened in our Bible story today. Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb where Jesus had been buried. She found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and another disciple, whose name was John. She told them, "They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and I don’t know where they have put him!"
Peter and John started out for the tomb. They were both running, but John outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn’t go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings, while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings. Then the disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed for until then they still hadn’t understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead. Then they went home.
Mary stayed behind and stood outside the tomb weeping. As she knelt down and looked inside, she saw two angels dressed in white. They asked her why she was crying. She told them that someone had taken her master and she didn't know where they had taken him. Then, Mary turned and saw a man standing behind her. It was Jesus, but Mary did not recognize Him. She thought he was the gardener. Then Jesus called her by name and, when she heard his voice, she recognized Him. After she saw that it was Jesus, she went to the disciples and said to them, "I’ve just seen Jesus! He is alive!"
Some people, like Mary, Peter, and John can’t see Jesus because they are looking for Him in a grave or on a cross. He isn’t there! He is risen and is seated at the right hand of His Father in heaven. If you want to see Jesus, look in His Word, He will reveal Himself to you, just as He did to Mary!
(sermons4kids.com)

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Holy Week

Day 35: March 29th
This is the first day of what we call Holy Week. For many of our children they are calling this week Spring Break. During Holy Week we will follow Jesus through the last few days and hours of His life. Then on Sunday we will celebrate His resurrection.
As we go through this final week there are going to be times when it is hard to understand all that is happening and why it happened, especially for children. Listen to their questions and hear their stories as they recount what they saw or heard. It is important for them to know that although this is a sad week it is a happy one too. Keep them looking towards Easter but help them to understand there is a lot that had to happen before that day could.
Palm Sunday = the entrance into Jerusalem
Holy Thursday = institution of Communion and betrayal by Judas
Good Friday -= the arrest, trial, crucifixion, death, and burial of Jesus
Holy Saturday = the Sabbath on which Jesus rested in the grave










Day 36: March 30th
Remembering Jesus
Today look up the different symbols that we have for the Easter season.
1. Torn curtain Luke 23:44-46
2. Dice Mark 15:24
3. Sponge/ Vinager John 19:28-29
4. Bowl & Towel John 13:3-17
5. Wooden cross Mark 15:21
6. Alabaster vase Mark 14:3-9
7. Nails Luke 23:32-34
8. 30 Silver coins Matthew 26:14-15
9. Palm Branches Matthew 21:8-9
10. Chalice Luke 22:17-18
11. Jug of wine Luke 22:14-20
12. Grapes Mark 14:23-25
13. Loaf of Bread Luke 22:14-20
14. Unleavened bread Luke 22: 14-20
15. Donkey Matthew 21:1-3
16. Rock Matthew 27:57-28:2
17. Praying Hands Mark 14:32-36
18. Rooster Mark 14:27-31
As you look up each item talk about why each one of these items are important to the journey to the Cross.








Day 37: March 31st
Foot Washing

Read: John 13:1-20


Why did Peter not want Jesus to wash his feet?


Why did he change his mind?



What can we do to serve others?











Day 38: April 1st
Maundy Thursday
Communion
Maundy Thursday, also called Holy Thursday, is a service to commemorate Jesus' Last Supper and the beginning of our sacrament, the Lord's Supper. The word Maundy comes from the Latin mandatum, which means "commandment." At the Last Supper, Jesus gave the disciples a new commandment to love one another as he had loved them (John 13:34). Prior to breaking the bread with the disciples, Jesus washed their feet. Maundy Thursday worship services include Holy Communion and sometimes foot washing as well. (http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=1&mid=2873)
Jesus surrounded himself with people who, like us, had failings and shortcomings. The events of Holy Week reveal the disciples' human nature and weaknesses: Judas betrays Jesus for a pocketful of coins; the disciples sleep while Jesus agonizes in the garden; Peter's anger causes him to take up a sword and strike the high priest's slave; the chief priests act out of fear or jealousy of Jesus; Pilate's willingness to hand over a man he believes to be innocent; and perhaps most poignant of all, Jesus' own very human desire to escape the Crucifixion. And is it possible that even today, our own human nature, weaknesses, and failings cause us also to betray, deny, convict, and crucify again? (http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=1850&loc_id=1,32,49)








Day 39: April 2nd
Good Friday
"Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. When they heard it, they were greatly pleased, and promised to give him money. So he began to look for an opportunity to betray him" (Mark 14:10-11, NRSV).
Today make Hot Cross Buns with your family (http://www.faith-at-home.com/recipes/hotcrossbuns.html)
Ingredients:

3/4 tsp. salt
1/4 cup milk
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup shortening
2 packages active dry yeast (2 1/2 tsp.)
1/2 cup warm water (about 110 degrees F)
3 eggs
4 cups sifted flour, divided
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
3/4 cup currants
1 egg white
1 tsp. cold water
Frosting (see recipe below)

Scald milk in a small saucepan, add salt, sugar and shortening; cool to lukewarm.
Sprinkle yeast on top of the warm water; stir to dissolve. Add yeast mixture, eggs, 1 cup flour and cinnamon to milk mixture; beat with electric mixer at medium speed about 2 minutes, scraping the bowl occasionally. Stir in currants and enough remaining flour, a little at a time, to make a soft dough that is easy to handle. Beat well.
Place in lightly greased bowl and turn dough over to grease top as well. Cover and let rise until just about doubled. This will take about 1 1/2 hours.
Punch down the dough. Turn onto lightly floured board. Roll or pat to a 1/2 inch thickness. Cut in rounds with a 2 1/2 inch biscuit cutter or bottom of a glass. Pat the shapes to a bun like shape. Place about 1 1/2 inches apart on greased baking sheets. Allow to rise until almost doubled, about 1 hour.
With a very sharp knife (serrated works well) cut a cross into the surface of each bun. Brush tops with unbeaten egg white mixed with cold water. Bake in a 375 degree F oven for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
Cool on racks for about 5 minutes. With a tip of a butter knife or a small spoon, fill in crosses with white frosting. Makes about 18 buns.
Frosting:

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons margarine or butter, softened
1-2 tablespoon milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Combine all ingredients and mix well until smooth.
Read: Psalm 22

Day 40: April 3rd
Easter Vigil
Read: Matthew 27:57-66
Today is a the Sabbath day that Jesus laid in the grave. Take some time today to go through the stations of the Cross. Remember what Jesus went through, the journey that He took to get to the Cross.
http://www.cptryon.org/prayer/child/stations/index.html
1. Jesus before Pilate
2. Cross given to Jesus
3. Jesus fall the first time
4. Jesus meets his mother
5. Simon helps carry the cross
6. Veronica wipes Jesus’ face
7. Jesus falls a second time
8. Crying women
9. Jesus falls a third time
10. Jesus’ clothes are taken away
11. Jesus is nailed to the cross
12. Jesus dies on the cross
13. Jesus is taken down from the cross
14. Jesus is buried
15. Jesus raises from the death