12 Days of Christmas

The 12 days of Christmas actually is the 12 days between December 25th and January 6th. It is the Christmastide Season leading into the Epiphany Season.

On the first day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the second day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the third day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the fourth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the fifth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the sixth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the seventh day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the eighth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the ninth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the tenth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the eleventh day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the twelfth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Twelve drummers drumming,
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree!



Religious symbolism of The Twelve Days of Christmas (The 12 Days of Christmas)

1 True Love refers to God
2 Turtle Doves refers to the Old and New Testaments
3 French Hens refers to Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues
4 Calling Birds refers to the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5 Golden Rings refers to the first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch", which gives the history of man's fall from grace.
6 Geese A-laying refers to the six days of creation
7 Swans A-swimming refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments
8 Maids A-milking refers to the eight beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing refers to the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 Lords A-leaping refers to the ten commandments
11 Pipers Piping refers to the eleven faithful apostles
12 Drummers Drumming refers to the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed

Merry Christmas!!

It's the Eve of Christmas Eve

To be sung to the tune of "Santa Claus is Comin to Town"

Wipe away your tears, get rid of your fears;
Here's the best news you've heard in years!
Jesus Christ is coming to town.

He's makin' a list in the Book of Life,
That'll be the end of your trouble and strife!
Jesus Christ is comin' to town.

He loves you when you're sleepin',
He loves you when you're awake;
He loves you when you're bad or good,
But be good for Jesus' sake!

Now put on a smile, get rid of that frown,
Spread the "Good News" all around;
Jesus Christ is comin' to town.


At this time of year, many people are thinking about Santa Claus coming to town and thinking about all of the great gifts that Santa will bring them. But the real reason for this season is the celebration of Jesus Christ's coming--and he brings us the greatest gift of all. He brings the gift of God's love. The Bible says, "But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy." Yes, he loves us when we're bad or good, what a great love that is!

Dear Lord, we thank you for your great love. We thank you that you showed us that love by sending your son, Jesus, to save us. Amen.

His Name Shall Be....

Naming God
Families can make their first ornament at your holiday celebration. Provide them with ideas to create and collect more ornaments at home.
Stuff: 6-inch wooden dowels, linen fabric, permanent markers, fabric glue, yarn, and photocopies of the Names of God reference sheet.
Have family members create an ornament for the name of God, Jehovah Nissi, which means “the Lord is my banner.” Fold one end of the cloth piece over the dowel and secure it with glue. Tie yarn at each end of the dowel for a hanger. Write “Jehovah Nissi: The Lord Is My Banner” at the top of the banner, then have each family member draw a symbol that represents God, such as a rock or a shepherd.
Let’s Talk: Say: The names of God in the Bible reveal God’s character. Take home this sheet to create more symbols that’ll remind your family of how great our God is.
Names of God
El Roi: The God Who Sees
Decoration: A mirror. Add family members’ names to the mirror to remind them that God is always watching and protecting them.
El Elyon: God Most High
Decoration: Dollhouse chairs (sold at local craft or hobby stores) painted gold to remind your family that God is King of the universe.
El Adonai: Master
Decoration: Go to the hardware store as a family and pick out a master key and remember that God holds the key to our hearts.
El Shaddai: God Almighty and Source of Comfort
Decoration: Have each family member make a small pillow. Remember that as our pillows bring us rest and comfort when we sleep, God always comforts us.
El Olam: Everlasting and Eternal God
Decoration: A soft pouch with a rock enclosed to remember that God is our solid foundation.
Jehovah: Never-Changing, Self-Existent One
Decoration: Glue blocks together that spell “I AM” and remember that God’s love is so big it has no beginning and no end.
Jehovah Rapha: God Who Heals
Decoration: Write the name of each family member on a bandage and tie them together with ribbon.

*childrensministry.com

Counting Down to Christmas .... 3 Days!!

http://www.auburn.edu/~vestmon/xmas_cnt.htm

Video for your advent viewing... lights!

Give the Gift by Lisa:

Give the Gift of Listening – Really listen. No interrupting, no daydreaming, no planning your response. Just listening.

Give the Gift of Affection – Be generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, pats on the back and handholds. Let these small actions demonstrate the love you have for family and friends.

Give the Gift of Laughter – Clip cartoons, share articles, funny stories, and a good joke. Your gift will say, “I love to laugh with you.”

Give the Gift of a Written Note – It can be a simple “Thanks for the help” note or an “I appreciate you” note. A brief, handwritten note may be remembered for a lifetime, and may even change a life.

Give the Gift of a Compliment – Everyone needs encouragement. Mark Twain said, “One compliment can keep me going for a whole month.”

Give the Gift of a Favor – Go out of your way to do something kind for someone.
Give the Gift of Solitude – There are times when we want nothing more than to have some peace and quiet. Be sensitive to those times, and give the gift of solitude to others.

Give the Gift of a Cheerful Disposition – The easiest way to feel good is to extend a kind word to someone. It’s not hard to be polite and courteous, to say “hello” or “thank you.”

Count Down

I remember when my sister and I were little. The Friday before Christmas was the best day. It was the last day of school before the big break from school and the count down to Christmas Eve was on. The count down is on. So much to get done before Christmas Eve.

A fun thing to do as we prepare for Christmas:

Edible Manger
Ingredients:
• paper baking cup
• chocolate pudding
• shredded wheat cereal
• pretzel nugget
• mini marshmallows
Directions:
1. Fill baking cup half full with chocolate pudding.
2. Have each child shred one shredded wheat biscuit over the pudding to represent the hay.
3. Place the pretzel nugget on the hay to represent the body of baby Jesus.
4. Top the pretzel nugget with a mini marshmallow to represent the head of baby Jesus.

Christmas Prayer

Let us give thanks for the Child whom we celebrate this Advent season — the Child who came to earth as an infant, died, and rose as our Savior; and for whose coming again we wait with anticipation and love.

Let us pray . . .
For the children of this world.
For infants who are not held in love.
For children who are abused physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
For the children who live at the Kentucky Home for Children and for children who live in shelters throughout our nation and world.
For children who live in substandard housing, who live on the streets, and in war-torn nations.
For children who are hurting throughout our world and for children who mourn the loss of their childhood.

Let us pray . . .
For the child found in the hearts of the elderly.
For those who wait for human touch and for those who cry silent tears of loneliness.
For those who hunger to hear your word and for those who must choose between going hungry or going to the pharmacy.
For those who have separated themselves from their families and for those whose families have forgotten their elders.
We pray for the elders who still dream the dream of a world where the city streets are filled with God's children playing — God's world of peace.
Let us pray for the child within ourselves — the child who struggles to live out a calling to follow Christ.

Let us pray . . .
For one another, naming one another in our hearts.
For our ministry here at First Church.
For our families, and for those who are dear to us.

We pray this in the name of the Star-Child, the Hope-for-Peace Child, the Christ Child. Amen.

http://www.gbod.org/worship

Poinsettia Day

Today is National Poinsettia Day. It is a day when we celebrate the plant and how it helps us connect with the Christmas season. The story of the Poinsettia:

"A charming story is told of Pepita, a poor Mexican girl who had no gift to present the Christ Child at Christmas Eve Services. As Pepita walked slowly to the chapel with her cousin Pedro, her heart was filled with sadness rather than joy.
"I am sure, Pepita, that even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes," said Pedro consolingly.

Not knowing what else to do, Pepita knelt by the roadside and gathered a handful of common weeds, fashioning them into a small bouquet. Looking at the scraggly bunch of weeds, she felt more saddened and embarrassed than ever by the humbleness of her offering. She fought back a tear as she entered the small village chapel.

As she approached the alter, she remembered Pedro's kind words: "Even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes." She felt her spirit lift as she knelt to lay the bouquet at the foot of the nativity scene.

Suddenly, the bouquet of weeds burst into blooms of brilliant red, and all who saw them were certain that they had witnessed a Christmas miracle right before their eyes.

From that day on, the bright red flowers were known as the Flores de Noche Buena, or Flowers of the Holy Night, for they bloomed each year during the Christmas season.

Today, the common name for this plant is the poinsettia!"

A New Church Year

I want to thank everyone for their help with the children's pageant today and a special thanks to the kids who did an awesome job showing us what the first Christmas was like. I also want to thank everyone who came out for the gingerbread house making and then craft night. We had an awesome time tonight fellowshipping with each other. I saw some pretty awesome houses being built tonight too!

It is officially the second week of Advent. Time is flying by and soon it will be Christmas and then the new year! As we are flying towards a new year I would like for us to dream a little bit. I am looking at the next years calendar and it is full of opportunity. I would like to know what you and your kids would like to see done in the new year and what you would like to not do in the new year. As I say dream big and you never know what might happen ;) Email me your ideas or post them as a comment below.

Children's Christmas Pageant

This Sunday!!

Both services!!

Kids need to be in the fellowship hall around 8:10 to get their costumes on and to practice for choir. A group of awesome volunteers will lead the children upstairs and then back out after the pageant. We will also get the kids for the second service and take them down to the fellowship hall to get ready again.

Please let Bekah know if you have any questions.

Is it really Monday!?

As I was driving back to Kentucky this morning the guy on the radio said "happy Monday!" I shook my head and thought "dude is it really Monday already?!" Last week is a blur and it seems like just yesterday I was blogging about Thanksgiving. So here we are Monday afternoon. A new church calendar year started yesterday and we are anticipating Christmas morning when we celebrate Jesus' birthday. I drive through a couple of major cities on my way from Toulon, IL. As I was driving through the cities I was watching the hustle and bustle of the Christmas shopping and trying to find the best deal. I wonder if that is what the first Christmas was like... Mary and Joseph were headed to Bethlehem because of a census. Something we do even today. In the United States a census of the number of people living in the states is done every 10 years. I heard on the news the other day that the 2010 census people are being hired right now. It is a lot of hustle and bustle to get a census done. Back then each person had to report to the city in which they were from. For Joseph he was from Bethlehem. Not an easy trip from where he was living at the time. I sometimes wonder if he toiled with the thought about leaving Mary behind but back then it was the law that you had to present your entire family. I bet there was a lot of packing and planning that went into play as they prepared to go to Bethlehem but also prepared for the birth of their son Jesus. When I rushed to get packed and to leave last week after hearing of the death of my future father in law I thought about what is important to pack and why do we pack it. As we prepare for Christmas there are somethings that we should pack in our bags just like Mary and Joseph packed into theirs as they prepared for Jesus' coming. Love is the first thing we have to pack. It is the greatest thing that God gives us. Love from Him and love for others. You can see God's love all around us from the clouds in the sky to the people who are in our lives. Faith is another thing that we need to pack in our bags. Faith is defined in Webster as: "a (1) : belief and trust in and loyalty to God (2) : belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion b (1) : firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2) : complete trust" Faith in something we can't see. Sometimes it is hard to see God working. I can't imagine what Mary was thinking as she looked down at her growing belly. Faith that everything is going to be alright that God's plan is perfect and never fails. Some times that is easy to say and do then other times so difficult it paralyzes you. That is where hope comes in, the last thing to put in our bags today. In staff today we talked about our hopes for the Christmas season. Hope is something that we hold on to in times when everything else seems to fall apart around us. When I think of hope I think of Abraham. A man of many lessons for us but one being home. In the book of Romans it states: "Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be."" Hope is something that is lost easily and hard to get back. When we hope for something and then it doesn't happen or the worst happens we get hardened to having more hope. Before Jesus was born people hoped and prayed for a Messiah. For many the Messiah that showed up was not what they were hoping for. Sometimes what we hope for doesn't happen or it does but just in a different way. God always has a plan and His plan is perfect. As we look forward to Christmas and celebrating Jesus' birthday we also look forward to Jesus' return.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I asked the children on Sunday to name some of the things they were thankful for. I am blown away by the depth of their answers. Here are some of their responses:

- Family
- Cousins
- Pumpkin Pie
- The world
- My House
- My friends
- The church
- My sunday school teacher
- God
- Jesus
- Parents love
- Brother
- Sister
- Pilgrims and Indians

What are you thankful for this year? Leave a comment and tell us what you are thankful for...

Fun Activities for Thanksgiving

Before you eat your Thanksgiving meal have each person say one thing that they are thankful for that happened over the last year. Another idea is to write down those things on pieces of paper and put them in a box to open up next year and add to. This is a great way to remember year from year what has happened and what God has done in your families life. An alternative idea for the box is to place a box somewhere in your home with a pad of paper and writing utensils that is designated for giving thanks to God. It is a box where the family can write down what God has done and what they are thankful for or place pictures in. Then at thanksgiving next year you can look through what is in the box.

Some fun coloring sheets



After Thanksgiving shopping tips

Turkey Craft

Thanksgiving story

Reminder for the Week

There will be no FaithWeaver Friends or children's choir this week.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Joshua Sends Spies into Jericho

A couple of the girls came down the stairs tonight saying that they were spying on everyone. I chuckled and said "why are you spying on everyone?" I got a mix of Ms Barry said to and something about Joshua. In further investigation I learned that they went looking for spies tonight in FaithWeaver Friends during their lesson on Joshua.

"I spy with my little eyes something...."

One of my favorite games to play with kids is I Spy. I played this with one of my friends a few years ago. At the time she was just two years old. She started spying things that weren't really there. I soon teased and she looked up at me with her big brown eyes and said so sweetly, "Miss Bekah, you just need a little faith and you would be able to see it." Isn't that so true in our own lives though? Sometimes we just need a little bit more faith and we would be able to see God's hands at work. Their are a lot of examples out of the Bible that I could use. Noah who built an ark without knowing what that much rain looked like. Abraham who picked it all up and walked away from what was normal because God told him to. Or Moses who put his staff into the water not knowing what God was going to do but trusting Him and having faith in Him because He had never let him down in the past. But Joshua is another person who had a lot of faith. He sent spies into land of Jericho. He obeyed God and knew that He would take care of them and give them the land that He promised. Because God is faithful He provided Rahab who was faithful in what she was told to. Read teh story to find out what happens: Joshua 2:1-24.

Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

Something to remember as we journey with Jesus:

Jesus makes time for you. You can pray any time, anywhere.

Jesus tells you the truth. Here’s something Jesus said you can trust: he loved you enough to die in your place. That’s good news!

Jesus forgives you. If you ask for forgiveness, Jesus will forgive you.

Jesus sticks with you—no matter what. Jesus knows you—all about you—and he loves you. You won’t find a more faithful friend.

Reasons to be Thankful for our Children

1. They bring us joy
2. They love us without limits
3. They make us laugh even if it is without them seeing
4. They will accept anyone, even that kid who is wearing different colored socks
5. Their smiles can make any gray day look look sunny
6. They will give hugs even when we have a bad hair days
7. They offer forgiveness without strings attached
8. They teach us about God in a deep way
9. They give us excuses to swing on swings, color, play with play dough, watch cartoons and act silly
10. They will tell you how it is without fear
11. They are the greatest judges of character
12. Their prayers bring even the tallest men to their knees
13. They give wet kisses
14. Their giggles
15. Their excitement is contagious!

Fall Festival!

This Sunday evening there will be a fall festival out at Andover. Bring your friends and come over for some fun, lots of good food and fellowship!

All booths and games start at 6 and will end around 7:30.

First UMC Andover Fall Festival!!

This Sunday November 15th at 5:30 pm!

Chili, Soup and Desert Cook Off starts at 5:30pm. Festival booths and activities begin at 6pm. Booths and activities will include: hay ride, bonfire, campfire songs, hot apple cider and hot chocolate, fun carnival games, crafts, cake walk, face painting, and much more!


We hope you will join us!

If you are interested in bringing an item for
the cook off, please contact Lisa Michelle
859-797-2651 or lisa@1stumc.org.

Let us know if you have any questions
or want to help out.

This is a great opportunity to invite your
neighbors and friends!

Nehemiah

I was so excited when Paul told me that the story for Sunday morning was going to be Nehemiah. I love the story of how they built the wall in less than two months. When I was a child I loved to play with Lego's. There are many walls talked about in the Bible. The wall of Jerecho that was knocked down by God's amazing power through God's people's faithfulness and then the wall in Nehemiah that was knocked down by evil forces and rebuilt by God's people because of their obedience. Here is the story:

Nehemiah (knee-a-my-a) was a man that helped the king. He tasted the king’s drink to
make sure no one poisoned it. He was called a cupbearer. He was a very trusted man. The king liked Nehemiah and cared for him. One day Nehemiah’s brother told him some sad news. He discovered that the walls of his hometown (Jerusalem) were broken and had not been repaired. This troubled Nehemiah. He cried and prayed for several days. He had such a love for his beautiful city; he couldn’t bear to see it in ruins.
The next day, Nehemiah served the king his drink. The king immediately noticed that
Nehemiah was upset. He asked him what was wrong. Nehemiah quickly prayed and then told the king and queen of his sadness. Then he boldly asked the king if he could go rebuild the city wall. After some talk, they agreed. Nehemiah set out quickly. But he was very careful about the things he did. In fact, when he got to Jerusalem, he kept his plans a secret. First, he went at night to look at the broken down wall. He rode a horse around the city and inspected it. Then, he told the people. He shared how God had answered his prayers and how the king let him come to help. Everyone was excited. They wanted to start rebuilding the wall right away. However, some people didn’t like this plan. They asked lots of questions. What was Nehemiah’s answer—“We are God’s servants. We will start rebuilding.” He knew that GOD was helping them rebuild the wall. He wasn’t going to let someone discourage them or stop the building.
Nehemiah trusted God. He knew that God had answered his prayers. The wall was built
faster than anyone could imagine! They finished the wall in 52 Days!!!
When the wall was complete, Nehemiah and Ezra helped the people worship God. They
took time to read the Bible and obey God. It was a very special time.
Nehemiah listened to God and did what He said. We must also listen to God and obey Him.

In KidsOwnWorship they learned about Joshua. Both Nehemiah and Joshua teach us that if we are faced with a project or situation that just seems so big that we will never finish or couldn't begin to know what to do, that we should trust God and obey what He is telling us to do. What is it that you are facing today that seems to humongous for you to handle by yourself? Talk to God... He will be there for you... He promises that and He never breaks His promises!

Hearing God

This week the children have been learning about hearing God. I was once asked if a child could even hear God. I would say that they are more in tune to God than we are. That is part of the reason why Jesus said we must become like little children. The story of Balaam and the donkey has been their focus. The story is found in Numbers chapter 22. Balaam was historically known as a pagan priest. Someone who would interpret peoples dreams, cast spells on people and use evil methods to predict the future. He was a worshiper of many gods and never thought of looking to God for guidance. One morning God had had enough and in verse 22 it says "God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him." It is here that we see that God is willing to use anyone or anything to get our attention. He used Balaam's donkey to get his attention. For Balaam this was a humiliation for God to use an animal of burden to get him to obey. In verse 29 Balaam says to the donkey "You have made a fool of me!" But God helped Balaam to listen and to be able to hear Him. It took using a donkey to get him to listen. As I write this I wonder, what has God used to get my attention? When I was in high school He used a friend to help me to hear Him and to answer my call into ministry. I had decided that I would be a professional photographer and not follow what God had told me to do. I had a friend come up to me right before graduation and like Balaam's donkey made me stop and listen to what my heart and God was saying. I love the end of this story in chapter 22 when Balaam finally reaches Balak, a man who did not like God but worship other gods. Balak was angry because Balaam was late and Balaam says to him in verse 38 "Well, I have come to you now, but can I say just anything? I must speak only what God puts in my mouth." Like me and probably you even after we finally hear God we still have a lot to learn. There is always more to learn. Read on into Numbers through chapter 24 and find out what happens to Balaam.

"These false teachers left the right road and lost their way, following the way Balaam went. Balaam was the son of Beor, who loved being paid for doing wrong. But a donkey, which cannot talk, told Balaam he was sinning. It spoke with a man's voice and stopped the prophet's crazy thinking." - from My Time with God.

All Saints Day

We had a great time last night at the All Saints Party. A great big thank you to the youth for treating us to an awesome time!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I was reading in a book this weekend and found this quote. I think it is something we all need to be reminded:

"Life is not a game we win, and God is not a trophy we merit. No matter how "good" we are, we are not good enough for God. On the other hand, no matter how "bad" we are, we can never be outside of God. We can only hope in each instance to come to such a consciousness of God that no lesser gods can capture our attention and no trifling, self-centered gods can keep us from the fullness of awareness that is the fullness of Life. It is the project of life, this coming to Wholeness, this experience of Purpose beyond all purposes, this identification with everything that is." - Joan Chittister author of Illuminated Life
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In Sunday School this week the children started a new stewardship curriculum. It is all about God's Toolbox and the tools that he gives us to serve Him and others.

This is the story that the children were read:

The Story of the Farmer Who Didn’t Share
Can you think of a time when you didn’t want to share?

We all know what it is like to feel selfish and not wanting to share. Adults are like that too. All of us have times like that. But, selfishness hurts us. So, we all need help from Jesus to become thankful and generous. To help us Jesus told us this story.
A farmer had a little red barn. He worked very hard to plant his crop in the soil and it grew because God made the sun shine. God made rain to fall, watering the plants and helping them grow. I can imagine this famer was very thankful to God for all God gave – the seeds, the soil, the sun, and the rain. I’m sure that he said a thank-you prayer to God every time he and his family sat down to eat.
What thank you prayer do you think they said? Maybe it is like one you say? What about mealtime prayers? My favorite mealtime prayer is “God is great; God is good; and we thank him for our food. By his hand, we all are fed. Give us, Lord, our daily bread. Amen.” It is important to keep saying thank you prayers to God so we remember all that God does for us.
I think this farmer went to church every Sunday with his family, too. Just as you are all here today. Important things happen here in church. Can you tell me some of those important things that we do here on Sunday mornings? (offering, singing, acolytes, Sunday School, KidsWorship, reading the Bible, talking with friends, worshiping God, greeting visitors, etc)
We need to stay close to God. The farmer did at first, but listen to what happened.
His fields grew so much wheat. He put it into the little red barn, and it got so full that it nearly burst! So, he tore it down and built a new larger barn. He worked hard every day. He got too busy to say thank you prayers at mealtimes and too busy to go to church on Sundays. He forgot all the ways God helped him. He wasn’t thankful anymore. He complained a lot, forgot about the poor and hungry people God wanted him to help and didn’t give gifts back to God anymore. There was no smile on his face anymore. He got grumpy and sad and became someone who worried about money instead of being thankful to God.
Jesus taught us that we cannot be happy if we pile up money and things to keep all for ourselves without giving any of it back to God or to other people. Do you think Jesus is able to make this farmer thankful, happy, and generous again? Only Jesus can help us all to be thankful and generous. Let us ask Jesus to help us be thankful.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A small devotional thought for the day:
Sharing His Love
Luke 6:38

Give your child a piece of candy (a Hershey Kiss). Tell them that they can decide to keep their Kiss or they can take it and give it to someone else. It is their choice. However, remind them that you freely gave them the kiss it wasn’t for any reason but that you love them. A kiss is one way that we can use to show someone that we love them. Another way that we can look at it is that this Kiss represents God’s love for you. God’s love is given freely. We don’t have to pay for it. Jesus paid the price when He died on the cross. When you have God’s love, you can keep it to yourself, or you can choose to share it with another. The more you choose to share God’s love the more you get in return. That’s the way it is for the Hershey Kiss. If you choose to give it away there will be more given in return.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for your love for us. That you that you freely give us your love. Help us to remember to share love with others.

He Knows My Name

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:5 (NIV)


Last night at Faith Weaver Friends I was so excited about the new name tags that Barry has made for us. Wearing name tags are great ways to get to know each others names. I was thinking about the many times that I forget peoples names. God never forgets our name. It is engraved on His hands. There is a praise song about that. It is sung in churches all over the world telling us about the God who knows our name.


"He Knows My Name"
by Tommy Walker

I have a Maker
He formed my heart
Before even time began
My life was in his hands.

He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
He hears me when I call.


The story behind the song is found in the Scriptures. It begins with God speaking to a young boy by the name of Jeremiah. "Before I started to put you together inside of your mother, I knew you. Before you were even born, I set you apart; I chose you to be a prophet to the nations."

Jeremiah heard God and he understood what God wanted him to do, but he was afraid. He answered God and said, "Oh, Lord! I can't be your prophet. I don't even know how to speak; I am only a child."

God answered Jeremiah and said, "Don't say, 'I am only a child.' You must go wherever I send you and do what I tell you. Don't be afraid, because I am with you." Then the Lord touched Jeremiah's mouth and said, "See, I have put my words in your mouth. Today I have chosen you to be over the nations and the kings."

That is amazing that God had some mighty big plans for Jeremiah. Well, God may have some pretty big plans for you too. He knows your name. He knew you before you were even born and he has a plan for your life. When God asks you to do something, don't say, "I'm only a child!" Don't be afraid, do what God tells you to do, because he will be with you no matter what he asks you to do.

Father, thank you for being a God who knows us by name. Help us to remember that when you show us the plans that you have for us, there is nothing to fear, because you are with us. Amen.

All Saints Party!!!!

Parents!

     We (the FUMC Youth Group) will be hosting our annual All Saint's Party for your children THIS Sunday (November 1st) From 5 to 6:30. Bring your child dressed in their favorite (church appropriate) costume for an evening of food, stories, games, and fun! Starting at 5 in the fellowship hall, there will be registration and pizza. From there your children will be doing a variety of things from smashing piñatas, listening to a story, making crafts, and other great activities! The evening will conclude at 6:30, so be sure to pick up your child then. You are of course welcome to join your child if you wish, but we want you to know that everything will be taken care of by the youth group!

We are excited to see you Sunday!

God's Toolbox

As I looked through my toolbox with the children yesterday in search for the right tool to fix my watch I was reminded that we are all tools for God's use. Each one of us was created by God because He loves us so much and He gave each of us a special purpose. God says that He has "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." He gives us a purpose like the hammer was created for a purpose. Not to smash watches (although that can be fun) but to pound in nails into hard surfaces. There are some of us who were created to care for others. To take care of the sick. To take care of the people who are hurting. The tape measure helps us to know how long things are and make sure we have things straight. Some people were created to teach and to preach. They are the people who steer us in the right direction and give us deeper knowledge. God gave each of us a purpose so we can give thanks to Him and serve Him in special ways. By allowing God to use us for the purpose that He has for us we are helping God to spread His love and to lead others to Him.

Over the next three weeks in Sunday School the kids will be learning about stewardship and what it means to be a good steward of what God has given us.

Praying for and with your children

A great blessing that we can pass onto our children is prayer. Not only the prayers we say for them but teaching them how to pray too.

John Maxwell, a well known pastor who speaks a lot on leadership, wrote a message entitled "What Parents Owe their Children." Within this message he gave 12 ways we can pray for our children. Here they are: 12 Beautiful Ways to Pray for Your Children

1. Pray that they will know Christ as Savior early in life.
2. Pray that they will have a hatred for sin.
3. Pray that they will be caught when guilty.
4. Pray that they will be protected from the evil one in each area of their lives: spiritual, emotional, and physical.
5. Pray that they will have a responsible attitude in all of their interpersonal relationships.
6. Pray that they will respect those in authority over them.
7. Pray that they will desire the right kind of friends and be protected from the wrong kind of friends.
8. Pray that they, as well as their mate, will be pure until marriage.
9. Pray that they will be kept from the wrong mate and saved for the right one.
10. Pray that they will totally submit to God and actively resist satan in all circumstances.
11. Pray that they will be single hearted, willing to be sold out to Jesus Christ.
12. Pray that they will be hedged in so that they cannot find their way to the wrong people and wrong places and that the wrong people cannot find their way to them.


Helpful Tip:
Its the flu and cold season once again. Lots of hand washing and tissue using will be done. But here is a website that has some great tips on how to make it through the sick days and to prevent them from happening: http://health.kaboose.com/kids-health/sick-days-supply-kit.html


Fun Site and Fact about Bekah
I love pop tarts! Especially the blueberry ones... well... maybe the smore ones... Okay I love them all!

More Fall Fun and a FaithWeaver Moment

Make a fall craft

Here is one that I like to do:

Autumn Leaf Sun Catchers
Decorate your windows with these wonderful Leaf Sun Catchers! You will need contact paper, tissue paper in fall colors, permanent marker, leaf shape patterns.

Cut a 5 x5 inch square of contact paper, put tape on the dull side and tape it to the table for each child. Peel of the backing so that the sticky side is facing the child. Have the children cut or tear small pieces of tissue paper and completely cover the piece of contact paper. Cover the first 5 x5 piece with another piece so that the tissue is now between the two pieces of contact paper. Trace a leaf shape onto the contact paper and cut out the leaf shape. Use a couple of pieces of clear tape to adhere the leaves to a window where the sun will shine through them.

Variation: You can sprinkle the tissue with water to make the colors bleed into each other. Let it dry before putting on the second piece of contact paper.

________

In KidsWorship the children learned about the Isrealites building the Tabernacle. The story is found in Exodus 35:4 - 36:38. Our focus was that we can all serve God.

Does serving God mean telling your friends about Jesus, or is it helping out those in need so they can see God through your actions? Maybe it’s both. Talk about ways each of you can serve God this week, and commit to keeping each other accountable as you seek to serve God.

God, thank you for the unique set of talents and skills you’ve given each of us in this family. Help us use our abilities to serve you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Fall!!

I love fall. I love the smell of the rain as it comes in. The beautiful leaves changing colors. Carmel apples! I love the crisp air that nips at your face as you walk outside.

Here is a story about fall...

The Three Apples

The old apple tree stood in the orchard with the other trees, and all summer long it had stretched out its branches wide to catch the rain and the sun to make its apples grow round and ripe. Now it was fall, and on the old apple tree were three great apples as yellow as gold and larger than any other apples in the whole orchard. The apple tree stretched and reached as far as it could, until the branch on which the three gold apples grew hung over the orchard wall. There were the three great apples, waiting for some one to pick them, and as the wind blew through the leaves of the apple tree it seemed to sing:

"Here in the orchard are apples three,
Who uses one well shall a treasure see."

And one morning Gerald came down the lane that passed by the orchard wall. He looked longingly at the three gold apples, wishing, wishing that he might have one. Just then the wind sang its song again in the leaves of the apple tree and, plump, down to the ground, right at Gerald's feet, fell one of the three gold apples.

He picked it up and turned it round and round in his hands. How sweet it smelled, and how mellow and juicy it was! Gerald could think of nothing so good to do with such a beautiful ripe apple as to eat it. He put it to his mouth and took a great bite of it, then another bite, and another. Soon there was nothing left of the apple but the core, which Gerald threw away. He smacked his lips and went on his way, but the wind in the apple trees sang, sorrowfully, after him:

"Here in the orchard are apples two,
But gone is the treasure that fell for you."

And after a while Hilda came down the lane that passed by the orchard wall. She looked up at the two beautiful gold apples that hung on the branch of the old apple tree, and she listened to the wind as it sang in the branches to her:

"Here in the orchard are apples two,
A treasure they hold for a child like you."

Then the wind blew harder and, plump, an apple fell in the lane right in front of Hilda.

She picked it up joyfully. She had never seen so large and so golden an apple. She held it carefully in her clasped hands and thought what a pity it would be to eat it, because then it would be gone.

"I will keep this gold apple always," Hilda said, and she wrapped it up in the clean handkerchief that was in her pocket. Then Hilda went home, and there she laid away in a drawer the gold apple that the old apple tree had given her, closing the drawer tightly. The apple lay inside, in the dark, and all wrapped up, for many days, until it spoiled. And when Hilda next went down the lane and past the orchard, the wind in the apple tree sang to her:

"Only one apple where once there were two,
Gone is the treasure I gave to you."

Last of all, Rudolph went down the lane one fine fall morning when the sun was shining warm and the wind was out. There, hanging over the orchard wall, he saw just one great gold apple that seemed to him the most beautiful apple that he had ever seen. As he stood looking up at it, the wind in the apple tree sang to him, and it said:

"Round and gold on the apple tree,
A wonderful treasure, hanging, see!"

Then the wind blew harder, and down fell the last gold apple of the three into Rudolph's waiting hands.

He held it a long time and looked at it as Gerald and Hilda had, thinking how good it would be to eat, and how pretty it would be to look at if he were to save it. Then he decided not to do either of these things. He took his jack-knife out of his pocket and cut the gold apple in half, straight across, and exactly in the middle between the blossom and the stem.

Oh, the surprise that waited for Rudolph inside the apple! There was a star, and in each point of the star lay a small black seed. Rudolph carefully took out all the seeds and climbed over the orchard wall, holding them in his hand. The earth in the orchard was still soft, for the frost had not yet come. Rudolph made holes in the earth and in each hole he dropped an apple seed. Then he covered up the seeds and climbed back over the wall to eat his apple, and then go on his way.

But as Rudolph walked down the lane, the orchard wind followed him, singing to him from every tree and bush,

"A planted seed is a treasure won.
The work of the apple is now well done."

Children's Sabbath

Thank you to all who helped with children's sabbath, you all did a great job!
A special thanks to David, Aaron, Jordan and London for doing the Liturgy. To Betsy for reading the Lord's Prayer and being flexible/ forgiving first service. Thanks to Grace who at the last minute was willing to read the scripture for the day. You all should be proud of yourselves for how well you did!

Children's Sabbath Oct. 11th

This coming Sunday is our Children's Sabbath!

If your child is part of the children’s choir please have them wear their choir shirts. If you child does not have a shirt, their shirt is missing, or is in need of being replaced please contact Bekah as soon as possible.
We will also have extras on hand on Sunday.

If your child has a speaking part please have them
practice during the week. If you would like your child to practice in the sanctuary please give Bekah a call and we can set up a time.

Please make sure all children are in the Fellowship Hall by 8:10am. Children who have speaking parts or are helping with offering will do a quick run through.

Parents we ask that you sit with your children during the service. Thank you for all your help and commitment to making this a great day for the children and the
congregation!

FaithWeaver Friends!

Last night was my first night to be at FaithWeaver Friends with everyone and I had so much fun! I was reflecting on the lesson we learned tonight and I was thinking how awesome our God that we serve is. He is so worthy of our praise and love. Our lesson tonight was on the Big Ten, the Ten Commandments. The story taught us that if we love and honor God we should obey Him no matter how tough it is.

Our verse for the evening was:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul
and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you
today are to be upon your hearts” (Deuteronomy 6:5-6).

God wants us to love Him with all that we are and all that we have. He asks that we take His commandments or rules and put them on our heart. That means He wants us to make them a part of us or to make it a routine for us to follow Him. Sort of like when we wake up in the morning we know that we need to brush our teeth and get clothes on soon we don't have to think or be reminded it is just something we do. That is like it should be for us following God's rules. We may sometimes forget to brush our teeth and we may sometimes forget one of God's rules and that is okay. He just asks for us to do our best.

Read: Exodus 20:1-17 and Matthew 22:34-40

Some 10 Commandment Fun:

Ten Commandments for Family TV Viewing

1. Let TV expand and enlarge your world views.
2. Establish limits on how much TV your family watches.
3. Plan your TV viewing.
4. Develop Family Guidelines for selecting programs.
5. Make TV watching an interactive family event.
6. Question all media.
7. Don't hesitate to reject media that violate your family's values.
8. Don't hesitate to uplift media that reinforce your family's values.
9. Recognize media stereotypes.
10. Explore your child's culture.

Ten commandments courtesy of the Center for Media Literacy and the National Telemedia Council, Inc. Used by permission of the Center for Media Literacy.

Ten Things God Wants You to Remember

1. God will be with you (Gen 26:3)
2. God loves you (Jer 31:3)
3. God will guide you (Is 58:11)
4. God will keep you (Is 42:6)
5. God is for you (Deut 23:5)
6. God will provide for you (Gen 22:14)
7. God will not fail you (Deut 31:6)
8. God will strengthen you (Ps 29:11)
9. God will answer you (Jer 33:3)
10. God will bless you (Deut 15:6)

Lord, teach us to show you and others around us how much we love you. We want to honor you by following you every day. In Jesus’ name, amen.



Blessings,
Bekah