Saturday, January 30, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Newsletters and Volunteers
The February Newsletter will be headed out this week if you are wanting to get an electronic version of the newsletter instead of paper let me know.
We are looking for volunteers to help out with the kids. Parents this is a great opportunity for you to invest in your child's Spiritual growth. I strongly encourage all parents to participate in at least one program that their child is a part of in the church.
Have a great week and I will see you all on Wednesday night!
We are looking for volunteers to help out with the kids. Parents this is a great opportunity for you to invest in your child's Spiritual growth. I strongly encourage all parents to participate in at least one program that their child is a part of in the church.
Have a great week and I will see you all on Wednesday night!
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
A Prayer for Haiti
Our Prayer for Haiti
Kind Father, God and Creator of all things,
we have been stunned once again by an event
which seems so unnatural
and yet is called "natural disaster."
We have no words to answer the "why" which we feel…
No wisdom to explain away
these unexplainable areas of life.
Keep us from attributing this event
to an assumption of Divine judgment or Heavenly reprimand.
Keep our hearts from the hubris or the smugness
that imagines we alone know or understand
what really cannot be understood.
Keep us from spiritual pride
that tempts us to form definitive opinions
and speak assuredly for God when God has not spoken.
We, who are so distant from the scene
of such tragic sorrow,
move us from opinions to true compassion.
Kind Father of this bent and broken world,
Give us hearts filled with kindness and gentleness
to be servants to those in need.
Remind us of your gracious love in the midst of sorrow,
and your ability to work miracles when all hope is faint.
We pray for those who suffer in Haiti even now
and for those who await rescue.
For relatives, for the children,
for mothers and fathers,
sisters and brothers,
grandparents, aunts and cousins.
For the survivors who question
what more they might have done.
And for those who must keep on keeping on,
in spite of it all.
For the leaders,
for those who bring aid
and those who await news…
strengthen and encourage them we pray.
Now unto you, O God,
we take the burdens of this hour
and place them in your divine care.
For all you do and are doing,
seen and unseen,
we give thee thanks,
Eternal God of All Creation,
we wait on you.
Amen
- Pastor Steve Elliott
Monday, January 18, 2010
A Day to Celebrate ....
I know most of you were excited that you got off school today. I know I was excited to have off work today. But today we are celebrating a man who had a dream and wasn't afraid to follow it and stand up for it. Martin Luther King Jr. A man who most people would have walked away from if he had come into a room. But who by the time he died was recognized as one of the most dynamic and inspirational speakers. Here are some good quotes from him:
"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."
"I just want to do God's will. And he's allowed me to go to the mountain. And I've looked over, and I've seen the promised land! I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land."
"If physical death is the price that I must pay to free my white brothers and sisters from a permanent death of the spirit, then nothing can be more redemptive."
"Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."
Today is also Winnie the Pooh's Birthday! So here are a few quotes from Winnie the Pooh....
“Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom rail of a bridge and lean over to watch the river slipping slowly away beneath you, you will suddenly know everything there is to be known.”
“I am a Bear of Very Little Brain, and long words bother me.”
"When you wake up in the morning, Pooh," said Piglet at last, "what's the first thing you say to yourself?" "What's for breakfast?" said Pooh. "What do you say, Piglet?"
"I say, I wonder what's going to happen exciting today?" said Piglet. Pooh nodded thoughtfully. "It's the same thing," he said."
Today is also an exciting day because Tony and I made it official today and we are going to be getting married in August!
"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."
"I just want to do God's will. And he's allowed me to go to the mountain. And I've looked over, and I've seen the promised land! I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land."
"If physical death is the price that I must pay to free my white brothers and sisters from a permanent death of the spirit, then nothing can be more redemptive."
"Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."
Today is also Winnie the Pooh's Birthday! So here are a few quotes from Winnie the Pooh....
“Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom rail of a bridge and lean over to watch the river slipping slowly away beneath you, you will suddenly know everything there is to be known.”
“I am a Bear of Very Little Brain, and long words bother me.”
"When you wake up in the morning, Pooh," said Piglet at last, "what's the first thing you say to yourself?" "What's for breakfast?" said Pooh. "What do you say, Piglet?"
"I say, I wonder what's going to happen exciting today?" said Piglet. Pooh nodded thoughtfully. "It's the same thing," he said."
Today is also an exciting day because Tony and I made it official today and we are going to be getting married in August!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Winter Blues?
On Saturday January 30, 2010 we will have a movie and popcorn day. We will also play games and make a craft or two. We will meet at 2pm and parents are asked to pick up their children by 5pm. This is open to any child 1st grade—5th grade (children under 1st grade are welcome to come with a parent). Please register your child by January 27 if they are going to attend. There will be sign up sheets at the Welcome Center in the Gathering Hall and one in the Children’s Wing at the Welcome Center. You can also email Bekah at Bekah@1stumc.org.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Epiphany Story ...
The story of the Three wise men
After Jesus was born, wise men came to look for Him, from an area which is now in either Iran or Saudi Arabia. Although they are often called the "Three Kings", the Bible does not say how many there were, or that they were kings. Three is only a guess because they brought with them three gifts.
Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh
They were certainly men of learning - probably today we would call them philosophers or scientists. They had seen an unusual new star in the sky, and knew that it told of the birth of a special king. They followed the direction of the star- East - and eventually found the place where Mary, Joseph and Jesus were staying. To bring honour to the child, they brought rich gifts: gold, frankincense (a resin which burns with a beautiful smell), and myrrh (plant oil with a very strong sweet smell). These gifts tell us in pictures three key things about Jesus:
Gold: a gift fit for a King
Frankincense: burnt in worship of God
Myrrh: a sign of mortal human-ness - it was used to bury the dead
Herod, the evil king of the area, heard about the child He saw Him as a threat, and sent soldiers to kill Jesus. But God told Joseph in a dream to take Mary and the baby and escape to Egypt. They lived there till King Herod died and then went back to live in Nazareth.
You can read this Bible story in Matthew 2: 1-18
http://www.just4kidsmagazine.com/wisemen.html
After Jesus was born, wise men came to look for Him, from an area which is now in either Iran or Saudi Arabia. Although they are often called the "Three Kings", the Bible does not say how many there were, or that they were kings. Three is only a guess because they brought with them three gifts.
Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh
They were certainly men of learning - probably today we would call them philosophers or scientists. They had seen an unusual new star in the sky, and knew that it told of the birth of a special king. They followed the direction of the star- East - and eventually found the place where Mary, Joseph and Jesus were staying. To bring honour to the child, they brought rich gifts: gold, frankincense (a resin which burns with a beautiful smell), and myrrh (plant oil with a very strong sweet smell). These gifts tell us in pictures three key things about Jesus:
Gold: a gift fit for a King
Frankincense: burnt in worship of God
Myrrh: a sign of mortal human-ness - it was used to bury the dead
Herod, the evil king of the area, heard about the child He saw Him as a threat, and sent soldiers to kill Jesus. But God told Joseph in a dream to take Mary and the baby and escape to Egypt. They lived there till King Herod died and then went back to live in Nazareth.
You can read this Bible story in Matthew 2: 1-18
http://www.just4kidsmagazine.com/wisemen.html
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Snow Day Fun
1. Fill plastic containers half full of water. Sink smaller containers fill with stones or pennies(for weight), in the larger containers. Set outside to freeze overnight. The next evening, remove the ice from the containers and place tea light candles in each one. Line up on the walkway, sidewalk or deck, and light the candles to create a beautiful wintry luminary display. (http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/129882/fun_things_to_do_on_a_snow_day_pg2.html?cat=32)
2. Make birdseed mosaics. These are fun for older kids even teens can get involved with these. All you need is some imagination and several different types of birdseed. Sunflower, thistle, corn, and wild bird seed mixes provide different colors and textures to your art. Stamp out shapes, letters, or patterns in the snow. The bigger the design the better. Use the birdseed to fill in the shapes just like a stained glass window. The wild birds and animals will be your best critics, as they feast on your artwork. Animals have a harder time finding food when the snow blankets the ground. (http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/129882/fun_things_to_do_on_a_snow_day_pg2.html?cat=32)
3. STAINED GLASS JELL-O
Ingredients:
5 boxes (3 ounces each) assorted JELL-O
5 teaspoons sugar
5 cups boiling water
4 cups milk
1 cup sugar
4 envelopes unflavored gelatin (such as Knox)
Directions:
Prepare JELL-O in separate bowls, using 1 teaspoon of sugar and 1 cup of boiling water for each. Refrigerate.
In saucepan, combine milk, sugar and unflavored gelatin, bring to boil; cool.
Dip sharp knife into hot water; cut different JELL-O into pieces and place into 13-by-9-inch pan.
Pour milk mixture over JELL-O.
Chill until firm.
Cut into 1-inch squares.
(http://fun.families.com/blog/snow-day-fun-with-stained-glass-jell-o)
4. Snowman soup: Put hot chocolate mix, two Hershey kisses, and one small candy cane in a mug. Add hot water and three marshmallow "snowballs" to finish off. (http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/201473/kids_and_teens/winters_tips_for_snow_day_fun_for_kids.html)
5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PdeGx1obvc
Don't forget to bundle up and keep your toes, fingers and ears covered!
2. Make birdseed mosaics. These are fun for older kids even teens can get involved with these. All you need is some imagination and several different types of birdseed. Sunflower, thistle, corn, and wild bird seed mixes provide different colors and textures to your art. Stamp out shapes, letters, or patterns in the snow. The bigger the design the better. Use the birdseed to fill in the shapes just like a stained glass window. The wild birds and animals will be your best critics, as they feast on your artwork. Animals have a harder time finding food when the snow blankets the ground. (http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/129882/fun_things_to_do_on_a_snow_day_pg2.html?cat=32)
3. STAINED GLASS JELL-O
Ingredients:
5 boxes (3 ounces each) assorted JELL-O
5 teaspoons sugar
5 cups boiling water
4 cups milk
1 cup sugar
4 envelopes unflavored gelatin (such as Knox)
Directions:
Prepare JELL-O in separate bowls, using 1 teaspoon of sugar and 1 cup of boiling water for each. Refrigerate.
In saucepan, combine milk, sugar and unflavored gelatin, bring to boil; cool.
Dip sharp knife into hot water; cut different JELL-O into pieces and place into 13-by-9-inch pan.
Pour milk mixture over JELL-O.
Chill until firm.
Cut into 1-inch squares.
(http://fun.families.com/blog/snow-day-fun-with-stained-glass-jell-o)
4. Snowman soup: Put hot chocolate mix, two Hershey kisses, and one small candy cane in a mug. Add hot water and three marshmallow "snowballs" to finish off. (http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/201473/kids_and_teens/winters_tips_for_snow_day_fun_for_kids.html)
5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PdeGx1obvc
Don't forget to bundle up and keep your toes, fingers and ears covered!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
Happy New Year!
Hope everyone had a great holiday season! As you start out the new year and making your new year resolutions keep in mind that they need to be reachable goals. Maybe even make a few new years resolutions as a family. And don't forget to keep God at the center of all your goals you make! As everyone goes back to work and school keep safe and prayers go with all of you!
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