Third Graders Got Bibles

Enjoy this little video that captures the excitement of getting your first Bible . . . that we should all be this excited about God's word in our lives!

Jesus: All Natural - No Artificial Additives - Needs No Preservatives

An Easter thought share by Benjamin with his mom:

Benjamin stays with us during service now and he always enjoys when we
discuss the message and how it applies to our lives.
After the Easter service, Ben said that joy in material things was like
processed joy -full of high fructose corn syrup and other bad things.
Joy from Jesus was all natural, organic, always good for you JOY!

I love it when the children come up with these heartwarming messages.
Thanks for sharing Christine!

A Forest for a King

On Palm Sunday as I was standing at the back of the sanctuary while everyone was waving their palm branches, one little boy said to me, "It looks like a forest in there!" And indeed it did! Palm Sunday began so festive, but ended very solemnly, with one of my favorite hymns, "Oh, Sacred Head Now Wounded" and everyone left the sanctuary in silence. Jeff shared a great message to help us prepare for the holiest of weeks. If you weren't able to be there, take time to listen to it. It is worth it!

Bag Ladies - Bag Families

There are a few women who clean out and fill up our children's activities bags each week. What an awesome way to minister to strangers. Little children come on a Sunday morning and grab an activity bag all ready to go to help them "focus" during worship. What a gift to the child - and the parents.
Matthew 15:35-36 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me. MY ACTIVITY BAG WAS MESSY AND YOU CLEANED IT OUT! The problem is that we have to keep making more and more bags because we run out every week during service. (You could help with this problem by reserving the bags for preschoolers and visitors and encouraging your older kids to bring their own bags.) Because the number of bags is expanding to meet the needs of our kids, so is the number of hours and hands to keep the bags ready. Our bag ladies are recruiting their families to help! If you are willing to help with this ministry on a monthly basis, please let me know . . .

My Kind of Town

Our family was in Chicago - crammed a weeks worth of fun into one weekend. We took the Megabus down and back so we had some serious time to be together just the four of us! Saw the Devils vs. Blackhawks and although the Devils lost, we got to see Paul get a great goal. Took in the Field Museum, the Museum of Science and Industry and the Adler Planetarium. We fell in love with The Corner Bakery and Cafe. We walked there every morning for breakfast.SUnday morning the snow/slush was ankle deep, but it was worth it - baked French toast! mmm-yeah! We got to spend some great time with some of our favorite people, too. Bev and Dale and just a wee bit of time with Paul (3 minutes after the game) and Leah (a few hours).