This Sunday is Promotion Sunday!

This Sunday, kids will be going to their new classes.

1. Twos & Threes will move up to the next age level if they have had a birthday in the last 6 months.
2. PreKindergarten entering kindergarten will move to kindergarten.
3. Kindergartener will move to the 1st through 3rd grade class. 
4. Current 3rd graders move up to 4th grade.  These children will be with their parents during the 10:30 service time.  Don't forget there are kid's sermon note pages on the table by the Gathering Area.
5. Current 5th graders move up to middle school.  Their class meets in room 408, at the end of the 400 hall.  

Being Quiet or Worshiping?

Here is a picture of my filled-in note sheet from Sunday's message.
The two purple sections are meant for family discussion.

The notes for the sermon were posted on Friday
and there were also some tips for preparing your child for the service.

Below are some quotes from Parenting in the Pew related to being in the service with your child.

Being Quiet

"It can seem paradoxical that to help a child to develop concentration and a sense of quietness for worship, parents have to talk more."

"If you sit close to your children, however you can give whispered instructions and reminders rather easily and with little or no distractions to others."

"An expectation of paying attention is foundational for learning to worship.  Parents sit with their children to help them do this, but there is more to paying attention than mere proximity will provide."

"Simply telling children to 'be quiet' is not the way to draw their attention to the worship that is taking place.  The purpose of parenting in the pew is to train a child to worship, not to be quiet.  Quietness at certain times may enhance their ability to worship, but quietness is a means to this effort, not an end."

Training children to worship does not always enhance our own experience of being before the Lord, especially at first.  On a feeling level, the experience of worship may seem impoverished by the demands of parenting in the pew.   

What questions are going to be answered during this Sunday's message?

The Proclamation of the Gospel from Acts 13:13-48

Here are some questions that will be answered in the sermon:

- WHAT was the Gospel that was preached?

            -Jesus is the Messiah

            -Death, burial, and resurrection

            -Believe (Forgiveness of sins/Justification)

- To WHOM was the Gospel preached?

            -Lost people (Only lost people can get saved)

            -Jews and Gentiles (No respecter of persons)

- WHY is the Gospel good news?

            -Forgiveness of Sins/Justification (Imputed Righteousness)

            -God fulfilled (and will fulfill) His promise

- WHEN is the Gospel good news?

            -When we believe/Repent (and as we continue in it...)

Parenting in the Pew: KIDS in Church (05.25)

This Sunday the 1st through 3rd graders will be in service.
Check back on Friday for some specific information related to the sermon.

Here are some tips from the book "Parenting in the Pew" for having your kids in the service:

• Be with your children.  
• "Paying attention in worship is foundational to training children in the pew.  And giving attention to our children during this time is essential.  It is very important that parents and children sit together during worship."
• Being in the sanctuary.  
• While in the sanctuary I understand that you have the privilege and responsibility to guide your children in worship.
• Being attentive.  
• Avoid water fountain visits between Sunday school and worship.  Why is it so difficult to get children to drink water until there is a water fountain to splash around in?
• Make a mandatory bathroom stop between class and the service.
• "If we want our children to learn to pay attention to the Lord, we will eliminate as many distractions as possible.  This means that toys, loose change, books, dolls and trucks should stay at home."
• "As other parents joined me in 'parenting in the pew," we sat near each other and helped each other out."
• Being quiet.  
• "The purpose of parenting in the pew is to train a child to worship, not to be quiet."
• "Training children to worship does not always enhance our own experience of being before the Lord, especially at first."
• "If you sit close to your children, you can give whispered instructions and reminders rather easily and with little or no distraction to others."
• Being helpful
• "Young worshipers especially need help in learning how to pay attention in worship."
• Ask your child questions after the service.
• Being firm
• "Parenting in the pew goes better some weeks than others."
• Be consistent.

2 children's Bible story apps

The Bible for Kids app 

is from lifechurch.tv 

who also created youversion

Click on the picture to read more.

 God's Love Story Bible 
does a great job of connecting
each story with a lesson
about God.

Click on the picture to read more.

God hates sin! God is patient!

Here are some of the slides from the powerpoint the 1st through 5th graders went through during the worship service.
They can provide some good talking point for every age group.

God's Patience towards us.

Go to http://biblia.com/verseoftheday/image/2Pe3.9 for this Bible artwork of this week's memory verse.



God's patience is made very clear into this past Sunday's lesson from 2 Kings 21 - 25