Our Children's Ministries Blog
Rebecca Smith, Director of Children's Ministries
2010 March 05
The Sunday school teachers' appreciation dinner last night—Thursday, March 4—was fabulous. Phil’s BBQ provided the meat and I was able to do the rest. We sat at tables draped in red-and-white-checkered tablecloths. On each table were gerbera daisies in vases wrapped in colorful bandanas surrounded by Western décor under a canopy of gold stars. Everyone loved the food, served to them restaurant-style by Randy Hill (Coronado Island Florist) our church bookkeeper and me, so diners felt special and didn’t have to keep getting up out of their seats to get more.
My friends Mark and Ilona Jennings of Face 2 Face Theatre Company provided the entertainment. Mark is from the UK and both have been involved in ministry for years. Mark did a great rendition of a “bumbling regional Sunday school director” who continued to try to get his message across using at least two-to-three incorrect words before choosing the right one. It was hilarious. Following the laughter, Mark did a beautiful thought-provoking dance-and-sign language interpretation of Psalm 139, reminding us all that God has designed a future and purpose for each of us long before we were born. It left us all speechless.
Child care was provided for the teachers’/helpers’ children, who ate pizza, popcorn and cookies and had fun playing together. Everyone enjoyed the evening! We’ll be doing it all over again in April for all the Awana volunteer staff!
Email Rebecca Smith
2010 March 01
The momentum in Children's Ministries never slows, so I'm applying brakes just long enough to share our Eastertide schedule with you.
Wednesday, March 3 Awana clubbers will be dressing in their best cowboy and cowgirl duds to have fun at "Western Night." Themed activities will include special games, Council Times, and best costumes will win prizes.
Thursday, March 4 Sunday School teachers and helpers will be the honored guests at an annual appreciation dinner in Parish Hall. Phil's BBQ will cater this mouthwatering event.
Sunday, March 7 Our Sparks team members, who were first-place winners in the February 13 AwanaGames, will receive commemorative champion medals. Read about the team victory here.»
I will be emphasizing the Scripture verses I Corinthians 9:24–25:
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever."
We need to live our Christian lives as winners, obeying God's Word and looking forward to our eternal reward—heaven!
Wednesday, March 10 Pastor David will be a speaker in our Awana Truth & Training Council Time at 7:00pm. Our scheduled theme is "Sword Fighting."
Sunday, March 28 During the 9:00am traditional worship service, all Sunday School class members will be parading through the church sanctuary carrying palm fronds to honor Palm Sunday, the day that Jesus entered Jerusalem prior to his crucifixion. Refer to Matthew 21:1–11, Mark 11:1–10, Luke 19:28–38 and John 12:12–14.
Wednesday, March 31 Ralph West will be leading a special Easter lesson in our Awana Truth & Training Council Time.
Sunday, April 4 In honor of Easter, Sunday School class members will share special fun and festivities.
Email Rebecca Smith
2009 October 01
“ . . . your Word is truth.” John 17:17b (NIV)
“ . . . I trust in your Word.” Psalm 119:42b (NIV)
Why did God give us the Bible? This is the question that Book One of the Awana Truth & Training (third through sixth grades) asks. There are eight answers coordinated with Bible verses that the children learn.
- God gave us the Bible so we can know Who He is. Psalm 100:3
- God gave us the Bible so we can know that He (the Lord) is the one and only
true God. Jeremiah 10:10a - God gave us the Bible so we can know His words are always true. John 17:17a
- God gave us the Bible so we can learn about people from the past. Romans 15:4a
- God gave us the Bible so we can understand we are sinners. Ecclesiastes 7:20
- God gave us the Bible so can know that Jesus is God, and that Jesus is the Son of God. John 1:1
- God gave us the Bible to show us we need a Savior. Acts 4:12
- God gave us the Bible so can know how to live. Psalm 86:11
It is exciting to watch the children’s enthusiasm as they learn to study God’s Word and see for themselves why we believe what we believe. Eighty-five kindergarten through sixth-grade children and 35 volunteers, including six middle-schoolers, currently are participating in the Awana program.
Our Sunday School teachers are doing a great job at teaching the kids the Old and New Testament Bible stories through creative and age-appropriate methods. These are the school year 2009–2010 teachers:
| Linda Allen | Christian Graves | Anita Lorr |
| JoAnna Banks | Deborah Harnden | Anne Morris |
| Julie Ellis | Rachel Hengst | Bill Smith |
| Amy Graves | Kelly Hickey | Ralph West |
| Karen Wood |
On Sunday, October 4 at 9:00am, we look forward to presenting to our third graders their very own copies of the NIV Adventure Bible for kids.
On Saturday, October 31 at 5:00pm will be the fourth annual Fall Fest. We will transform Parish Hall and the back patio with fall leaves, pumpkins and various theme props coordinated with games. We also will provide a dinner at no cost. Fall Fest is a great opportunity to invite friends and neighbors to join with children to enjoy a wholesome alternative at church.
Now, can you still remember the eight reasons God gave us His Word?
Email Rebecca Smith
2009 June 01
“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints—the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven . . . . ”
Colossians 1:3–5a (NIV)
This is the expression of Paul and Timothy who were thankful for the faith, work and love demonstrated by the church at Colosse. I too am grateful for these qualities in the many servants who have faithfully given to our children and their families through their labors of love in Awana, Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and all the special events. We just finished hosting three appreciation dinners: Sunday School teachers, nursery staff and Awana leaders. These were wonderful times of Christian fellowship celebrating God’s faithfulness and one another.
On Wednesday, May 27, we celebrated our leaders’ and clubbers’ achievements at the Awana Awards Night. Eighty-six kindergarten through sixth-grade children grade participated in the program accompanied by two seventh-grade leaders-in-training. The children completed 50 handbooks. We also honored a cumulative total of 112 years’ service by our 34 leaders. One leader has served Awana for thirty years. After awards and special music, we played a video of memories captured during the year and then invited all in attendance to a make their own ice cream sundaes. A fun evening was enjoyed by all!
The month of June begins intense final preparations for Vacation Bible School. There are still a few volunteer needs in crafts and leading groups of five or six children. Vacation Bible School is from Monday, July 13–Friday, July 17, 9:00am to 12:00 noon. With the exception of a few fifth- and sixth-grade spots, classes are completely full, and we have begun a wait list.
Looking ahead to the fall season schedule, we need volunteer Sunday School teachers for all of our Sunday School classes. We ask that teachers make a commitment of two weeks a month from September through May. Our regular Sunday School schedule begins on September 6.
The Awana registration picnic will be on the evening of, Wednesday, September 9 and our first official club night is Wednesday, September 16. If you are interested in registering a child/children for our Awana program, please call my office in August. I will be training new leaders in August. These are the requirements of an Awana Club leader:
- know and love Jesus Christ
- complete the Awana Club training
- attend each Wednesday meeting to listen to Bible verses
- help children in the game time
- sit among the children during the song and story time
No teaching is required. The directors and special speakers provide the lessons. It is a joy to serve in this program and see children learn God’s Word. It is a joy to serve God’s children of all ages.
Email Rebecca Smith
2009 April 01
“Everyone was so nice. It makes me want to come to your church.”
Those were the words of our server at the Sunday School Teacher Appreciation Dinner on Thursday, March 5, 2009. We gathered just before sunset at a local restaurant overlooking the bay at Seaport Village. I had arrived several hours prior to decorate with red Gerbera daisies amidst white hydrangea in a whimsical bear-grass-covered vase, burgundy, pink and white balloons and special favor candle lights with Teachers Reflect God’s Light imprinted on a small white tag attached to them. There were seventeen people who gathered to eat and fellowship. Pastor David thanked them for their faithful service and offered thanks for the meal.
Most of the teachers have young children, so the church caregivers watched their children in the Kirk Cottage to help their parents fully enjoy the evening. The children enjoyed each other’s company as they played games, made crafts and ate pizza, popcorn and cookies. A winning combination!
As I finished cleaning up and prepared to leave after a truly enjoyable evening, the words of our server affirmed to me that we are a living testimony of Christ everywhere we go and that people are watching. We do not stop being an example at our place of business, at the gym, when we go out to eat or are in the privacy of our home before our children. Romans 13:14 states, “ . . . clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ . . . ” So before you put on your earthly apparel each day, remember that you are to put on the spiritual apparel of Christ, showing His perspective and love for others.
It gave me great joy to know that our Sunday School teachers not only talk about Jesus to our children but that they love Him enough to live like Him in the contexts of daily life. People will be drawn to us, our church and more importantly to Jesus Christ when we are living as He commands.
I am always on the lookout for summer Sunday School teachers, Vacation Bible School volunteers and Awana leaders. Please prayerfully consider serving in one of these capacities if you are able and willing.
May your designer label be Jesus Christ.
Email Rebecca Smith
2009 March 01
"Let us pray, let us pray, everywhere in every way, Every moment of the day, it is the right time, For the Father above is listening with love, And He wants to answer us, so let us pray."
Steven Curtis Chapman
Recently someone in the community asked me, “What do you attribute the success of Graham’s children’s ministries to?” I answered immediately, “Prayer. Lots and lots of prayer!”
God is answering prayer every day as we obediently and faithfully serve Him. It saddens me when I hear Christians say, “I never see God at work,” because I see God working all over the place. There is a peace that we know when we pray and give our problems, concerns and worries over to the Lord. In prayer, we are saying that we trust Him implicitly to answer according to His will. (Matthew 5:10)
In the forty years that I have been a follower of Jesus Christ, I have learned that my will is not always God’s will. But if I trust Him, He will answer me according to what I need at that time. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6–7)
God has provided for children’s ministries in amazing ways. He has blessed us with Sunday School teachers who spend hours putting together lessons and activities to teach the Bible points each week. He has provided men, women and youth Awana leaders. Several of our Awana leaders are pilots and our Game Director is a Navy chaplain. God has given us some program miracles and also given us the ability to cover for one another when there are scheduling conflicts or illness. I am extremely grateful for the volunteers who are team players, concerned with working together to teach the children, encourage one another and ultimately glorify God! This gives me great joy!
If you find yourself worrying about family, finances, work, the past, present and future, take time to pray. God hears and answers. Remember also, that it is God’s will to give thanks in all circumstances. (I Thessalonians 5:18) Pray and thank God for His many daily blessings which we so often take for granted. He deserves our thanks!
Email Rebecca Smith
2009 February 01
“This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.” I John 4:9–12 (NIV)
“Mom, have you ever seen God?” “Where does God live?” “How can Jesus be God and God’s Son?”
These are a few of the profound questions children (and many adults) ask. There are many theological answers to these questions but these verses from I John indicate the connection between God living in us and our showing that love to others here on earth. Recently, I have been having conversations with my own boys about the “kingdom of God” on earth. What does this concept mean? Simply put, it means that those of us who know Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord can reflect and live His love and attributes while we are here on earth.
In light of the global economic crisis, which trickles down to families on a practical level, what can we as Christians offer to our friends and neighbors? We have the love and hope that God has given us. It’s not about earthly kingdoms but about God living in us here on earth and the hope of heaven for all eternity if we have trusted in Him.
You can’t buy that with Visa. The great part of God’s gift of salvation is that it is free, no payments and zero percent interest, because Jesus paid it all on the cross! There is no greater love!
Children’s ministries are in full swing for 2009! We are halfway through the Awana year. Clubbers are busily completing and reviewing handbooks. Our Sunday School teachers are doing an excellent job, creatively and age-appropriately presenting the Truth of God’s Word.
Our Guys Only fifth and sixth-grade Sunday School class enjoyed an overnight adventure in Julian. I am planning Appreciation Dinners for all our children’s ministry volunteers. Vacation Bible School brainstorming has filled my mind. Please email or phone my office if you are interested in serving Vacation Bible School July 13–17. There are many different jobs that need to be filled for this important week.
Thank you to all the children’s ministry staff for your unwavering commitment to be the dynamic, living kingdom of God on Earth!
Email Rebecca Smith