First Day Blessing

So it is time for the first day of school, and I am sure many of you are feeling a little excited and nervous at the same time. Understandable.

Parent's here is a great thing to do to calm the nerves and to help your children know how much they are loved, by you and by God.:

Take a nice scented lotion or body oil, soon to be called "blessing balm". Hold their hand, look in their eyes and with the blessing balm, make the sign of a cross on their forearm. Say the following:

God loves you.
God cares about you.
God was with you when your heart first started beating.
God knows your name.
God wants you to have a wonderful day at school.
God blesses you.
Amen.

Try it and then give them a hug. The scent of the blessing balm will stay with them for the day to help them remember that God is with them.



Kids:

Remember FROG, to Fully Rely On God, and know that we are all praying for you and thinking about you. Have a great day.

How can you share Jesus at school today? If there is someone new in your class, say hi and sit with them. If someone looks shy, be a friend. Give your teacher or one of the workers at school an extra hello, or smile to brighten up their day.


Tell me what you did this week to share Jesus. I can't wait to hear your story. Email it, leave it on my voice mail at work, or tell me in the hallway.
lori.reiber@stillwaterumc.org

God loves you and so do I!

Listening for God's Sake

There are so many times when I say, "yeah", "uh huh", and "I know" to my kids. Was I really listening to what they had to say to me? Some days, yes, most definitely, but other days, probably not. When we listen for God's sake, we sit down and really try to place God in the center of our conversations, whether they are with our children, our spouses, our co-workers or our parents. When we put God in the middle of our conversation we do something called Holy Listening. Holy Listening lets the person we are in communion with know that they are important to us and precious in God's sight. This kind of listening is a way into the heart and faith life of those we love. This kind of listening helps us to bring God's Kingdom into our houses, our families and our hearts.
How do you do it? Well, when you feel like you are in the midst of needing a serious listen to your loved one, pray first. Pray that God will help to clear your mind of distractions, the dinner can wait, so can the bills and the television show. Pray that God will allow you to hear with your heart. Then listen. Listen to what your loved one has to say to you, listen to what they really need, what they really want and what they are really feeling. You don't have to worry about answers, just reassure them that you hear what it was they had to say to you. If an answer is asked for, let it go until later. Let them try to come up with the answer on their own. You may be amazed how often our loved ones just want to know that they have been heard.

School is just around the corner, and that means, if you haven't had a busy summer already, the busy school year is upon us. Your homework from Pastor Lori: Take time as a family each day, whatever works for you, and pray together. Listen to each other. Read a Scripture verse together. Find a family devotional to share. You will be amazed how much closer you will get when you put God in the middle of your family time.

Don't forget to bring your backpacks to church with you on Aug 16 or 17, for our ANNUAL BLESSING OF THE BACKPACKS!!!

Summer Praise

So, how often do we walk around and say, "It's too hot!" I do almost everyday of the summer. I am definitely more of a fall personality! But the hot sun in the summer is what makes the fall beautiful and more refreshing. But, the hot summer is something we should praise, we should thank God everyday, and that is something I forget. I forget it most easily when my days are not a normal routine, and what should be the lazy days of summer become hectic and rushed. I know I need to slow down, enjoy and take some time to be with God, praising God for all of the joys in my life and the blessings we have in our lives.

We are still celebrating summer with Vacation Bible School next week at Stillwater on Miller Lane, and with our Summer Sunday School Classes.

School is just around the corner though, and as we begin to prepare our hearts, minds and bodies for a new school year, we invite you to bring your backpacks to church with you on the weekend of August 16-17 for our Annual Blessing of the Backpacks. What a great way to begin the year.

We will also begin our new School Year of Sunday School. There are many new opportunities for parents to serve with Children's Ministry and if God is placing on your hearts a call to serve, please let me know, you will be blessed by the children more than you would ever expect!

Look for me in the hall of Stillwater and tell me what your Summer Praise is, I'd love to hear it.
-Pastor Lori

It's Summer!

What a beautiful day today, as I sit here in my office working. There are sounds of singing, dancing, acting, and costuming coming down the hall from the cast and crew of HONK! this summers Stillwater Performing Arts Camp. The performances are next week, Friday and Saturday. I hope you all come.

I sure hope that all of you kids find a camp here at Stillwater, at one of our campuses! Summer just isn't the same without VBS! Sing, and share God's love, bring a friend!

Even though there is no school during the week, we hope you will come and have fun with us on Saturday Evening or Sunday Morning. Our teachers are ready for you and we have some exciting things planned for you. Check back here for updates from our teachers.

Question of the week: What was Noah's Ark made out of? (and you need to be able to tell me more than just "wood") If you know the answer, find me and tell me on Sunday, I'll have a treat for you!