Spring is in the Air

Yes, it is!  Spring is in the air, and that means Easter is just around the corner!  This is the most holy day of the Christian Year, and day that really began the entire church movement.  Jesus was a very powerful presence when he walk the earth, but it was his rising from the dead that allowed humanity to see him for who he really was, God on Earth.  I hope you take the time to sit as a family around this holy day, and really talk about the meaning of Jesus gift to us.  The gift of love, the gift of hope and the gift of life in Him.  It may be fun to hunt for eggs, or get an Easter Basket full of candy, it is really about new life in Christ.

Top Ten Things for Sunday School:

We came up with this list at our recent Children's Teacher Training, and decided we have a big job ahead of us. I thought I should share it with everyone, so you can help us out at home and whenever you interact with kids, anywhere, at home, at school, with friends, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and all of God's beautiful children!

Here are the Top Ten Things We Want to DO In Sunday School:
1. Teach Bible basics
2. Provide a safe, friendly and loving space
3. Provide role models for living a life of faith and making positive life choices.
4. Give the kids free and fearless social time.
5. Be willing to share God.
6. Live through acceptance without judgment.
7. Teach or explain what a relationship with God means.
8. To teach God’s love.
9. Connect kids to other kids of faith, growing life long networks to support each other.
10. Help kids develop a real relationship with God. (what that means, how that could look, how to live into that relationship in all circumstances: school, home, church, and social lives)

Thanks for your input teachers, you are blessings!
Pastor Lori

Looking ahead!

There are times when all I think about is what I have done in the past... but we cannot do that as followers of Jesus. We need to look ahead, to see where God is leading us, to actually follow on the path that we are being led. How awesome is that!

We are studying Images of God with our K-4th Graders. We really do look at God in so many different ways.

Sometimes as a nurturing parent...

sometimes as the rock which we build our lives on...

sometimes as a fire that lights our way...

and other times as the faces we look at day after day. I guess for me, the most important one is the image of God, that we are created to love each other and to share God's love with everyone around us. That isn't always easy...

Some of our 5th and 6th Graders have begun the journey of Confirmation. This is a wonderful time of learning about themselves, their faith and their church. I invite all of you to do the same!

Tis the Season

I have been thinking about all of the exciting things that are going on at Stillwater this week. We have the joy of hosting "Step Into Africa" the World Vision AIDS Experience.  What a way to look at Christmas.  I do not think that I could survive the journey of a child, suffering in poverty, affected by AIDS, orphaned, and alone.  For a parent with young children, there are other ways to approach the topic and do something as a family.  

We have Bethlehem Village at the YMCA from 6-8 this Sunday, Dec. 7.  You can walk through an event for whole family and go back in time and experience the wonder of the night Jesus was born.

Our children are the hope of the world.

It is up to us to help and form them into children of God who care about all of God's children.  We have so much, even if you do not feel like it at times.  During this time of buying gifts, and being asked to buy gifts... try to talk to your children about how Jesus came into the world as a gift t =o us, to help us love the world.  Wouldn't it be neat to make part of your family's Christmas tradition, giving to a needy family, or sponsoring a child?  There are so many one time gifts that you can give, or to give regularly as a family, and not fill your house with more "things" that you really don't need.

You can change the hearts of your kids and change the lives of people and children around the world.

Kids Fun Facts

How many of you say thank you when you get something you want? Do you notice when good things happen to you? What are some of the things that make you happy? These are just some of the things we can think about when we look to see God in our lives. I notice the day, and the weather. I think about the things that made me smile throughout the day. I think about the light of Jesus in a world that can feel dark. I think of the awesomeness of God, and wonder, wonder about a lot of stuff. So...

What is the most awesome thing you think God has done in your life? Right now, this week!

I'd love to hear about it.

Ask your mom or dad if it is okay to put your answers on our blog... and write away! Sign with your first name and age... that's all.
(make sure you do not put your full name)

Hey Parents-
Can you answer this question too? How do you feel when you meditate on the thought that God loves you and wants to be a part of your life, right now, this week! How do you share that with the people around you? Think about it, I'd love to hear what you have to say, too!

You Can Make A Difference In Many Ways

Light The Night is October 31st from 6:30-8:30
This is a community outreach event and a Fun Halloween Experience for kids up to 6th Grade. We will have a bonfire, hay rides, carnival games and much, much more.
New this year: Trick or Treat for UNICEF or bring in a bag of canned goods for our Food Pantry and receive a special invitation ticket to a SUMC Kid’s Movie Night.
Donations and Servants Needed! If you helped last year and are planning to again this year, please let me know where you like to serve. We need all the help we can get. Look for the display in the lobby at Frederick Pike, or email Lori. mailto:lori.reiber@stillwaterumc.org

Donations: Individually wrapped candy, graham crackers, marshmallows, Hershey bars, Small NEW trinkets for a prize table or monetary donations for purchase of trinkets, or canned goods for “purchase” of donations at the prize table.

Children’s Ministry Needs YOU!
We are launching new and innovative Sunday Morning and Saturday Night Children’s Programming at all three campuses (and Wednesday KIDSONG is exploding) and while we have plenty of kids, (God is Good!) we still need adult servants. We need our adults to reach out and help in many ways. Substitutes are always needed, if you can only help on occasion. We will be continually recruiting Workshop Teachers, who teach short term lessons in a specialized area, Music and Worship Leaders, Preschool Teachers and especially Nursery Servants. Please prayerfully consider touching the lives of our children, they are our future leaders in the church and need to be nurtured in their faith, and cannot do it for themselves! Besides, you will learn so much as you walk alongside of them!
If you want to learn more or get involved, please contact Lori, mailto:lori.reiber@stillwaterumc.org or...
Beth Flickinger or Nicole Presley for Stillwater at Frederick Pike
Nancy Anderson for Stillwater on Miller Lane
Cyndi Hunter or Kay Kramer for Stillwater at the YMCA.

Our Children can be our closest and biggest mission field.

Smile :)

Hey kids, I know that you are busy and that school has started... have you remembered FROG! I bet there are times when you feel like this first guy, and you are on top of the world. Everything is under control, and you know what is going on. remember to fully rely on God even then, and thank God for all of the good things that are going on.

And then there are the times when you feel like this second guy, just barely hanging on. Thinking that no one understands what you are feeling, or going through. God does, and God is right there hanging on with you.

Do not worry, God tells us over and over again, I am there with you through thick and thin!

Hey Mom and dad, help your kids remember that they can always FROG! Give them a huge hug before they go to school, and a special blessing, like the one I left up here last time; that they are beloved Children of God and that God loves them and blesses them, every single day. And do me a favor, remind yourselves every once in a while, because you are all doing a very important job, one that God trusts you to do and that you can FROG when you feel like the cute little guy who is just hanging on. You are a blessing to your children and your love lifts them up in this world.

Have a great week-

Pastor Lori