Archive for the ‘Sunday morning’ Category
Posted on January 24, 2010 - by kelly
Foundations
I happened to be watching one of those “How is this made?” type shows on TV the other night. The topic was on modern building constructions with a focus on the new Las Vegas “City Center”. The building cranes used to construct these massive towers were as fascinating as the building project itself.
The entire outcome of this massive 16,797,000 square feet building project hinged on the proper placement and durability of temporary, but vitally important cranes. The cranes themselves were set into the ground with a foundation that lay 8 stories below the earth, 800 feet below the earth’s surface! That’s quite a foundation. Besides the foundation, these cranes were then affixed to the building itself in crucial locations. One degree the wrong way, the crane could pull away from the building and bring the whole construction project to a halt causing casualties of life and property.
As a leader in Children’s Ministry I am reminded over and over the importance of laying a solid foundation for our children’s faith to grow on. I never want to forget how important these early years are in the spiritual development of the children entrusted into our ministry. But watching this building documentary reminded me of the even more important job of making sure our volunteers that help in this building process have a solid foundation to work from. If their foundation isn’t deep enough, they can easily be pulled out of the ground by the weight of the load they are being asked to carry. If they are not tethered to the building securely, they can topple, bringing down the buiding with them.
In 2010 our church is taking deliberate steps to help members grow in 3 vital relationships every Christ follower should pursue: growing closer to God, growing in our relationships inside the church, and growing in our relationships outside the church in hopes of sharing Christ with those who don’t know him.
By attending services and following up with personal study and prayer, our volunteers can ensure that their foundation remains deep and strong. By connecting with other volunteers and participating in small groups, our volunteers can tether themselves to the church; allowing them to gain a greater appreciation for the investment they are making into the lives of the children they serve. And it has been my personal experience that sharing the stories of things happening in Valley Kids with people not connected to the church always brings about questions and opportunities for me to share my faith.
Just as this architecturally stunning building complex could not be built without properly founded and secured cranes, Valley Kids could not begin to build into the lives of our children without our volunteers. I hope our volunteers never forget the importance of the “building project” they are undertaking each time they serve. It is an honor to be in the building business with such an incredible team.
Posted on September 10, 2009 - by kelly
Parent-Child Dedication
Four times a year CCV celebrates Parent-Child Dedication. This is an opportunity for parents to make a public statement of their intention to raise their children in the Christian faith. The practice of dedication dates back to the Old Testament where we read the story of Hannah returning Samuel to the church, thanking God for the gift of her child (1 Samuel 1), and then again in the New Testament where Joseph and Mary bring Jesus to be “consecrated to the Lord” (Luke 2: 23).
We take this opportunity to teach the varying church backgrounds that make up CCV why we choose to dedicate children instead of baptizing them. It is our hope to lay a foundation for these children to grow in their faith so that in the future they may choose to make Jesus the leader and forgiver of their lives through the act of baptism.
In the weeks leading up to the dedication service our Nursery Area Leader and myself have the opportunity to meet with the families and discuss not only the semantics of the ceremony, but the importance of this commitment they are making. We ask parents to choose a life verse for each child. This is a verse that is written on the dedication certificate and will be a teaching verse throughout the child’s life. Along with the life verse, we ask parents to write a letter to their children that they will read on their 18th birthday.
The act of writing a letter to their child is a difficult one. It is hard to sum up the hopes and dreams that these new parents have for the newest members of their family. My hope is that by having them document this moment we will encourage parents to continue to make a habit of writing to their children. What a gift to offer a young adult; the words of encouragement, hope, and prayers preserved throughout their youth.
These classes are one of the highlights of my year. It amazes me how God takes this incredible gift of having a child and uses it to pull us closer to him. Serving in Children’s Ministry, I often see families returning to the church or coming for the first time because they want this relationship for their child. It is an honor to help them on their path to discovering who they are and the parents they can be in Christ.
Posted on August 17, 2009 - by kelly
Hermit Crab
My daughter brought home two hermit crabs from the shore, one for her and one for her brother. I have managed to avoid these “pets” for years but I had recently killed her goldfish of 5 years and was suffering from parental guilt.
Two days into this new pet ownership, Ethan’s crab won’t move. We pick him up, poke him, run water over him. Nothing, it won’t move. I’m fairly confident it’s dead so I break the news; Ethan is devastated, Emma begs me not to throw it out, and Shannon suggests waiting until morning before flushing. We put in some grapes for the living crab and turn to walk away. Low and behold, the crab moves. He’s not dead after all, just didn’t appreciate all the attention I guess.
And somehow this crab experience made me think about how I interact with people on Sunday mornings. I’m an extrovert at heart and assume everyone I meet is just as interested in me as I am them. I meet people for the first time and I all but “pick them up, poke them, and run water over them.” Not everyone is as eager to be noticed; some people need a little time to warm up before they are ready to get to know others.
My goal for the upcoming week is to sit back a bit and try to give people a little space before I pounce. Now it may only last a week, but I’m going to try.
