Summer Fruits of the Spirit

Summer's here, and children's worship is on hiatus until the Fall.

We miss this children (and are sure the children miss one another) already.

We have been blessed with many touching and humorous moments that a ministry for kids under 7 years old does bring, ranging from:

• drawing pictures and hearing stories of them and their best friends (and bestest friends)
• hearing heartfelt prayers filled with thanksgiving for toys, mommies, daddies, grandmas, grandpas, and not pee-peeing in the bed
• hearing testimonies of trips to the circus, eating popcorn at home with cousins, scraped knees now feeling better, and visits to grandma's house
• spending quality time in or around the bathroom, especially when they have to "go poop"
• adults attempting to process why a room full of kids are grateful for God demonstrating love and honor for us through "pumpkins" (especially since it wasn't October)
• identifying with little David's feelings of not being valued by adults, "cause when my mommy is mad at me, she doesn't want to hear nothing I got to say."
• remarks that an illustration of baby Jesus made him look just like a jellybean ("cause he was wrapped in that blanket thing")
• being very excited to serve as worship leaders and helpers: reading the Lord's prayer, handing out napkins, juice and snack, blessing the food, collecting garbage, distributing instruments, and more
• enjoying praise and worship with miniature tambourines or egg shakers 
• making joyful noise during King's Kidz rehearsal time
• thoroughly examining each and every animal in a cup of animal crackers
• finding a star (like the star of Bethlehem) hidden inside an apple
• giving impromptu hugs
• receiving requests to send text messages/voicemail to staff members who were away, "because I need to tell her I love her and I miss her and I hope she's having a good week."

While the Children's Ministry staff use this time to both refresh and to plan for next season, we want to encourage families to keep the children's spiritual education going over the summer.

Please read or reread stories in The Beginner's Bible (published by Zondervan, and available at most bookstores/libraries) and review some of the topics and themes we've covered.

Throughout the year, we've nurtured the children to realize that God's Children Have Purpose (and read lots of stories about children in the Bible, like Moses, Miriam, Jesus, and David).

We've also discussed concepts of being a Christian--being a steward to God's creation, caring for one another, friendship, giving and doing for others--and what it means to be a member of Bethel.

They've learned the importance of honoring worship, and gained a few insights on what happens in the main sanctuary (two big goals of the Children's Ministry).

Our focus for the summer is SUMMER FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT, based on the scripture Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Please read, reread, and read again this scripture to your children throughout the summer.

Each week, we'll post a new lesson for you to talk to your kids at home based on each of these "fruits."

We'll also leave a coloring or activity sheet outside the main sanctuary for the children to work on at home or while in church. (And we trust that the children will honor the sanctuary by being careful with their pencils--yes, pencils which are the most forgiving of art supplies vs crayons).

In the meantime, have fun at home with fruit, making fruity faces, using:

• plate (your canvas)
• corn tortilla (as the face)
• various fruit to create eyes, nose, and mouth (try raisins, grapes, apples, berries, etc.)
• marshmallow fluff for "glue"

Talk about the fruits of the spirit while making your artwork, then enjoy your edible snack art.

Be Blessed!

PS The King's Kidz Choir will sing on July 25 (Youth Impact Sunday). They will sing a song they previously learned, Your Love is Deep (an adapted version of Jami Smith's song). They'll have an opportunity to rehearse again on July 25 just before they sing, so no worries if they don't remember it, or didn't learn it the first time around.

Save the Dates:

Youth Leaders Retreat is Saturday, July 10.
Bethel's annual Church Picnic is Sunday, August 1, 2010.

Children's Back to School event is Saturday, September 25, 2010.

Children's Worship begins Sunday, October 17, 2010.