Author Archives: Sue Kelcey

Kids’ News

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This week, we met a boy named Samuel. He was just a kid—about 12 years old—when something incredible happened.

Samuel lived in the temple with a priest named Eli. He was there because his mother, Hannah, had promised God that if He gave her a child, she would dedicate him to the Lord’s service. And she kept that promise. Samuel grew up helping Eli and learning about God.

One night, after they had both gone to bed, Samuel heard a voice calling his name:

“Samuel!”

He jumped up and ran to Eli’s room. But Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.”

This happened again. And again. And again.

Finally, Eli realized what was going on—it wasn’t Eli calling. It was God.

Samuel listened carefully, and when God called him again, he said:

“Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”

Samuel’s story reminds us that God speaks to people of all ages—even kids. If we listen closely, we might hear God calling us to help, to pray, to show kindness, or to do something brave.

“We know that God works all things together for good for the ones who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

—Romans 8:28

What We Learned:

  • God speaks to people of all ages—even kids!
  • Sometimes God’s call is quiet, so we have to listen carefully.
  • When God calls, we can say like Samuel did: “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”
  • Every one of us can do something important for God, no matter our age.

Thank you for bringing your young ones to church so they can learn and grow in faith, just like Samuel did. See you in church on Sunday!

Kids’ News – Barnabas and Saul Are Sent

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This week, we learned about the moment when the early church sent Barnabas and Saul (who we now know as Paul) on a very important journey. Before they left, the believers gathered to pray and worship. During that time, the Holy Spirit spoke and made it clear that Barnabas and Saul were being called to do something special for God.

Then something powerful happened: the church laid hands on them.

The laying on of hands is an ancient practice—a way of saying, “We believe in you,” and “We’re with you.” When the early believers placed their hands on Barnabas and Saul, they weren’t just sending them off—they were reminding them that they weren’t alone. The whole community was with them in spirit, and more importantly, God was with them too.

That’s how the Holy Spirit works. The Spirit speaks, calls, and sends. And the Spirit gives us strength, just like Jesus promised:

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…” (Acts 1:8)

Even today, the Spirit is still calling people to do big things in love, kindness, and faith. And sometimes the Spirit calls kids, too.

What We Learned:

  • The Holy Spirit calls and sends people out to share God’s love.
  • When we pray for each other, we are showing that we are a community of faith.
  • God’s Spirit gives us power to be brave, loving, and kind wherever we go.
  • We are never alone—our church and the Spirit go with us.

In class, we talked about what it means to be “sent” by God—not just to faraway places like Barnabas and Saul, but even to our schools, neighborhoods, and homes. We colored cutouts of hands and wrote encouraging prayers on them to remind each other: you’re not alone, and you are loved.

See you in church Sunday, where we’ll learn more about the Holy Spirit!

Kids’ News – Saul’s Big Surprise on the Road to Damascus

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This week, we met a man named Paul—but when we first met him, he was known as Saul. Saul was a Pharisee, a religious leader who thought he was doing the right thing by stopping the followers of Jesus. He was full of determination—but it was the wrong kind. Saul was harsh and unkind to Christians, and he had permission to arrest them in faraway cities.

One day, Saul was walking the road to Damascus with a mission to cause trouble. But then something incredible happened.

Suddenly, a bright light from heaven flashed all around him, and he fell to the ground. He heard a voice say,

“Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

Saul was stunned. “Who are you, Lord?” he asked.

The voice replied,

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” (Acts 9:4–5)

When Saul got up, he couldn’t see. He had been struck blind! His traveling companions had to take him by the hand and lead him the rest of the way to Damascus. For three days, Saul didn’t eat or drink anything. He waited. He prayed. And in that waiting, something began to change deep inside of him.

Then God sent a man named Ananias to find Saul. Ananias was nervous—he had heard all the terrible things Saul had done. But God said,

“Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name.” (Acts 9:15)

Ananias placed his hands on Saul and said,

“Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus who appeared to you on the road—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 9:17)

Right then, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes. He could see again—and he saw everything differently. His heart was changed. Saul was baptized, and he became Paul, one of the most important messengers of Jesus the world has ever known.

But here’s something important: Paul wasn’t changed all at once. Even after his powerful encounter, it took time. He had to grow, to learn, and to be guided by others. Big changes don’t always happen in a flash—even when God is involved. Sometimes, God works in us slowly, steadily, beautifully.

What We Learned:

  • God can change anyone—even someone who was once an enemy.
  • Jesus meets us where we are, even when we’re headed the wrong way.
  • Real transformation takes time and sometimes help from others.
  • God’s love is patient, powerful, and always at work.

In class, we talked about what it means to grow and change with God’s help. To celebrate transformation, each of our kids painted a colorful butterfly wind chime—a reminder that even when we can’t see it right away, God is shaping something beautiful in us. We hope they bring joy and gentle music to every home.

See you in church next Sunday!

Kids’ News – Walking, Leaping, and Praising God

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Peter and John were headed to the temple one afternoon to pray (Acts 3:1), just like they always did. Outside the temple gate, called Beautiful, sat a man who couldn’t walk. He had never walked—not once in his whole life. Every day, someone would carry him to the gate so he could ask for help from people passing by.

When he saw Peter and John, he asked for money. But Peter looked at him and said something surprising:

“Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” – Acts 3:6

And the man did! Peter reached out his hand, helped him up—and suddenly, his feet and ankles became strong. For the first time ever, he stood on his own. Then he did more than stand—he walked, leaped, and praised God right into the temple, a place he had never been allowed to enter before.

The people around were amazed. But Peter told them: Don’t look at us as if we did this on our own. The power came from Jesus. Everything that happened was because of Him.

This story reminds us how important it is to give what we do have—and to always give God the credit. Peter didn’t have money, but he gave hope, healing, and the name of Jesus.

And let’s not forget the man’s friends—who carried him to the temple every day. That kind of friendship is powerful.

What We Learned:

✔ True healing comes from God’s power, not our own.
✔ Sharing Jesus is the greatest gift we can give.
✔ God can use anyone to do amazing things.
✔ Good friends bring us closer to God’s love.

We missed some of you this week—summer adventures are in full swing! But we can’t wait to see you again this Sunday as we continue learning about Paul and his journey. Blessings to all our kids and their families!

Kids’ News – A Surprise From Heaven

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Last Sunday, we celebrated Pentecost—a special day when something amazing happened to Jesus’ friends.

After Jesus had gone back to heaven, the disciples were all together in one place. They were probably wondering what to do next. Suddenly, there was a sound like a rushing wind, and something like flames appeared above their heads—not hot or scary, but bright and full of power. They were filled with the Holy Spirit—God’s presence with them!

Then something even more incredible happened: they started speaking in different languages. People from all over the world heard them speaking in their native tongues, and they were amazed. “What is going on?” they asked. Peter stood up and explained that this was the power Jesus had promised. The Holy Spirit had come to help them share God’s love with the whole world.

And that’s exactly what they did.

🕊️ What We Learned

✔ The Holy Spirit is a gift from God that gives us strength and courage.
✔ God wants us to share His love with everyone, no matter where they’re from.
✔ Pentecost is like the birthday of the Church, when everything began to grow.

We missed many of our kids last Sunday—we know some of you are off on family adventures now that school’s out! Whether near or far, know that we are always thinking of you and cheering you on as you grow in faith. We hope to see you soon for our next lesson!

Blessings and joy from your Sunday School family.