We had a wonderful lesson on Sunday—Praying in The Garden. Our Bible story begins after Jesus and the disciples shared the Last Supper. Jesus knew his death was coming soon. He didn’t want to die and was probably sad and anxious. He prayed that God would present him with a solution so he wouldn’t have to die, but he also knew it was up to God. After fervently praying, Jesus was visited by an angel. The angel set his mind at peace, and Jesus knew what he had to do.

In this story, Jesus provides us with a model for prayer, taking his sadness and his fear and turning it over to God—as we are taught to do. Jesus asks for what he wants but ultimately prays for God’s will to be done. This is what we are expected to do. Everyone needs to know that no matter what is happening, we can go to God, just like Jesus did. It might not change the outcome, but it will bring comfort to know that God goes with us and is present amid our fear and sadness.

We need to remind all of you that we will have an Easter egg hunt before church on Easter Sunday. Get to church early that day. Have Mom and Dad get you to church by 9:45! And ask Grandma or Grandpa! We have some real goodies this year! Lots more than just candy, I noticed the bunny already left a really big golden egg with big bucks inside!! The bunny says there are lots of toys inside. Talk to Mom about this egg hunt. We also have a movie during church complete with popcorn and juice.

See you there! Blessings….

It appears that Spring Break from school has taken our kids out of town! We missed you this Sunday as we were studying the Passover meal.

The Passover meal is celebrated each year to mark the Israelites’ escape from slavery in Egypt. The Passover meal with Jesus would be different, but they did not know that. During the meal, Jesus gave thanks for the bread and broke it and then took the cup and blessed it. Jesus used the bread and the cup, everyday items, to remind the disciples of His Body (the bread) and His Blood (the cup) given for them and for us. They have become symbols in our church today. Symbols of God’s love in Christian churches.

During Communion, we recite the familiar words, “Do this in remembrance of Me”, and share the bread and cup to remember the life and death of Jesus. We all might practice and participate communion differently; however, we can remember Jesus and His example by simply sharing a meal. Whether we share a meal with friends and family or come forward to receive the elements in worship, we have the opportunity to remember.

On Easter Sunday, we have a big celebration in the way of an Easter egg hunt right before church! Be sure to remind Dad and Mom to get you to church early!! When I arrived home from church last
Sunday, I found a big box filled with eggs that contained monster trucks, dinosaurs, puppies, army men, teddy bears, puppies, bugs, bubbles and Mom’s favorite, slime!! Of course these will also be filled with candy for your hunt!! Last year, the kids took the plastic eggs home, so we need donations of plastic eggs and small individually wrapped candy to fill all our eggs with sweets!

Can you help us by donating plastic eggs or candy we can use for our kids? Just drop it off in our room any time before Easter!

Thanks for your help… Blessings!

This Sunday, we explored the story of Jesus washing His disciples’ feet. This is something typically done by a servant, so the disciples were surprised. Peter said to Jesus, “No! You will not wash my feet!” That was a strong response. But Jesus, who would soon be led to His death, had a purpose behind His actions.

By washing His disciples’ feet, Jesus wanted to make it clear that in God’s world, all are created equal. The servant and the master are all loved equally by God and treated the same.

Many churches use this story during Holy Week and hold a foot washing service. Children might see this practice as a yucky job, not something we want to do today. Try comparing this practice with other acts of service, such as helping a neighbor take out their trash, caring for a sick friend, or helping them clean up a spill. Through this story, we can see that serving others, like Jesus did, is an unexpected act of love.

Easter will be here before we know it, so we must prepare for our annual Easter egg hunt. Last year we had lots and lots of eggs filled with candy and prizes brought to church for all our kids to find. This year we could use donations of individually-wrapped candy to fill our eggs.

The Easter Bunny has always been nice to us, but we also need your kids and grandkids to join the hunt. During church on Easter, we will have a movie and popcorn for the kids.

See you all in church!

This week we discussed Zacchaeus. Vickie and I started the lesson by singing the song we learned when we were young, maybe you remember …

Zaccheus was a wee, little man,
And a wee, little man was he.
He climbed up in a sycamore tree,
For the Lord he wanted to see.

And as the Savior came that way,
He looked up in the tree,

And he said,”Zaccheus, you come down from there,”

For I’m going to your house today.
For I’m going to your house today.

… I will spare you the rest, but we sang as much as we remembered! The kids must have thought we lost our minds, but they listened quietly, and I know they will remember this lesson!

Zacchaeus was a tax collector; they were not liked because they would collect more money than the Roman government asked for and put the balance in their pocket. Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector, which meant that he was one of the best and probably very rich.

Jesus was passing through Jericho, and because he was so short, Zacchaeus climbed up a tree so he could see Jesus. Jesus saw him in the tree and told him to come down because he was going to his house today.

Why did Jesus choose to go to the home of a sinner to have a meal? Zacchaeus wanted to change his ways and asked to be forgiven.

How do you handle someone who has done you wrong and asked to be forgiven? Do you believe in second chances? With the help and guidance of Jesus, we can all learn that there is opportunity for second chances.

We all moved outside for our project. We made bird feeders out of pine cones. We found that birds love peanut butter with their seeds. It was a beautiful day and sitting at the picnic table and enjoying the sunshine made for a perfect day.

See you in church…

Our story Sunday was one we could all identify with: Do you remember Jesus as he was traveling through Jerusalem going to the house of sisters, Mary and Martha? The custom of that day was that you prepare a meal for your visitors.

Martha was busy preparing the meal that they would serve Jesus. Mary, however, was sitting at the feet of Jesus to listen to his teaching. Martha was upset at Mary because she wasn’t helping. A woman sitting at the feet of a man was not socially acceptable at the time.

Martha was irritated thinking her sister should be more concerned with helping her prepare the meal, especially since their guest was someone as special as Jesus. Martha complained to Jesus, asking him to tell Mary to help her. Instead, Jesus tells Martha that she is worried and distracted by things that are not important. Mary has chosen what is important, to be close to Jesus and learn about God.

What would you do? We must realize that we all respond to Jesus in different ways. It does not mean that person is wrong. Each of us is called to follow Jesus in different ways.

Hopefully, we will see you at church Sunday.

Blessings