May 1

Sunday is May 1. What happened to April?? Time is flying by!! May 15 will be here in two weeks. That's when our Preschool and 1st-4th Grade Choirs will be singing in the morning service. They will practice this Sunday, May 1, in Kids Khoir for the last time. If you have not brought your children to Kids Khoir, take the plunge and bring 'em on! We meet on the children's Sunday School hall (the 500 building) immediately following supper. Peyton Hutchinson, leader of the preschoolers, has CDs of the songs they will sing. The graded choir will sing the first and last verses of "Fairest Lord Jesus."Both choirs will  run through the songs on stage in the auditorium during Sunday School on the morning of May 8.

Check out the brand new ASC website!!-

We have a website for Arts & Sports Camp!! You can visit it and Get lots of information. Even download and copy the necessary registration and medical release forms!! Go to
madisonheightsasc.wordpress.com. Please let me know what you think! I'd love some feedback!!
Thanks,
Sherlie

Kids Khoir

I am looking forward to our Preschool and 1st-4th grade Children's Choirs singing in Worship on May 15th. It will be a blessing for all of us. If your child has not been coming to Kids Khoir on the 1st &3rd Sunday nights after supper, please bring them. This Sunday night is the last Kids Khoir before they sing. They will practice in Sunday School on the 1st and 8th, also. But they will need all three practices, especially if they haven't rehearsed with the others at all.

I got an email from Westminster Bookstore about a great new book on prayer for children. And it's on sale!! Here's the info:

50% Off Two New Books For Children
info@wtsbooks.com

Arts & Sports Camp

I have been working on ARTS & SPORTS CAMP "stuff" all day. I am SO EXCITED!!! It's going to be great! God is answering prayer and opening doors. Many of you are committing to working, and you are excited, too!! Yay!!! God is going to give us tremendous week (three days)!!! Remember to mark your calendar for JUNE 27-29, from 8:30-11:45. And be expecting a call from me, if you haven't heard from me already. Go ahead and be thinking about the area you would like to serve in! :)

Happy Easter!

What a blessed Easter weekend we had! It began with an encouraging and meaningful service on Friday evening. We had a fun time talking about the importance of Easter, fellowshiping, and finding eggs at the Easter Egg Hunt Saturday morning. And it culminated in a very worshipful service with a great message this morning. God is so very good... and merciful... and gracious... and abounding in love... and so much more! to us, His elect. Thank you, God, that you planned before man even had opportunity to sin to save us through your precious Son. Thank you, Jesus, for willingly giving your life in place of ours. How awesomely wonderful that the gates of hell cannot prevail against you!! Thank you, Holy Spirit, that you guide and protect us, leading us safely to our eternal home, where we will worship the Three-In-One forever!!

Thanks, Emily. Happy Easter!

Easter Story Cookies

Ingredients/Items needed:

Bible
1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch of salt
1 cup granulated sugar
1 qt or gallon size zipper bag
wooden spoon
tape

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Place pecans in ziploc bag and let kids beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3, "Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head. They clothed Him in a purple robe and went up to Him again and again, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they struck Him in the face.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Add a teaspoon of vinegar into the mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30, "Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, 'I am thirsty.' A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. When He had received the drink, Jesus said, 'It is finished.' With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit."

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep."

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sins. Read Luke 23:27, "A large number of people followed Him, including women who mourned and wailed for Him."

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup of sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Psalm 34:8, "Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him." and John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18, "Come now, let us reason together", says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." And John 3:1-3, "Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, 'Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.'In reply Jesus declared, 'I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.'"

Fold in broken nuts.

Line cookie sheet with waxed paper. Drop mixture by spoonfuls onto waxed paper. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60, "As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered it to be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away."

Place the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66, "Take a guard," Pilate answered, 'Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.' So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting a guard."

GO TO BED. Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20, "I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy." And John 16:22, "So with you - Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice and no one will take away your joy."

On Easter morning, open the oven and remove the cookies. Take a bite. Notice - the "tomb" is empty!

On the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.

Read Matthew 28:1-9, "After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples: He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him. Now I have told you.' So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell His disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them, 'Greetings', He said. They came to Him, clasped His feet and worshippedHim."

I hope you enjoy this time with your children as we celebrate the ressurrection of our Savior!

Pondering Easter

The weeks leading up to the Passover were exciting times for the Israelites. They treated it with great respect, as it should have been. God instructed His children in exactly how to observe the Passover and what to say to their children about it in Exodus 12.

 “Obey these instructions as a lasting ordinance for you and your descendants. 25 When you enter the land that the LORD will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony. 26 And when your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’ 27 then tell them, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.’” Then the people bowed down and worshiped. 28 The Israelites did just what the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron.

Easter is our celebration of the final Passover Lamb, the One who gave the supreme sacrifice of His life so that we might live. He is currently preparing a place for us to live eternally with Him. What do we tell our children about why we celebrate Easter? Do we celebrate in such a way as to make them ask us what it means to us? As we enjoy the Easter Bunny, egg hunts, tons of candy (especially chocolate!), and new clothes, I pray we are careful to teach our children the True meaning of Easter, both in our actions and words. Happy Easter week!

Fun video, inspiring, too!

I couldn't help but think what it will be like when we are all worshiping and dancing around the throne in praise and adoration of our God and Savior!

http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=FB1B9CNU

Action!

I love Proverbs 2. Particularly the first twelve verses. I whine and complain about not understanding why certain things are as they are, or at times have the audacity to question God on the way He handles things. I am most often complacent in my pursuit of godliness. Why can't it just come to me in my comfy recliner while I'm watching TV? When I came across Proverbs 2 for the first time in a while, I figured it out. Look at all the action words in the first 5 verses that need to be involved in our quest for Wisdom! 

   "My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you,
     turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding,
     and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding,
     and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,
     then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God."

Wow. I want to be more active in my pursuit. I really do want to know more of God.

Arts & Sports Camp

I am SO excited about Arts & Sports Camp! The camp is for rising 4K-rising 6th grade and will be June 27-29, from 8:30-11:45, at St Joe. Your kids will get to choose from several different activities:

· Soccer
· Basketball
· Baseball
· Golf
· Cheerleading
· Dance
· Recreational games
· Arts
· Crafts
· Cooking
· Drama
· Music

Registration forms will be available in May.  Two blocks of classes will be offered, so your child may choose two activities. Pre-registration is a must as class sizes will be limited.  Your child will also learn songs, Scripture, and learn to think from a biblical-worldview perspective.

The Arts & Sports (ASC) Team, made up of Anna Brabham, Brittany Hammett, Brittney Strong,  Faith Stuart, Nissa Kilman (assistant director), and Sherlie Andrews (director) is currently looking for people to staff ASC. We have several coaches and teachers in place. If you are interested in coaching, teaching, or helping in any area, please let one of us know. We will offer a “mini camp” for the 2&3 year olds of all ASC workers! Arts & Sports Camp is a very rewarding experience!

I encourage you to invite your

neighborhood children!

ASC is a great outreach event. WE WELCOME UNCHURCHED AND UNBELIEVING CHILDREN TO ATTEND, TOO! So please encourage your children to invite friends from school, sports teams, the neighborhood, and other favorite hang-outs.

 

Looking forward to seeing the Lord continue to work, while being involved in it!            Sherlie