life with SouthField Kids

Sunday Morning Info 12/20

Hey everyone,

This week, we will not be doing our normal Elevate curriculum.  We will be presenting the story "The Three Trees" complemented by Scripture readings.  Teachers and Music Leaders, you have the day off.  You can join us if you would like. :)  Thanks to Cara for doing music.  "In the Zone" will be a "Create a Manger" craft/construction paper project, similar to the "Tree of Thanks" we did for Thanksgiving.
 
The Large Group Time will most likely run short this week, so please be prepared with extra activities.  If you would like to have a small group celebration, at the end of the hour you may have a social time.  This is, after all, a time of celebration :).  If you bring food, remember - no cookies or crumblies.  Fresh fruit or candy canes are always a good choice.  Please check your area when you're finished for clean-up.

'The Three Trees' addresses three different periods in the life of Christ:  The Nativity, the calming of the storm and the Crucifixion. 
 
** Find, read and discuss Luke 2:1 - 20.  If you have time, you can look at Mark 4:35 - 41.  Finally - again if you have time - read and discuss John 3:16.

Small group leaaders, I sent you some Elevate Christmas activities that we can use, even though we didn't do that particular lesson.  Please feel free to use what you feel will be appropriate with your group.  Remember you may not be able to use the directions exactly as presented but feel free to adapt as you see fit...They're pretty good Christmas activities independent of the actual lesson so they should be fine. 

Contact me if you have any questions.

Thanks! 

See you Sunday!

handbell guerrillas

Christmas Lesson 12/20

We will be presenting "The Three Trees," complemented by Scripture readings.

Teachers and Music Leaders, you have the day off, but you are welcome to join us for the Christmas Lesson.  Thanks to Cara for doing music for us.

Small Group Leaders, we will not be doing our normal Elevate curriculum.  We will return to Week Two of "Winter Extreme:  Living Extreme Lives for God," on Sunday, 12/27.  You will be receiving Christmas small group activities in your weekly email.  Please contact me if you have any questions.

Thanks!  See you Sunday.

making it work...

Choosing curriculum is always an interesting proposition, as meeting the needs of Kindergartners through 5th graders within the same ministry can be challenging.  One of the primary reasons that Elevate resonated with us is the wide variety of activities available to you as small group leaders.

You have considerable latitude and flexibility in choosing and applying the small group activities.  One of the reasons I send all activities to all small group leaders is to give you as many choices as possible.  I want you to use them as best suits the needs of your individual group.  I encourage you to feel free to adapt the lessons as necessary.  This will require some advance thought and preparation, but I think you will find it well worth the effort. 

For example, if you have non-readers, when the activity calls for them to read the verse you can reference the verse, show them how to find it in the Bible, show them where it's located, but then you read it to them.  Or if you would like to insert a gross motor application for a high energy group, you have the freedom to do so.

The goal is to convey the Main Point of the day, and communicate how they can apply it in their daily lives in a meaningful way. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at any time.

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you all enjoy a wonderful day with your families.

I am incredibly grateful for you.  Thanks for sharing your gifts with our children.

Love,
Lorraine

a servant's mind

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve...  Mark 10:45

This week in my head, I've been tackling the concept of whining in my life.  Now at first glance you might think I'm referring to the whine belonging to my children.  I'm not.  I'm referring to the whine belonging to me.

The interesting (read: frustrating) thing about asking God to help you work on something in your life is that He never just zaps you and then you're fixed.  There are days I would pay money for that.  I don't really want to do the hard work of life change, I just want it done.  Zap me, God, and voila, I'm fixed - You're happy, I'm happy, everyone's happy.  Go God!

But it doesn't work that way.  Inevitably, what happens is this.  I get the message that there's something I need to work on - anger management, my tendency to get drawn into gossip, whining, ugh there's so many to choose from - so I offer it up and ask for His guidance and help in addressing that issue.  What happens?  I get dropped into one situation after another that requires me to make a decision.  Not God, not other people.  Me.  To choose not to be selfish. 

And not just make the decision, but then follow through on it and apply it in a meaningful way.  How am I going to act?  How am I going to react?  How is this going to change in my life? 

Servants base their identity in Christ.  Offering every day, every situation, every choice, up to God.  When we base our identity in Christ, we trust that He is in control.  Whining undermines His plan for us;  what He wants us to experience, how He wants us to grow, how He intends to mold us into who He needs us to be.  

Father God, help me choose to base my identity in You.