KidzPort – March 29 – Ch-ch-changes

March 31, 2009

We’ve been going pretty much strong for quite a while, so we decided to take the opportunity of Pastor Mike delivering this week’s sermon to take a breather.  The kids still met, of course, but Beverly led them in a time of fellowship and games.   Can’t be all work and no play, can we?

We have made a couple of changes, however, and more are coming.  Over the two spring workdays, we are doing quite a bit of work to the KidzPort building.  Some of the in-process or planned things are include:

• Repairing the second floor banisters, replacing the ballisters, sanding and painting.  (Repaired, needs painting)
• Swapping the play/media room and the classroom to accomodate the larger classes better. (Done)
• Thoroughly cleaning the second floor. (Done)
• Repairing the ceiling in the front room and turning that into a nursery room. (Planned)
• Removing the stove and the stove enclosure from the kitchen. (planned)
• Setting up worktable areas in both the first and second floors. (Done)
• Repairing the second floor toilet valve. (planned)
• Repairing the first floor bathroom ceiling. (Done)
• Painting  two rooms on the second floor. (Planned)
• Reparing a leaking heater pipe in the cellar. (planned)

As you can see, much was done, but more is in process.  Keep checking for updates, or better yet, give us a hand!

Here are some of the updated rooms:

 

KidzPort March 15 – Tears

March 24, 2009

So sad. 

Hezekiah was very sad.  After all, Isaiah, the prophet of the Lord, had just told him “Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.” (2 Kings 20:1) 

I mean, if a prophet of God told me that I was about to die, I’d probably freak out.  I would certainly do what Hezekiah did – he cried.  The Word doesn’t say he “cried out to the Lord” or anything like that.  It simply says that Hezekiah “wept bitterly.” (v.3)

Somtimes we simply cry.  We’re sad, we’re frustrated, we’re tired and feel like giving up.  But God tells us not to give up.  God tells us that he knows when we cry.  Our memory verse, verse 5, surely gives us as much hope as it gave Hezekiah:

“Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord.”

Tears tell a lot about us, and are a special language all their own.  And God knows this language.  Don’t be afraid to cry – it’s like speaking to God.

For Parents:

• Work with your children to discover the reasons that they cry.  Talk to them about why they think they cry.
• If your child has reason to cry at all this week (I hope not!), encourage them to pray during whatever the crisis is, or afterwards.
• Read the memory verse (2Kings 20:5) with your child and help them memorize it.

Easter update!

There will be a special event for the kids on Easter Saturday.  We will be having an Easter Egg Hunt and picnic.  The location is planned for Beardlsy Park (weather permitting.)   Keep watching the GLCCKidz website for more detailed information.

Also, the KidzPort kids will be singing on Easter Sunday during the regular worship service.  So be sure to INVITE family and friends!

KidzPort March 15 – Sponges and Faith

March 16, 2009

Last week, we gave the kids a homework assignment.  You can read about the details in that post, but here’s what we found:

The wet sponge was soft and pliable.  It readily absorbed water, and even when folded, crushed, stomped on and twisted, it regained is original shape, and still held water.  More importantly, it was excellent at cleaning – which after all, is it’s purpose.

The dry sponge was hard and brittle.  It took awhile for it to absorb any water.  When it was folded and crushed, it was in great danger of breaking. And it was lousy at cleaning anything.

If Jesus is the water, and we are the sponge, this is a great illustration of how we need to keep ourselves immeresed in Jesus – the Water of Life.

We also talked about walking in faith.  In Jeremiah 42, we see an Israelite nation in fear of Babylonian invasion.  Some of them want to leave – to flee to Egypt.  But as we say in class, “Nothing good ever happens in Egypt.” 

Egypt represents slavery in many places in the bible.  The Israelites were more willing to return to the land that they had been slaves in than to stand fast in the land that God had promised them.  But if God had promised them the land, they rightfully should have had no fear.  Jeremiah tells them in 42:10 :

If you will still remain in this land, then I will build you and not pull you down, and I will plant you and not pluck you up. For I relent concerning the disaster that I have brought upon you. (NKJV)

We need to stay in the places that God puts us, and walk in faith, even when times are difficult.  God’s promise is clear in this.

For Parents:

• Talk to your child about faith.  What does in mean to them? Give them examples of when you walked in faith – and when God answered His promise.
• Repeat the experiment of last week.  Each child should bring their sponge to class next week.
• Hold your child accountable for what they need to bring to class each Sunday – a bible, a journal, a pen.  Also, work with them on the memory verse above. (Jer 42:10)

KidzPort March 8 – Like a Sponge

March 10, 2009

We switched things up a little this week.  Pastor Mike lead the KidzTrek post-encounter group, while Sister Jill led the Kidzport group.

One thing that the kids talked about was the role of the Holy Spirit in their lives, and the importance of God’s Word to each of them.   Hebrews 4:12-13 says

 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

That sword is a heavy one – but a powerful one.  God says that if we use the Word, keep it in our hearts, that it will keep us nourished.

To illustrate that point, we challenged the kids to a little science experiment.  It goes like this:  Take a new sponge and cut it in half. Put each half in a cup of water for a day.  After the first day, drain all the water out of one of the cups, leave the other full.  At the end of the week compare the two sponges. 

The sponges are us.  The water is Jesus – the Water of Life.  What does being removed from the water do to us?

For Parents:

• Encourage your children to be in the Word each day.  It’s never to early – read one verse!  (Come to think of it, that’s a good idea for you, too.)
• Make sure your child does the “homework.”  Check it out with them, and compare the “results.”
• Work with your child on the memory verse – Heb 4: 12-13.

KidzPort March 1 – Family

March 2, 2009

Interesting topic of conversation today – the family.  Specifically, the relationship that a familty has to each other, and how that relates to the Gospel and to salvation.

We read today the story of Paul and Silas, as they found themselves in jail.  They had been in Phillippi, and drove a spirit out of a girl.  For this “crime” they were beated and imprisioned.  While in jail, they were singing and praying to God, and a great earthquake shook the building and damged the door.  The jailor feared that they had escaped, but instead, found them sitting there, being obedient to the law. 

The jailor asked them what he must do to be saved.  Paul replied “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved – you and your whole family.”

It is often the case that faith comes to a household through one member.  Rarely does a whole family receive Christ at once.  But that one person can have such a profound imact on the others, that eventually they will come to a place of faith in Christ as well.  In fact, we often claim that promise – that our whole household will be saved.  

For Parents:

• Discuss with your child how your household came to faith in Christ.  Who was first?  A parent? The child?
• Reread the story of Paul and Silas in jail.  (Acts 16:25-34)  Relive what happened so they can understand it.
• Discuss how important it was that Paul and Silas obeyed the civil authorities and did not try to escape.  If they had escaped, would the jailor’s household have been saved?