Today was a very, very busy Sunday!
Sunday school went well, and I think they understand the concept of the fruit of the Spirit. I emphasized that you can't break the fruit into separate fruits, but need all of them, and that they all work together. Then we had a special snack of Kinder® Surprise® eggs, and we were thankful for post-Easter chocolate sales! Near the beginning of class we had a wonderful interruption: a family who had moved away 9 months ago has moved back and this was their first Sunday back in Sunday school. They were a bit late, but we were too happy to mind!
The service was really good (I've included one of the hymns below). Pastor Mike preached on Ephesians 3:20-21. You can listen to it here. I found the reminder that we have working in us the same power that raised Christ from the dead, and gave us life as well to be a perfectly timed blessing for me today (Mike said it way better than that, so you should just go and listen to him). We ended with communion, which is always a serious and yet joyous time.
After the service we had our last-Sunday-of-the-month soup-and-sandwich lunch. I was ordered to join a group of teenage girls (by one of the girls), so I did. I like spending time with them, so I was quite willing to obey!
Next, we had baptisms: 10 people were baptized today. It was really, really good to hear their testimonies and how God has worked in so many lives in so many different ways. Some of "my" kids were baptized today; one of them I've known since he was a baby (he's around 13 now). I love watching them grow up and grow in their faith.
Finally, we had an elder appreciation time. It was just a short bit, with one of the men talking for all of us to our elders and their wives, letting them know that we love them. I think he did a good job, talking to each on specifically about why we love him (and his family). There were flowers and notes and gifts, and I think not a few tears. It was good.
And now I'm at home, washing baptismal robes, and wondering if I should head out for a walk before it starts to rain (it seems to be clouding over). I think I'll head out when I put the next lot in the dryer.
Sunday 30 April 2017
Sunday 23 April 2017
Sunday Notes
Today we started on the fruit of the Spirit in Sunday School. We talked about abiding in the vine to bear fruit, and how good trees bear good fruit, and bad trees bear bad fruit. We read from Matthew, about how you will know people (and particularly in that case, false teachers) by their fruit.
Then I used an example of an orchard. If it's late summer, early fall, and you're in an orchard and you're not sure what type of trees they are, how can you find out?
The answer I was given: By their leaves.
Trust me: even this boy doesn't know the leaves of the trees well enough to tell one type of tree from another.
My response: Where in the Bible does it say "You will know them by their leaves?????"
Oh, well; maybe next week they'll get it!
After the service, I was talking with another lady about our various menopausal symptoms. Yeah, I'm at that stage of adulthood now. I'm glad that I'm not going through it alone though; it's nice to have someone else sympathize with the hot flashes followed by chills!
Here's a hymn for you. Have a great week!
Then I used an example of an orchard. If it's late summer, early fall, and you're in an orchard and you're not sure what type of trees they are, how can you find out?
The answer I was given: By their leaves.
Trust me: even this boy doesn't know the leaves of the trees well enough to tell one type of tree from another.
My response: Where in the Bible does it say "You will know them by their leaves?????"
Oh, well; maybe next week they'll get it!
After the service, I was talking with another lady about our various menopausal symptoms. Yeah, I'm at that stage of adulthood now. I'm glad that I'm not going through it alone though; it's nice to have someone else sympathize with the hot flashes followed by chills!
Here's a hymn for you. Have a great week!
Monday 17 April 2017
Sunday Notes
Okay, yes: It's Monday. Yesterday was very busy, so you get the Sunday post today. I hope I didn't drive off all 7 of my readers by doing this!
Yesterday was good. There was no Sunday School (we give the teachers a break for Easter). After the service, I learned how to play quarter hockey (which, it seems, should be penny hockey, but no one has pennies now). It was a very exciting game to watch as the two boys battled it out for bragging rights. I also watched an interesting snowball fight; one of the older ladies got involved, and she has a good arm.
I spent the rest of the day with friends and their family. There was good food, good company, and lots of laughter. One of the boys and I still need to play another chess game; we're tied 1-1. He wanted the best of 3. I really thought he'd beat me in 2, but we battled out the second game until I won. I had to assure him that I didn't let him win the first game. I've had some people tell me that I should let kids win games and that they'll feel better about themselves if I let them win, but I disagree. I think it's insulting to the children, gives them a false sense of how wonderful they are, and makes it harder for them to lose later in life. Also, they know that they won because they played better than I did; that's what makes them feel good about themselves.
And on that note: Here's an Easter hymn for you:
Yesterday was good. There was no Sunday School (we give the teachers a break for Easter). After the service, I learned how to play quarter hockey (which, it seems, should be penny hockey, but no one has pennies now). It was a very exciting game to watch as the two boys battled it out for bragging rights. I also watched an interesting snowball fight; one of the older ladies got involved, and she has a good arm.
I spent the rest of the day with friends and their family. There was good food, good company, and lots of laughter. One of the boys and I still need to play another chess game; we're tied 1-1. He wanted the best of 3. I really thought he'd beat me in 2, but we battled out the second game until I won. I had to assure him that I didn't let him win the first game. I've had some people tell me that I should let kids win games and that they'll feel better about themselves if I let them win, but I disagree. I think it's insulting to the children, gives them a false sense of how wonderful they are, and makes it harder for them to lose later in life. Also, they know that they won because they played better than I did; that's what makes them feel good about themselves.
And on that note: Here's an Easter hymn for you:
Sunday 9 April 2017
Sunday Stuff
We finally finished the order of salvation this morning in Sunday School. I showed them where Paul refers to all believers as saints, and explained that when we become Christians, we are called saints by God (although we are not yet perfect). We also talked about how sanctification is an on-going process, and is a combination of our work and the Holy Spirit's power. I really pounded that one home; I do not want them thinking that they have to do all the work, nor do I want them to think that they can just sit back and wait for God to do stuff in them.
We are enforcing the "parents need to pick up their children after Sunday School" policy. For a while, parents were sending older siblings, or just taking forever to get their children (perhaps waiting for us to stop waiting and bring the children out). The issue with older siblings is that they tend to come with their friends, and there really isn't much room for that many people; also, they don't leave quickly and quietly. This seems to be going well, except for that one mom I overheard today muttering about what nonsense it was to have to pick up her children rather than sending a sibling. I wish parents would understand that we're not trying to make their lives harder. We're trying to make it easier for the Sunday School teachers (who would like to have a few minutes between Sunday School and the service to at least find a seat), but our primary reason is to make sure the children are safe, that they get to their parents, and that they don't wander off somewhere. I didn't respond to the mom (who seemed to talking half to herself and half to her small child as they headed off to get a slightly older child), since everything I was thinking was rather sarcastic. Sometimes I can keep my mouth shut!
Here is this week's hymn for you. I really like it, and it uses "propitiation" which is a great word to find in a hymn.
We are enforcing the "parents need to pick up their children after Sunday School" policy. For a while, parents were sending older siblings, or just taking forever to get their children (perhaps waiting for us to stop waiting and bring the children out). The issue with older siblings is that they tend to come with their friends, and there really isn't much room for that many people; also, they don't leave quickly and quietly. This seems to be going well, except for that one mom I overheard today muttering about what nonsense it was to have to pick up her children rather than sending a sibling. I wish parents would understand that we're not trying to make their lives harder. We're trying to make it easier for the Sunday School teachers (who would like to have a few minutes between Sunday School and the service to at least find a seat), but our primary reason is to make sure the children are safe, that they get to their parents, and that they don't wander off somewhere. I didn't respond to the mom (who seemed to talking half to herself and half to her small child as they headed off to get a slightly older child), since everything I was thinking was rather sarcastic. Sometimes I can keep my mouth shut!
Here is this week's hymn for you. I really like it, and it uses "propitiation" which is a great word to find in a hymn.
Friday 7 April 2017
For the Tough Days
Some days are easy. Some days are tough. On all of them, my desire is to praise God, to glorify Him, and to hold tight to Him and to His promises.
Sunday 2 April 2017
Sunday Notes
Today was a reformation lesson: we learned about Tyndale, his love for God's Word, and his work in translating it into English. He was captured and killed before he finished the entire Bible. Then we tried to figure out how many Bibles we each had in our homes. I have 10 Bibles, covering a total of 5 different translations. We have been incredibly blessed in our ability to access God's Word, which my be why so many people (and I'm only talking about believers here) don't care enough about it. If it was suddenly banned, and hard to find, and illegal to read, I think we might see better how precious it is.
During class, we suddenly heard a violin playing O Sacred Head Now Wounded (the hymn I posted below). We stopped to listen and wonder where the sound was coming from. Someone thought it came from the nursery, or close to it, because when it started, all the babies became quiet. It turns out that one of the junior high students was practicing to play it during the offering this morning. The babies could undoubtedly hear it, since we could, so maybe that did settle them down. If so, we need her to play for them regularly!
During class, we suddenly heard a violin playing O Sacred Head Now Wounded (the hymn I posted below). We stopped to listen and wonder where the sound was coming from. Someone thought it came from the nursery, or close to it, because when it started, all the babies became quiet. It turns out that one of the junior high students was practicing to play it during the offering this morning. The babies could undoubtedly hear it, since we could, so maybe that did settle them down. If so, we need her to play for them regularly!
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