A blessing: in pursuit

Posted on by Carol Hulbert
Make sure to remind your child that God is active in his pursuit of them with his goodness and mercy (his loving kindness). What can our response be?

To turn around, and actively pursue his presence!

“a

Here is a blessing to match these thoughts:

Say your child’s name and…

Jesus does not stop in his job to provide you loving kindness. May you turn right back around and crave friendship with Jesus.


Click on a box if you would like to…
A check-box Satisfy your curiosity about why you should bless your child.
A check-box View other suggested blessings.


Photo credits:
Twirling girl by Karah Levely-Rinaldi, who licensed this photo on Flickr under a Creative Commons License.

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What’s happening in November? Here’s the schedule

Posted on by Carol Hulbert

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On Saturday nights and on Sunday mornings at FUMC our Cool Disciples experience Rotation Model Christian education, as they learn about Bible stories and concepts through kid-friendly multimedia workshops.

November’s Rotation is about two sisters in the Bible, Mary and Martha. These two have different priorities about hospitality – how their house guests should be treated. Things quickly come to a head! Whose priority is a better choice? Read what Jesus has to say about this question in Luke 10:38-42.

Why is this story so important? We all lead busy lives. Boy, do our kids have full schedules! What is one to do when faced with a list of numerous “good” activities? Do we place certain pursuits higher on the to-do list, while others wait in the wings? It’s a tricky process often requiring last minute juggling. The story of Mary and Martha speaks to this balancing act and urges us to be sure to include one critical item: spending time with God. A great topic to discuss with your family! Ask your kids about it.

Jan Vermeer van Delft 004

For Saturdays at the Green Wood location, here is the schedule for November…

Date Workshop Activity
11/5 Video Workshop Watch a video called Martin the Cobbler to see a different sort of hospitality – welcoming God into our lives! Discuss how we invite God.
11/12 Cooking Workshop Discuss hospitality and be hospitable! Make something yummy to give away.
11/19 Drama Workshop Experience the story of Mary and Martha by acting out the story.
11/26 Games Workshop Play a quiz game that has no right or wrong answers but demonstrates listening and choices.

And here is what is happening on Sundays at the downtown location…

Date Cooking Games Games Art Drama Video
Social Hall Room 204 Room 211 Room 212 Room 215 Pine Room
11/13 2nd grade 5th grade 3rd grade 6th grade 4th grade 1st grade
11/20 1st grade 4th grade 2nd grade 5th grade 6th grade 3rd grade
11/27 3rd grade 6th grade 1st grade 4th grade 5th grade 2nd grade

What’s happening in each workshop?

  • Art Workshop: Create a symbol from clay, using time-honored “rock art” techniques (carving rock) to remind us to balance our busy lives to include time with God. Display this creation where it will be noticed!
  • Cooking Workshop: Discuss hospitality and be hospitable! Make quick breads to give away to Alpha House and the Ronald McDonald House.
  • Drama Workshop: Experience the story of Mary and Martha by acting out the story.
  • Games Workshop: Play a quiz game that has no right or wrong answers but demonstrates listening and choices. (All groups of kids will be visiting Games this month, one room for 1st-3rd and one room for 4th-6th.)
  • Video Workshop: What would happen if someone famous were coming to your house for lunch? How would you prepare? Watch a Claymation video called Martin the Cobbler to see a different sort of hospitality – welcoming God into our lives! Discuss how we invite God.


If you are in the area please join us for the fun learning at First United Methodist Church in Ann Arbor, MI


Photo credits: Click here for info on banner photo (not visible in readers or email).
Painting by Johannes Vermeer entitled “Christ in the House of Martha and Mary” obtained via Wikimedia Commons [Public domain].

A blessing: goodness and mercy are pursuing you

Posted on by Carol Hulbert

The good shepherdAt the end of Psalm 23, Psalmist David is really raving about the benefits of living under the care of a “Good Shepherd.”

 
'Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.  Psalm 23:6

Goodness and mercy, follow me?

What?

The Old Testament was originally written mostly in Hebrew. In it’s eventual translation to English (via Greek and Latin) something got lost. Peeking at the Hebrew version (along with an on-line Hebrew lexicon for translation!) we see that the word “follow” in this case was “radish,” meaning to pursue or to chase!

Can you see it?

God’s goodness and loving kindness, actively pursuing you!

One kid chases after another on a beautiful beach with a Hawaiian sunset

Bless your child with these words, saying their name and…

God’s loving kindness is chasing after you.

Don’t you wish that for your kids? I sure do!


Click on a box if you would like to…
A check-box Satisfy your curiosity about why you should bless your child.
A check-box View other suggested blessings.

p.s. In the Games Workshop this month as our Cool Disciples have studied Psalm 23, they’ve played a relay race game called “Follow me to the Lord’s House.” Here are team members getting ready to race to the Lord’s House, dressed as a sheep with “goodness and mercy jingle bells” around their ankles! Fun!

In the games workshop for Psalm 23, members of a team become one SHEEP.

--------------

Photo credits:
Good Shepherd by waldryano.
Scene of a chase by Lance Shields.
Both photos licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY 2.0).
Bottom photo copyright Robert Langdon from our program at Green Wood. Used with permission.

Preparing your kids for worship

Posted on by Carol Hulbert

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Want to help your child to enjoy attending worship with you?
Think of how you got to be good at doing something. Practice right?
To prepare your child for worship do a little bit of preparation and practice.

a four year old plays the piano

What better way to help your child feel comfortable in worship than to learn one of the hymns that will be used on Sunday morning. The recognition of hearing a familar tune will help your child to feel as though they are participating. The hymn Children of the Heavenly Father will be sung after the sermon. (Thus it is called the “Hymn of Response.” Since the sermon on Sunday is entitled “All God’s Children,” this is an appropriate song to sing in response!)

Preparation: Listen to the tune of this hymn: here. It is simple and short and easily learned. Here are the words to the first verse:

Children of the Heavenly Father
safely in His bosom gather;
Nestling bird nor star in heaven
Such a refuge e’er was given.

Practice: Gather together the family, at the family dinner table. (Or wherever your family is gathered together.) Learn this song! Explain new words.

  • Describe a bosom as the part of a clothing that covers the chest. Picture Jesus hugging you!
  • “E’er” is a fancy way of saying “ever.”
  • A refuge is a safe, secure place. Neither a little bird nor a shiny star was ever given such a place to rest! Doesn’t that make you feel like a child of God?

What hints do you have for helping your kids prepare for worship?


Photo credits: Click here for info on banner photo (not visible in readers or email).
Piano player by woodleywonderworks, who licensed this photo on Flickr under a Creative Commons License.
Lyrics to this hymn copyright to the Board of Publication of the American Lutheran Church; administered by Augsburg/Fortress. (I requested permission to reproduced but never heard back. Leaving it up unless I hear otherwise.)

A blessing: personalized

Posted on by Carol Hulbert
We can’t constantly be with our kids. Psalm 23 can steel us. Without fail, God is with our children. So say a blessing for your child that reassures them that God is always with them and strengthens and protects them.

A mother and a child walk in the woods

Say this to your child (inserting their name in the blank):

The Lord is ___’s shepherd.


Click on a box if you would like to…
A check-box Satisfy your curiosity about why you should bless your child.
A check-box View other suggested blessings.


Photo credits: For info on banner photo (not visible in readers or email) click here.
Mother and child by Ross Griff, who licensed this photo on Flickr under Creative Commons License

Are your kids bonding with their Holy Shepherd?

Posted on by Carol Hulbert
a cute little lamb

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Lambs look so cuddly don’t they? (Yes, dirt and all.)

My favorite stuffed animal as a child was a lamb. Yep. Serious loving. If that sheep could have talked it probably would have said, “Stop squeezing me so tight!”

Psalm 23 gives us the words of a different lamb doing some talking.

This lamb is describing the care of a watchful, loving shepherd.

He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.

Psalm 23:2, The New Living Translation

The author David (of David and Goliath fame) wrote Psalm 23 over 3,000 years ago, painting a tranquil portrayal of life lived under a close relationship with God. Trusting. Loved.

Are your kids fostering that sort of a relationship with God?

Help ensure they do by talking about Psalm 23 around the family dinner table. (Or wherever your family is gathered together.) If you’d like to print out the following Family Faith Companion Guide click here.

  • Play a couple rounds of the game Twenty Questions. Point out that in order to figure out what the object is, you need to gather clues that help you describe something.
  • Say: The Bible gives us a description of what our relationship with God can be like. Let’s read that passage. Be thinking about what sort of picture you get when you hear these words.
  • Get out a Bible and read Psalm 23. (If your child is in 3rd grade or up, ask them the clue for quickly finding the book of Psalms.) Or check it out on-line: here.
  • Ask: What do those words describe to you?
    What would it mean to a sheep to have a green pasture and still water?

  • Say: That sounds like one very contented and trusting sheep! David’s words describe what God can be like for us! Protective. Caring. Always watching over us.
  • Ask: Do you suppose those words describe your relationship to God?
    How does God take care of you?
    What are your quiet waters?
    How do you get there?
  • Say: Sheep are covered in scratchy wool. That wool can get bugs and stickers in it and sheep don’t have arms to reach and scratch.
  • Ask: Have you ever had itchy bug bites?
    Do certain situations or things that people do, sometimes irritate you?
  • Say: When we have troubles, we need our shepherd-God to help us so that we can find rest and enjoy our lives!
  • Close with a short prayer. A suggestion: Lord, thank you for being our protecting shepherd. Help us to turn to you, our friend, trusting in your care so that we can reach green, restful pastures. Amen.

How did this work? Share about your family devotional time.


Photo credits: Click here for info on banner photo (not visible in readers or email).
Little lamb by Chris Rice, who licensed this photo on Flickr under Creative Commons License

A Blessing: Comfort

Posted on by Carol Hulbert
A painting of a shepherd with a rescued sheep.
Psalm 23 can be offered as a source of support for so many of our daily situations. It’s a multi-purpose tool!

Consider just a few possible uses:

  • Child stressed out about a test? Suggest she think about being led to calm waters.
  • Mom in need of revived energy? Psalm 23 reminds us that God always offers restoration.
  • Child fearful of what lurks in the closet? Emphasize that God is our shepherd; his trusty shepherd’s crook makes us feel secure.
  • Dad worried about the finances? Our cup overflows.

Here’s another way to present Psalm 23: Use it to bless your kids.

Say your child’s name and the words from Psalm 23 that are applicable to your child at any particular moment. For example:

May the Lord comfort you and lead you beside still waters.


Click on a box if you would like to…
A check-box Satisfy your curiosity about why you should bless your child.
A check-box View other suggested blessings.


Photo credits: For info on banner photo (not visible in readers or email) click here.
Shepherd painting by Harold Copping, a photo offered for free use at Bible Picture Gallery.

A Blessing: Restored

Posted on by Carol Hulbert

True to your word,
you let me catch my breath
and send me in the right direction. Psalm 23:3, The Message

An adult and a child take in a sunset on the beach

A second chance,
A breath of fresh air,
Revived energy,
Mended strength,
A restored soul.

Remind your child with a blessing that tells that God does all of that for us.

Say your child’s name and…

May the Lord renew your strength and your soul.


Click on a box if you would like to…
A check-box Satisfy your curiosity about why you should bless your child.
A check-box View other suggested blessings.


Photo credits: For info on banner photo (not visible in readers or email) click here.
A beach scene by Leland Francisco, who licensed this photo on Flickr under Creative Commons License