Jenny's Heart to Yours - April

Dear Church Family,

I pray that all of you are doing well. I hope you have enjoyed the 40 Days of Community that we as a church are studying. I have enjoyed my small group and look forward to serving with them. I pray that each of you have connected with a small group and have found the benefits of being in community. I also pray that the children have discovered community and what it means to belong together (love each other), reach out together, belong together (build friendships), grow together, serve together, and worship together. I have heard from several parents that they have done family devotions together and have grown together at home. I pray that you will continue to do devotions as a family together.

This month I went to a children's ministry conference at Willow Creek Community Church. It was a great time of worship, learning and refreshment. One of the sessions was on connecting "Faith at Home". That is something I want to help, you as parents, be able to do. Surveys show it is the parents who have the biggest impact on the spirituality of their children and the parents who help them grow in their faith. This summer at GRIP, come learn how to have family devotions and have an opportunity to worship together as a family. GRIP will meet May 13, May 27, June 17, July 8, and July 22. Each night begins at 6:30 and last about an hour.

Mark your calendars for Kid's Day Out! For those who have completed Kindergarten through 6th grade. We will meet at the church and take the bus for a day of fellowship and fun with friends. Our first outing will be the Magic House on June 1. We will be going swimming July 20. The location for August 10 has yet to be determined but we will be celebrating the last days of Summer as school will be starting.

Below is a fun idea you can do as a family to celebrate Easter and remember that Jesus is ALIVE.

Resurrection Rolls
Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Ingredients: crescent rolls, cinnamon, melted butter, sugar, large marshmallows

Give each child a triangle of crescent rolls. The crescent roll represents the cloth that Jesus was wrapped in.

Read Matthew 27:57-61
1. Give each child a marshmallow. This represents Jesus.
2. Have him/her dip the marshmallow in melted butter. This represents the oils of embalming.
3. Now dip the buttered marshmallow in the cinnamon and sugar which represents the spices used to anoint the body.
4. Then wrap up the coated marshmallow tightly in the crescent roll (not like a typical rolls up, but bring both sides up and seal the marshmallow inside.) This represents the wrapping of Jesus' body after death.
5. Place in a 350 degree oven for 10-12 minutes. (The oven represents the tomb - pretend it was 3 days!)
6. Let the rolls cool slightly. The children can open their rolls (cloths) and discover that Jesus is no longer there, HE IS RISEN!!!! (The marshmallow melts and the crescents roll is puffed up, but empty like the tom.)

Now read Matthew 28:5-8
Explain: At the tomb, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary saw an angel, who told them not to be afraid. No one had taken Jesus' body, but he had risen from the dead! The angel told the women to go and tell the disciples what they had seen, that Jesus had risen from the dead. They were so excited, they ran all the way home to tell the disciples the good news! He is risen from the dead! Alleluia!

May you have a blessed and meaningful Easter!
Joyfully Serving Christ,
Jenny Auld