Jenny's Heart to Yours - April

Dear Church Family,

I pray that each that reads this letter are doing well. I am grateful to be able to serve each of you and worship Christ as well. We are getting ready to celebrate Easter which is one of my favorite times of the year. I get to celebrate my Lord and Savior and what He did for me. It is also the time of year that trees and flowers begin to bloom. I love the colors and the smells; these remind me of how much my heavenly father loves me! Take time to thank him for all the gifts he gives to each of us.

After the last sermon series, I have heard from several families that have begun to have family devotions. I pray that as parents and grandparents you are encouraged to pass your faith down to the next generation. If I can ever be of help to you please let me know. I am planning a baptism class April 24th. If you have a child that has committed their life to the Lord, but not followed through with believer’s baptism, I will be hosting this class for children and parents. If you’re interested please contact me or the office.

Summer is quickly approaching. I look forward to this time as I plan activities that can minister to the children and help reach children of Columbia. Below I have listed a schedule of events planned for the summer:

April 24th—Baptism Class
April 28th – AWANA Commencement
May 12th – GRIP (Family Worship in Fellowship Hall)
May 26th – GRIP (Family Worship in Fellowship Hall)
June 3rd and 4th – Baseball Camp
June 9th – GRIP (Family Worship in Fellowship Hall)
June 11th – Kid’s Day Out (Grant’s Farm)
June 20th – 26th – Family Mission Trip
June 28th – Kid’s Day Out (City Museum)
June 30th – GRIP (Family Worship in Fellowship Hall)
July 5th – 9th – Children’s Camp (completed 3rd – 6th grade)
July 14th – GRIP (Family Worship in Fellowship Hall)
July 16th – Kids Day Out (Location TBD)
July 17th – VBS Kickoff block party in the parking lot
July 18th – 22nd – Vacation Bible School
August 11th – AWANA Registration Night
August 18th – AWANA Begins again

I would like to take the next little bit to let you know how you can bless children’s ministry. First and foremost I would ask that each of you be praying for the ministry. It is my desire to see children accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior. It is an exciting time when we get to be a part of baptism. I love to see children following the Lord in obedience. Continue to ask God to save our children. Every week the preschoolers are ministered to in the nursery. If you would like to be a part of ministering to the preschoolers and their families let me know. We have an 8 week rotating schedule and could use some help in the rotation.

Another way to help serve this summer is by teaching or helping with Vacation Bible School. This is a time when we reach lots of children from Columbia. To help, contact Angie Loethen or Jenny Auld. This summer we are also taking 13 children and 3 adults to Centri-Kid (a children’s camp put on by Lifeway). I am excited about going and seeing our children be challenged by God’s Word. Please be praying for us as we are gone and for God to transform the Children. I could use some assistance with scholarships to help pay for camp. If you would be willing to help support a child please let Jenny know.

I wanted to end my article with some ideas for you to use as a family that will help you celebrate Jesus this Easter. This was emailed to me and I wanted to share with all of you. (http:// npbc.org/ministry/files/1776103.pdf)

Thursday Read aloud John 13:1 - 5
Jesus washed feet to show his love. Have a bowl, a bar of soap, and paper towels ready. Take turns washing each other’s hands and drying them as you express love to each other. Display the soap at your family worship space.

Good Friday Read aloud Mark 15:21 - 39
You’ll need two horseshoe or carpenter’s nails, light gauge wire, and a shoelace for each child.Help children lay their nails across each other like a cross, then start wrapping the wire around the point where the nails intersect to bind the nails into a cross. Crisscross the wire in the center. Have the kids recall an event of the Crucifixion with each wrap. Wrap more wire around the top and make a loop to hold the shoelace.

Saturday Read aloud Mark 15:42 – 47
Take turns wrapping each other in toilet paper just as Jesus may’ve looked when prepared for burial. Talk about how the disciples might’ve felt when all their hopes seemed destroyed when Jesus died. Ask, “How would you have felt if you had been there when Jesus died? What would you have done?” Talk about how the burial isn’t the end of the story, but that it was a very sad day for Jesus’ friends.

Sunday Read aloud Luke 24:1 – 9
You’ll need cupcakes and a trick re -- lighting candle. Light it and talk about how Jesus came to be the light of the world. On Saturday, it looked like the light had been blown out. Blow out the candle and wait in silence while the flame is gone. When the flame comes back, celebrate! Point out that nothing can ever snuff out Jesus, the light of the world.

Joyfully Serving Him,
Jenny Auld