Prayer and Preparation

August 6, 2018 Janice Gilmour

Parent’s Corner- August 5, 2018

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” 1 John 5:14

There may still be a few weeks of Summer left before school starts, but preparations for Fall ministry are already in full swing. AWANA registration is open, rooms are being freshened and prepared, and Sunday school teachers have received their lessons.

Prayer and Preparation. . . the two words I find myself landing on when I think about the Fall. Ideally, they would happen in that order. . . prayer first, then doing the work the Lord has laid upon our hearts and prepared for us to do. After all, everything we do is for Him and His glory, right? Doesn’t it make sense to seek his guidance and wisdom first? Please know, I am speaking to myself as much as anyone!

As I have been praying about Children’s Ministry, the Lord has helped to clarify the most pressing needs in our Fall schedule:

1. AWANA Volunteers. Every Wednesday evening, we have children filling our rooms, excited to learn and memorize God’s word. We need adults to shepherd small groups, listen to verses, and pour into the lives of these kids.

2. A Full Time Assistant for the 2s class Sunday morning. Jean Worley has taught this class for years, and would benefit from having a full time (every week) volunteer to assist her. This class is continually growing, so the need is very real.

3. Additional Volunteers in 2/3s Second Hour. If we had another adult or two each week, we could split the 2s and 3s class. Remember the baby booms we’ve had in recent years? Many of them are now in the combined 2/3s class. This is a great opportunity for couples to serve together with an assistant, friends to reconnect over blocks and goldfish, or even to meet and serve with someone new.

Of course, we always have opportunities to rock babies in the nursery and assist teachers in Sunday school classes.

Please join me in prayer for the Lord to make these needs known and stir the hearts of those he would have serving His body in this way. If you feel the Lord leading you to serve, or if you have any questions, please let me know. Thank you!

This Week in Sunday School-

2/3s- Abraham

Scripture- Genesis 12:1-9

Lesson Truth- Abraham listened to God and obeyed.

Aims for the Children- to do at least one of the following during this lesson:

1. Tell what God asked Abraham to do

2 Show how Abraham responded

3. Demonstrate what it means to listen and obey

4s-K- Israel Rejects God’s Prophet and Priest

Scripture- Numbers 16

Lesson Goal- Students will respect and obey the leadership that God has established.

Bible Truths-

1. Korah, Dathan, and Abiram did not trust God’s choice of Moses as leader.

2. God’s punishment showed the seriousness of rebelling against God.

3. God was angry because the people complained against Moses.

Key Verse- “And He spoke to Korah and all his company, saying, ‘Tomorrow morning the LORD will show who is His and who is holy, and will cause him to come near to Him. That one whom He chooses He will cause to come near to him’” Numbers 16:5.

Application-

1. Thank God for leaders He has put in your life.

2. Do not blame leaders for hard times I your life.

3. Learn from the Lord’s discipline.

Catechism #47

1st-2nd Grade, 3rd-5th Grade- Israel Rejects God’s Prophet and Priest

Scripture- Numbers 16

Lesson Goal- Students will respect and obey the leadership that God has established.

Lesson Objectives- Students will be able to

1. Name the sin of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.

2. Describe the effect that seeing the punishment on Korah and the others should have had on the Israelites.

3. Name the people’s sin and its consequences.

4. Explain what Moses and Aaron did for the people’s sin.

Application-

1. Value the leadership God has put in your life.

2. Do not blame leaders for the hard times in your life.

3. Learn from the Lord’s discipline

Catechism #47

Children’s Church will resume on Sunday, September 2.