Christian Education News

I am astounded and absolutely delighted by the very enthusiastic involvement of the children in our children's chapel. You would be too. Come visit chapel any Sunday (resuming this fall), and you'll see what I mean. At the start of chapel, there is downright competition to see who can be the one that day to take the offering, light the candle, and ring the bell to begin worship. We keep a carefully recorded log of who had a turn when. Every Sunday, the chapel leaders are questioned on it by the kids. "I haven't had a turn in a long time"-- is a common refrain, though when we check the calendar, we see that the enthusiastic volunteer just had a turn two or three weeks prior. Our last day of chapel, June 25th, was no exception and was especially heartwarming. One little girl, age 5, came to chapel for what seemed like the first time. Actually, she probably had been at chapel once or twice before over the past two years, but she had never made a peep. This time she exclaimed very! boldly, "I haven't had a chance to do anything for a very long time!" I promised her come fall, her turn is next. How blessed we are by children's excitement and energy. As I told the children, we are all ministers, one to the other, as part of our great tradition of the Priesthood of All Believers.

We have much to look forward to with our youth groups next year. Matt Aufman and Guy Pealer are angels to lead our senior and middle youth groups. Joy and Randy Ellis have very generously invited the Middle and Senior High youth groups up to their family's home in Maine for a youth retreat on the Columbus Day weekend, Oct. 6-8 (Fri-Sun). The retreat will include fun, fellowship, and a mission activity. Thank you the Ellis Family.

I leave you with a very beautiful prayer, offered by one of our children, who prayed this during worship as part of the thanksgiving to our teachers and other leaders of Christian Education.

As this child writes, "May God's love guide us all as we grow."

Blessings, Gretchen Elmendorf

Dear God,
Thank You for kind teachers who make learning about You fun. Every Sunday they come and share their great ideas for activities and songs. Thank You for two wonderful pastors who lead us and inspire us and for friendships formed when we all gather for worship. We pray for children everywhere. We hope they are as lucky as we are to have caring adults in their lives. May Your love guide us all as we grow. Amen.