Encouraging each other.

  The verse for the day and month is "Encourage one another, and build each other up".  The kids did drawings of buildings to illustrate thier lesson.  In worship our verse song from the "Hide 'Em in Your Heart" CD by Steve Green" was lively and we pretended to build a tall building as we sang.

When it was time to pray for the kids I was inspired by the verse.  "OK kids, today for prayer we are going to build each other up by praying for each other.  Can you pray for the other kids in this class?, We'll break into groups of three or four and each group will have a teacher to help, but I want you to encourage each other and pray for each other ok?"  Even as I said this I thought "How will this ever work? They are only 2-4 years old. This will be chaos! There's no way they have the attention span for this!"  I turned around to my little group to see two little girls with thier hands already on a two year old little girl's back.  One was already praying earnestly "Oh Lord please be with _____".  I was awed by their spirituality, no less complete than my grown up version. Oh God, my faith is so little sometimes.  Yet you have given such faith and love and spiritual gifts to these little ones!

Easter 2010

Easter Sunday today.  I  left after worship, which was awesome, to go do children's worship thinking "Yay! time to celebrate with the kids!".  The  kids were extra adorable and extra sugar filled (at least mine were extra sugar-filled). We did a new song from an artist know as "The Donut Man" called Hosanna.   "Jumping up and down, Jumping up and down, Jumping up and down shout Hosanna, Hosanna!"  I told the kids Hossana means please save!  or savior please come! in Hebrew.

I tried out a song of mine with the 4-5 year olds in second service. To the tune of 'Ring Around the Rosie"  "Jesus, Jesus, He died to free us, Before king Jesus we all fall down"  They loved it we held hands and walked in a circle falling to the floor at  the end.  They begged to do it over and over.  It was such a simple game such a celebration.

We ended with a special prayer for each child from their teachers.  I am amazed at how much they love to be prayed for by name.  Each child sat pretty quietly waiting for their turn.   They make everything more fun, these wonderful children of ours.    -Allison