The Messenger - October 23, 2007
Pastor Neal's Notes"Let the little children come unto me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." (Matthew 19:14)
When you read this verse, what image comes to mind? I think of a well-traveled poster from Sunday School, where Jesus is sitting on a rock with 6-8 children gathered around him and a very small boy is sitting on his knee. Jesus wears a very gentle expression, and his adult disciples are nowhere to be seen. But this verse was actually addressed to adults--adults who had "rebuked" kids (or, actually, kid's parents) who had brought their children to Jesus for prayer.
What were these disciples thinking? That Jesus' teaching was "r" rated in some way? That Jesus was just too busy to mess with little kids? That parents were being rude walking up to Jesus without seeking their approval first?
It's hard to know exactly what these disciples were thinking. But it's easy to know that Sunday worship can be a struggle both for children and their parents. Often, it's very difficult just to /get/ here on Sunday morning. We want it to be /easy/ once they arrive.
In order to make this possible, I'll be preaching about the children's ministries of our church this very week, and I'll be challenging us to think quite a bit differently than those first disciples did. Do our actions communicate /welcome/ to parents and their kids, or do we communicate the opposite somehow? And, if we want to follow Jesus, how do /we encourage/ children who wish to encounter Him? And how can /we /become a /blessing/ to their parents, too?
During the 19th century, those who pondered these questions deeply started vast new programs for children (especially street children), including the institution that we know as "Sunday School." I don't know how God will use Christ's words today. But I know that Christ loved children. He wanted to be /with/ children, and he said kingdom of Heaven belonged to such as /them/. If we want to go to heaven, then we'd better get used to kids down /here/.
See you Sunday!
Neal
October Weekly Calendar Highlights The Church on the move. . .
Tuesday 23 Beachcomber Beta Group 2:30pm Contact: Rupert Loyd or Pastor Neal
Wednesday 24 Breakfast Club Bible Study at Carrow's 7am Contact: Rupert Loyd
Women's Bible Study 1pm Contact: Kim Neuenschwander
NO Cherub Choir ----------- Contact: Cherubs - Emily Anderson;
Gospel Gang 4:30pm Contact: GGang - Lesley Sirianni
High School Fellowship 6pm Contact: Randi Bender
Kings Chorus 6pm Contact: Lesley Sirianni
Voyagers 6:30pm Contact: The Larsons
SonLight Singers 7pm Contact: Lesley Sirianni
Chapel Bells 7pm Contact: Nan Roberts
Prayer Fellowship 7pm Contact: Rupert Loyd
Jr. High Fellowship 7pm Contact: Randi Bender
"After Hours" 8-9:15pm Contact: Randi Bender
Thursday 25 Salvation Army annual dinner 6pm At Salvation Army San Pedro
Chancel Choir 7:30pm Contact: Allan Petker
Friday 26 Tennis & Breakfast 8:15am Contact: Paul Mathews or Pastor Neal
Fisherman Deadline 9am Contact: Shirley Snow
Chancel Choir Dinner at Think Restaurant Contact: The Choir Co-Presidents
Youth Hangout 7:30 - 9:30pm Contact: Randi Bender
Saturday 27 Chancel Choir Retreat (at church) 9am - 4pm Contact: Allan Petker
Outriggers Cruise (at church) 7pm Contact: The Cruise Director or Skipper
Co-Ed Church Volleyball Various Times Contact: Jim Peacock or Erik Larson
Even if you don't play, come on out and root for us! 1st Christian Church 2930 El Dorado, Torrance
That's at the corner of Maple and El Dorado. See you there! <<Map>>
Sunday 28 Adult Sunday School 8:30 - 9:30am Contact: Rupert Loyd
Children and Youth Sunday School Begins During Service Contact: Diane Bettis
Worship 9:30am Contact: Pastor Neal or Paul Purdy
Venture Crew 731 1pm Contact: Eric Beck or Kenneth Beck
- Series: Strategic Initiatives
- Theme: Children's Ministries
- Title: "Of Such Is The Kingdom"
- Scripture: Mathew 19:13-14
- Preacher: Rev. Neal Neuenschwander
Remember these are just the Highlights... Call the church office if you need details 310-832-7597
Quick News
Alternative Christmas Market and Outrigger Bake Sale
- November 4th -
Have some Free Homemade Soup and help support some great ministry and philanthropic organizations!
Model Authenticity
TodaysChildrensMinistry.com
Children
"hear" our actions louder than our words.
Often kids watch us before they understand the message we are
communicating. Our modeling and application need to be as true as the
story we teach. What their eyes see penetrates deeper into their souls
than what their ears hear. That's why it's so important that volunteers
in children's ministry model authenticity and community. <<Complete
Story>>
Church School Coordinator (part-time)
Do you work well with children? Do you want to see the message of Christ presented and our programs thrive? Then contact Karen Ederer or Jim Waters for information and an application.
Spot Light on: Children's Sunday School Curriculum
Here at First Pres. San Pedro, we place great emphasis upon children, especially in music and faith education. Currently we are using the David C. Cook "Bible in Life" curriculum. This particular curriculum addresses multiple learning styles, meaning every participant has the opportunity to engage in the class in a way that makes sense to them and aids in absorption of the subject lesson.
Highlights of the curriculum include:
- Solidly based in
the Reformed tradition
- Is easy-to-teach and easy to prepare!
- Is Bible-based and Christ-centered.
- Recognizes life needs of students and reveals biblical and practical application.
- Incorporates teaching methods to developmental abilities of each age group.
- Enables teachers to reach every student according to the individual learning styles.
The curriculum is designed to mirror the compelling approach that Jesus often used.
- Jesus started where His students were.
- Jesus shared life-changing truth.
- Jesus explained how His truth applied.
- Jesus called for
action.
For more information visit: davidccook.com
Random Fact of the Week
Q: Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
(Scroll Down For Answer)
A: The Chicken fully formed.
Genesis 1:20-22 (New International Version)
20 And God said, "Let the
water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth
across the expanse of the sky." 21
So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and
moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and
every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22
God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill
the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth."
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Page Last Updated: Sun Nov 11, 2007