Once, long long ago last summer
And then there was the before...
And then there was after...
...the whippersnippering. Oops...
Just as well there is nothing like a hard prune to encourage growth.
09 September 2013
01 September 2013
Status Report: September
Reading: Persuasion by Jane Austen
Not reading: Church History in Plain Language by Bruce L. Shelley. Not because I don't like it. It turns out that contrary to what I said last month, I can't in fact have two books on the go at once. Certainly not when one of them is fiction and the other non-fiction. And although Northanger Abbey was not my favourite, I am really enjoying this jaunt through the Austens and now can't put this big tome down until they are all finished. So Persuasion it is, followed by her short epistolary novel Lady Susan. And then I will go back to the church history book.
Amassing: a rather large reading list to follow Ms Austen and Mr Shelley.
Loving: this little book.
Which is full of lovely pictures like this...
Pages and pages of detailed "secret garden" ink drawings filled with hidden ladybirds and hearts and other loveliness ready to be coloured in. I bought it during August. I won't be able to use it for Scripture classes because photocopying it will breach copyright, so in lots of ways I am completely unsure why I purchased it. But it is such a nice book, printed on really good quality paper. Actually, it is the same sort of paper that my Austen tome is printed on... Perhaps say no more.
Stocked up: on IKEA meatballs again. Phew. The supply was running a little low there for a while.
Never imagined: I would be the type of mum to have five different sorts of cereal open and on the go at once.
Undecided: whether or not to post a Prompted to Write topic later today or tomorrow. I've been throwing a couple of ideas around for a week or two but neither are really grabbing me.
Glad: to be honest, that August is done and dusted. It has felt a lot like trekking through the mud this month. When I was full time in the classroom I'd often fall into a slump come August - the end of the grey winter months, a long way from the shiny start of the year, a long way until the victorious end, the month leading up to the athletics carnival (agh). I don't know how relevant all of that is away from the school setting or whether I am just being Pavlovian, but it's been feeling pretty schlumpy around here.
Glad then: to welcome September and Spring.
Needing therefore: to get into the yard and excavate the plants from the winter weeds in order to fully enjoy the new season. I've been planning to get into the excavation project a bit lately but when there is a window of energy and opportunity it seems to start raining. We need the rain. But I need my weeds to be dry (or at least dry-ish) before I will go trudging through them.
Better go: and do some gardening.
Not reading: Church History in Plain Language by Bruce L. Shelley. Not because I don't like it. It turns out that contrary to what I said last month, I can't in fact have two books on the go at once. Certainly not when one of them is fiction and the other non-fiction. And although Northanger Abbey was not my favourite, I am really enjoying this jaunt through the Austens and now can't put this big tome down until they are all finished. So Persuasion it is, followed by her short epistolary novel Lady Susan. And then I will go back to the church history book.
Amassing: a rather large reading list to follow Ms Austen and Mr Shelley.
Loving: this little book.
Which is full of lovely pictures like this...
Pages and pages of detailed "secret garden" ink drawings filled with hidden ladybirds and hearts and other loveliness ready to be coloured in. I bought it during August. I won't be able to use it for Scripture classes because photocopying it will breach copyright, so in lots of ways I am completely unsure why I purchased it. But it is such a nice book, printed on really good quality paper. Actually, it is the same sort of paper that my Austen tome is printed on... Perhaps say no more.
Stocked up: on IKEA meatballs again. Phew. The supply was running a little low there for a while.
Never imagined: I would be the type of mum to have five different sorts of cereal open and on the go at once.
Undecided: whether or not to post a Prompted to Write topic later today or tomorrow. I've been throwing a couple of ideas around for a week or two but neither are really grabbing me.
Glad: to be honest, that August is done and dusted. It has felt a lot like trekking through the mud this month. When I was full time in the classroom I'd often fall into a slump come August - the end of the grey winter months, a long way from the shiny start of the year, a long way until the victorious end, the month leading up to the athletics carnival (agh). I don't know how relevant all of that is away from the school setting or whether I am just being Pavlovian, but it's been feeling pretty schlumpy around here.
Glad then: to welcome September and Spring.
Needing therefore: to get into the yard and excavate the plants from the winter weeds in order to fully enjoy the new season. I've been planning to get into the excavation project a bit lately but when there is a window of energy and opportunity it seems to start raining. We need the rain. But I need my weeds to be dry (or at least dry-ish) before I will go trudging through them.
 |
| What a mess! |
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| Somewhere in there are my beloved agapanthus plants... |
Better go: and do some gardening.
26 August 2013
The year that term three week seven came early
That certain week that happens every year when the shine of being the oldest kids in the school wears off, suddenly a handful of them are taller than their teachers, their compasses are pointed towards high school (for better or for worse depending on whether the prospect fills you with excitement or fear - but both manifest poorly) and they go off the boil...it happened. In the fourth week of term. Three weeks early to my way of thinking.
So what's a Scripture teacher to do? Four things.
Firstly, thank God for the two and nearly a half terms of great teaching time before it all got hard. Secondly pray for the children and their class teachers - both need prayer at this point. Thirdly, pull out that intensely complicated geometric colouring in sheet that has been waiting in the wings all year just for this moment.
The kids went off the boil two weeks ago. Not good. Especially as I wasn't expecting it that particular day. So last week I pulled out my colouring pages.
"You colour this while I tell you today's story...and no two adjoining spaces are to be the same colour."
Met with shock and horror.
"That's right. But if you trust me on this one and do it in this kind of detail the pictures will look absolutely amazing when you are done. And by the way, there is no rush. Unlike so many other things I do when I am in your classroom, this isn't a race."
Last week went supremely well and I figure I have secured two or three more lessons of peace because all of the classes were told, in front of their classroom teachers, that the pictures were only allowed out of their trays for Scripture classes.
After that there are the last few lessons in the book - how the Bible fits together, the Ten Commandments and a lesson on prayer - all of which I LOVE teaching. And then the Christmas lessons which are all sorts of fun. I think we should be OK for the year.
And then the fourth thing for a Scripture teacher to do? Keep praying that the gospel seeds that are being sown in classrooms here and elsewhere will at some point take root, grow and flourish. This is good work.
So what's a Scripture teacher to do? Four things.
Firstly, thank God for the two and nearly a half terms of great teaching time before it all got hard. Secondly pray for the children and their class teachers - both need prayer at this point. Thirdly, pull out that intensely complicated geometric colouring in sheet that has been waiting in the wings all year just for this moment.
 |
| I chose something like this...but FAR more complicated. |
The kids went off the boil two weeks ago. Not good. Especially as I wasn't expecting it that particular day. So last week I pulled out my colouring pages.
"You colour this while I tell you today's story...and no two adjoining spaces are to be the same colour."
Met with shock and horror.
"That's right. But if you trust me on this one and do it in this kind of detail the pictures will look absolutely amazing when you are done. And by the way, there is no rush. Unlike so many other things I do when I am in your classroom, this isn't a race."
Last week went supremely well and I figure I have secured two or three more lessons of peace because all of the classes were told, in front of their classroom teachers, that the pictures were only allowed out of their trays for Scripture classes.
After that there are the last few lessons in the book - how the Bible fits together, the Ten Commandments and a lesson on prayer - all of which I LOVE teaching. And then the Christmas lessons which are all sorts of fun. I think we should be OK for the year.
And then the fourth thing for a Scripture teacher to do? Keep praying that the gospel seeds that are being sown in classrooms here and elsewhere will at some point take root, grow and flourish. This is good work.
25 August 2013
Finding the height, depth, length and breadth of God's Word
My blogging buddy Amy put this quote from Spurgeon on Facebook this weekend.
The more you read the Bible, and the more you meditate upon it, the more you will be astonished with it. He who is but a casual reader of the Bible, does not know the height, the depth, the length and breadth of the mighty meanings contained in its pages. There are certain times when I discover a new vein of thought, and I put my hand to my head and say in astonishment, "Oh, it is wonderful. I never saw this before in the Scriptures." You will find the Scriptures enlarge as you enter them; the more you study them the less you will appear to know of them, for they widen out as we approach them.
Charles Spurgeon, in his sermon "Christ our Passover"
Thanks Amy. A great encouragement.
The more you read the Bible, and the more you meditate upon it, the more you will be astonished with it. He who is but a casual reader of the Bible, does not know the height, the depth, the length and breadth of the mighty meanings contained in its pages. There are certain times when I discover a new vein of thought, and I put my hand to my head and say in astonishment, "Oh, it is wonderful. I never saw this before in the Scriptures." You will find the Scriptures enlarge as you enter them; the more you study them the less you will appear to know of them, for they widen out as we approach them.
Charles Spurgeon, in his sermon "Christ our Passover"
Thanks Amy. A great encouragement.
15 August 2013
Treat your time in the Bible like you treat your meal plan.
Yesterday there was a great post on the Desiring God site called Five Back-to-School Basics. You may have missed it because
1. maybe you don't live in the northern hemisphere, and
2. so you aren't going back to school at the moment, or
3. maybe you're just not at school at all.
Perhaps I would have missed it too except that I, lover of lists and with a small hint from the title of the post, keenly observed the five point list. And so I read it.
The five points are:-
1. Thinking may be the most critical thing you ever do.
2. The most important book you'll read this fall is your Bible.
3. Someone younger than you needs you.
4. Comparison in the classroom can be the birthplace of pride.
5. Only the gospel saves anyone, even A-students.
They are great principles and they extend far, far beyond the reach of students in the classroom.
I especially liked point number two (but you already knew that) and most especially this part (emphasis is mine)...
Your time soaking in Scripture will be the most fruitful and shaping time of your education. Nothing can replace the wealth you will find there, and nothing will prepare you better for life, family, vocation, or even your next class.
It is so easy to put off time in God's Word. I know. I really, REALLY know. But I am amazingly diligent with my meal planning. We eat every day. What a great aim to be so hungry for God's Word that it receives the same priority as meal planning.
Read the whole post here. It doesn't matter if you aren't going back to school this August. The principles still apply.
1. maybe you don't live in the northern hemisphere, and
2. so you aren't going back to school at the moment, or
3. maybe you're just not at school at all.
Perhaps I would have missed it too except that I, lover of lists and with a small hint from the title of the post, keenly observed the five point list. And so I read it.
The five points are:-
1. Thinking may be the most critical thing you ever do.
2. The most important book you'll read this fall is your Bible.
3. Someone younger than you needs you.
4. Comparison in the classroom can be the birthplace of pride.
5. Only the gospel saves anyone, even A-students.
They are great principles and they extend far, far beyond the reach of students in the classroom.
I especially liked point number two (but you already knew that) and most especially this part (emphasis is mine)...
Because of all the assigned pages, you’ll be tempted to sideline your Bible reading until the next test has passed, the next paper is done, or the next break is here. Instead, treat your time in the Bible like you treat your meal plan.
Your time soaking in Scripture will be the most fruitful and shaping time of your education. Nothing can replace the wealth you will find there, and nothing will prepare you better for life, family, vocation, or even your next class.
It is so easy to put off time in God's Word. I know. I really, REALLY know. But I am amazingly diligent with my meal planning. We eat every day. What a great aim to be so hungry for God's Word that it receives the same priority as meal planning.
Read the whole post here. It doesn't matter if you aren't going back to school this August. The principles still apply.
12 August 2013
The grand gesture of encouragement
You may have noticed that I have been thinking about the nature of encouragement lately.
Last Friday evening we found ourselves with a bit of a situation on our hands. Not overly serious in the end, but it added a layer of emotion and the need for even greater feats of juggling to an already complicated and oversubscribed weekend.
Just before my head hit the pillow at the late end of that day I received a text message from a sweet, sweet friend who had become aware of said situation. She simply said that she, her husband and her mother had prayed for this situation and then she wished us good night.
Perfect timing. At the end of a long day. Just prior to sleep before the beginning of what was looking like a near impossible day ahead. And not with the promise to pray, but passing on the message that the prayer had already been prayed. Perfect, perfect encouragement.
Stumped as to how to encourage someone? Too time poor to cook meals for someone or write a carefully worded note? Too resource poor to provide someone with a few days break away? Too skills-poor to fix that person's garden, finish their home renovation gone wrong or make their car work again?
Sometimes an act of encouragement might seem very small - but it might end up being the grandest of all gestures. That short text with the prayer behind it spurred me on all weekend. And thanks be to God the situation is by and large resolved.
Last Friday evening we found ourselves with a bit of a situation on our hands. Not overly serious in the end, but it added a layer of emotion and the need for even greater feats of juggling to an already complicated and oversubscribed weekend.
Just before my head hit the pillow at the late end of that day I received a text message from a sweet, sweet friend who had become aware of said situation. She simply said that she, her husband and her mother had prayed for this situation and then she wished us good night.
Perfect timing. At the end of a long day. Just prior to sleep before the beginning of what was looking like a near impossible day ahead. And not with the promise to pray, but passing on the message that the prayer had already been prayed. Perfect, perfect encouragement.
Stumped as to how to encourage someone? Too time poor to cook meals for someone or write a carefully worded note? Too resource poor to provide someone with a few days break away? Too skills-poor to fix that person's garden, finish their home renovation gone wrong or make their car work again?
Sometimes an act of encouragement might seem very small - but it might end up being the grandest of all gestures. That short text with the prayer behind it spurred me on all weekend. And thanks be to God the situation is by and large resolved.
08 August 2013
Some more comfort
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
2 Corinthians 1:3-7
05 August 2013
Aramaic, Latin and Greek
"Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek."
John 19:19
"The highly respected German scholar Adolf Harnack calculated that by A.D. 250 no less than 30,000 Christians lived in Rome. Most of these came from the poorer classes. We know this because for more than a century Christians in Rome spoke Greek, the language of slaves and poor men. True Romans of the upper classes used Latin."
From Church History in Plain Language by Bruce L. Shelley p.31
And I have this noted in the margins of my previous Bible at John 19:19...
Pilate's sign:
Aramaic/Hebrew - the language of religion.
Greek- the language of culture and thought.
Latin - the language of government, law and institutions.
Just in case you ever wondered why Pilate wrote his sign in three languages.
John 19:19
------------------------------------------------------------------
From Church History in Plain Language by Bruce L. Shelley p.31
------------------------------------------------------------------
And I have this noted in the margins of my previous Bible at John 19:19...
Pilate's sign:
Aramaic/Hebrew - the language of religion.
Greek- the language of culture and thought.
Latin - the language of government, law and institutions.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Just in case you ever wondered why Pilate wrote his sign in three languages.
01 August 2013
Status Report: August
The first time I read through an overview of the history of the church (2000 years thus far) my overwhelming thought was, "It is a miracle that the church has survived." As much as the church has been carried along, under God, by faithful men and women, so also have other men and women done their best to see its undoing. Were the church a human construct, it simply wouldn't have survived. The church is truly God's church. To read church history is to see evidence that God is sovereign. And that is a great blessing. Praise be to God.
Also reading: Emma by Jane Austen. My fourth Austen for the year. For times when I want something light for a chapter or two. It's unusual for me to have two books on the go at once. But it seems to be working at the moment.
And reading: the Bible. But you already knew that. (So make that three books on the go at once.)
Convicted: last Sunday during church when I heard this single verse read out:
"The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him." Habakkuk 2:20.
There hasn't been enough keeping silence before the Lord lately.
Loving: this quote that a friend (a real one) put up on Facebook earlier this week. From Keith Thomas’s The Ends of Life: Roads to Fulfilment in Early Modern England:
"In 1657 the inhabitants of the London parish of St Dunstan’s in the West prosecuted one James Farr ‘for making and selling of a drink called 'coffee', whereby in making the same he annoyeth his neighbours by evil smells".
Discovered: that when Google took away Google Reader (which was actually well before 1st July in my neck of cyberspace) they didn't take away my reading list. I thought that would go too and that I would lose the links to the blogs I like. So I put all the links into an old fashioned "Favourites" list, just in case Feedly didn't come through with the goods, and found that the reading list remains. Good news.
Enjoying: a new twist on gravy that I learned from Recipes+. You dice half an onion into absolute tiny-ness and sauté it. When done add a teaspoon or two of balsamic vinegar. Then (and the purists should turn away for this next bit) blend in three tablespoons of gravy powder and the required amount of water. And there you have it. Very delicious gravy with a tang.
Also enjoying: the season of lemons. Lots of friends with lots of lemon trees = lots of lemons. I squeeze them and freeze the juice in individual iceblocks - enough for hot lemon drinks in the winter and cold lemon drinks in the summer. People keep asking me, "Are you sure you want some more lemons? Don't take them if you really don't want them." Truly, there can never be too many lemons. Enjoying the profits of a friend's grapefruit tree at the moment too.
Off: to squeeze a few more lemons, make a cup of tea and think about what's coming up this month. How is August looking for you?
29 July 2013
Calm to comfort
And if I want to be of true comfort - and along the way, exercise the self-discipline to not dump - then God will provide those resources.
One of my favourite hymns. Note especially the third verse, given the current conversation.
Sing-a-long below the lyrics.
One of my favourite hymns. Note especially the third verse, given the current conversation.
Sing-a-long below the lyrics.
May the mind of Christ my Saviour
live in me from day to day,
by His love and power and controlling
all I do and say.
May the Word of God dwell richly
in my heart from hour to hour
so that all may see I triumph
only through His power.
May the peace of God my Father
rule my life in everything,
that I may be calm to comfort
sick and sorrowing.
May the love of Jesus fill me
as the waters fill the sea;
Him exalting, self-abasing,
this is victory.
May I run the race before me
strong and brace to face the foe,
looking only unto Jesus
as I onward go.
live in me from day to day,
by His love and power and controlling
all I do and say.
May the Word of God dwell richly
in my heart from hour to hour
so that all may see I triumph
only through His power.
May the peace of God my Father
rule my life in everything,
that I may be calm to comfort
sick and sorrowing.
May the love of Jesus fill me
as the waters fill the sea;
Him exalting, self-abasing,
this is victory.
May I run the race before me
strong and brace to face the foe,
looking only unto Jesus
as I onward go.
Katie Barclay Wilkinson (1859 - 1928)
22 July 2013
Comfort in, dump out
This weekend I read a FANTASTIC article from the Los Angeles Times called "How Not To Say The Wrong Thing" by Susan Silk and Barry Goldman. It's about how not to be a discouragement when someone is in a situation of serious illness, grief, trauma, bereavement or difficulty. It is called the Ring Theory. You can read the full article here.
Quoting directly from the article, the Ring Theory works like this:
Draw a circle. This is the center ring. In it, put the name of the person at the center of the current trauma... Now draw a larger circle around the first one. In that ring put the name of the person next closest to the trauma... Repeat the process as many times as you need to. In each larger ring put the next closest people. Parents and children before more distant relatives. Intimate friends in smaller rings, less intimate friends in larger ones...
Here are the rules. The person in the center ring can say anything she wants to anyone, anywhere. She can kvetch and complain and whine and moan and curse the heavens and say, "Life is unfair" and "Why me?" That's the one payoff for being in the center ring.
Everyone else can say those things too, but only to people in larger rings.
Comfort in, dump out. That is, you find your spot within the circles and then you offer only words or actions of comfort to anyone further in than you. If you need to dump on someone, you do that with those further out from your spot.
What is dumping? It's saying things like...
I couldn't believe how awful he looked.
I felt sick seeing him in hospital.
I hate going into hospitals.
I don't agree with some of the decisions the family is making on his behalf.
He is taking a long time to get over this.
I saw him the other day and he looked fine to me. He's just putting it on.
I remember when my neighbour was in that situation. She...(blah blah blah)
I remember when I had a similar problem. This is what happened...(blah blah blah)
This whole thing is really putting a dampener on our lives.
Do want to know what I would do if this was happening to me?
Are you still dragging yourself around?
Or doing dopey stuff like asking someone closer to the centre to look after your kids for you all weekend so that you can get away for a bit because the whole thing is getting you down.
The point is this. Your aim is to not make things harder for those further in than you. If you are struggling and you're not the person in the middle you should set out to find the support you need from those who are further from the centre and probably feeling stronger than you are, so that you can be strong to comfort and support those who are closer to or right in at the centre.
Comfort in, dump out. Good thinking.
Quoting directly from the article, the Ring Theory works like this:
 |
| Illustration by Wes Bausmith from here |
Here are the rules. The person in the center ring can say anything she wants to anyone, anywhere. She can kvetch and complain and whine and moan and curse the heavens and say, "Life is unfair" and "Why me?" That's the one payoff for being in the center ring.
Everyone else can say those things too, but only to people in larger rings.
Comfort in, dump out. That is, you find your spot within the circles and then you offer only words or actions of comfort to anyone further in than you. If you need to dump on someone, you do that with those further out from your spot.
What is dumping? It's saying things like...
I couldn't believe how awful he looked.
I felt sick seeing him in hospital.
I hate going into hospitals.
I don't agree with some of the decisions the family is making on his behalf.
He is taking a long time to get over this.
I saw him the other day and he looked fine to me. He's just putting it on.
I remember when my neighbour was in that situation. She...(blah blah blah)
I remember when I had a similar problem. This is what happened...(blah blah blah)
This whole thing is really putting a dampener on our lives.
Do want to know what I would do if this was happening to me?
Are you still dragging yourself around?
Or doing dopey stuff like asking someone closer to the centre to look after your kids for you all weekend so that you can get away for a bit because the whole thing is getting you down.
The point is this. Your aim is to not make things harder for those further in than you. If you are struggling and you're not the person in the middle you should set out to find the support you need from those who are further from the centre and probably feeling stronger than you are, so that you can be strong to comfort and support those who are closer to or right in at the centre.
Comfort in, dump out. Good thinking.
18 July 2013
Holiday Bible Club
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| A display connected to the theme for the week. |
What it looks like
HBC runs for five mornings 9am to 12pm. On the first four days (Monday to Thursday) it looks like this...
9:00 - 9:15 Registration and drop off. While that is happening the children are ushered into the hall (via the church so that they can see what a church looks like) to colour in a picture connected with the day's story. The pictures are glued onto a mural that builds up over the week along a big section of the hall wall.
9:15 - 9:45 The children go outside for fast, furious, non-stop action games. That is, the children are run ragged for half an hour to burn off energy so that they're ready to sit still and listen.
9:45 - 10:45 Teaching time. We have someone from OAC Ministries come each year to run this hour of Bible teaching through stories, games, quizzes, puppets and all sorts of fun. The folk at OAC are really, REALLY good at what they do. Outsourcing the teaching to experts in the field frees us up to make sure the rest of the programme is as good as we can make it.
10:45 - 11:00 Morning tea. Our trusty team in the church kitchen put on a morning tea fit for a birthday party five mornings in a row.
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| Craft for Daniel in the lions' den |
11:50-12:00 Final notices, a prayer and off the children go home with their parents.
On the Friday we reverse the order and invite the parents to join with their children from 10:30am.
9:00 - 9:15 Registration and colouring in.
9:15 - 9:45 Action games
9:45 - 10:30 Craft
10:30 - 11:00 Parents, children and leaders have morning tea together.
11:00 - 11:50 Teaching time - which includes a bit of summary of the week, new material and a presentation of the Gospel for the children and their parents, all at the skillful hands of the OAC presenters.
11:50 - 12:00 Wrap up, prayers and farewells.
Nuts and bolts
Teaching time
Each year we run to the theme provided to us by our speakers. This year it was Heroes from the Bible. Other recent themes have included The Beatitudes, The Fruit of the Spirit, Stories Jesus Told and a theme that tied in with the Olympics. There is memory verse for each day.
To charge or not to charge
There is debate about this. But we charge $5 per day per child with all sorts of exceptions for differing circumstances. The money collected goes towards paying for OAC to come and for some reimbursement for craft and food costs where required.
Dress up day
We didn't do it this year, but some years we have a dress-up day, usually on the Thursday. Last year when we did the Beatitudes everyone got to come in yellow and black (bee colours) and we even had a few dressed up as bees.
Correspondence
We send a letter of invitation during term two to children who have attended HBC in the last three years. Each day of HBC the children take home a letter which includes a summary of the day's story and teaching, the memory verse for the day, advanced notice for the Friday morning tea arrangements, notices about the bookstall running and any other thing we might need to advise and contact details for the church. And every child who attends receives a letter by mail during the first week back at school thanking them for their attendance, reminding them of the things we learned, wishing them well for the term ahead and with some information about our normal Sunday services.
Advertising
Other advertising is via flyers to all the students who do Scripture in the local primary school, posters in the local shops and library and letters are sent to local churches and nearby schools for their newsletters.
That's it in a nutshell. Seems so straight forward when you put it like that. :-) Let me know if you want more info, and if anyone else has these sort of programmes running at their church, please let me know what themes you have used. I'd be interested to collect ideas for future reference.
10 July 2013
Why didn't I pray?
After an afternoon spent with a friend talking deep and good things over a pot of tea why, to finish off our time together, didn't I pray?
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Eph 6:18
When I sat and listened to someone talking about how truly hard life is at the moment, instead of saying, "I will pray for you," why, then and there, didn't I pray?
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matt 11:28
During recent weeks, when I found myself fretting over something again and again why, instead, didn't I pray?
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Phil 4:6
While on the phone and hearing the details of a friend's crisis or as I sat and read the email with the bad news why, on the spot, didn't I pray?
Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Gal 6:2
When I was wronged or just plain irritated why, instead of harbouring bitter thoughts, didn't I pray?
Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Luke 6:28
When I was standing in the queue for all that time why, instead of staring into space blankly, didn't I pray?
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1Thes 5:16-18
Why didn't I pray?
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. Luke 18:1
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Eph 6:18
When I sat and listened to someone talking about how truly hard life is at the moment, instead of saying, "I will pray for you," why, then and there, didn't I pray?
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matt 11:28
During recent weeks, when I found myself fretting over something again and again why, instead, didn't I pray?
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Phil 4:6
While on the phone and hearing the details of a friend's crisis or as I sat and read the email with the bad news why, on the spot, didn't I pray?
Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Gal 6:2
When I was wronged or just plain irritated why, instead of harbouring bitter thoughts, didn't I pray?
Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Luke 6:28
When I was standing in the queue for all that time why, instead of staring into space blankly, didn't I pray?
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1Thes 5:16-18
Why didn't I pray?
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. Luke 18:1
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