4-8-22 This Week in Faith
/The Grove in April
In Sunday school, we’re talking about the 10 Commandments, the tabernacle, and the Israelites worshipping the golden calf. [Exodus].
Scripture Memory Matthew 5:8
Student Ministry in April
High School- We’re back this Sunday studying Luke. We’ll go out to eat after.
Middle School- We’re back this Wednesday studying Luke. We’ll have pizza.
Scripture Memory for the next lesson: Luke 15:7
Middle School Scavenger Hunt on April 29.
Parents in April
Easter Breakfast and Egg Hunt on April 17. The fun will start at 9:30 and the egg hunt [5th grade and under] will begin around 10:00. This is not only a great morning for your family but a chance to invite another family who doesn’t usually go to church to join us for activities and worship.
Parent Book Club Discussion on Wednesday, April 20 from 6-7:30. If you’ve been reading Habits of the Household with us, or want to hear what families have been learning from it, join us!
Faith Explored on April 30. If you are interested in knowing more about Faith, or if you have students that are interested in joining the church, this class is a great next step.
Check out the Easter resources on the Welcome Desk outside The Grove. There are recommendations for books to read to and with your kids, family devotionals, and books for your older kids to read on their own.
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The Brightest Day that Changed Everything
This is an interview with the author about one of the books we have featured on the Easter Resource table outside The Grove [he is also the author of our kids Sunday school curriculum]. He talks about what is unique about this devotional and how you can use it to help your family make the most of this Easter season. But he also talks about the importance of family devotions more generally, regularly pointing our kids to Jesus, and how devotionals like this can help parents with this important job.
Click here to read the article by Marty Machowski.
Do Not Lose Heart: Encouragement for Hurting Parents
“Do not lose heart.” We read those words in Scripture multiple times but we know it is easier said than done. The struggles of our kids, and the pain we experience in watching them struggle can be hard to bear. We can feel at a loss for what to say or do. And we can wonder if it will ever change. But the gospel gives us hope. Not that Jesus will necessarily change our circumstances the way we want him to. But he walks with us through the suffering and gives us the ability to rejoice in the midst of it because our suffering connects us to him in a unique way. This article addresses the specific hardship for for parents whose kids identify as LGBTQ+, but I think the hope he offers is needed for all parents. No matter what your parenting struggles are this week- Do Not Lose Hope!
Click here tor read the article by Chris Torchia.
Parenting Against the Spirit of Fear
So much of the research today tells us that parents are still the number one influence in their kids’ lives. This should encourage you because it means that the faith you teach your kids and live out in front of them has real impact. But it also means they also learn from our insecurities and fears, of which I have a lot to offer- which is why I’m so thankful for grace! But it is interesting how the anxiety and fears of teenagers are growing at the same time that adult fear and anxiety seems to be increasing in levels and in intensity of expression. And it is definitely showing itself in the ways we parent. This article made me ask myself, “What ways are my fears and anxieties being passed down to my kids?”. Which also makes me want to ask, “What fears and anxieties do I need to trust God with more, so that I can live with more faith and hope in front of my kids?”. Jesus gives us sufficient reason to live with faith and hope. We just need his strength to cling to him more tightly.
Click here to read the article by David French.
VIDEO: What’s So Good About Good Friday?
This is such a good video that we watch it every year on Good Friday. It’s something you can watch with your family and I hope it is an encouragement that points you to the good news of Good Friday. I probably won’t have a post next week because I’m preaching at our Good Friday service [next Friday at 7:00PM @Faith] so I wanted to send it out today so you would have it.
