Southwood Lutheran Church

Tuesday Tales from May 20, 2012

Sunday School Celebration Time!

We ended the Sunday School program year with a celebration for all age groups upstairs in the Fellowship Hall.

We celebrated a year of “Walking Like Jesus” and caring for people like Jesus did. Through our offerings, we were able to buy 31 goats for Honduras and Tanzania, collect almost 400 books for children that come to Clinic with a Heart, donate $2,000+ for medical prescriptions at Clinic and pay for a year of secondary education for 3 AIDS orphans in Tanzania.

Our Sunday School children certainly lived out the verse from 1 Timothy: 4:12: “Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and in your purity.”

At our celebration we also said “THANK YOU” to all the Sunday School Teachers, Large Group Leaders and Education Station Volunteers.

There were VBS characters and puppets to tell us about what was coming up this summer.

With great VBS song leaders who taught us some of the new VBS songs!

And no celebration would be complete without a special treat.

We hope all the students and teachers got their shoestring reminders that Jesus would walk with them all through the summer! Be sure to check out all the summer activities on the card they were tied to.

It was definitely a year to celebrate.

Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy! Psalms 47:1

     

Tuesday Tales for May 13, 2012

Happy Mother's Day!

The students in all age groups wished their mothers a Happy Mother’s Day!

The lesson in the PreK/K classroom was about how Jesus shows that he loves us by giving us families that care for us. The reverse of this is also true, we can show Jesus that we love him by loving others.

In Large Group, Gordy helped kids remember how great their mom’s are and in their classroom, they remembered the kids at Clinic with a heart and how they could show them love.

 

1st – 3rd grades were learning about Paul’s journey to Thessalonica and Berea and how very different the people were in theses two places. In Thessalonica, Jewish people were jealous of Paul and drove them out. The people in Berea were very willing to hear God’s message and every day they read the scriptures to see if what Paul said was true. From the Bereans we learned to treasure God’s promise. As a reminder of this, students added jewels to a bookmark with a reading plan for the book of John printed on it. And the day wouldn’t have been complete without a card telling mom how much we treasure her!

The 4th & 5th graders were “Seeking Success” just as Zacchaeus sought fame and fortune as a tax collector. It wasn’t until Zacchaeus found a relationship with Jesus that he found true happiness. Through a game called “Chasing Success,” students attached “Success cards” to Alfred to remind us that chasing after “stuff” won’t bring happiness, but in “chasing” (knowing) God, we will find contentment.

Under the direction of Pablo Pistachio, the great artist, 4th & 5th graders finished their sculpture, Alfred. Through these lessons they talked about how God shapes us through troubles and that is when Alfred’s head was created. God shapes us through failures and that is when we created Alfred’s feet. He shapes us through service and that is when we gave Alfred hands. Finally, God shapes us through the way we seek success.

And sometimes, on a beautiful day, you just need to get outside and run!

Outreach Update

With the offerings from last Sunday we are able to give: $100 for the AIDS orphans tuition, $1,915.16 total for prescriptions for Clinic with a Heart patients (this is an accumulation of the offering money that is left each week after we remove the $100 for the AIDS orphans tuition). Plus, we have received a total of 357 books to give to the children that come to the Clinic!

Tuesday Tales from May 6, 2012

The Holy Spirit was at work in Sunday School at Southwood!

PreK/K children play acted the Spirit coming at Pentecost. Blowing wind from fans, streamers like fire, and teachers talking in different languages gave them a sense of what it might have been like many years ago when the Holy Spirit came to those who were believers of Jesus. That day over 3,000 believers joined the power of the Holy Spirit creating the birth of the Christian Church! Children created crowns of fire to help them remember that “God’s Spirit lives in me.”

1st-3rd graders discussed the missionary Paul and how his steadfast love of Jesus gave him the strength to continue spreading the news that all who pray in the name of the Lord, will be saved regardless of race or status. The children created a list of people in their own lives that need a friend and discussed what they could do to open the door of friendship to them by “walking like Jesus.”

4th and 5th graders are working with mannequin heads to illustrate how God shapes children and their character if they let him. This Sunday they talked about Jesus showing his humility by washing the disciples’ feet and how they too need to remember to serve Jesus by their actions. They wrote on pieces of tissue paper the times they have helped others in the past and brainstormed some ideas of serving in the future. The tissue paper was then stuffed into gloves to be the “serving hands’ of their class mannequin heads.

 

Outreach Update

With the offerings from last Sunday we are able to give: $100 for the AIDs orphans tuition, $1,799.02 total for prescriptions for Clinic with a Heart patients (this is an accumulation of the offering money that is left each week after we remove the $100 for the AIDS orphans tuition). Plus, we have received a total of 332 books to give to the children that come to the Clinic!

Tuesday Tales from April 29, 2012

  

In our PreK/K story, Jesus returned to heaven but left us with a very important
job to do. He wants us to tell everyone about him! But he didn’t leave us alone to do that job. He promsed to send his Spirit to help us. Stay tuned for that story next week!

Just like Paul and Barnabas we’re set apart by the Holy Spirit for a missionary journey, our 1st-3rd graders were packing a suitcase with the unique tools they have for the mission journey that God has for them. It may or may not involve travel, but there is a way for them to share God’s love with others wherever they are.

 

The 4th and 5th grades added feet to Alfred, their mannequin head, as they learned about Paul’s persecution of the Jews and how despite those failures, he was able to show others how God can change people! He became one of the most influential disciples, especially among the gentiles, and wrote many of the letters in the New Testament. Through Paul we learned that we all have flops (mistakes) but God can make good things come out of those mistakes when we follow where God leads us.

Outreach Update

With the offerings from last Sunday we are able to give: $100 for the AIDs orphans tuition, $1,716.33 total for prescriptions for Clinic with a Heart patients (this is an accumulation of the offering money that is left each week after we remove the $100 for the AIDS orphans tuition). Plus, we have received a total of 323 books to give to the children that come to Clinic!

Tuesday Tales from April 22, 2012

You know Summer is right around the corner when Camp Carol Joy Holling comes to visit! 

First through 5th grade children learned a little bit about the camp adventures in large group with Dennis Pope from Camp Carol Joy Holling. There are several types of camp to choose from; Ranch camp, Tipi Village, TrailHead and a Family camp. Members from Southwood who register before May 8 will receive $20 off the cost of camp. Flyers are available at Education Station. If your child or family is interested learn more about camp opportunities www.nlom.org

PreK/K talked about spreading the good news to others that Jesus is alive and forgives our sins! To practice sharing the news they headed outside for a fun microphone relay where they could shout out “Jesus is God’s Son” or “Jesus is Alive”.

1st-3rd graders discussed the power of the Holy Spirit. By creating a Balloon Rocket, they talked about how the balloon filled with air is like the breath of God, that fills our lives and gives us power to go in God’s direction.

Pablo Pistachio visited the 4th and 5th grades as they worked with mannequin heads to illustrate how God shapes children and their character if they let him. By the power of the Holy Spirit, God is shaping us to become more like Jesus. But he uses unusual tools like circumstances or events to do this. Should we find ourselves in trouble we need to tell God, trust God to guide us and look to others who love and care for us so together we can see how God can use a situation to shape our character.

 

Outreach Update

With the offerings from last Sunday we are able to give: $100 for the AIDs orphans tuition, $1,689.59 total for prescriptions for Clinic with a Heart patients (this is an accumulation of the offering money that is left each week after we remove the $100 for the AIDS orphans tuition). Plus, we have received a total of 318 books to give to the children that come to the Clinic!

Tuesday Tales from April 15, 2012

JESUS IS RISEN — He is risen indeed!

Since there isn’t Sunday School on Easter, we remember the crucifixion the Sunday before Easter and the resurrection the Sunday after Easter. So we were all on the same story this Sunday – Jesus’ resurrection.

Our classes were all about new life and sharing this news with others.

Some classes made butterflies and thought about new life. Some hunted Easter eggs.

Everyone filled eggs with colored jelly beans and a poem to help them tell the story to others. One egg for themselves and one to share.

• Green is for the palms to wave.
• Yellow is for the love He gave.
• Orange is for the edge of night.
• Purple is for His hands clasped tight.
• Red is for His blood shed in sorrow.
• Pink is for a new tomorrow.

Just like the women who found the tomb empty, we too are excited that Jesus is alive and we are eager to tell others the good news!

 

Offering Update

With the offerings from last Sunday we are able to give: $100 for the AIDs orphans tuition, $1,650.04 total for prescriptions for Clinic with a Heart patients (this is an accumulation of the offering money that is left each week after we remove the $100 for the AIDS orphans tuition). Plus, we have received a total of 304 books to give to the children that come to the Clinic!

Tuesday Tales from April 1, 2012

He was punished so that we could have peace, and we received healing from his wounds. Isaiah 53

What a beautiful Palm Sunday! PreK/K children took advantage of the great weather and played their “Caught by the Cross” game outside. It started with one student stretching their arms out like a cross and as other students were caught they too became a cross (Some classes may have hunted for Easter eggs too!). Because Jesus catches us, we get to live for him and catch someone else to live for him too!

1st-3rd graders discussed Jesus’ amazing sacrifice and punishment. Jesus loved us and knew that his punishment and death were the only way for God to punish our sin. We could not bear the punishment of that sin ourselves so Jesus took the punishment for us. They learned a “gospel illusion” card trick to help them understand the love of Jesus for them.

 

4th and 5th graders literally wrote their own sins on someone in their group with markers. Discussing how at first it seemed funny but then maybe they started to feel bad that their messes were all on that one person. Like the volunteer, Jesus suffered for all our messes so we would never have to. Our sins have been erased. They have been taken care of, at one time, for all time. We can now have freedom, healing, and peace in place of all the messes. This was another lesson from the Great Chapters of the Bible—the Suffering Servant chapter: Isaiah 53.

Outreach Update

We have 298 books collected for the children at Clinic with a Heart! Our prescription amount is now $1,505.95 that we have collected from our Sunday School offerings.

Tuesday Tales from March 25, 2012

While the lessons for all 3 age groups were a little different, all the students are starting that journey to the cross with Jesus.

Peter visited the PreK/K Large Group and told the children about the hardest day is his life. The day that Jesus was arrested. Jesus told Peter that he would deny knowing him three times before the rooster crowed. Peter didn’t believe him, but it happened just like Jesus said. Peter sinned because he was afraid. But he was very sorry and Jesus forgave him. We sin too. The good news is that Jesus died for everybody’s sins, so when we ask God to forgive us, and we’re truly sorry for what we’ve done, we know that we are forgiven too.

The 1st – 3rd graders learned a special trick in Sunday School: without looking, they could pick out a piece of paper marked “King of Peace” from a bag full of similar pieces that had things they worry about written on them. Jesus is the King of Peace. He can give us peace in the middle of all of our worries.

In the Bible story, after Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, he went to the temple and threw out the merchants who were selling things in the courtyard. Even though the priests were pretty mad, Jesus didn’t leave the temple, he kept teaching. He had God’s peace. Jesus gives us peace in the middle of all our worries. One of the last things Jesus said to his disciples was, “My peace I leave with you. Not the world’s kind of peace, but mine.”

If you were blindfolded, would you trust someone – who’s also blindfolded – to feed you pudding? How could you possibly get a Bible lesson out of this activity? The 4th & 5th graders did!

The Bible verse for today is: Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we cannot see. Hebrews 11:1

In a way, faith is like this contest. The contestants couldn’t see but they knew a bowl of pudding was out there and that their partner would feed them. Faith convinces us of the existence of things we cannot see. But how is it we get faith? We need to have someone who we trust tell us. In this case, we added a third person to the team and they told the contestants how to better direct the spoon to the other person’s mouth. It became much easier.

This is very much like the heroes of the faith the students learned about. They heard God’s word and believed in him. We are inspired by their faith.

Outreach Update

We received a total of 288 books for the children that come to Clinic with a Heart. We have also collected $1,329.92 in offerings for the cost of prescriptions. Thanks for helping kids have a good experience at Clinic!

Tuesday Tales from March 18, 2012

Have your children spent more time washing their hands since Sunday?

As Sunday School students continue to give books for the kids that come to Clinic with a Heart and bring their offering to help buy medicine for them, we are also thinking about ways we can all take better care of the bodies that God gave us. This week we learned about the germs on our hands and how important hand washing is for staying healthy. If your child came home talking about “magic lotion” or “special lights,” this is what happened.

1. Students were shown a step by step process for how to wash their hands (I bet they can tell you how to do it!).
2. Students rubbed the “magic lotion” all over their hands (florescent lotion – same one that is used in the public schools).
3. When their hands were held under a special (black) light they glowed from the lotion. It represented where germs would be on their hands (everywhere!).
4. Then students used the step by step process to wash and dry their hands.
5. Their clean hands were placed under a special (black) light and any areas not washed properly still glowed, showing them where germs would be.

Here’s the story in pictures!

 Just a little lotion

 Rub it in real good

 Hands glow w/lotion

 Washing off lotion

 Look pretty clean

We did have Bible stories in Sunday School too!

PreK/K students learned about Jesus’ arrest and trial. Jesus gave himself willingly for us and because he died on the cross, our sins are forgiven. (Luke 22:39-46)

The Bible event for 1st – 3rd graders was of Jesus saving Lazarus from death. Jesus wants us to have faith in him as the one who has power over death. (John 11:1-44)

The 4th & 5th grade students were learning about the Joy Chapter: Philippians 4. The apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians while he was in jail. He speaks of having joy in all circumstances. There is a difference between joy and happiness. Happiness is based on chance and joy is based on an attitude of rejoicing. Some things that take away your joy are worry, not being thankful and lack of prayer. (Philippians 4:4)

 

Outreach Update

We received 33 books this week to take to our friends at Clinic with a Heart. I’m afraid we don’t know the exact total! People are bringing them and leaving them on the shelves or picking some up to take to Clinic. I do know it is well over 200! Please continue to bring in those books! We have also collected $1,162.97 in offerings for the cost of prescriptions. Thanks for helping kids have a good experience at Clinic!

Tuesday Tales from March 11, 2012

Just as the sermon series for Lent is looking at the power of Grace, the Sunday School children found out what God’s grace means for them.

PreK/K children were told the story of Jesus serving his disciples before the Passover meal by washing their feet. He performed the job of a lowly servant to show them how much he loved them and how he wants them to continue God’s grace by serving others. How can children serve others? Making the bed for Mom, sharing toys with a brother or sister or helping a hurt friend.

1st-3rd graders learned of God’s amazing power with the story of Jesus raising the synagogue leader Jairus’ daughter from death. “God has the power that allows us to live with him in heaven forever. I am life itself. Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” John 11:25-26. Each class learned a card trick to remind them they will always come to the top of the “deck” when we trust in Jesus.

4th and 5th graders were split into teams to build towers with only magazines and tape. A feat which proved impossible but for the grace of the team leader showing them the way. This exercise helped them in their study of the great chapters of the Bible--this week it was the Grace Chapter: Ephesians 2. “God saved you through faith as an act of kindness. Being saved is a gift from God.”

Outreach Update

We have a total of 162 books so far filling our bookcase for our friends at Clinic with a Heart. Please continue to bring in those books! We have also collected $970.55 in offerings for the cost of prescriptions.