I continue to thank God for His provision of a worship leader for the kids.  It was great seeing all of them worshiping with the adults at DEC a couple weeks ago.

We will not have SS Worship time this Sunday, Feb 14th.  On the 21st & 28th we’ll be learning the worship song, “Friend of God.”

Diggin’ Deeper ……………………

Scripture:

1 John 4:7 -”Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.  Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”

John 16:27 -”No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.”

Psalms 17:6 -”I call on you oh God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer.”

Psalms 66:19 - “but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer.”

Some questions to think about …

What does “mindful” mean?

How do we call God?

This song says that God’s love is amazing … give an example of God’s amazing love in your life.  (do you know what “amazing” means?)

If we are a friend of God, who would be God’s enemy?

Lyrics to song …..

Friend Of God

Who am I that You are mindful of me
That You hear me
When I call
Is it true that You are thinking of me
How You love me
It’s amazing

I am a friend of God
I am a friend of God
I am a friend of God
He calls me friend

(BRIDGE)
God Almighty
Lord of glory
You have called me friend

Chorus 2

I am a friend of God
I am a friend of God
I am a friend of God
You call me friend

CCLI Song No. 3991651
© 2003 Integrity’s Praise! Music | Vertical Worship Songs | (Admin. by Integrity Music, Inc.)
Israel Houghton | Michael Gungor
For use solely with the SongSelect Terms of Use. All rights Reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License No. 455070

For the next few weeks Mark will be teaching the kids the song, “Jesus Lead On.”  I would love to hear from you throughout the next couple weeks with more scripture references about leading and following Christ, questions your kids asked while you were worshiping together or something you have learned about following Christ’s lead.

I’ll start us off …….

Exodus 15:13 (NiRV) “Because your love is faithful, you will lead the people you have set free.  Because you are so strong, you will guide them to the holy place where you live.”

Nehemiah 9:19-20a (NiRV) “Because you loved them so much, you didn’t leave them in the desert.  During the day the pillar of cloud didn’t stop guiding them on their path.  At night the pillar of fire didn’t stop shining on the way you wanted them to go.  You gave them your good Spirit to teach them.”

Psalm 25:9 (NiRV) “He shows those who aren’t proud how to do what is right.  He teaches them his ways.”

Psalm 31:2 (NiRV) “You are my rock and my fort.  Lead me and guide me for the honor of your name.”

Proverbs 4:11 (NiRV) “I guide you in the way of wisdom.  I lead you along straight paths.”

DIGGIN DEEPER …………………………..

Why would you follow a leader?  (any leader)

Why would you follow Jesus?

Is there anything that makes it difficult for you (me/us) to follow Jesus?

Lyrics to the song ………………………………..

Jesus Lead On

This is my cry
This is my song
You are my guiding light
When the way is unknown
And when these sunny skies
Turn shades of gray
I’ll stay close by Your side
As You lead the way

Jesus lead on I will follow
Jesus lead on
Let Your love light the way
Jesus lead on I will follow
Jesus lead on

Hear now this cry
Hear now this song
You are the guiding light
For this journey I’m on
And when my vision is clouded
By the wind and the rain
I’ll stay close by Your side
As You lead the way

CCLI Song No. 2035848

© 1996 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing (Admin. by Music Services)

Brent Helming

For use solely with the SongSelect Terms of Use. All rights Reserved. www.ccli.com

CCLI License No. 455070

DIGGIN’ DEEPER ………..

A Little History about “Silent Night” (German: Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht) The original lyrics of the song Stille Nacht were written in German by the Austrian priest Father Josef Mohr and the melody was composed by the Austrian headmaster Franz Xaver Gruber. In 1859, John Freeman Young published the English translation that is most frequently sung today. The carol was first performed in the Nikolaus-Kirche (Church of St. Nicholas) in Oberndorf, Austria on December 24, 1818. Mohr had composed the words much earlier, in 1816, but on Christmas Eve brought them to Gruber and asked him to compose a melody and guitar accompaniment for the church service.

Isaiah 7:14 (New International Version)

¹⁴ Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Matthew 1:22-24 (New International Version)

²²All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.”

Luke 1: 28-35 (New International Version)-The Birth of Jesus Foretold

²⁸The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” ²⁹Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. ³⁰But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. ³¹You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. ³²He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, ³³and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” ³⁴“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” ³⁵The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. “

Luke 2:7 (New International Version)

⁷and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

TO THINK ABOUT THIS WEEK:

Just for fun: Can you find Oberndorf, Austria on a map? What continent is it on?

About how many years before Christ’s birth did Isaiah make the prophecy in Isaiah 7:14?

What is ALWAYS true about the prophecies of Scripture?

What do you think ‘round yon virgin, mother and Child” might mean? This may be a toughie!!!

The Baby Jesus is described as “tender and mild”; however, that Baby grew up. Did He change, or do you think of our Lord Jesus as being tender and mild today?

Why do you think the Baby Jesus could “sleep in heavenly peace”? Do you think it has anything to do with knowing where He came from?

Lyrics to the song ……

SILENT NIGHT

Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and Child.
Holy Infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight;
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!

Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love’s pure light;
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.

Silent night, holy night
Wondrous star, lend thy light;
With the angels let us sing,
Alleluia to our King;
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!

Good afternoon!  I have some very exciting news ……. this past Sunday, we started worship time during all three services of Sunday School.  We have been without corporate worship in the SS program for a while now which has really saddened me.  We’ve been praying for that to change.  This past September a couple SS teachers mentioned that they wanted worship back, I said “knock your self out” and they did!  (Way beyond what I expected!!)  We are blessed to have Mark LaBranche as our worship leader.  Thanks Mark  “)

Each week, or when we start a new song, I will post the lyrics to the song, scripture readings and a couple of questions to think about (these questions will be discussed on Sunday morning).  While thinking through what we hope to accomplish in Sunday morning worship and through this blog, we decided our main goals are;

• to bring glory to God
• encourage worship in our kids (not just singing songs)
• encourage family worship time
• create a bridge between Sunday School worship (downstairs) and adult worship (upstairs)
• move worship beyond 15 minutes on Sunday morning

Enjoy worshiping!

Diggin’ Deeper Into…………

Joy To The World (will be singing December 6th & 13th)

Scripture Readings:

1 Chronicles 16:33 (New International Version)

³³ Then the trees of the forest will sing,
they will sing for joy before the LORD,
for he comes to judge the earth.

2 Chronicles 30:26 (New International Version)

²⁶ There was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the days of Solomon son of David king of Israel there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem.

Psalm 28:7 (New International Version)

⁷ The LORD is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.
My heart leaps for joy
and I will give thanks to him in song.

Psalm 66:1 (New International Version)

Psalm 66

For the director of music. A song. A psalm.

¹ Shout with joy to God, all the earth!

John 15:11 (New International Version)

¹¹I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

Questions:

What makes you so happy that you could sing?

What is the most joyous thing about Christmas to you?

Joy To The World

Verse 1

Joy to the world
The Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and heaven
And nature sing

Verse 2

Joy to the world
The Savior reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods
Rocks hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat repeat the sounding joy

Verse 3

He rules the world
With truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders wonders of His love

CCLI Song No. 4194811
© 1997 Everyday Hero Music | John Andrew Schreiner Music (Admin. by Lori Kelly Rights & Licenses) | (Admin. by Lori Kelly Rights & Licenses)
George Frederic Handel | Isaac Watts | John Andrew Schreiner | Junko Nishiguchi Cheng
For use solely with the SongSelect Terms of Use. All rights Reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License No. 455070

P.S. I have over 2,546 more pictures of sweet faces (not kidding) - it’s difficult to stop taking pictures and it doesn’t help when you have six photographers.

It has taken me a few weeks to process what happened to me on my last trip to Haiti (Apr 21st - Apr 24th).  I’d like to share this very special story.

On this recent trip, as I was making my way around the crowded clinic taking pictures for the director, I happened upon this sweet child.  As I noticed her, her teen mother noticed me.  She pointed to her baby, and then me. I showed her my camera and pretended to take a picture (since I don’t speak creole); translation,”do you want me to take her picture?”  She shook her head “no.”  She pointed to her child again, me, and then the sky.  She did this a few times before I realized what she was saying; she wanted me to take her baby home with me.

I wanted to pick this adorable child up off the cement floor but I knew I couldn’t; I’d never put her down and I don’t believe God is calling me to adopt. (Although, Terry has started an office pool - he thinks I’ll have 4 kids by next summer!)  An hour after this encounter, the director told me that they believe this baby is blind, has many other medical issues and might not survive.

On the flight home, that same day, I was thinking about all the times people have offered their children to me. (and you know who you are!)  Why did my heart feel so heavy this time?  What was different?  The difference, this mom saw ME as her child’s HOPE.  If I took this baby home, I would be able to provide for her, get top notch medical care, and she might have a chance to survive.

The HOPE that I really want to share with the children around the world is the HOPE of JESUS; the TRUE HOPE of the nations.  Please pray with me for a couple of upcoming opportunities to do just that.

English Camp in Tabarre Haiti July 6th - July 17th & VBS at dec August 3rd - August 7th

Pray for the children who will be attending, that their hearts will be turned to the Lord and their lives changed for eternity; for the workers, that as they serve the Lord, their work would glorify Him.

I know many of you have stories of how people, children, and the situations you’ve been in have changed your perspective on life, stuff; increased your faith and moved you into new ministry areas.  Please share your stories with me and the people reading this blog.

O my people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from old - what we have heard and known, what our forefathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done. He decreed statues for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and not forget his deeds but would keep his commands. They would not be like their forefathers - a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to him.

First, to the person who wrote my bio, (and I know who you are!), “thank you” for making my trip seem so benevolent when it was really quite selfish.  I had a great week hanging out with some very dear friends.  We visited, unpacked, ate, played soccer and sang the alphabet song (over and over).  I can now add “Foo” to the extensive list of names that two year olds call me.

I’ve been thinking a lot about good friends and how important they are in my life.  Good friends are safe; you can laugh, cry, disagree and “throw up” all over them, and yet they still love you; they hold you accountable, have difficult conversations, and yet you still love them.  I am thankful for all the good friends that God has given me to make my life so full.  I’d like to encourage you to take a moment this week to make one of your friends feel extra loved by you.

Sue is out of town as this Pastor Blog is launched, and as you may suspect, she’s away helping a family with four adorable children for her to love.  In her stead, dec’s administration and web team have prepared a short bio to help you get to know her better.  Meet Sue Spinney, dec’s Childrens’ Minister.

Sue has been at dec since 1983, and over the years she’s held more babies than most would care to count We’re not sure whether she takes more delight in the babies she’s watched grow up for 20+ years or the brand new babies whose footprints are displayed outside her office door.  She’s a blessing to every one of them

Faithfully she has served dec as Nursery coordinator, then as a key member of the Children’s Ministry Team, and since 2006 as our Children’s Pastor. Not only does she love kids, she is also compassionate and encouraging to their parents. On a weekly basis, Sue coordinates and inspires a small army of Sunday School Teachers and Nursery Workers. She has a passion for missions to children all around the world, and is looking forward to going back to Haiti this summer. Of course, her favorite week of the entire year is VBS, when dec reaches out to the children in our own communities with the love of Christ.

Sue blesses all of us with her thoughtful words, joyful service, and her amazing cooking! Thanks Sue!

For bonus points: can anyone guess why she’s titled her blog Hugs and Bugs?