November’s Virtue: Cooperation October 30, 2009
Posted by rshort in : 2-What We're Teaching , comments closed
November’s virtue that we’ll be teaching on in Elementary classes is Cooperation: working together to do more than you can do alone. Below is a message from Melanie Williams, editor in chief of 252 Basics, the company that writes our curriculum, on Cooperation:
“It had taken fifty-two days. When all our enemies heard the news and all the surrounding nations saw it, our enemies totally lost their nerve. They knew that God was behind this work” (Nehemiah 6:15, THE MESSAGE).
Doing the undoable takes more than me.
“But Moses’ hands got tired. So they got a stone and set it under him. He sat on it and Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on each side. So his hands remained steady until the sun went down. Joshua defeated Amalek and its army in battle” (Exodus 17:12-13, THE MESSAGE).
Look for ways to help somebody succeed.
“When they couldn’t find a way in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof, removed some tiles, and let him down in the middle of everyone, right in front of Jesus” (Luke 5:19, THE MESSAGE).
Friends who trust God work together to change lives.
“The Israelites completed all the work, just as God had commanded. Moses saw that they had done all the work and done it exactly as God had commanded” (Exodus 39:42-43, THE MESSAGE).
Work together to get God’s work done.
A government worker turned builder and a pitiful collection of refugees. A couple of “right-hand men” … and a pitiful collection of refugees. Some guys who just wanted to help a friend. And, a pitiful collection of refugees. These are the people we’re going to be talking about in November as we focus on Cooperation: Nehemiah, Aaron and Hur, some friends of a paralyzed man, and a ragtag bunch called the Israelites. They were your average Joes, really, beset by everyday kinds of problems, but they all tackled some God-given task that other people might have considered a little crazy, they did everything they could think of to make it a success, they leaned on God throughout the process and trusted Him with the results, and they did it together. As a result, they were able to do more than they could’ve done on their own.
By Melanie Williams. © 2009 The reThink Group * www.rethinkgroup.org * All rights reserved. Used by permission.
WANT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT NOVEMBER’S VIRTUE?
Go to http://www.252basics.org. On the video player, select Virtue Video #2 to hear Reggie Joiner speak on Cooperation. (Note: the videos change as each month passes and a new virtue is introduced.)
P.S.
Looking for ways to build character in your children at home? Consider Family Times Virtue Packs, and all-in-one package that enables you to continue to have conversations at home focused on the same Bible lessons your kids are hearing in Kid’s Quest on weekends. You get:
- A CD with an audio drama, worship music, and a parent’s session – perfect for your commute times.
- Discussion Starter Cards with questions to get your family talking when you’re having a meal together.
- Note Cards to surprise your child with an encouraging note - stick it to their mirror in the morning, hide it in their lunch bag, or put it on their pillow to find at night.
- Bible Story Cards – a quick Bible lesson to share at bedtime.
Packs can be purchased for $10 in THE BOOKstore at MBC or at Clubhouse Corner in the Smith Center Lobby after any KIDstuff show. Click here to learn more about this great, easy-to-use, resource or purchase online.
Do you use Family Times packs already? I’d love to share with others how this resource has impacted your family. Send me your story at romney.short@mcleanbible.org.
KIDstuff This Weekend! October 28, 2009
Posted by rshort in : 4-Events , comments closed
We hope we haven’t overwhelmed you by the number of posts we’ve made about KIDstuff this month. We’re just that passionate about the KIDstuff experience and how it can help equip you to build charcter into your children at home!
KIDstuff is a fun and engaging show that teaches elementary children and their families about God and lets parents in on what we’re teaching their children all month so they can continue to have conversations at home. Shows include wacky games, energetic music, funny skits, and dramatized stories.
Don’t miss the last show of 2009 this Sunday, Nov 1 at 12:30 pm in the Smith Center. We’ll kick off the November virtue Cooperation: working together to do more than you can do alone. We’ll learn about Nehemiah building the wall and laugh at a hilarious Abba tribute! Click here to learn more about KIDstuff.
P.S.
Struggling with the decision to come at 12:30pm? Click here to see a past post making the change to come.
Last Weekend For Trick-or-Treat Cards! October 23, 2009
Posted by rshort in : 4-Events, 5-Holidays , comments closed
This weekend, Oct 24/25, is the LAST WEEKEND to pick up KIDstuff invitation cards to pass out to elementary-age trick-or-treaters on Halloween. Whether you’re one of our parents, volunteers, or just a friend to our ministry, would you help spread the word about this engaging, character-building, and FREE event for families? Pick up KIDstuff invitation cards to drop into the buckets of elementary-age trick-or-treaters who visit your home on Halloween night. Cards are available at check-in, elementary classes, information walls, and Volunteer Central. Take as many as you need - we want to see no cards left behind after this weekend
KIDstuff is Sunday, Nov 1 at 12:30 pm in the Smith Center. This is the last show of 2009! We’ll kick off the November virtue Cooperation: working together to do more than you can do alone. We’ll learn about Nehemiah building the wall and laugh at a hilarious Abba tribute! Click here to learn more about KIDstuff.
No Trick – Just A Treat! October 16, 2009
Posted by rshort in : 4-Events, 5-Holidays , comments closed 
KIDstuff returns on Sunday, Nov 1 at 12:30 pm in the Smith Center. KIDstuff is a fun and engaging show that teaches elementary children and their families about God. Shows include wacky games, energetic music, funny skits, and dramatized stories. We’ll kick off the November virtue Cooperation: working together to do more than you can do alone. We’ll learn about Nehemiah building the wall and laugh at a hilarious Abba tribute! Click here to learn more about KIDstuff.
This is a great outreach event! Will you help us promote it in your neighborhood? Pick up KIDstuff invitation cards to drop into the buckets of elementary-age trick-or-treaters who visit your home on Halloween night. Cards are available at check-in, information walls, and Volunteer Central - take as many as you need! If we run out we’ll have more available the next weekend.
October-November Missions Project October 12, 2009
Posted by rshort in : 3-Missions Projects , comments closedIf you’ve got a girl in your family, there’s a good chance you’ve had the pleasure of being subjected to an episode or two of Hannah Montana. I don’t have daughters but I do have two nieces who have shared this phenomenon with me and there are times I find myself unconsciously singing, “I’ve got the best of both worlds…” Ahhh!
Like Hannah, I’ve got a secret life. Ok, it’s not really a secret, but it is a part of my life that most people know little about if at all. What can my big secret be? That I’m the mother of a child with special needs. My son’s disabilities are mostly physical and mild in comparison to other children with special needs. So I find myself living in two worlds, one foot in the world of a typically developing child and another in the crazy world of IEP’s, specialists, MRI’s, therapy appointments, and adaptive technology.
I was on staff at MBC when Access Ministry first began under Kid’s Quest, but I realize now that there was a lot I never truly understood till I personally became a part of this world myself. It began the moment I held up my son’s first MRI up to the light and could clearly see the empty space on his head scan where part of his brain should have been. This was one of the most terrifying moments in my life and from there I got a quick education in what it was really like to be a parent of a special needs child.
I never knew how utterly alone I would feel. I never knew how much I would have to fight and fight hard to get my child the help he needs to thrive and grow. I never knew the mental anguish I would experience from having to be alert and vigilant 24 hours a day and never getting a break from that nagging fear in the back of my mind that something could go terribly wrong today.
I know my experience is not unique and not even a worst case scenario. Did you know that there are 40,000 children with special needs in the Washington D.C. area? That means there are a lot of parents out there feeling lost, alone, and exhausted. And those parents have an 80% chance of their marriage ending in divorce. That’s a sad and distressing statistic. If I didn’t have Christ and the loving support of others in my life, I am certain I’d be one of them. And it’s only through Christ and the help of others I can embrace and be thankful for both worlds I find myself in. That’s why I’m really excited to share with you that Kid’s Quest has selected Jill’s House as our missions project for October and November.
If you’ve driven into or past MBC Tysons recently, you can see the construction for Jill’s House well underway now. It plans to open in the fall of 2010. Jill’s House will serve children age 6-17 through short-term overnight care, social activities, and a range of therapy activities. This will enable parents to get the break they need to concentrate on their marriage or to spend with their other children.
This month our elementary children are learning about individuality and discovering who they are meant to be. As part of our Large Group programming, we’ll be sharing specific stories about individual children who will be served by Jill’s House, a place where children with special needs can discover and celebrate who they are meant to be in an environment that is welcoming, safe, engaging, and fun. Please share with your children how their offering gifts will be used to impact the lives of other children in the DC area and join with us in praying for all the lives that will be touched through this ministry.
To learn more about Jill’s House and how you can be a supporter, visit their website at www.jillshouse.org. Also, if you’re on Facebook, become a fan of their page at www.facebook.com/jillshouse.
