Dear Elementary Parents,

Throughout the Bible, God asks His people to intentionally set aside time to celebrate what He has done in their lives. These times offer the opportunity to rejoice in worship, to pray, and to "go deeper" into the truths of our walk with Christ. It is our joyFULL privilege to create a special Easter experience each year for our TK- 5th grade students that we call Spiritual Emphasis Week (SEW).

As parents, we covet your prayers over our staff and students during this impactful week. We want students to see Jesus' life and death with fresh eyes, and respond to His gift of forgiveness and eternal life with a deeper love and thankfulness. We have included an overview of SEW for you below.

Elementary Spiritual Emphasis Week (March 26-29)

Theme: "The Upside Down Kingdom"

Song: "How Can I Keep From Singing" by Chris Tomlin

Verse: Hebrews 12:2 (Wording from two versions will be highlighted)

Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in.  Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed-that exhilarating finish in and with God-he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!  (The Message)   ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. New International Version (NIV)

Monday (3/26): *Chapel for TK-5th Grade from 9:50-10:30A M Guest Speaker: Taylor Bedoya, Children's Pastor, Canopy Church *Parents are welcome to attend!

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday - Special Class Experiences Each class will have an in-class devotion, a reflective experience, and a worship time that goes deeper with our theme in the areas of "The Forgiving King" and "The Humble King." This intimate class experience allows for discussion and a personal connection to the things they are learning.

Fifth Grade Special Experience "Chair Talk" Our fifth graders have the privilege of a time designed specifically for them with Mr. John Hellriegel, Middle School and 5th Grade Bible Teacher. By way of a creative visual illustration, the students will be encouraged to think about where they are in their journey of faith

How you can be involved in SEW with your child: Please pray for our students, our faculty, and our guest speakers and musicians that the Holy Spirit would mold and shape us in powerful ways as we listen, learn, reflect and worship. We invite you to join us for Chapel on Monday, March 26, from 9:50-10:30 a.m. in the auditorium. Create a daily space for conversation with your child about his or her SEW experience. Ask this simple question of your child: What did you learn today about Jesus as King that was upside down or the opposite of what we might usually expect?

Thank you for prayers for SEW as we embrace Hebrews 12:2 and collectively study how our Lord and Savior "did it!"

Elementary Principal Mariners Christian School