Children & Youth Ministries Weekly Update | | |
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
– Colossians 3:23-24
| | |
Last week I attended a conference during which one of the speakers focused on, “It is possible to do ministry for God without God.” (Drew Huynh) This got my wheels turning, exploring what areas of life and work I strive to do on my own strength and ambition. Let’s just say, the list is a little long. 😊
Life can get busy and sometimes it just feels easier to do things how we have always done them without thinking about them. Morning routines, tasks at work, chores around the house, parenting style and techniques, going to church, coaching sports… all of it can become old-hat and feel meaningless. But there seems to be more to life and work when we approach it as instructed by the Apostle Paul in Colossians 3. He encourages those in Colossae to work out of a place of passion and conviction (heart for the Lord) rather than obligation (human masters).
I can hear you now… “Sarah, these tiny human masters that live in my house are demanding.” Yes – we need to complete tasks and get things done to keep life orderly and in line. And, we can practice doing ordinary, every day life with a heart that is trained on God rather than on making other’s happy. How can we do this? A few ideas…
-
Express gratitude for the small things. When you’re washing dishes, doing laundry, snuggling a dysregulated kid, pushing the swing, writing the report at work… thank God for the life He’s given. Even when we don’t feel gratitude, expressing it changes our heart and focuses us outside the situation and toward God.
- Invite another into the “normal.” What tasks, chores, play activities, etc. can you invite a loved one or coworker to come alongside you in? When we do with others, instead of constantly doing for others, our focus turns toward God’s work in and through others.
- Serve in a new way! Sometimes we just need to mix things up and serve differently. Let go of one thing you are doing because you have to and take up a new way to serve others. This could include serving at VBS or with Bike Hike this summer, doing LIFT Day with your family, praying for someone who you’re struggling with, or grabbing an extra gallon of milk at the store and dropping it off at a friend’s house who you know is drowning right now.
Life is busy – but the busyness won’t end. That’s the bad news. The good news is that we can reorient our hearts, our minds and our lives to a God who fills us with all hope, joy and peace when our crazy busy lives are centered on Him.
Pastor Sarah
Director of Youth Ministries
| | |
Grad Sunday
Sunday, June 7
9:00am and 10:30am services
We would love to honor our graduating High School Seniors and give them an opportunity to participate in leading worship as well. Please have your Senior fill out the following form with their availability and interest in leading AND their graduation photo for the slideshow: Grad Sunday Interest Form
We also need assistance from parents of our current High School Juniors. If you are willing, please connect with Sarah Tunall about picking up the cakes on Saturday, June 6 or helping decorate tables , cut and serve cake, or clean up on Grad Sunday, June 7.
| | |
LIFT Day
Saturday, May 16, 1:00-6:00pm
Fellowship Hall and Various Off-Site Locations
Join us for our first LIFT Day on Saturday, May 16, as we serve together in our community. We’ll begin at 1:00pm with a brief time of prayer, then head out to a variety of local ministry sites supported by CPC. Service opportunities will include helping at Clark County Food Bank, spending time with children at Open House Ministries, making cards at Columbia for older members of our congregation, and more. We’ll return to the church at 5:00pm to share dinner together and reflect on the day. Register here.
| | |
Bike Hike
July 26-August 1
Farragut State Park
Bike Hike is open to all youth who just completed 6th-8th grades. Registration deadline for Bike Hike is Monday, June 1. Register here.
| | |
VBS - Registration opens May 15
Monday, June 29-Thursday, July 2
9:00am-12:00pm
Ages: 5 years old (by the end of August) through current 5th graders
Join us this year as we travel to Egypt and journey with Joseph. We are bringing back the much loved “Marketplace” this year and are excited to share this with a new generation of students. VBS is nothing short of a magical experience for many kids (and families!) that otherwise would not be in this space. But we need your help!
- First and foremost, we need prayer warriors! We need people to start praying now for the families, kiddos, and volunteers. There is nothing better than Jesus, and our prayer is that we would all experience that during VBS. Let us know that you are including VBS in your prayer time by clicking here.
- VBS can’t happen without hands-on volunteers. If you would like to volunteer working with kids at VBS this summer, middle school and older, please click here.
*All volunteers working with children under the age of 18 are required to have a background check and complete our Expectation Policy.
- We have a great group of people planning fantastic decorations, but we need (many) more hands to bring our decorations to life! You don’t need to be an artist or a super crafter to serve in this way, just a willingness to maybe get some paint on your pants. Options for this include take-home projects, work parties (some in the evening, some on Saturdays) or helping assemble and set up the Sunday before VBS. This is a low-commitment, but high impact opportunity! We tell the kids that all the decorations are a sign of love and faith, like visible prayers from people they might never meet, showing them the care and love of Jesus! If you can donate some time to this effort, please click here.
- In order to turn our church into another world we will need LOTS AND LOTS OF FABRIC. We are looking for BIG pieces of SOLID COLORED fabric. The more yards, the better. Please bring donations to the church office or leave at the Welcome Desk on Sunday mornings.
- We also need a large number of white pop-up canopies! Do you have one we can borrow for the week? Please let us know here.
Blessings as you discern how God may be calling you to serve the Kingdom through VBS this summer!
Questions? Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Tifny!
| | |
|
All Church Camping Adventure
August 14-16
Millersylvania State Park
Registration is open for our all church camping weekend at Millersylvania State Park just south of Olympia. We have reserved 30 tent sites and 2 RV sites. Spend your days swimming and enjoying non-motorized boating on Deep Lake, relaxing by the water, or exploring the hiking and biking trails in the park and nearby. Other attractions in Thurston County are also close at hand. Use this time to slow down, recharge, connect with friends and family, and enjoy God’s beautiful creation. We will provide dinner meat and fixings for Friday and Saturday, and coffee in the mornings. $60 for the first adult and $10 for each additional human. Registration is first come, first served. Once the spots are gone, they are gone. Register here.
| | |
Contemplative Yoga Classes
Tuesdays and Thursdays
The classes are led by Stephanie Bisch and there are several class and time options.
Click here for more information.
| | Preschool, Children & Youth Staff | | You are receiving this email because you or your child participated in a program or event at Columbia Presbyterian Church. At any time, you may click on "Update Profile" in the email footer to subscribe/unsubscribe from specific distribution lists such as Children's Ministry, Youth Ministry, Rooted Newsletter, or the Columbia Weekly. If you wish to receive no communication from Columbia Presbyterian Church at all, please click "Unsubscribe" in the email footer - be aware that if you unsubscribe we cannot re-subscribe you. If you need assistance, please contact any of the above listed Administrative Assistants. | | | | |
