Author Archive for sherri
On Sunday, August 24th, 115 backpack Bibles were presented to our 3rd grade children, it was an exciting day in the life of our 3rd graders, their families, and their Sunday school teachers. And the adventure was just beginning…this past Friday over 70 children and adults joined us for our very 1st 3rd grade lock-in from 6:00-10:00pm in the Fellowship Hall, as they began the journey of “Unlocking the Mystery of the Bible”.
The night began with pizza and an opening session with “Indy” and “Professor” before children began traveling to 4 different libraries that would teach the children about the books within the Bible. The Library of Law (God’s Mighty Acts), Library of History and Poetry, Library of Prophets and Gospel Writers, and the Library of Acts and Letters. In each Library children used their Bible and a Treasure Code Guide Book to decode scripture and learn how to look up a book, a chapter, and a verse. Children were given an item as they left each library such as: a compass - God’s word is the same today, as it was yesterday, as it will be tomorrow; a coin - the true treasure is within the pages of the Bible; a glow stick - Jesus is the light of the world; and a lock/key - all you have to do to unlock the mystery of the Bible is to open the cover, read, study and pray.
The night closed with decorating their backpacks to carry their new treasure in and a treasure seeker sundae topped with goodies that also themed with the night. M&M’s represented the rainbow God placed in the sky; candy hearts represented God’s love and forgiveness; gummy fish represented the life and teachings of Jesus Christ; and chocolate syrup represented the “acts” of spreading the good news.
Fun was had by all! The blessing was the excitement I saw in the eyes of the children on Sunday, and the feedback from parents that their children came home excited about their new treasure and eager to practice reading and looking up scripture in their new Bibles. The mystery has been unlocked, the treasure revealed, the adventure began…the journey for these children in God’s Mighty Word begins now. Glory be to God for all His blessings on the lives of His children and their parents as they experience this adventure together!
Be sure to check out our album of photos from the event.
Sherri
Sunday morning was an exciting day in the life of our 3rd grade students, it was a milestone on their spiritual walk…they received their 3rd grade Bible. I don’t know who was more excited; the children, the parents, or the adults that have shared in teaching them on Sunday mornings. I was touched personally as I watched dozens of children that had been in my 3 year old Sunday School class have their name placed in their new Bible. The smiles were overwhelming, for in their hands they held a true treasure…the word of God right there in one hand and a cookie in the other. God is good!
Now what? The journey begins, the book is their own, what will they do with it?
I remember my very first Bible…it was white with a gold lamb embossed on it and gold lined pages. I was told it was a very special book and I was to take very special care of it. Okay, I followed the rules! I did just that, I took very good care of it. I was afraid to open the cover, it might bend the binding. I was afraid to touch the delicate pages, it might tear them. I was afraid to peal the pages apart from each other for it might ruin my new Bible, my gift. It wasn’t until years later, as an adult, that same Bible laid on a bookcase in my home and a friend said…”what a beautiful Bible, too bad it has never been opened”. Well, that comment really stuck with me and I realized my Bible is a treasure and I didn’t know what the gift was until I bent back the cover, touched each page, and pealed back the gift of God’s mighty word.
Years later I understand the treasure and long to leave a legacy for my children of a Bible filled with prayer, notes, and a life lived as a follower of Jesus Christ. We can’t possibly teach your child about the Bible in 4 hours, but we can get them started on the adventure of a lifetime as they “Unlock the Mystery of the Bible” from 6:00-10:00pm on Friday September 5th. Children will visit four different libraries-God’s Mighty Acts, Judges and Kings, Prophets and Gospel Writers, and Acts and Letters as they explore the treasure of God’s word and learn to decode scripture by book, chapter, and verse. The evening will be complete with food, fun, fellowship and an adventure to grow on! See you there!
Your Children’s Ministry Team-Dianne, Sherri, Janis and Susan!
This spring the children at Mt. Bethel UMC have put their “compassion into action” during children’s Sunday School programs to support both local and global mission projects. Children are sharing an attitude of SPLATitude (serving, praying, loving and teaching the word of God) through age appropriate mission projects and sharing the love of Jesus with children all over the world. Look and see where we have been since January 2008…
- 1000+ fleece blankets delivered to the children in Atacucho, Ecuador
- 175 hygiene kits to Elvinco, Honduras
- 70 welcome baby kits for the Hope Center in Marietta GA
- 1080 salvation bracelets for the children in Kwambekenya, Africa
- 60 picture frames for the Adult Enrichment Ministry serving Cobb County
This month children will work on salvation bracelets for the children in Costa Rica and cards for our soldiers serving far from home. Give the children a mission and an opportunity and they are ready with an enthusiasm only children can bring to a project. Our children are touching lives and sharing the love of Jesus through their attitude of SPLATitude! Oh what a mighty God we serve!
Sherri
What happens when you give over 300 children 7,000 beads and 1,100 pieces of rope with a MISSION? It creates a purpose, a challenge, and an opportunity to share a little bit of love with other children in the world. Sunday, April 13th was our 2nd “Kids In Motion” Mission Focus program for our children at Mt.Bethel during the Sunday School hour. The program is designed to support Mt. Bethel’s “Compassion Into Action through the Power and Presence of Jesus Christ” as well as our focus for children to (SPLAT) serve, pray, love, and teach the word of God.
Something incredible happens when an ordinary craft turns into a gift for someone else…that craft now symbolizes a token of love and the Holy Spirit encompasses the effort in the classroom. Teachers and children work hand in hand putting knots in rope, threading beads, and praying for the child that will receive their gift. The result 1,100 salvation bracelets to share with our family in Kwambakenya and the body of Christ in action! Kids want to make a difference in their world and they want to do it now…through this program we are able to offer children age appropriate activities that foster fellowship, service, love and actually “putting compassion into action”!
Rev. Carey Akin shared pictures and stories of the children that will be receiving the bracelets in Kwambekenya Africa April 17th-April 26th when himself, Dr. Randy Mickler and our mission team will travelto Africa to work with our family in Kwambekenya. Although the children of Mt. Bethel will not be boarding the plane they will be in prayer and spirit with our mission team through this act of service and love. Oh what a mighty God we serve!
“Don’t let anyone look down on you beauseyou are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12
Blessings,
Your Children’s Ministry Team
Have you ever had a CD that brings you joy from the first to the last song? A couple years ago I found “that” CD. It was a contemporary arrangement of classic hymns, and it flooded memories of my grandmother worshipping God from her kitchen. The music brought me great joy and served as the perfect travel piece for the many carpool runs I made during the day with a preschooler and elementary aged child.
One afternoon when I picked up my daughter from school I had “that” CD playing in the car, she asked, “Mom can you play #9″? Well, song #9 was an arrangement of “By and By” sung in the language of Kituba from Africa. I played the song and took just a moment to see what it was about this song that she enjoyed so much. I pulled over and in the rearview mirror I watched her expressions while she listened to the song. My 7 year old daughter and my 4 year old son where truly enjoying the song. I thought my children just tolerated my choice of music, but they where actually listening, in fact they had a favorite song on my CD and knew the number. When I asked them what they liked about the song so much, considering they couldn’t understand the lyrics, my daughter replied, “they are praising my God”.
She didn’t overthink it, she didn’t question the words, she allowed the music to take her senses to a state of worship. The words were spoken in a language she had never heard or understood, but she could hear the celebration of our King beating through the drums and carrying through the voices lifted in praise.
The children of God break all language, culture, and economic barriers. It’s a celebration of love, and it beats with the heart of every child. Can you hear it?
At Mt. Bethel we are blessed to share that celebration with God’s children and are intentional in efforts to connect the children at Mt. Bethel to God’s children both locally and globally. “Kids In Motion” is a new program designed to give children a “hands on” approach to serving, praying and understanding God’s big world and all His children. Children will participate in “hands on” mission projects to prepare, pack, and make items during Sunday School to be shared with children locally and globally. Check out “Kids In Motion” and other programs for children on our website.
Sherri Juliani, Elementary Coordinator, Children’s Ministries
The first year I brought my children to the live nativity at Mt. Bethel I had hopes of a deep rich spiritual connection for my family. The December night air was crisp and cool, and my husband and I began to share the story with our children as we approached the humble manger scene. As we walked up to the cradle we realized our children were both distracted by other activity around the manger. My son was fascinated with the chicken, and later cried because the chicken wouldn’t stop running so he could pick it up and love on it. My daughter was enjoying the warmth from a little pit fire close by, and visiting with friends. Not the connection I had hoped for at all that night at the live nativity.
As I watched my children I began to reflect on my personal experience with the live nativity. As a child I was amazed by the angel and thought that was the miracle of the story. When I met Jesus for the first time I made a connection with the baby in the cradle. The precious Christ child, Emmanuel, Prince of Peace, Lord of Lords, King of Kings. When I became a mother I connected with Mary, the mother of Jesus. I could imagine the earthly love she had for her Son as she watched his lips curl in a smile, his little feet take their first steps, his hand hold hers. I cried for her thinking about the final days she would share with her son and the events that would take place on the road to the cross.
As my spiritual journey continued, I connected with the events of this precious night in history that would change the world forever. The reason for Christmas, the gift of hope and peace for the entire world, lie in the wooden cradle on a stable floor. I know how the story ends, that precious baby represents my savior, my Jesus. I know his blood will be shed on the cross for my sins. I know the victory of the empty tomb on Easter morning. I know the love of God the Father is eternal and everlasting: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16.
This year I wonder where the nativity will take me? Will it be the simplicity of the night? The only sparkling and twinkling lights will be those placed in the sky by God the Father. The only sound will be of the animals and the baby. The only focus will be on the hope that lies in the manger, the true gift of Christmas…the baby Jesus.
How will you connect this Christmas season with the live nativity? Join us Wednesday December 19-Friday December 21 from 6:30-8:00 pm in the front parking lot for the live nativity. Where will it take you?
Merry Christmas!
Sherri Juliani
Elementary Coordinator, Children’s Ministries
We are approaching the final chapter of a year long outreach mission project with Children’s Ministries and Missions at Mt. Bethel UMC. In Christmas of 2006 we sent a few blankets, that were made by children during summer Vacation Bible School programs, with a mission team to Atacucho, Ecuador.
The Director of Missions was thrilled by the excitement of the children that received the blankets, but we only sent a few…there was a much greater need. As Children’s Ministries developed a new program on Wednesday nights for Mothers and their tween daughters (GOD’s G.I.R.L.S.) we adopted this project as a weekly mission to make more blankets for the children in Ecuador. Something beautiful happened each week the girls and their moms got together and tied knots between two pieces of fleece. Relationships grew, Christian service was modeled and mentored, and a hunger was put on the hearts of all who prayed and tied the blankets.
Our Youth adopted this mission project during their D-NOW weekend retreat and added to the growing number. Every program we had with children over the summer we continued tying knots in blankets of fleece. The Holy Spirit was guiding the entire project and blessing each blanket and those that labored over it. Fleece blankets were being made and at the same time the Body of Christ was in motion and bound by the soft texute of the fleece, the bright colorful patterns, and the love of a Savior.
Our Children’s Ministry Director and Mission’s Director teamed to make this a goal to have 1200 blankets for Christmas 2007 to take to Atacucho, Ecuador. We have around 900 to date and they are piling in our doors everyday. Boy and Girl Scout Troops, circles, neighborhoods, schools, offices, Sunday School classes, and churches have all participated in this mission project. Grandparents with their grandchildren, sleepovers, small group meetings, families at home, the list goes on of the hands that God has used to tie these blankets of love together. What a precious blessing to see God take the need of comfort and warmth and use the hearts and hands of children in another country to supply a gift of not only physical warmth but the warmth of spiritual love through our precious savior Jesus Christ.
Generations have experienced this project called “Blankets of Love” and children on different continents are tied together through a knot, a prayer, and a blanket of love in the name of Jesus Christ. Those are the ties that bind!
“I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:19
If you would like to contribute to this project please feel free to contact Dianne Hylton (Director of Children’s Ministry) or Sherry Reed (Missions) for more information.
To God be the Glory!
Sherri Juliani
Elementary Coordinator
Children’s Ministries
The glorious fall day ushered in Mt. Bethel’s 2nd Annual Trunk ‘R Treat on Saturday October 27th! The parking lot was dotted with over 100 cars in a tailgate event fun and safe for the entire family! Trunks and tailgates where decorated with colors of the season, members kept the grill going with over 300 hot dogs, the football game was on many car radios, and the trick or treaters shared in a fun fall evening.
Trunk ‘R Treat doubled in size with an extra 30 cars that walked in for the event…fun was had by all! The Children’s Ministry staff thanks everyone that helped and all the families that participated…we look forward to this event every year…so invite your family, friends and neighbors for this fun fall family memory!
Sherri Juliani
Elementary Coordintor
As I walked the halls on Sunday morning checking on children, Sunday School Teachers and classes I overheard a little girl say during prayer, “Jesus…bring the rain”. That sweet voice replayed over and over in my head throughout the day, “Jesus…bring the rain”. It was a simple prayer that brought a nugget of wisdom my direction in the midst of my normal Sunday morning travels. The drought had been a topic of many conversations with adults during the week and you could sense the anxiety. The media is telling us we have only a few months before water rationing may be a reality. “This is serious, it affects our way of life, we need to start stocking up on water” seemed to be the consensus. I too began to start thinking of ways to provide water for my family if water rationing became a reality. Then what, what do I do when my supply runs out?
Uh ah…it is not MY supply that will sustain me, my family, my neighbors, my friends, my community, the earth…it is GOD’s! “O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise…” Psalm 8:1-2. God used the prayer of a young child to remind me only HE can supply and provide the living water that sustains life. “Jesus…bring the rain”.
Sherri Juliani
Children’s Ministries
Show and Tell, you remember when you where in preschool and lower elementary school it was a special day when you got to pick anything you wanted to bring from home and share with your friends. You would show your special item and then you would continue to tell the class why you brought this special item to share. This fun and engaging exercise of Show and Tell would allow children many opportunities to grow. Children would gain confidence as they presented their item to the class and learned how to make eye contact when addressing their teachers. Children would share a little bit about themselves with their peers, like if Jimmy brought in a lizard we knew Jimmy liked reptiles and if Sally brought in her dog Uga, she not only like dogs but her family were more than likely UGA fans.
Jesus played a game of Show and Tell with his disciples and followers. Jesus would take everyday Show and Tell items (sheep, mustard seed, weeds, yeast, pearls, 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish, and the list goes on) to show his disciples and then he would proceed to tell them the wisdom from the Father. As parents, everyday is a teaching experience and an opportunity to play Show and Tell with Jesus as we guide our children on their spiritual journey. Jesus modeled the practice of prayer, friendship, service, and love and then he mentored His disciples. God gives us treasures along the path with or children each day to help bring the stories of the Bible and God’s glory to life, (a rainbow, the stars and moon, an ant and grasshopper, a bright orange pumpkin, etc.). God is waiting to play a game of Show and Tell with you and your child…are you ready? Deuteronomy 6:5-7
Sherri
