Here at Berlin Center we are excited to introduce our Junior Church program: LIVE B.I.G!
What is LIVE B.I.G?
It's children coming to know the love of God through Jesus. It's music, art, theater, dance, laughter, imagination, sight, sound, games, crafts, snacks, Bible stories, worship, prayer, and SO MUCH MORE! It's growing as children of God by taking what we learn from Jr. Church into our everyday lives. We will learn to Live our Belief in God!
Weren't the kids great when they sang on Sunday! Thanks to Linda Stevens, you all will be hearing the Jr. Church choir on a monthly basis!
Please join us in November where we will hear stories that teach us ways to praise God. We believe that stories about praise teach us many different ways to praise God. " Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!" Psalm 150:6
I would like to thank the following people who have graciously decided to help teach Jr. Church this year:
1. Debbi Clegg - one Sunday out of each month.
2. Toni Ruggles -- one Sunday in November
3. Debbie Benyo - one Sunday in December
4. Jodie Algarin - one Sunday in January.
We are in need of teachers for the following months: February; March; April; and May. Please call me at 330.409.3047 or email at clrm719@hotmail.com for any questions, concerns or if you would like to volunteer to help teach!
In God's Blessings,
Christina Miller
Our lessons in April will teach us that we believe that the Resurrection lets us know that Jesus is always with us. "It is true! The Lord has risen." Luke 24:34, NIV
On Sunday,April 3, 2011, the children learned that the reason why Jesus destroyed the temple was because he saw an injustice and his anger ecnouraged him to make a change. As a Jr. Church, we decided that people going without food in our community is an injustice that we would like to help change. So, I have encouraged each child to bring in at least 1 canned good. We will collect the canned foods for the next three Sundays. I will then speak with Rev. Libb as to where he feels the canned goods would be best served for those in need in our community.
As we approach Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter Sunday, I would like to share the following excerpt from Max Lucado's, "God Came Near":
Empty throne. Spring descending. Hushed angels. A girl...a womb...an egg. The same Divine Artist again forms a body. This time his own. Fleshly divinity. Skin layered on spirit. Omnipotence with hair. Toenails. Knuckles. Molars. Kneecaps. Once again he walks with man. Yet the Garden is now thorny. Thorns that cut, thorns that poison, thorns that remain lodged, leaving bitter wounds. Disharmony. Sickness. Betrayal. Fear. Guilt. The lion no longer pauses. The clouds no longer hover. The birds scatter too quickly. Disharmony. Competition. Blindness. Once again, a tree. Once again a struggle. The snake. The enticement. Heart torn, lured. Once again the question, "Whose will?" Then the choice. Tear stains mingle with bloodstains. Relationship restored. Bridge erected. Once again, he smiles. "It is good."
May everyone have a blessed Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter Sunday and remember,"It is good."
In God's Blessings,
Christina Miller
During our November lessons, we focused on the Israelites and how God did many things for them such as sending Moses to lead the Israelites out of slavery; parting the Red Sea so the Israelites could escape from the Egyptian army; by providing manna for them to eat; and leading the Israelites using a pillar of cloud and smoke. These lessons showed the children that just as the Israelites, we can trust God's guidance and care, and know that God is always with us. Thank you to Debbie Clegg, Maugerite Gillern and all of the Jr. and Sr. High Kids for helping with Jr. Church in October.
Please join us in December where our lessons will focus on preparing our hearts for the celebration of the birth of our Savior. We believe that Jesus' birth shows that God is with us. "So the Lord's promise came true, just as the prophet had said, "A virgin will have a baby boy, and he will be called Immanuel," which means, "God is with us." Matthew 1:22-23, CEV.
Reminder: The below people have graciously stepped up to volunteer to help teach Jr. Church this year:
1. Debbie Clegg - December 12, 2010.
2. Debbie Benyo - December 19, 2010.
3. Jodie Algerian -- one Sunday in January.
4. Toni Ruggles - one Sunday in February.
5. Ron Friend -- one Sunday in March.
6. Kay Sternagle -- one Sunday in April.
7. David Ruggles -- one Sunday in May.
As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, I would like to share this excerpt from one of my favorite books...from Max Lucado's "God Came Near":
"IT ALL happened in a moment, a most remarkable moment. As moments go, that one appeared no different that any other. If you could somehow pick it up off the timeline and examine it, it would look exactly like the ones that have passed while you have read these words. It came and it went. It was preceded and succeeded by others just like it. It was one of the countless moments that have marked time since eternity became measurable. But in reality, that particular moment was like none other. For through that segment of time a spectacular thing occurred. God became a man. While the creatures of earth walked unaware, Divinity arrived. Heaven opened herself and placed her most precious one in a human womb. The Omnipotent, in one instant, made himself breakable. He who had been spirit became pierceable. He who was larger than the universe became an embryo. And he who sustains the world with a word chose to be dependent upon the nourishment of a young girl. God as a fetus. Holiness sleeping in a womb. The creator of life being created. God was given eyebrows, elbows, two kidneys, and a spleen. He stretched against the walls and floated in the amniotic fluids of his mother. God had come near."
I pray that the above words touch you as they do me...remember them as we hustle and bustle about during our preparations for the celebration of our Savior. Merry Christmas from Sabrina and I, we love and pray for you all!
In God's Blessings,
Christina Miller
