MC Park

Friday, December 16, 2011

Dec. 17 & 18: We Can Serve God

This Weekend in MC Park, in Sunday School and Elementary Worship, your child will learn about the story of Jesus’ birth.

Jesus is Born

You can review the story in Luke 1:26-38; 2:1-20. A great memory verse for your family this week is adapted from Luke 2:10b-11 – “I bring great news; Jesus is born”

Questions for review with your child:

1. What are some ways you have seen others serve God?

2. How is being nice to our enemies like serving God?

3. What choices do you think Mary had when the angel spoke to her?

4. Why might it have been hard for Mary to serve God?

5. What choices do you have as you consider serving God?

6. How can God help us make good choices?

7. What two ways can you serve God this week?

8. What things can remind you to serve God?

9. What ways can you thank God for sending Jesus to earth for us?

10. Why do you think God wants us to serve others?

11. Why do you think God wants us to serve him?

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1. I wonder how it feels to be in Bethlehem?

2. I wonder how many got to Bethlehem and if they saw the Christ child?

3. I wonder how they feel about this newborn baby?

4. I wonder how this little baby is a light to the whole world, a light no darkness can overcome?

5. I wonder how all these people and animals feel about the baby?

6. I wonder how Jesus feels about them?

7. I wonder how God feels?

Friday, December 9, 2011

Dec. 10 & 11: Through Jesus, We Can Know God
This Weekend in MC Park, in Sunday School (4s through 5^th) and Elementary Worship, your child will learn how God Dwells With Us.

God Dwells With Us

You can review the story in John 1:1-14. A great memory verse for your family this week is John 1:14a "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us"

Questions for review with your child:
1. How can we show others that Jesus is the light of our lives?
2. How can we show Jesus that he is our very best friend?
3. How can Jesus help us see God?
4. What could you do to see Jesus more clearly in your life?
5. How can you show his love more clearly to others?
6. How can we make our friendship with Jesus grow more each day?
7. Jesus wants to know us all! How can we show him that we want to know him too?
8. Through Jesus, we can know God. In what ways does God know you?

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The 3s Sunday School (10:00):
Happy Birthday Jesus! Verses for this lesson: Luke 2:1-7
1. Where did Mary and Joseph travel?
2. What did Mary ride to get there?
3. Where did they stay?
4. What did they use for Jesus' bed?
Craft: Happy Birthday Jesus coloring page; Make a Nativity Scene to take home
The 3rd Grade Sunday School (10:00):
God Dwells With Us Verses for this lesson: John 1:14
1. What do you think is special about Jesus?
2. What does Jesus mean to you?
We continue to make our ornaments for the annual "Light up the Third Grade Christmas Tree" ceremony that will take place on December 18. This week we will make Nativity Ornaments.

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In Worship and Wonder now through Jan. 15, every class (preschoolers on Sat. night, 3s-2nd graders at 9 a.m. Sunday; 3s, 4s and Ks at 11 a.m. Sunday) will be studying the same lesson. This week's lesson is the fourth in the Advent series ...

The Magi Show the Way to Bethlehem

Verses for this lesson: Matt 1-2 and Luke 1-2

Questions to wonder about with your child:
1. I wonder how the Magi felt when they saw the special star for the King?
2. I wonder how they knew the star was special and others just saw a star?
3. I wonder if it was hard for them to find the special King?
4. I wonder why the Magi brought gifts?
5. I wonder what it's like to be a baby and a king?
6. I wonder what kind of king God's special one will be, and if you would like to live under this special king's rule?

Friday, December 2, 2011

Dec. 3 & 4: We Can Help Others Meet Jesus

This Weekend in MC Park, in Sunday School (4s through 5^th) and Elementary Worship, your child will learn about the story of John the Baptist.

John the Baptist Prepares the Way for Jesus

You can review the story in Mark 1:1-8. A great memory verse for your family this week is Psalm 51:10a—“Create in me a pure heart, O God”

Questions for review with your child:

1. What messages can you think of to tell others about Jesus’ love?

2. Why do you think John the Baptist was supposed to “make straight paths” for Jesus?

3. How can we “make straight paths” for Jesus, too?

4. Who are two people you’d like to help meet Jesus?

5. Why do you think God wants us to tell others about his Son, Jesus?

6. Why does everyone need Jesus in his or her life?

7. Why should the world be joyful about Jesus coming?

8. Why is a joyful attitude so important when we are trying to tell others about Jesus?

9. How can we get ready for Jesus?

10. How can we help others get ready for Jesus?

11. Why is it so important for us to get ready for Jesus?

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The 3s Sunday School (10:00):

Surprise! Angels Visit Mary and Joseph

Verses for this lesson: Luke 1:30-31 and Matthew 1:20-21

1. Why did the angels visit Mary and Joseph?

2. How did Mary and Joseph feel to meet angels?

3. How would you feel to be visited by angels?

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1. I wonder how the shepherds felt when angels spoke to them?

2. I wonder how they felt on the way to Bethlehem?

3. I wonder if they will find the Savior, God’s special child named Jesus?

4. I wonder what will happen when they find Jesus?

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Nov. 26-27: God Is Listening, Mary and Joseph Show the Way to Bethlehem

In Sunday School and Elementary Worship on Saturday and Sunday, the children learned ...

God Is Listening

This is the story of Hagar and Ishmael. You can find it in Genesis 21:8-21. A good memory verse for you and your family is "Ask and God will hear you." Luke 11:9

Questions you can discuss with your child:

Does God listen to you? How do you know?
How do you think Hagar felt when she knew that God heard her?
What do you want God to hear?
When can you talk to God this week?
What do you think it would be like to be in the middle of a hot desert and run out of water to drink?
How do you feel knowing that God is always listening?
What are some ways we can thank God for listening to us?
Do you think God wants us to listen to others like He listens to us?
What problem did Hagar and Ishmael have in the desert?
What kinds of prayers does God hear?
What do you pray about?
How can you tell that God hears you?
How do you think Hagar and Ishmael felt when they didn't have any water?
How can you tell which messages come from God and which do not?
How do you know if you are listening to God?
What can you say to someone who needs to hear God?
What can happen when people don't listen carefully to one another?
What can happen when people don't listen to God carefully?
When do you usually talk to God the most?

In Worship and Wonder for preschoolers and kindergarteners at 5:30 and 11 on Sunday and for all children's worship participants at 9 a.m. on Sunday, the children heard their second Advent story ...

Mary and Joseph Show the Way to Bethlehem

For the weeks leading up to Christmas, the children will be concentrating on the Bible story you can find in Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2.

Some questions you can discuss with your child:

I wonder how mary felt when an angel spoke to her?
I wonder how Joseph felt?
I wonder what it would be like to have God's special child, Jesus?
I wonder how they felt on the way to Bethlehem?

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Nov. 19 & 20: Rejoice in the Lord, The Prophets Show the Way to Bethlehem

This Weekend in MC Park, in Sunday School and Elementary Worship, your child learned about the story of the birth of Isaac.

Rejoice In The Lord

You can review the story of the birth of Isaac in Genesis 21:1-6. A great memory verse for your family this week is Philippians 4:4: "Rejoice in the lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"

Questions for review with your child:

Sarah and Abraham were very happy about what God had done for them. They showed their happiness by rejoicing. What's the best reason you can think of for rejoicing?
How do you show God you're feeling joyful about what He's done for you?
When is it hard for you to be joyful? Why?
When do you feel most joyful? Why?
What do you think it means to be joyful?
How can you be joyful this week at home? In school?
How can a person rejoice even when he or she is not feeling happy?
What's one reason you have to rejoice in the lord?
Do you ever find it dificult to rejoice in the Lord in a difficult situation? How do you respond?
The word praise means to tell the Lord how amazing he is. How do you think rejoicing and praising might be similar?
What do you think it means when we say we can rejoice in the Lord?
How can rejoicing in the Lord help you remember things He does for you? Explain.

I wonder how the prophets listend to God?
I wonder how they knew it was God who spoke?
I wonder if there are still prophets today who can show us the way to Bethlehem?
I wonder what the way to Bethlehem is like?

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Nov. 12-13: God is Amazing; The Transfiguration of Jesus; Exile and Return

In Sunday School and elementary worship, our children learned ...

God is Amazing

We discussed the stories of Abraham's visitors (Genesis 18) and Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:1-29.) A New Testament verse that ties in with this theme would be a good memory verse for your family this week. You can choose from Luke 1:37 -- "For nothing is impossible with God" or Luke 11:9 -- "Ask and God will hear you."

Some questions to help you in discussing this week's lesson:

Why do you think Sarah laughed when she heard she would have a baby?
Have you ever heard something that was so hard to believe that you laughed?
What makes you laugh?
What is something amazing that God has done?
When has God done something amazing in your life? Explain.
In our second story this week, God showed Lot and his family mercy. What do you think mercy is? How do we know God shows us mercy?
Do you think it is important for everyone to know about God? Why or why not?
Who is one person you can tell that God is amazing?
How can we thank God for his amazing love this week?

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In kindergarten Worship and Wonder at 11 a.m., the children are focusing on learning the New Testament. This week's story:

The Transfiguration of Jesus

You can find this story in Matthew 16:13-23, 17:1-13; Mark 8:27-29, 9:2-8; and Luke 9:18-36.

Here are some things you can wonder about together ...

I wonder how Peter, James and John are feeling?
I wonder what they might really want to do?
I wonder what it was like to see Jesus transfigured?
I wonder how Peter, James and John feel about what they saw?
I wonder how the disciples feel when Peter says Jesus is the Christ?
I wonder what the other disciples might have answered?
I wonder how they could know that Jesus is the Christ?
I wonder how Jesus is feeling?

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In Worship and Wonder on Saturday night, 9 a.m. Sunday, and 3s and 4s W&W at 11 a.m. on Sunday, the children are wrapping up stories from the Old Testament. Today they learned about the ...

Exile and Return

You can find this story in Ezra 1-6.

Some questions you can wonder about together:

I wonder what it was like to see the Temple burning and the walls of Jerusalem being torn down?
I wonder how it felt to be forced to go to a strange land, to live in exile?
I wonder what it was like to live in Babylon?
I wonder if God was with them in Babylon?
Now that their old life is gone, I wonder what they will do?
I wonder if God will show them a new way to live?
I wonder what a new way would be like?
I wonder if they lived the new way when they returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple and the wall around Jerusalem?

Sunday, November 6, 2011

What YOUR child learned today in MC Park (Nov. 5, 6)

In elementary Worship and Sunday School for children in 3s-5th Grade, this week's lesson is ...

God Knows Everything

This is the story of God's covenant with Abram (Abraham.) You can find this lesson in Genesis 15:1-18. Other key verses to review together: Proverbs 3:5a "Trust in the Lord with all your heart" and Jeremiah 29:11a: " 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord."

Some questions you can discuss with your child(ren):
1. How do you think God remembers everything about us?
2. How does it make you feel to know that God knows everything about you?
3. Do you wish you knew everything? Why or why not?
4. How can God help us know what we should know?
5. Why is it important for God to know everything?
6. Why is it difficult for some people to believe that God knows everything? Is it sometimes difficult for you to believe?
7. How can we know what God's plans are for us?
8. How would things be different if God didn't know everything? Why?
9. Since God knows everything, how can we know that he cares for us?
10. How many stars would you guess are in the sky?
11. How do you think Abram felt when God promised that his family would eventually have as many people as there are stars?
12. How do you think God is able to know everything?
13. How would you feel if God told you what he told Abram? Why?

In Worship and Wonder on Saturday night and Sunday morning at 9 a.m. as well as for 4 year olds at 11 a.m., this week's lesson is ...

The Temple, a House for God

You can read more about this lesson in 2 Samuel 5:1-7:17; 1 Kings 5-8 and 2 Chronicles 6:1-11
Some questions to discuss with your child:

1. I wonder how it felt to finally live in the land that God promised and to build a house for God?
2. I wonder what it was like to build the Temple?
3. I wonder who got to help build the Temple and how they did it?
4. I wonder what it felt like to go to the Temple in Jerusalem?
5. I wonder what the people did there and what they remembered when they went to the Temple?
6. Now that the Temple and the Ark are gone, I wonder what the people of God do to be close to God?

In Kindergarten Worship and Wonder at 11 a.m. on Sunday, the children learned ...

Jesus Feeds 5,000 People

You can find this story in Matthew 14:15-21, Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:12-17 and John 6:1-15.

Some questions you can discuss with your child:

1. I wonder how the disciples are feeling about what just happened?
2. I wonder how the crowd feels?
3. I wonder why the crowd thinks Jesus is the Christ?
4. I wonder why the people want to make Jesus their king?
5. I wonder what kind of king Jesus would be?
6. I wonder why Jesus slipped away?