EXPECTED
You can expect a shorter service and no Sunday School.
5pm, Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
The church office will be closed this week for the holiday. To reach a pastor in an emergency, please call 816-442-3748.
Year-End Giving
When planning your year-end giving, we encourage you to make online gifts by Dec. 27th. This allows time for processing and will ensure we are able to properly note your gift in your 2017 giving statement. Giving can be done by cash or check until Sunday, Dec. 31st.
Activities at church will not be meeting on December 27th and January 3rd. Regular schedules resume January 10th.
www.shawneenaz.org
Pastor Cara's Weekly Email from Shawnee Church of the Nazarene in Shawnee, Kansas, United States
Pastor Chuck and I have been preaching through Advent along with the devotional, “Long-Expected Jesus.” A theme that keeps coming up in many of the daily reflections is that we are called to be a light and hope in this world. Christ came as our example of the ultimate light and hope of the world and we are to follow his example.
So much of the season of Advent and the season of Christmas is about light, hope, love, joy, peace, and shared time with friends and family. The hard part comes when grief enters in. This time of year can be a time of celebration and joy, but for many it is also a time of grief.
I have thought about my Grandma and Grandpa Sunberg a lot over these last few weeks ever since I put their names on the poinsettias we purchased. I can’t help but think of the many years I have not seen them and wonder what it would be like if they were still alive today. Grandpa Sunberg passed away when I was 8 years old. I have fond memories of visiting their home in Hutchinson, Kansas. I remember distinctly there being a tornado warning one evening and Grandma whisking me across the parking lot to the church basement. I remember when Grandpa and Grandma came to visit us in Russia. I remember thinking he was so cool when he ate a candy that my sister and I liked called, “War Heads.” They are known for their sour flavor and many can’t help put pucker when eating them. Grandpa didn’t react at all and I thought he was awesome. I remember that he had lost all of the toes on one of his feet to diabetes and as a result had to have the end of shoe cut off. I remember thinking that was a little weird, but it didn’t change my love for him. I remember when we were sitting in our apartment in Moscow and dad got a call from America about Grandpa. Grandpa wasn’t doing well and we didn’t have enough money for all of us to fly back for the funeral. So, dad went to represent us all. He was able to be present with his dad in his last moments.
I have thought about my Grandma Sunberg who passed away the summer before I started college. I remember taking a road trip with her to visit our cousins in Canada. I remember I had to sit in the far back of the van to make room for her to have my chair. I didn’t mind. I remember her visiting us when we lived in Fort Wayne, Indiana and some special times together. I remember when she gathered all of our extended family together in my Aunt Karen’s living room to ask us all if we were taking our relationship with God seriously. I remember finding that to be a bit of a silly question at the time, but now I see what a gift it was! I remember that she would pray for each of us by name everyday. I took for granted the great gift of those prayers.
I have been thinking of Grandma as I made her recipe of peanut butter fudge last week. I have been thinking of Grandpa as I pastor and wish I could ask him some questions or just sit and listen to his stories from pastoring.
I miss them. I wish we would have had more time. Especially at this time of year it is hard not miss those we hold so dear who are no longer with us.
I once heard someone say something to the effect of: grief is love at work. I grieve these precious saints. I grieve the time we have not had since they passed away, but I realize that my grief is deep because it is love at work.
I also realized that God the Father sent Christ the Son to enter into this world and our grief with us. That is not an answer to our grief, but it sure is a comfort in trying times.
We often are upbeat and joyful at this time of year and that is absolutely appropriate. But it is also appropriate to acknowledge and name grief.
Allow sweet memories to flood you as you reminisce over those you miss.
Allow grief to do it’s work in a healthy way and be reminded that Christ has come to walk with us in the seasons of joy and grief.
He is our hope, our love, our joy, and our peace. Allow yourself to rest in his arms today if you find yourself filled with the mixed emotions of joy and grief.
Finally, may we be people who walk alongside others that are grieving and be a comforting presence in their lives.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Cara
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December 17 Lesson in the Neighborhood of Shawnee Church of the Nazarene in Shawnee, Kansas, United States for December 2017 - Week 5 Elementary Parent Cue
DECEMBER 2017
WEEK FIVE: MATTHEW 2:1-12 "Wise Men visit Jesus"
SAY THIS:
Give like you're giving to God.
DO THIS:
MEAL TIME
What is something your family could do to raise money to help someone in need, or a worthwhile organization? Brainstorm over dinner who you think needs help, how you can get others involved and what resources you already have that could help. If your family takes on this challenge, share what you do with others and on social media to inspire some more generosity, and tag @parentcue if you do!
REMEMBER THIS:
"Command the rich to do what is good. Tell them to be rich in doing good things.
They must give freely. They must be willing to share." (1 Timothy 6:18, NIrV(
LIFE APP:
GENEROSITY – Making someone's day by giving something away
From Parent Cue:
How about taking a look at your family rhythm? Every family has one. Rhythm is how we arrange our time. As we go from day to day, we establish and shape a rhythm that in turn shapes our kids.
Rhythm establishes value. Things that become part of the daily rhythm are the things our families will come to believe are most important. Rhythm silently but significantly communicates value . . .
Time.
It’s moving fast.
It’s limited.
We will never have more of it than we already have.
So the issue is not how do we get more, but how do we become more intentional about what we have?
How can we manage our time strategically to parent beyond our capacity?
How about taking a look at your family rhythm? Every family has one. Rhythm is how we arrange our time. As we go from day to day, we establish and shape a rhythm that in turn shapes our kids.
Rhythm establishes value. What becomes part of the daily rhythm is what our families will come to believe is most important. Rhythm silently but significantly communicates value.
What becomes part of the daily rhythm is what our families will come to believe is most important.
CLICK TO TWEET
There are some things that may be conceptually very important to us as parents, but if we never include them in our families’ rhythms, our kids will perceive them as having little value.
For example, exercise might be important to a parent in principle, but if no one ever plays baseball in the backyard, takes a trip to the park, throws a Frisbee, jumps on a treadmill, or heads to a soccer field, why would the kids come to value exercise? If it’s not part of their rhythm, it’s not part of their reality. The same is true for faith. If you want to instill an everyday faith in your kids lives, you have to incorporate faith in the daily rhythm.
If you want to instill an everyday faith in your kids lives, incorporate faith in the daily rhythm.
CLICK TO TWEET
Every family rhythm is different, but on a basic level, everyone wakes up, eats, travels, and sleeps. In Deuteronomy 6, Moses taps into this natural rhythm when he encourages his people to nurture lasting faith in their kids. “Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
He was essentially saying, if you are going to impress these truths in the hearts of your children, you will have to be more deliberate about creating a rhythm within your home.
Have focused discussions during meal times.
Have playful and informal interactions while driving or walking.
Listen and have intimate conversations while tucking your kids in bed.
Encourage the hearts of your kids when you get up in the morning.
You can maximize your relationship with your children by the way you handle time.
December 17 Lesson in the Neighborhood of Shawnee Church of the Nazarene in Shawnee, Kansas, United States for December 2017 - Week 5 Elementary Parent Cue
SAY THIS:
Give like you're giving to God.
DO THIS:
What is something your family could do to raise money to help someone in need, or a worthwhile organization? Brainstorm over dinner who you think needs help, how you can get others involved and what resources you already have that could help. If your family takes on this challenge, share what you do with others and on social media to inspire some more generosity, and tag @parentcue if you do!
REMEMBER THIS:
"Command the rich to do what is good. Tell them to be rich in doing good things.
They must give freely. They must be willing to share." (1 Timothy 6:18, NIrV(
LIFE APP:
GENEROSITY – Making someone's day by giving something away
From Parent Cue:
HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TIME EVERY WEEK
Time. It’s moving fast. It’s limited. We will never have more of it than we already have. So the issue is not how do we get more, but how do we become more intentional about what we have?How about taking a look at your family rhythm? Every family has one. Rhythm is how we arrange our time. As we go from day to day, we establish and shape a rhythm that in turn shapes our kids.
Rhythm establishes value. Things that become part of the daily rhythm are the things our families will come to believe are most important. Rhythm silently but significantly communicates value . . .
HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR WEEK
It’s moving fast.
It’s limited.
We will never have more of it than we already have.
So the issue is not how do we get more, but how do we become more intentional about what we have?
How can we manage our time strategically to parent beyond our capacity?
How about taking a look at your family rhythm? Every family has one. Rhythm is how we arrange our time. As we go from day to day, we establish and shape a rhythm that in turn shapes our kids.
Rhythm establishes value. What becomes part of the daily rhythm is what our families will come to believe is most important. Rhythm silently but significantly communicates value.
What becomes part of the daily rhythm is what our families will come to believe is most important.
CLICK TO TWEET
There are some things that may be conceptually very important to us as parents, but if we never include them in our families’ rhythms, our kids will perceive them as having little value.
For example, exercise might be important to a parent in principle, but if no one ever plays baseball in the backyard, takes a trip to the park, throws a Frisbee, jumps on a treadmill, or heads to a soccer field, why would the kids come to value exercise? If it’s not part of their rhythm, it’s not part of their reality. The same is true for faith. If you want to instill an everyday faith in your kids lives, you have to incorporate faith in the daily rhythm.
If you want to instill an everyday faith in your kids lives, incorporate faith in the daily rhythm.
CLICK TO TWEET
Every family rhythm is different, but on a basic level, everyone wakes up, eats, travels, and sleeps. In Deuteronomy 6, Moses taps into this natural rhythm when he encourages his people to nurture lasting faith in their kids. “Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
He was essentially saying, if you are going to impress these truths in the hearts of your children, you will have to be more deliberate about creating a rhythm within your home.
Have focused discussions during meal times.
Have playful and informal interactions while driving or walking.
Listen and have intimate conversations while tucking your kids in bed.
Encourage the hearts of your kids when you get up in the morning.
- So think your family’s weekly rhythm. What does it look like?
- Which nights do you tend to eat together?
- What do you do when you first get home from work?
- What is your nighttime routine to get ready for bed?
- What do you do every Saturday morning?
- How do you spend Sundays?
- What can you do this week to be more intentional in your interactions with your kids during those moments?
You can maximize your relationship with your children by the way you handle time.
CONTINUE READING ON THE PARENT CUE BLOG
For blog posts and parenting resources, visit www.ParentCue.org
Download the free Parent Cue App
I want to thank all of you who participated in our time of Caroling at Shawnee Hills. I am so glad we could provide some holiday cheer for those who don't get to interact much with children. It was truly a special evening.
This Sunday will be our regular Large/Small Groups in the Neighborhood. The children will be escorted upstairs for their small groups. If you must leave early, please remember to wait for your child to reach his/her classroom and then "checkout" with the teacher there.
December 24 and December 31 will be Family Sundays with no Small Groups. There will be no "check in" needed for your children.
In the Village on Wednesday, December 20, beginning at 6:30 p.m., we will be celebrating Jesus Birthday with treats, games, and stories. If your child has any food allergies, please let me know what changes need to be made, to make their party a good experience.
Wednesday night activities will resume on January 10.
Needs:
If you are looking for a place to serve, we can use volunteers in the Neighborhood. (no prep)
Small Group Teachers 3/4 Grade - Alberto and Lucianna need a long term subs for this class as Alberto anticipates heart surgery. (weekly prep - curriculum provided)
Workshops: Do you have a hobby or skill that you would like to share with a small group on 3 Wednesdays? This is a fun way to get to know our children and teach them a life skill.
Shawnee 500 is gearing up for March 21. We will need volunteers to get wood ready and help with the actual event. If this is your passion, and you would like to help, please let me know.
Copyright © 2017 The reThink Group. Inc. All rights reserved. www.ParentCue.org
For blog posts and parenting resources, visit www.ParentCue.org
Download the free Parent Cue App
This Sunday will be our regular Large/Small Groups in the Neighborhood. The children will be escorted upstairs for their small groups. If you must leave early, please remember to wait for your child to reach his/her classroom and then "checkout" with the teacher there.
December 24 and December 31 will be Family Sundays with no Small Groups. There will be no "check in" needed for your children.
In the Village on Wednesday, December 20, beginning at 6:30 p.m., we will be celebrating Jesus Birthday with treats, games, and stories. If your child has any food allergies, please let me know what changes need to be made, to make their party a good experience.
Wednesday night activities will resume on January 10.
Needs:
If you are looking for a place to serve, we can use volunteers in the Neighborhood. (no prep)
Small Group Teachers 3/4 Grade - Alberto and Lucianna need a long term subs for this class as Alberto anticipates heart surgery. (weekly prep - curriculum provided)
Workshops: Do you have a hobby or skill that you would like to share with a small group on 3 Wednesdays? This is a fun way to get to know our children and teach them a life skill.
Shawnee 500 is gearing up for March 21. We will need volunteers to get wood ready and help with the actual event. If this is your passion, and you would like to help, please let me know.
Copyright © 2017 The reThink Group. Inc. All rights reserved. www.ParentCue.org
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Copyright © 2017 Shawnee Church of the Nazarene, All rights reserved.
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Shawnee Church of the Nazarene
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