It's the 5th day of Christmas as I write this and for the third day in a row, we've been found playing outside. Outside! We're enjoying it while we can, but it sure does make my mind wonder why it's still 65 degrees outside right now even though it's night time. Particularly since snow shovels and sleds are on the shelves in department stores. I can't help but wonder if that's so that our homeless friends aren't freezing at night.
It's the end of December so for the second or third day in a row, I've found myself looking back on 2019. Wow, what a year! In no particular order, here a few of the things we've seen in Children's Ministry over 2019:
*Had our own Build-A-Bear workshop and built stuffed animal friends for kids in crisis situations.*
*Our families went bowling for St. Patrick's Day*
*Hosted Missional May in
The Well
for a month where we made bookmarks for our Williford friends, brought baby gifts for Your Choice Resource Center, made cards for our downtown LEOs, and began the gathering of bedding for Sleep in Heavenly Peace.*
*Relaxed in the pool during the dog days of summer at the Bailey's*
*Held the first Preteen Lock-In*
*"Graduated" Caroline, Ayden, and Austin to youth group.*
*Said good-bye to friends that moved.*
*Our hallway got a major facelift!*
*Made the big move from Wednesday nights to Sunday nights and
TRIPLED
in size!*
*Joined in our town's Sleep in Heavenly Peace build day.*
*Made placemats for Kairos Prison ministry.*
*Enjoyed Dean's Farm as a church family, traveled to Camp Willow Springs for a Family Retreat, and laughed hard during Elf Jr.*
*We costumed up and helped lead our church's Christmas Eve worship service.*
Who would have thought that 2019 would have been packed with all that it was? We have felt great loss and seen great gain. It's hard not to be blown away by what God's been doing in and thourh our group. With 2019 in the rearview mirror, I'm reminded that, in all things, Christ really does work for the good of those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose. Makes me think we're on the brink of something pretty amazing in 2020. I can't wait to experience it all with you!
Stephanie
