You won’t believe what happened!

By Allison Watkins, Director of Children's Ministry

One Sunday morning shortly after Easter I had the privilege of teaching the 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th grade Sunday School class. The lesson for this particular day was from John 21:15. The disciples have finished their breakfast on the beach and Peter and Jesus are having a conversation. Jesus has asked Peter three times if he loves him. 

Soon the lesson was suspended when questions were popping up. Without any planning the children were asking and answering their own questions – they were teaching each other! They remembered another Bible lesson when Jesus told Peter he would deny him three times before he died. Another child pointed out the coincidence of the number three. Three times Peter denied Jesus; after three days Jesus rose from the dead; three times Jesus asked Peter if he loved him; the Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Then one boy asked, “How do we know that this really happened?”  I asked him if he ever came home from school with an exciting story and said, “You won’t believe what happened today!” I explained that in the time that Jesus lived such amazing things happened that the disciples wanted to share the news with everyone. The people who met and knew Jesus wanted to share what had happened when they witnessed Jesus.

When we returned back to the lesson we learned that Jesus is asking Peter to tend to his sheep, feed his sheep and follow him. The young boy needed more clarification and then asked, “So, that’s what we’re supposed to do?  Feed his sheep and follow him and spread the word?”

I have shared this story several times since I witnessed these smart, beautiful children learning and living the way Jesus taught us and asked us to live. They were kind and loving and respectful to each other. I was filled with joy and couldn’t wait to tell everybody “You won’t believe what happened today!”

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. — John 13:34 ESV

Interested in helping with Trinity's Children's Ministry? Come to the Children's Sunday School Training/Information Meeting on Sunday, August 27, 9 a.m., in the Red Room (Level 2 Children's Area). You'll learn more about the ways you can help by volunteering or donating supplies:

• Sunday School Teachers and Assistants
• Check-in Desk
• Worship Bags
• Classroom Supplies
• Special Events
• Nursery Help
• Donations of Goods

Contact Allison Watkins, Director of Children's Ministry, for more information: awatkins@trinityumc.org or 303-839-1493 x22.

There is a Super Hero in all of us. What are your Super Powers?

By Allison Watkins, Director of Children's Ministry

Every year there is a new action-packed, box office hit movie where superheroes are back in the spotlight. As we watch the comic book characters come to life with their amazing feats and super powers, we may wonder what super powers we would most like to possess.  We may wish to fly, scale buildings, have super-human strength or simply be invisible.

In June, Trinity was transformed into Hero Central, where over 135 children and volunteers reported to Headquarters wearing capes and masks for an amazing week at Vacation Bible School. Each day the children gathered at the VBS Hero Central Assembly Time with Flame the Red Panda Puppet and Captain Shield and shared the Hero Code of the day, relayed messages from Headquarters and recited the Hero Pledge: “Do Good, Seek Peace and Go After It! God’s Heroes have Heart! Courage! Wisdom! Hope! and Power!”

Every day brought epic adventures alongside biblical heroes learning Bible stories through crafts, recreation games, science experiments, story-telling, snack creations, mission moments, dancing and singing. They discovered their strength in God, explored God’s mission for their lives, and realized qualities within that make them every day super heroes!

Our mission for the week was Heifer International. We learned about the important work they do in the world; how they help the people of Rwanda and how we could be super heroes by empowering a family.  The children brought their money and watched the collection grow throughout the week, hoping to meet their goal of $500 to purchase a cow.  By Friday afternoon, the super power of giving was very apparent among our VBS family.  The children had carried their baggies full of pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters and bills – donating over $1200!  Enough to purchase 2 cows and a goat for a family in Rwanda!

This is always a powerful week for everyone who is here.  We may at times wish we had super powers like the characters in movies but what we discovered this week is that we already have super powers within us.  God has given us the power of faith, laughter, peace, praise, wisdom, forgiveness, friendship, prayer, thankfulness, caring, giving, joy, kindness, love, sharing and smiling.

Together we are all disciples of Jesus helping each other on our spiritual journeys and providing an adventurous Vacation Bible School for our children!

“I think a hero is any person really intent on making this a better place for all people.”  — Maya Angelou

Trinity Event Recap: Family Camp 2015

Trinity's Family and Children's Ministries spent a gorgeous weekend at John Wesley Ranch in Divide, Colorado, the last weekend of February. Led by Wayne Brown, Director of Adult and Family Formation, and Cristina Muldoon, Director of Children's Ministries, the weekend was full of fellowship, tubing, singing, crafting, eating and cozying up to the fireplace.

Welcoming Cristina Muldoon, our New Director of Children's Ministries

We are thrilled to have Cristina Muldoon as Trinity's new Director of Children's Ministries! She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, holding a degree in Religion and Philosophy from Tulane University and a M.A. in Religious Studies from Yale University. Since moving to Denver in 2005, she founded Sloan Tutoring, taught at Kent School, and worked in the Center for Academic Support at Johnson & Wales University. Cristina joined the Trinity staff "officially" on July 1, but she jumped in early to get her feet wet under the tutelage of Kathy Gibb and assist with the largest Children's Ministry event of the year - Vacation Bible School.

There is never a dull moment during VBS week, and Cristina has shared a recap of the festivities. What a week it was!

This way my first Trinity Vacation Bible School experience, and I was truly a rookie; I never attended VBS as a kid, and I had never worked in a VBS program before. One in-service meeting later, though, and I was assigned to be a crew leader! I was excited to learn the ropes from Kathy Gibb and her amazing VBS team. My VBS group, the Rachel Rays, (the kids were assigned to age-appropriate groups, and “The Chefs” were mostly second and third graders) were Trinity experts. I was lucky enough to have both Marleigh Cummins (daughter of Angie Cummins) and Reagan Scheminske (daughter of Sharon and Erick Scheminske) to help show me the ropes and teach me the Agadoo dance (Linda Marshall is also an Agadoo expert if anyone would like a lesson).

     There were many moments during VBS week that I felt very lucky to be a part of: Clara Rutledge going door to door to raise money for the Habitat for Humanity mission; the surprise and pleasure on the faces of the Habitat for Humanity staff when we presented them with the flowerpots our kids had made to welcome our five families to their new homes; learning that our eggshell crosses were made using eggshells from our youth group’s burrito breakfasts (a great example of our Trinity family working together!), and the great joy our kids brought to the congregation when they sang our VBS songs during service.   

     I had a great time and was so impressed by the dedication of all the VBS volunteers. Running a week long camp for more than 100 children is a massive undertaking and it could not have happened without the incredibly hard work of many people. I want to give particular thanks to Andrea Evashevski and Aubrey Monckton for the innumerable hours they spent organizing, planning, and participating in VBS. I should mention, too, that Aubrey makes a very convincing Queen Esther. Special thanks is also due to Julie Belcher and Jan Wywrot for running the Science room (and teaching the kids to make truly delicious mustard, among other things); Betty Shropshire and Ariana Martinez for their work in the craft room; Liz Rodriguez for making Rivet, the VBS mascot/puppet, come alive for the kids; Erin Johnson and Abbey Watkins for taking charge of the outdoor games; and Nelisha Firestone and Linda Marshall for their work to prepare the kids for their music performance on VBS Sunday. The heroic behind the scenes efforts of the endlessly creative and talented Allison Watkins made the week possible. The list of the crew leaders and other volunteers (including many members of Trinity’s youth group who did a fantastic job) without whom VBS would not have been a success would go on and on, and I was so appreciative of everyone’s help. Of course, 2014 VBS would not have happened at all without Kathy Gibb; her devotion to making Trinity a welcoming and joyful place for children is something I will work very hard to emulate.

Children's Ministry Pancake Breakfast

Last Sunday, January 26, was our Children's Ministry's Annual Pancake Breakfast. The breakfast serves two purposes.  First, all of our children are GREAT doers.  They love to help and serve and be givers.  Our 3^rd -5^th graders especially and a few younger kids participate by serving and collecting and doing the dishes.   The congregation was very generous.  We use the money donated for scholarships for Vacation Bible School and all the events and retreats for which there is a charge.  We want every child to be able to participate in any activity we offer.  Workshop of Wonders is our 2014 VBS being planned for June 23-27, 2014. Thank you to all who helped, enjoyed the pancakes and supported our ministry!