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

"Searching for Sunday" Lenten Devotional Series: Sunday Memories

Friday, February 19

Sunday Memories

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.

 —Colossians 3: 14-15

Do you ever sit in church and wonder what is going on with those squirming children in the pew next to you?  I am sure that I was one of those kids; but I learned a lot about worship. By the time I remember being in Sunday morning worship, Mom had returned to singing in the choir and Dad worked most Sundays; so it was Great Aunt Cora who ended up with the three Sanger kids!  

She had never had children of her own, but she loved us and she loved the Church. We learned a lot about that love from her. When we squirmed or giggled Aunt Cora went into action.  First came bribery; there seemed to be an endless supply of Life Savers in her purse and it was easier to be quiet with candy in your mouth.  If that didn’t work, she would split us up; one brother on each side of her and my sister on her lap. We learned to follow the service as she led us through the bulletin and pointed to the words of the hymns that we were singing; we grew to love being in worship.

Dear Lord, we pray that children may see your love and grace in the people of Trinity.  Amen.

Dave Sanger