The Child Who Had No Manners (And She Was Dirty, Too)

Excerpt from 101 Simple Lessons for Life by Marsh Marks

What if a child came to your church and you knew the child’s mother was a single woman who worked in a bar? What if you knew that mother had been married several times and had not used good judgment on any of the marriages? What if the child was not well dressed or very clean, had no manners, and was loud and disruptive? What if you knew the mother took the child to church only so she could have some time off, and the child seemed to want to cause trouble just to get attention?

How would you act toward that child? Would you be kind? Would you treat the child so special she would beg to be able to come back? Would you make the child feel as important as another kid with nice clothes and a solid home, who was clean, and used manners and smelled wonderful? Would you use the extra patience it would take to get to the heart of the problem with that child? Would you love her so she could understand what the Bible means by “he quiets us with his love”?

I am asking that because, years ago, I was that dirty child from a broken home. I was a child that caused everyone to shake their heads when my mother dropped me off at the local church on Sundays and Wednesdays. I was that child with no manners. I was the child you would have voted most likely to fail.

But in the church where my mom dropped me off, I discovered a nurturing group of people who seemed to think I was worth something. Sunday school teachers who went the second mile for me when I had no way of paying them for the first. And church people who told me about characters in the Bible who seemed to have it worse than I did.

First, there was this guy, Joseph, who was dropped in a well by his brothers. This other guy, David, was hiding from a crazy king who wanted to kill him. And there was this girl, Rahab, who had been known to work in a job that wasn’t respected, yet who ended up being mentioned as one of the most faithful people in the Bible. Another girl, Esther, whose parents were no where around, was selected to accomplish a mission that saved the lives of all God’s people.

In Sunday school lessons, I learned of a God who could use anyone or anything committed to him. A God who could take something awful and completely change it so you would never recognize what it used to be. And I learned from the way my teachers treated me that God’s view of everything was different than the world’s. That God saw everyone as having been at one time on the “wrong side of the track,” and what was important was not where we had been but where we were headed. The little church I went to as a child had people in it who seemed to feel that if they acted out God’s love toward a small, dirty child from a broken home, it would make a difference.

And it has.

“Love one another as I have loved you” – John 13:34

Hang Ten

If you are an Anchor Bay Crew member (Shoreline’s Children’s Ministry Team) you are invited to join an online group following after Pastor Kevin’s charge for 2010 to study the Word, be steady in Prayer and seek out Spiritual Disciplines to deepen our walk with God. We’re calling it HANG TEN, as in ‘ Hang together in 2010, experiencing discipleship together’. Isn’t HANG TEN a little easier on the tongue, not to mention the fingertips when typing?

So, how do you join? Send an email to rpina@shorelinechurch.org and I’ll send you back an invite to the group. If you don’t already have a user id and password to CCB, the Shoreline online community, I’ll have you set up with that as well. Once you’re aboard it’s as simple as reading the daily Bible passage(s) outlined in the weekly bulletin or on the Shorelline website, relating daily in prayer in the method or manner discussed in Pastor Kevin’s letter (this month it’s the A.C.T.S. model, addressing God in Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication), and finding restoration in the spiritual discipline emphasis for the quarter (Jan-Mar emphasis is Fasting). And as often as you like, log in to the HANG TEN CCB community and post an observation or experience, or just graze on the insights and observations of others.

If you didn’t get a copy of the January letter you can read it here. If you have any complications in linking in or accessing the Shoreline web community on CCB, email me at rpina@shorelinechurch.org.

Thanks for all you do to impact families by partnering with parents to grow kids who know, love and serve God through their commitment to Jesus Christ.

Hangin’ Together in 2010

Pastor Roy

If you plan to Dive In, get your fingers printed!

If you are planning to “Dive in for 2010″ to Children’s ministry as a new volunteer, stop by and get your fingers printed on Sunday, November 22.  Providing a safe environment for our children is important to us and so we require that everyone who works with our children be fingerprinted.  On November 22, we will offer in house fingerprinting from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm.  You will find us set-up just outside the Shoreline Bookstore.  Please bring a picture ID with you that day.  If you have any questions, contact Stephanie Maxey

Shoreline Kids – “Diving In to 2010″

Shoreline Kidz will set sail in 2010 as Anchor Bay and would love to have you on board!

We are currently rethinking the way we minister to children and their families and want you to be a part of this movement. We hope to effectively partner with parents and work together towards making a difference in the lives of the children entrusted to our care. It can be so much smoother sailing when we work together.

While children are in the elementary years, we want them to pursue a lifestyle of discovery, where their identity is determined by a personal relationship with Christ, and then help them see how to reflect God’s character. Our approach in Anchor Bay will be based on Luke 2:52 that says, “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” With the foundation of this scripture, we will use a variety of methods to teach children how to make wise decisions, trust God no matter what, and treat others the way they want to be treated.

If you would like to be a part of the launch of Anchor Bay, whether with facility development, curriculum construction, or hands-on in the classroom, you are invited to come learn more Monday, November 23 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the G-Force room. Put your goggles on, grab a lifesaver, and jump on board! To save your spot or get more information, contact Pastor Roy or Stephanie Maxey in the Children’s Ministry Department. Come join the crew!

Princess Tea Party

Grandmothers, Mothers, Daughters and Friends:
Princesses of all ages are invited to join us for a princess tea party on October 10th from 3-5 pm.

There is no charge for this event, we simply ask that you bring your favorite tea party treats to share. You can sign up for what dish you would like to bring in the lobby or email Eliza Fitzgerald.

We are also looking for volunteers to sponsor a table to decorate. You can sign up for this in the lobby or by email as well.

We are looking forward to this fun chance to get dressed up and celebrate as the beautiful princess that God made us to be.

Awana Launch | September 16

Awana at Shoreline Community Church is set to launch on Wednesday, September 16 at 6:30. Registration is still open! Check out the Children’s page to register online or find us in the lobby this Sunday. Questions about Awana? Go to AWANA.org or call the Children’s Ministry office at 655-0100.

On-Site Fingerprinting

ON-SITE FINGERPRINTING COMING SOON!

Here’s a great opportunity for all of you who have wanted to get involved with Awana Club, Sunday School or Special Children’s Events.  Providing a safe environment for our children is important to us and so we require that everyone who works with our children be fingerprinted. On Sunday, September 13 we will offer in house fingerprinting from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm.  You will find us set-up just outside the Shoreline Bookstore.  Please bring a picture ID with you that day.   If you have questions regarding this event  you may email Stacee Johnson, stacee@shorelinechurch.org.