Thursday's Big Question

Please read this for background about Thursday Big Question Posts. Was Jesus born on Christmas Day? We celebrate the birth of Jesus on December 25th. But the truth is that no one really knows what day Jesus was born, or even exactly what year. The Bible does not tell us that information. I think that the actual date is not that important. What is important is the Gospel message.

December 25th is the day that the church scholars and leaders picked to memorialize and celebrate Jesus' birth about fifteen hundred years ago. The word Christmas did not appear until the early 1000's. In fact, in the Middle Ages Epiphany was more celebrated then Christmas.

Welcome Back to Sunday School!

This Sunday our Sunday School begins for our children! We are so excited to reconnect with all the children and parents and to continue our Faith Journey together.

See you there!

July First Sundays Worship!

This Sunday is our July First Sundays Worship!
Join us for our monthly intergenerational worship service.

Our Scripture lesson is Matthew 11:25-30.

At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed
them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.

All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows
the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone
to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy
laden, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from
me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

We are going to put on our "Theological Hats" and discuss this passage.

We are also excited to present and bless our new quilted banner that we made at our last First Sundays Worship Service. We broke into groups to make quilt blocks using patterns. Later, Arlene graciously joined them together to create a beautiful banner for our sanctuary.

Happy Last Day of School to all the students, teachers, and parents in our midst!

Enjoy your summer!

He Is Risen!

“You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here."

~~Mark 16:6

A Big Thank You!

I want to thank everyone for making the Empty Bowls Project a success!

A big thank you to the children for the diligent work making the pots and for their continued learning about hunger and poverty.

A big thank you to everyone who supported our learning by attending the luncheon on Sunday. It means a lot to know that Sparling is supporting the Sunday School and First Sundays Ministry.

A big thank you to everyone who purchased a clay bowl. 1Hope Winnipeg thanks you and the children thank you!

Summer Camps

It's that time! Time to start thinking about summer camp for the little ones (& not so little ones)! Check out these links for information about sleep-away camps and day camps in Manitoba:

• Manitoba Camping Association list of camps. The MCA has been specializing in organized children and family camps since 1937.


• The United Church of Canada Directory of Camps in Manitoba. Click on Manitoba to see the camps in Manitoba and at the bottom of the page lists CGIT camps for girls as well.

If your little one is too little for sleep-away camp or if sleep-away camp doesn't fit your summer schedule then make sure to check out these day camps offered in Winnipeg.

• Y Day Camp is offered at various locations in the city.


• Fort Whyte Day Camp is selling out fast!


• Assiniboine Park Zoo Day Camp.


• MiniU at the University of Manitoba.

I'm sure there are more day camps offered in Winnipeg and if you know of any drop us a comment with the information.

Cheers! & Happy Camping!

Please note: Sparling United Church & First Sundays Ministry is not responsible for the content of external sites. Please preview in advance for suitability of content and age appropriateness.

How Can You Help The Empty Bowls Project?

The children have been learning about hunger, poverty, and what our Christian response is. Please support their learning by participating in The Empty Bowls Project.

You can do this in three ways:

1. Attend our Empty Bowls Lunch on Sunday April 10th after church (any silver collection donations will be donated to 1Hope Winnipeg)

2. Purchase one of the clay bowls the children have made for $5.00 which will be donated to 1Hope Winnipeg.

3. Ask the children about what they have been doing and learning in Sunday School. Talk to them about how Jesus wants us to help the poor and the hungry.

Easter Egg Decorating!

Stay after First Sundays Worship on April 3rd and join us for Easter Egg Decorating!

Egg decorating messy business so make sure you dress appropriately and remember to bring your own lunch to eat after church.

Everyone is welcome to stay!

Donations of eggs or decorating supplies are welcome.

First Sundays Ministry & Sunday School Need Egg Cartons!

We are in need of donations of egg cartons to use in painting projects. The little egg holders are very good for holding paint and great for other fun crafts!

Please bring clean egg cartons to church on Sundays and drop them off with Carrie or Heather.

Thanks again!

First Sundays Ministry Empty Bowls Project

For the next month or so the children will be learning about hunger and poverty in Winnipeg, focusing on what the Bible teaches us about food and sharing of resources. The Scripture Verse we are learning is Proverbs 22:9, "Generous hands are blessed hands because they give bread to the poor."


Yesterday, on March 20th we made food posters to promote donations of non-perishable food items, pet food, and personal care items to Sparlings Food Bank. The children enjoyed identifying food items in flyers, cutting them out, and pasting them onto their posters. Please look for these posters next Sunday!

The children were also able to identify that Jesus wants them to help the hungry and the poor. We are going to do exactly that with the Empty Bowls Project.

Next Sunday, March 27th we will begin making the clay bowls. The bowls are a reminder of all the empty bowls in the world and here in our community. Once they are complete they will be displayed at church.

Join us for a simple lunch of soup and bread on Sunday, April 10th where guests will have the opportunity to select and take home a decorated bowl in exchange for a $5.00 donation to 1Hope Winnipeg (http://www.1hopewinnipeg.com/).

Please join us for lunch on the 10th!

Spring 2011 Leisure Guide - Mark Your Calendars!

The Spring 2011 Leisure Guide is out and Registration begins on Monday, March 14!

Check out this link for information regarding children, adult, and specialty programs and how to go about registering.

Hello out there!

Hello! Anybody out there?

It's time to bring back the First Sundays Ministry blog!

Who's out there? Comment, and tell us who you are and why you're checking into this blog.

Stay tuned for information about First Sundays Ministry, Sparling United Church, fun things for families to do in Winnipeg and information about internet sites for families and children.

~Carrie

First Sundays Worship

Join us this Sunday @ 11 AM for First Sundays Worship @ Brooklands Senior Resource Centre (1960 William Ave). This month we continue to celebrate the liturgical season of Christmas and we will focus on the Wise Men that visit the Christ Child in Bethlehem.

The Wise Men bring gifts to Jesus and so do we. We all bring gifts to Christ. Gifts of love, guidance, leadership, talents, and support and more. The list is exhaustive.

Start thinking about what gifts you have that you bring to the Christ Child this Christmas Season.

What's Happening Wednesday

Today is December 23rd. It's the day before Christmas Eve. I'm sure that's what we all have on our minds this Wednesday.

Presents to buy. Presents to wrap. Decorations to put up. Food to make. Kids are out of school. Gotta entertain the kids. Gotta go see Santa. Gotta make cookies. Gotta decorate the cookies. Gotta go, gotta do, gotta be. A zillion things to do and a zillion places to go.

In this Christmas season parents have to make decisions about what is important all the time. We have to remember what the season is about and we have to remember the meaning of the season of Christmas . I'm a Mom too and I know that it's easy to get wrapped up in trees, presents, and parties. Sometimes Christmas becomes a burden rather then a blessing.

I've thought about this a bit and offer these tips to everyone out there.

1. Keep it simple -- Keep everything simple, including gift giving. Make home made gifts, especially ones that your children can help to make. Limit gift giving. Your second cousin twice removed that moved to Italy six years ago does not need to receive a gift from you. Don't stress about it, just focus on staying within your means and on giving gifts to those are really close to your heart.

2. Do things together -- Activities are more fun if everyone is involved. Bake those cookies together and have the kids decorate them. Put up the Christmas tree and decorate the house together. Volunteer for a local charity together. Wrap presents together. Visit elderly relatives together. Teach your children that Christmas is about more then gifts and Santa Claus.

3. Relax -- Take time out together as a family. Pick one day and do nothing but eat snacks and watch movies. Take an afternoon to go for a walk in the park. Attend any caroling or singing events at church. Laugh. have fun. Smile. Enjoy your time together. You'll find that if you take time out of the busy season to do relaxing activities that they will become traditions that your children will ask about in the coming years.

4. Say No -- That's right. Learn to say no. Realize that you and your family don't need to attend every Christmas party or every activity. The Scouts party, school party, work party, dance class party, Book Club party--somethings gotta give. Do you and your kids really want to go to their old babysitters Christmas Open House? Ask them and ask yourself. You just might want to...but you also might not want to. Prioritize what you do this Season and the Seasons after.

5. After December 25th -- Remember that the Christmas season only starts on December 25. It does not end then. Spread out what you do and when you do it. Not everything has to be finished by Christmas Day.

6. Pray & Celebrate -- Read the birth story in the Bible. Take time out and attend church service on Christmas morning. Read picture books about the Holy Birth. Pray. Sing Happy Birthday Jesus with your kids. Have a touchable nativity that your children can touch so can see the Gospel in action. Talk about all the characters. Answer questions and ask your children questions about the Holy Family and Birth. Continue with remembering Jesus, God, and the Bible after the Christmas Season has ended and decorations put away.

Blessings to you and your family this Christmas Season.

Thursday's Big Question

Please read this for background about Thursday Big Question Posts.

Why Do We Pray?

When we pray we talk to God. God wants us to speak to him in our own words.

We can praise God. We can give thanksgiving to God. We can confess to God what we have done wrong and how we may have hurt people. We can ask God for help. And we can ask God to take good care of others and the world.

When we pray we are sharing our life with God and God is helping us to feel good.

The Bible tells us, "Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life." Philippians 4:6-7.

What's Happening Wednesday

We are going Bowling on January 17 after church.
Mark your calendars!
Details will be forthcoming.

Christmas Services

Join us at Sparling United Church for Christmas Services.

Longest Night Service
Monday, December 21 @ 7 PM @ Atlantic Garden City
Longest Night speaks of the God who walks beside is in our pain as much as in our joy and helps us to celebrate Christ in the midst of so many mixed messages.

Christmas Eve Family Worship
Thursday, December 24 @ 7 PM
Children are welcome and encouraged to participate in this Service of Joy.

Christmas Eve Carols & Readings
Thursday, December 24 @ 11 PM
A time for Reflection and Praise.

Christmas Day Celebration
Friday, December 25 @ 11 AM
Our Saviour is Born!

Help to adorn our worship space with ethnic cloths, scarves, or decorations to represent all nations coming to Christ. Everyone is invited to bring in these symbols of your heritage to add to the display.

Big Questions

Kids ask Big questions and they also ask Tough questions. Big with a capital B and Tough with a capital C.

It's part of growing up and learning about the world around them. Some questions are easy to answer. Questions like, "why do I have to eat my vegetables?" and "Why do I have to go to bed?" are easier to answer then "Who is God" and "Why do we pray?" and "Why do we go to church?"

As adults and Christians it is important to answer the questions are children pose, but sometimes it's hard to answer questions about faith because we might not even know the answer ourselves or while we may have the answer inside our hearts articulating a response in terms that a youngster will be able to understand.

I'm not going to pretend like I have all the answers, because as everyone knows I'm practically clueless myself; but I can give ideas and directions and tell you what other people say.

From now on Thursdays are going to be The Big Questions Day. I hope they give you tips on how to deal the questions kids ask and to perhaps give you another way of looking at questions of faith.

Blessings,

Carrie

Boo At The Zoo!

1Read about it here. The deadline to register has been extended to this Tuesday, the 12th!

Have a great weekend!