Hello again! I am glad you could join us for this, the first of three lessons for February. The new story, found in The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally- Lloyd Jones on pages 244-249, is called “Filled Full.” As always, you, along with your whole family, are invited to listen and read and create and pray around this selected story.
     Children: Let’s begin with the listening part. The oral reading of this story has been video-taped for you, so as you listen to it, I would like you to imagine the described scenes inside your head, or you may want to draw your own pictures as you listen.
     You know, food is actually a remarkable thing, when you think about it. When we eat food, our body breaks down what we put into it and turns those little munched bits into things that can be used for strength and energy. We don’t really have to think about it. We just eat something (hopefully something healthy), and our body does the rest of the work. In some ways, our relationship with God is similar. We give to Him whatever we might have, and He can put it to work to do amazing things!
     That’s what happened in the story today. Jesus was teaching, and there was a big group of people that had come to listen to what He had to say. Well, it happened to be dinnertime, and the disciples brought it to Jesus’ attention that the crowds might be getting hungry. Jesus told the disciples to find something for the people to eat! That seemed a bit astonishing. There were more than 5,000 people present, and to give everyone even a tiny bite of food would cost more than any of them had. What were the disciples to do?
     Questions? Comments? Opinions? Pastor Steve would love to hear from you on this blog!
     Adults: The Biblical references for this story are from Matthew 14, Mark 6, and Luke 9.
     Can you relate to the boy with five loaves and two fish? Do you feel that your resources are so little and wonder what God could ever do with them? Don’t get discouraged. Keep your hands open. Here are the first two of five things we learn from the boy who shared his lunch in John 6.
         1. God is in control. In verse 6, we read these words, “But He was saying this only to test him, for He Himself knew what he intended to do.: Jesus had asked Philip the question about buying bread, not because he wanted a solution, but because he wanted faith. None of what was transpiring caught Jesus off guard. He wasn’t concerned. He was in control. The boy with the five loaves and two fishes saw this firsthand.
     God doesn’t need the money we possess to accomplish His mission. He isn’t in heaven, anxiously wringing his hands, wondering if we will step up financially so His mission can proceed. And if we don’t leverage our resources for His purposes, God will not throw up His arms in exasperation and walk away from the mission dejected. No, God doesn’t need us for His already victorious mission, but He does invite us to participate, to join Him in victory. He is in control. The boy learned this on that day.
     2. God is about multiplication. As the boy handed his meal to the disciples and Jesus, he likely wondered what difference such a small amount of food could make among the large crowd. It would not be surprising if the boy assumed he and his meal would be turned away, asked to return to his friend or family. His meal was small, and the need was so great.
     But then, Jesus took hold of the food and began to break it into pieces. The small meal turned into a feast that was more than enough to fill the stomachs of the crowd. He takes that which is insufficient and uses it to accomplish His purpose. Our God can take whatever is given in faith and multiply its impact in unfathomable ways for His mission. God is about multiplication. The boy learned this on that day.
     As with the children, Pastor Steve would love to discuss any questions or comments you may have about any of the stories or our lessons; just respond on this blog.
This week’s prayer: Lord Jesus, I thank you for caring for my ordinary human needs. Thank you for my “daily bread.” Amen
     Two more on-line lessons will follow this month based on the five loaves and two fish story. Sunday School will gather on the fourth Sunday of the month, February 25, 2024, at 11 a.m. following services. For an hour (approximately), we will orally read and discuss the story and end with a fun craft. You are invited to join us!
Enjoy the warm weather,
Margo Greer

​     Hello everyone! Thanks for being with me for our third and last Learning Together lesson of January.
     Our current story is “Heaven Breaks Through” and can be found on pages 200-207 of The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones.
     Children: Please read our story out loud, or maybe you can read it to another family member.
     To John the Baptist’s amazement, he was asked by Jesus to baptize Jesus in the River Jordan.
     Jesus was old enough to remember His baptism day, but you were probably too small to remember anything about yours. If so, your parents will be able to tell you all about the event and share photos and stories with you. It was a very important day for you and everyone!
     Being baptized means you are officially a member of God’s church.
After baptism, each believer becomes part of our church. Becoming a Christian through baptism is a bit like sharing your promise to a better way of life. Because it’s witnessed by family, friends, loved ones, and church members, baptism is a public confession of faith. 
     The life of John the Baptist teaches us some very important lessons. We learn to be responsible for whatever our mission in life is, to be sorry for our sins, and humbly to do our work of service without drawing attention to ourselves.
     Adults: The Biblical references to our story are Matthew 3, Luke 1 and 3, and John 1.

The Baptism of Christ
Ippolito Scarsellino
1585-1590


       Remarkably, Christ's baptism shows all three Persons of the Trinity at the same time: the Son being baptized, the Holy Spirit descending, and the Father speaking from the heavens. In this event, the Father and the Holy Spirit confirm the deity of Christ, and Jesus submits to his Father's will.
      Herodias asked for the head of John the Baptist on a platter and sadly her wish was granted. He was beheaded in 31AD.
     John the Baptist is of great theological importance in the New Testament. He ended nearly four hundred years of prophetic silence and paved the way for the Messiah. In the spirit of Elijah, he preached a message of repentance and baptism. In his darkest hour he questioned if Jesus was the One who was to come, or whether there would be another. He inaugurated a spiritual movement that had influence long after his death and extended throughout the Mediterranean world.
     He was truly a transitional figure, forming the link between the Old and New Testaments. He spans the ages with one foot firmly planted in the Old Testament and the other squarely placed in the New.
​
~This week’s prayer: Lord, thank you for the precious gift of baptism. Amen
     Next week, Sunday School will gather on Sunday, January 28, at approximately 11 a.m. There will be story reading, discussion, and a fun craft. Hope you can make it!
Sincerely,
Margo Greer

Hello once again, and thank you for joining us in this our second of three
lessons for January’s story “Heaven Breaks Through”. You can find this story
in The Jesus Storybook Bible written by Sally Lloyd-Jones,
Children: Time to refresh our memories by listening once more to Pastor
Steve’s oral reading video of our story, or maybe an older brother, sister, or
parent could read it to you.
John the Baptist was important in the life of Jesus because God had
promised a messenger would come before Jesus. This man would be sent to
get people ready for Jesus' message about the Kingdom of God. John was
this very man.
What did he tell the crowds of people who would gather to hear him? He
told them that everyone was a sinner, that they needed to be sorry for their
sins, and if they were truly sorry, he told them God would forgive their sins.
Jesus was going to be The Rescuer everyone was waiting for!
Another message John taught to his followers is that God expects
everyone to share with others willingly and with kindness. Service to others
is an important part of a Christian’s life.
Adults: The Biblical references to this story are Matthew 3, Luke 1, 3
and John 1.
St. Luke records that John the Baptist preached a three part message:
1) he preached human repentance and divine forgiveness, 2) he preached
stewardship, and 3) he preached the arrival of Jesus Christ.
He attracted much public notice circa 28 CE as a prophet in the Jordan
Valley. Jesus himself came to be baptized by John and shortly afterward
began his own mission.
Here are other interesting facts about this man. John the Baptist’s
parents were Zacharias and Elizabeth. According to the Gospel of Luke,
Elizabeth was barren due to her age. The Angel Gabriel appeared to
Zacharias whilst in a temple and told him that Elizabeth would bear a child.
Zacharias did not believe what he had been told, and therefore because of
his disbelief, the Angel Gabriel made him mute. The name “John” was given
to Elizabeth’s child by an angel sent by God. It is believed that John was
born around six months before Jesus and that he was a second cousin to
Jesus.
~This week’s prayer: Dear God, help us to keep our focus on Jesus’ love
and forgiveness. Amen
Next week there will be one more Learning Together lesson based on our
“Heaven Breaks Through” story. The following week, on January 28, at 11
a.m., Sunday School will meet for story reading, discussion, and a fun craft.
All are welcome to attend!
Stay warm,
Margo Greer

​     Happy New Year’s to you and your entire family! With the new year comes this very first Learning Together lesson of 2024. As always, you and your whole family are invited to listen and read and create and pray around one particular story.
     This month’s story is entitled “Heaven Breaks Through” and is located in The Jesus Storybook Bible written by Sally Lloyd-Jones. (This book can be ordered online, or a free copy found at our church.)
     Children: Please find a comfy spot, curl up with an afghan, and listen to January’s story being read aloud to you. As you listen you may want to close your eyes and imagine the scenes described, or you may want to check out the wonderful illustrations (pictures) found in the book, or you could draw your very own pictures.
     John the Baptist was Jesus' cousin. John led a simple life and was a bit of an unusual sort of person. He grew up in a desert, he wore a really scratchy type of clothing made from camel hair that was super uncomfortable, and he was taught as a child to find his own food, like grasshoppers and honey, from the desert.
     John the Baptist was named so because he believed his main goal in life was to baptize as many people as possible and prepare them for the coming of Jesus. His only concern was to share his belief in the Kingdom of God with all. Large crowds of people would come to listen to and believe in his message, which was for everyone to feel sorry for their sins and want to begin a new life rescued by God.
     Please feel free on this blog to share any of your thoughts or comments or ask any questions of Pastor Steve.
     Adults: The Biblical reference for the story of John the Baptist is Matthew 3, Luke 1, and John 1.
     Apart from Jesus Christ, John the Baptist is probably the most theologically significant figure in the Gospels. As was the case with Jesus, his birth was meticulously recorded ( Luke 1:5-25 ). His entrance into the world was marked by angelic proclamation and divine intervention ( Luke 1:57-80 ). John's birth not only parallels that of Jesus, but echoes the momentous occasion of the birth of Isaac to Abraham and Sarah ( Gen 17:15-22 ; 21:1-7 ). John is clearly a pivotal figure in the salvation history of God.
     John's lifestyle was as austere as his message. He was an ascetic living in the wilderness, clothed in camel hair and subsisting on locusts and wild honey ( Matt 3:4 ; Mark 1:6 ). Unlike Jesus, he expected people to come to him, rather than he going to them ( Matt 3:5 ), and he did not disappoint the large crowds that came – He was a fiery prophet proclaiming the apocalyptic message of God.
~This week’s prayer: I pray that I will never have to wear camel hair clothing. Amen
     There will be two more lessons in the next couple of weeks about the story of John the Baptist, and Sunday School will gather on the fourth Sunday of January, 1/28/24, at 11 a.m. for story reading, discussion, and a fun craft. Hope to see you then!
Until next week,
Margo Greer

     Blessed holiday greetings to you and your family! Because of many Christmas-related activities, there is a change in the regular monthly schedule. There will only be one online lesson rather than three for this month, Sunday School will be held on December 10, December 17 will be the Christmas program, and December 24 there will be a Candlelight Christmas service. You and your family are invited to attend any or all of these events!
     This month’s story is titled “The Light of the Whole World,” and it is about how God announced the birth of His only Son, Jesus, to the world on Christmas Day.

Children: Find a comfy spot and listen to the story being orally read to you. The story can also be found on pages 184-191 of The Jesus Storybook Bible.
     Nowadays, you would hear about Jesus’ birth, an amazing piece of news, on one of your electronic devices, and you would probably be able to watch a video of the event. However, back in the year when Jesus was born, there were no such things as computers, or the Internet, or TV, not even any cameras, phones, printed books, or delivered mail!
     But that did not bother God at all. As always, He had a plan to get out His big news. He knew He had plenty of assistants, called angels, who would gladly help to share the glad tidings! And so they did! It is almost impossible for us to imagine this glorious sight, one angel appearing followed by a massive number of other angels, singing with the greatest
​of joy!

​I welcome you back for the last of our three lessons this month about
the story, “Daniel and the Scary Sleepover”, found on pages 152-159 of The
Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones.
Children: Please read this exciting story out loud, maybe to a younger
brother or sister, or to yourself. Could you feel the lions’ breath on your
face, as Daniel did? Are you aware of their eyes staring at you?
In last month’s story, we learned about the Ten Commandments (“Ten
Ways to Be Perfect”). Can you tell me what commandment was broken by the
people who worked alongside Daniel that got Daniel into trouble? If you
think it was the tenth commandment, you are correct! Jealousy!
Daniel was a really smart man who worked very hard at any job he had,
and he always impressed his many bosses and kings with the great care he
took with his work. He was frequently promoted to a higher level job, and
the evil people who worked alongside Daniel could not or would not work as
hard. They were so jealous that they lied about Daniel to the King. They
secretly wanted to turn Daniel into lion food!
We learn from Daniel that we need to always remember to pray, that God
can protect us from anything, and that in good and bad times God is with us!
Please feel free to share your thoughts or questions with Pastor Steve
and others who frequent this blog.
Adults: The Biblical reference for our story is Daniel 6.
Throughout the Bible, there are many examples of how God protects his
people, even when situations seem hopeless. The story of Daniel shows that
God is always in control. He had a special plan for Daniel, as he does for each
of us.
Daniel was firm in his beliefs. He didn’t stop following God’s law, even
though he knew it would get him in trouble. He needed to be brave and
courageous and trust that God would protect him even when things seemed
terrible.

Throughout your life, there will be times when things are difficult. You
might feel afraid or alone, but God promises to always be with you and to
protect you. This doesn’t mean that your life will always go smoothly or that
bad things won’t happen, however God does promise to always be with you
and to use all things (both the good AND the bad) for good in your life.
Final note: After Daniel escaped any harm from the lions, King Darius
made a proclamation to “all peoples, nations, and languages” that everyone in
his dominion must “tremble and fear before Daniel’s God” (6:25–27).
This Week’s Prayer: God, I know that I can talk to You anytime,
anywhere, and about anything! Amen
This concludes this month’s study of Daniel. I hope you can gather with us
this coming Sunday for Sunday School at 11 am right after services for a
snack, a lesson discussion, and a fun craft.
In prayer,
Margo Greer

     Hello to you once again! Glad you are able to be here!
     Today we are continuing our November’s story entitled “Daniel and the Scary Sleepover” found on pages 1522-159 of The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones. This is the second of three online lessons for this month.
     Children: It is time to listen to the story being read to you one more time. Maybe instead of listening to the recorded video provided to you, you would like to ask a family member to read the story to you. As you listen to the oral reader, I would like you to follow along in the book so you can check out all the cool illustrations (pictures).
     It took great courage and faith in God for Daniel to break the law and be obedient to God. God was faithful to Daniel and protected him from the hungry lions.
     All people, even adults, have their share of “lions” … things that are problems or something we are afraid of. Maybe a “lion” in your life is someone who you have allowed to upset you, or something that happened at home or school that is worrisome, or if someone you know is sick – These are all things that make us feel sad or not very happy.
     I'm sure Daniel thought about giving-in and hiding the fact that he was a follower of God, but Daniel decided to stand up for his belief in God, even if it meant death.
     There are times when even a kid has to stand up for her/his beliefs. When you see someone treating another badly. When you hear gossip. When you have the tough choice of sleeping in or going to church. When it's time to pray, and you'd rather play. When others speak negatively about God or the church. When there are things that are pulling you away from God. Distractions and “lions” come in all shapes and sizes!
     If you have any questions, concerns, or just thoughts to share, please use this blog to open a conversation with Pastor Steve. If you wish, create your own illustrations!
     Adults: The Biblical reference for our story is Daniel 6.    
     Daniel was successful in every administration he served in, and he served all different kinds of bosses, all different types of kings. It is interesting to look into what was the cause of Daniel’s success.
     Based on the numerous job evaluations by others found in the Bible, Daniel demonstrated five distinct attributes that most of us believe we need in order to be successful in our own lives.
#1 Commitment – the desire to remain faithful. He was committed to maintaining his own convictions, to giving his best to every kingdom, and was committed to being an example worthy of inspection. In other words, he was true to his job – he really meant business!
#2 Competence – the ability to do something successfully or efficiently. Daniel was competent in wisdom and understanding (He did more than what was assigned or expected.), in specific areas of training (literature, science, engineering), and could multi-task.
#3 - Courage – having the heart to serve. Daniel had courage to serve his bosses’ vision with his all, he had courage to put aside issues (like his kidnapping), and he was courageous enough to be willing to die for his beliefs.
#4 Compassion – the love to meet needs. Daniel had compassion. He believed that he should share the truth with kindness (It hurt to tell the king of God’s judgment!), and it fueled his spiritual mission throughout his life
#5 Creativity – the ingenuity to change and to produce change. Daniel was creative enough to embrace new leadership, to find answers, and to take on new areas of responsibility. 

Daniel came in as a slave, he workd and did his best, and step by step, he kept being promoted. He never asked to be promoted. He never sought a promotion. He sought excellence and that brought promotion. Daniel's ability to excel is what kept him on top! 








​This Week’s Prayer: Dear Jesus, I ask you to help me close the mouths of the “lions” in my life. Amen
     Next week I will share the third and last lesson about Daniel and the lions. Our Sunday School Gathering will take place on November 26, 2023, at 11 am right after service. We will meet for a snack, a lesson discussion, and a fun craft!
Have good week,
Margo Greer

 Happy November to you! Welcome to our Learning Together blog. Here we listen and read and imagine and create around a new story each month from The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones. November’s story is entitled “Daniel and the Scary Sleepover” and is found on pages 152-159.
     Children: Are you ready to listen to our new story being read out loud to you? Find a comfy spot, close your eyes, and imagine you are Daniel, our main character. When finished listening, you may want to draw some pictures of your own about this story, or share them with a family member or a friend.
     Have you ever been to a sleepover before? If so, then you probably remember being invited to a good friend’s house, eating tasty snacks, playing fun games, watching an exciting movie, and trying to stay up really late. Sounds like a good time, right? You bet it is!
     If you have been to a sleepover, I would like to think you have NOT been to a sleepover that had invited LIONS to the party. Oh my, that would not really be a safe choice, would it?
     Unfortunately, Daniel did not have a choice. He was set up.
      Pastor Steve will take any questions regarding Daniel’s amazing story. Feel free to contact Pastor through this blog.
     Adults: The Biblical reference for our story is Daniel 6.
     King Darius I was a king of Persia and reigned from 522 BCE until his death in 486 BCE. He ruled the Persian Empire at its territorial peak when the population was around 50 million people and it included much of Western Asia, parts of the Balkans, most of the Black Sea’s coastal regions, central Asia, the Indus Valley, and portions of northern and northwestern Africa including Egypt, part of Libya, and coastal Sudan.
    
Upon reaching the throne, he appointed 120 provincial governors to help run his kingdom. Over these officials, he also appointed three administrators, one of whom was Daniel. Before long, Daniel displayed such remarkable ability as an administrator that King Darius planned to make him the leader of the three top officials. That was what provoked the other two administrators to gain the support of some of the governors to find a way to discredit Daniel. And by tricking
King Darius, they connived to throw Daniel into a den of lions

~This Week’s Prayer: Dear God, watch over us this week and keep us safe.
     Remember to join us again next week for the second lesson about Daniel’s sleepover with the lions. Also, note on your calendar that this month’s Sunday School Gathering will take place on November 26, 2023.
​Until next week,
Margo Greer

​    Hi, Friends! Thanks for joining me today for this month’s third and final lesson about the story, “Ten Ways to Be Perfect,” found on pages 100-107 of The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones. 
    Children: I would like you to begin by reading the story again, this time to yourself or to a friend or family member. 
    Here are the Ten Good Rules (Commandments) given to us by God:
1. Have no other gods but God.2.  Do not worship statues.
3.  Be careful with God’s name
4.  Keep Sundays special.
5. Respect your parents.
6. Do not kill people.
7.  Keep your marriage promises
8. Do not steal.
9. Do not lie.
10. Do not be jealous.
 
    The Commandments are all about showing love and respect. The first four involve love and respect for God, and the last six show love and respect for others.
    The Ten Commandments teach about respecting God,being honest, respecting our parents, keeping Sundayholy, and being good neighbors. These rules are as important today as they were thousands of years ago. No matter how the world changes, these Ten Commandments show us the way to a good life.
    Questions? Comments? Let Pastor Steve know what you are thinking.
    Adults: The Biblical reference to this story is Exodus 16-17, 19-40.
    The Ten Commandments are familiar to most people. Sometimes, people believe they are going to heaven just because they think they have not broken any of the commandments. But the unfortunate truth is, they have.Everyone has failed one time or another. However, what makes us Christians is placing our faith in Jesus. Through Jesus, our sins are forgiven. Because He died on the cross for us, we have everlasting life with God. 
   God’s ten rules sketch out the biblical boundaries for a well-lived life and are important for every child to know. Having kids memorize these ten rules is great, but helping kids understand what it means to love and respect God and each other is even better (and more important). We, as adult Christians, need to lead our dear children by example.  
~This Week’s Prayer: God, guide me to respect you and all others as I live my life. Amen
    I invite you and your family to attend next week’s Sunday School gathering on Sunday, October 29, at 11 a.m. right after the morning service.  After a small treat, there will be a discussion of this month’s story and a fun craft. All are welcome!
Enjoy the fall weather,
Margo Greer

     Hello again! This Learning Together lesson is the second of three this month about Moses and the Ten Commandments. “Ten Ways to Be Perfect” is our current story found on pages 100-107 of The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones.
     Children: To review, please listen once more to the story bring orally read to you, and this time, follow along in your own book.
     In our first lesson, you were asked to think about rules, whether rules are good or bad, and why we all need rules to follow. Maybe you have figured out that parents and other important adults in your lives care for you a great deal and want to keep you safe from harm. Rules help us to keep order, at home or at school or out in public.
     Why do you think God gave us these rules? Is it because God is mean and He doesn't want us to have fun, so He makes a lot of rules for people to follow? No! God likes us to have fun.
     Is it because God is bored and He doesn't have anything better to do than to make up rules? No! God has lots to do. God never gets bored.
     So, why did God give us all these rules?
     Just like your parents, God made rules to protect you, and everyone else. God's rules help us all to live in a way that will make us happy and won't get us into trouble with negative consequences. God made us, and He loves us. He gives us rules to help us stay safe and at peace with all. His rules bring good results for anyone who follows them. They show love and respect for God and one another. God gave His people these rules as reminders of what was good and right.
     Do you have any questions or comments about this story?  Please use this blog to ask anything of Pastor Steve. Feel free to respond to other people’s opinions, also.
     Adults: The Biblical reference for this story is Exodus 16-17, 19-40.
     The location of Moses’ tomb is unknown. God buried him in a place which is hidden from everybody. The tombs of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are marked, but Moses’ tomb is still unknown. He died in Midian at the age of 120. The Bible tells us he was healthy and unimpaired when he died.
     Before Moses died, he reminded the people of all the Lord had done for them. The whole book of Deuteronomy is a record of what was said. Moses read the Ten Commandments to them again. He then went up into the mountain, looked into the Promised Land, and then died as God said.
     Today, we have someone who is greater than Moses: Jesus Christ who is still leading people out of sin. His shed blood still allows God’s fierce wrath to “pass over” those who have repented and put their trust in Him.
~This Week’s Prayer:  Dear God, thank you for teaching us the way to live. In Jesus’ name, Amen
     Next week’s Learning Together lesson will be this month’s third and final lesson about the Ten Commandments. A reminder: Sunday School will be held on the fourth Sunday of every month, in this case October 22, at 11 am after the church service. We will talk about this story and do a fun craft. Any age is invited to attend.
Have a good week,
Margo Greer