New Way to Get Updates
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Since this blog has never been all that popular compared to the KidzPort blog, we will be consolidating the two. All KidzPort information regarding lessons and what is going on in the Sunday classes will be listed there.
News and information on events and what is happening in the cell groups will be posted mainly on the new KidzPort Facebook Page. See ya there!!!
Posted byMichael J Mahoney at 6:47 AM 0 comments
Cell January 22 - Court is Adjourned
Monday, January 25, 2010
- Have you ever been to court for any reason?
- Is the court system fair?
- What happens when someone goes to court?
Then we talked about Christians involved in court proceedings, especially when it comes to sueing one another. All the kids seemed to think that Christians suing one another in court is a bad idea. I tend to agree, and so did the Apostle Paul.
There's another "courtroom" we need to go to - the Final Judgement. Like our own courts, there will be evidence - our lives - and witnesses against us - Satan. There will also be a judge - Jesus. How we fare in that "trial" is up to each of us, and God's grace and mercy.
Schedule Note:
Next Friday (Jan 29) is our first Family Night. We'll be meeting in the church to watch a movie together, and have some snacks. All parents are encouraged to attend, as there will be a short parents meeting at 7:15, before we start the movie.
Posted byMichael J Mahoney at 10:32 AM 1 comments
Labels: christian, Events, judgement, updates
Cell, January 15 - The Mask
Monday, January 18, 2010
While we (hopefully) don't celebrate Halloween at Gospel Light, we do understand the concept of masks, costumes and disgiuses. These things keep people from seeing who we really are. Also, being either kids or former kids, most of us can get our heads around pretending to be someone else.
We asked the kids if they ever pretended to be someone else, and who. We got a lot of answers from "a Power Ranger" to " Hannah Montana" to "mommy." Someone even said they pretended to be God! (Hey, if you're gonna pretend, pretend big!)
What's the point of pretending like this? Well, when we pretend to be someone else, we imagine that we inherit their abilites as well. So pretending to be "Hanna Montana" means pretending you are a famous singer.
But sometimes, people pretend when it's not even playtime. Some people "pretend" to be Christians when they are in church - but then they act differently when they are in school or out with friends. Which "personality" is "real?" Hard to tell, but since Jesus wants your whole heart, chances are one would not have ot pretend if they were being who they were in Christ all the time.
Posted byMichael J Mahoney at 11:57 AM 0 comments
Labels: christian, leadership, updates
2010 is Here
Monday, January 11, 2010
New Year’s are a traditional time for beginning. Marking from one year to another is a convenient way to evaluate our lives and choices. So it is natural that we look at the past year with (constructive) criticism and look to the new one with hope and determination.
People make resolutions on New Years. That means that they resolve to change something in their lives. It’s not always that what they are doing is bad – it usually means that they can simply do better.
One thing we resolved to do better is to promote respect:
- Respect for God
- Respect for one’s self
- Respect for those in authority
- Respect for others
Posted byMichael J Mahoney at 11:23 AM 0 comments
Labels: updates
New Year's Schedule
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Schedule update for the rest of December and January:
Thurday, December 31st will be our annual New Year's Eve celebration. Everyone is welcome. We start at 10pm in the sanctuary. The kids will be singing two songs - ones they know, and any of the kids can join in.
Friday, Jan 1 - There will be no cell. We will resume regular cell meetings on January 8. We will be scheduling a cell meeting where the parents are invited, probably on the 29th of January, which is a fifth Friday week.
Stay tuned for more info!
Posted byMichael J Mahoney at 6:21 AM 0 comments
Cell November 20 - Oppression and Repression
Saturday, November 21, 2009
A recent post on a blog I read as well as a news story I came across prompted a little change in the discussion this week.
We talked about "oppression" and "repression." When one oppresses someone else, they are looking to keep them down, prevent them from gaining any achievement, keep them in their place. When someone represses someone else, they are looking to change their message, stop their channels of communication, change their minds.
As examples, we talked about slavery in America. That was clearly oppression, and oppression of the worst kind. There have been other groups oppressed in our history; Italians, Irish, Jewish, Japanese, women. Even after slavery ended, the oppression didn't. But people fought back, rose up against it. Rosa Parks. Martin Luther King, Jr.
MLK is a special case, of course, because there were those who were afraid of his message. The wanted to repress what he was saying, to the point of taking his life.
Oppression and repression occur in the biblical narrative as well. The Jews were oppressed in Egypt. And the Pharisees tried to repress Jesus and His message.
One example of both is what happened during the Babylonian Captivity. The Israelites were oppressed by their Babylonian masters - an entire society enslaved, taken from their homes, brought to live somewhere else to be servants. But the Babylonian realized this wasn't enough. As long as the Israelites had faith in God, they were strong. The Babylonians sought to repress this hope, by outlawing prayer.
Some Jews fought back. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to stop praying to God, and faced death for it. They were tossed into a furnace so hot, that it burned up the guards who threw them in. But as the king watched, he saw four men walking around in the fire! When called the three young men came out unharmed!
Repression still happens today. Prayer in schools. Public religious displays. Street preaching. People living according to their beliefs. All are in danger in our times.
What can we do? Can we stand up to it?
Posted byMichael J Mahoney at 7:18 AM 0 comments
Labels: daniel, media, oppression, repression, righteousness
Upcoming Events
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Just a quick reminder of some calendar updates:
Friday, November 13th - KidzPort Movie Night.
Both children's cells will meet in the church for a movie night. We call "Action!!" at 7:20.
Friday, November 27th - Thanksgiving Weekend.
There will be no cell meetings on this date.
Saturday, December 19th - Christmas Cantata.
Our annual Christmas celebration will begin at 6pm. Rehearsal schedules will be announced shortly.
Posted byMichael J Mahoney at 9:14 AM 0 comments