Good Samaritan - Weekly Splink! Family Activity

Good Samaritan

Item needed: a box of Band-Aids

Encourage “compassion-showing” all week by rewarding kids (with a “Good Samaritan” award—a Band-Aid) when they think of others.

What is a Good Samaritan? (The name comes from a story Jesus told about a Samaritan—a man from Samaria—who helped a man who had been wounded and robbed.)

What did the Good Samaritan do for the man? (He cared enough to stop and take care of his wounds, took him to get help, paid money for care to help him get better, etc.)

What is compassion? (An awareness of someone’s suffering with a desire to try to help him or her; feeling someone else’s pain and doing something about it; etc.)

The Good Samaritan showed compassion to the wounded man. First, he noticed that the robbed man was hurt and desperately in need. Second, he did something about it.

The first part of compassion is recognizing when others are hurting or need something.

The second part is being willing to do what you can to help them.

Brainstorm ways your family can show compassion. (A good way to jumpstart the conversation is to ask what they would like someone to do for them when they are __________ (lonely, sad, too busy, afraid, tired, hungry, disappointed, hurt, etc.)

Showing compassion can be as simple as giving someone a smile. There are big and small ways to show compassion, but all are meaningful to the one in need of care.

Every time you see someone in your family showing compassion (kindness), make a big deal of it and give them a “Good Samaritan” badge (a Band-Aid).

***If you have older kids, (who might not “appreciate” a Band-Aid), give verbal praise—a powerful motivator to encourage compassion showing.

 

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*Devotional content taken from D6 Family Splink! Conversation Starters.

I love Spring!!!

I hope you are all enjoying the GLORIOUS weather that God has given us!  I know that we are.  :)

Here's another fun activity for you to do with your family, brought to you from D6 Splink!

Go to the grocery store and let each child pick out their favorite fruit. As you share it, talk about what that fruit needed to grow. (If you have older kids, you may ask them to find out something that others may not know about their fruit.)

For example: A pineapple plant starts from the pineapple itself (from the leafy top). Once the pineapple head takes root, it will take two to three years to bear fruit and it grows to be almost 4 feet high by 4 feet wide. Once it is matured, a large flower will grow in the middle of the plant and eventually be replaced by a pineapple itself. Once the pineapple is harvested, a new fruit will grow in its place the following year. That is a lot of work for one pineapple.

What does a plant need to grow fruit? (Good soil, water, sunlight, right temperature, etc.)

Growing fruit is a slow process (usually). When we plant the seed of God’s Word in our minds, it will produce fruit—not the kind we can eat, but good

qualities and actions.

Read Galatians 5:22-23 aloud.

What are some of the fruit the Holy Spirit will produce in us? (Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, meekness, and self-control)

The more we read and obey the Bible, the more we will see good things—fruit- in our life.

 

Happy Wednesday, Friends!

 

*Devotion and activity taken from D6 Splink! Conversation Starters.

Welcome Spring! A Family Activity: Planted in Good Soil

Planted in Good Soil

Items needed: Packet of seeds; Flowerpots or starter pots; Soil

Plant some seeds (that can later be transplanted into your garden or yard) as a way to talk about how the different kinds of soils (hearts) received the seed (the Word).

Some questions to ask:

Does it matter where the seed is planted?

What might happen to the seed if the ground is hard or rocky or filled with thorns?

Why is important for the seed to be planted in good soil?

Jesus said the Word of God is like a seed. Our hearts are the different types of soil. (If you want to refresh your memory about the different soils/hearts, read Mark 4:3-8; 14-20.)

How is the Bible like a seed? (The Bible has everything in it to make you grow into a strong Christian. 1 Peter 2:2)

The Bible is God’s truth and contains all we need to grow to be more like Jesus. It can help us learn how to get to heaven, to be a good friend, to forgive our enemies, and to grow in love and many other good qualities.

What things can keep God’s Word from helping us? (We don’t listen to it; we don’t do what it says; we don’t think about it; we are more concerned about other things; etc.)

Just as we must plant the seed in good soil, we must also pay attention to it. We must water it and give it sunlight. If we neglect the plant for too long, it will wither and die. We must pay attention to God’s Word. We must read it, think about it, do what it says…then it will produce good things in us.

 

Hi Friends!  I'm so excited that Spring has sprung!  I love when the time changes, our days are longer, the temperatures are perfect, the birds are singing, and we are spending time outside.  Here at RHCC, Spring is also a great time of renewal.  As we go through our Lent journey, I like to remind myself that we are constantly planting seeds.  In our kids, in our friends, in our homes.  There are many days where I don't feel adequate, or that I am "good enough" or that I am capable of growing my babies up right.  Then I remember...I am a seed planter.  There are always going to be days that it seems like I don't water my seeds enough, or they don't get enought Sonlight.  But as long as we are planting seeds, and tending to them as much as possible - they will take root and they will grow and flourish.  I pray that you know that too!

Many Smiles,

Elisabeth

 

*Devotional and Family Activity taken from D6 Splink Conversation Starters.

Movie # 1 "The Monuments Men" - Details, Table Talk Info HERE!

Here are the details for the first in the pre-Easter Series "Don't Give Up Movies for Lent!"

 

If you have any questions, please ask!

 

Theater Details

 

"The Monuments Men"

 

Wednesday, March 5

7:40 pm

Cinemark Cedar Park -- 1890 Ranch Shopping Center

 

you can buy your tickets ahead of time online if you want at either:

 

http://www.cinemark.com/theatre-detail.aspx?node_id=1710#3/5/2014

 

 or

 

http://www.fandango.com/themonumentsmen_161603/movietimes?location=78613&date=3%2f5%2f2014

 

 Table-Talk Afterwards

IHOP Restaurant (24 hours!)

800 E Whitestone Blvd, Cedar Park

 

menu at http://www.ihop.com/menus/main-menu

To Look at Before You Go

 

(1) Ephesians 2:10

 

For a look in several English translations, go to

 

http://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/Ephesians%202:10

 

 (2) Two historic pieces of Christian art that the movie highlights:

 

"Madonna" (sculpture,1505) by Michelangelo, Bruges Belgium, Church of Our Lady

https://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/belgium/bruges/michelangelo/madonna.html

 

"Adoration of the Mystic Lamb" (a.k.a. "The Ghent Altarpiece") (painting, 1432) Jan and Hubert van Eyck, Ghent, Belgium, St. Bavo Cathedral

https://www.getty.edu/foundation/initiatives/current/panelpaintings/panel_paintings_ghent.html

 

PLEASE RSVP IF YOU ARE GOING

LeadPastor@rhcc4.org

 

--
The Rev. Dr. Gary Olsen
Lead Pastor, Rolling Hills Community Church
see more at www.rhcc4.org

"Don't Give Up Movies for Lent" series 2014‏

Tonight is "Shrove Tuesday", and tomorrow is Ash Wednesday - or, the start of Lent.

Traditionally, the church has spent the weeks leading up to Easter to help people live the Christian life with new inspiration and commitment. They called it "Lent" from the word "lengthen," since it is the time of year that the sunlight of each day noticeably lengthens. This year, there is an unprecedented number of movie releases increasing the Son light coming from the movie projectors; let's go to see and support these movies for Lent!

Join us for a new take on your Lent journey.

All films are playing on Wednesday nights, and the films may all be showing at different places and times ... we will announce details each weekend before! Also, we will always go for a sip and/or a bite afterwards in order to talk about the movie. Just meet us, dutch-treat!

Join Joyce and Pastor Gary for an unprecedented feature-film filled Lent! If you decide to come, email us at LeadPastor@rhcc4.org so we know to look for you!  Also, please check out the BLOG for weekly updates on the movie time/location as well as some scriptural references to check out before the movie!  We are looking forward to experiencing this with you!!

Click on the links below to see the movie previews:

March 5 - "The Monuments Men"

http://www.monumentsmen.com/

March 12 - "Acts of God"

http://www.lifeway.com/n/product-family/acts-of-god

March 19 -"Son of God"

http://www.sonofgodmovie.com/videos-1.html

March 26 -"Veil of Tears"

http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Veil-of-Tears

April 2 -"God's Not Dead"

http://godsnotdeadthemovie.com/photosvideos

 April 9 -"Noah"

http://www.noahmovie.com/videos

 April 16 -"Heaven Is for Real"

http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/heavenisforreal/

P.S. Again, if you decide to come, email us at LeadPastor@rhcc4.org so we know to look for you! G.O.

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

We are having some CRAZY weather here in the Hill Country this past week.  Nothing like a snow ice day and 20 degree temps on Friday, 70+ degree weekend (thank you, Lord!), and now back to chilly temps on Monday.  What a roller coaster!

I hope you're all staying warm, and thought I'd share some fun recipes - with a "snowball" theme - for you to share with your family this week. In Sunday School and Treehouse, we are talking about acts of service and kindness.  This week, in particular, we focused on our ACTIONS.  Use this family time/recipe making to put our lesson into practice.  Make up a few extras and share with your friends, neighbors, or even a stranger!  This is a great way to show the love of God, through our ACTION of sharing food with someone else.  Maybe wrap up a few of the goodies, and attach a note that says "Happy Winter - Jesus loves you!!"

Pizza Puffballs

Ingredients:
2 cans Pillsbury Grands Buttermilk Biscuits
5oz. package pepperoni
3-4 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions:
1. Generously spray a muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray.
2. Cut each biscuit into fourths, and chop the pepperoni into small pieces.
3. Fill both your hands with pepperoni pieces, a sprinkling of cheese, and three biscuit pieces.  Pack the ingredients together (like making a snowball!) and place into one of the muffin tin openings.  Repeat this step until the entire pan is full.
4. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-17 minutes, or until golden brown.  Serve with pizza sauce for dipping.


Cake Batter Popcorn Balls

Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter
10oz. mini marshmallows
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup Funfetti cake mix
12 cups POPPED popcorn

Instructions:
1. Remove any unpopped kernels from the popcorn.
2. In a large pot on low heat, warm the butter, marshmallows, and salt until the butter and marshmallows are completely melted.  Stir occasionally.
3. Stir in the cake mix, little by little.
4. Remove the pot from the heat and pour in the popcorn.  Stir gently until its coated.
5. Spray your hands with nonstick cooking spray and form the popcorn mixture into balls.  Set them on wax paper to cool.

Bonus: Roll the popcorn balls in white sugar sprinkles to give them a glistening snowy look!

I hope you enjoy the recipes, and find a way to share with others!  Our actions are one of the best ways to share the love of God with everyone we meet!  Let me know if you try any of these recipes.  I can't wait - they sound super yummy. :)

Many Smiles, Elisabeth

Recipes courtesy of the Winter 2013 explorer's GUIDE from D6 Magazines.

Made Right With God

Here's a quick devotional for you, from Splink!:

 Read or tell the following story:

Andrea listened carefully as her mom explained, “You may play with this jewelry, but don’t touch the jewelry in this box.”

“Thank you, Mom!” Andrea excitedly said.

Every time Andrea’s friend, Sarah came over, they pulled out the jewelry and played dress-up. They imagined themselves in all different places going to parties and having fun. One day, Andrea was looking for something special to wear so she went into her mom’s room and borrowed a beautiful necklace from her mom’s jewelry box. Sarah oohed and aahed when Andrea put it on. What a fun time they had! When Sarah’s mom arrived to drive her home, they quickly changed out of their dress-up clothes. Andrea was hurrying and broke the clasp on her mother’s necklace.

Andrea hid the necklace under her bed and stayed in her room the rest of the day. She didn’t even want to see her mom. Mom noticed that Andrea was quiet at dinner, so she asked at bedtime, “Are you feeling okay?”

“Sure,” she answered without looking her in the face.

Why didn't Andrea want to see her mom? (Because she was guilty; because she disobeyed; etc.)

What does Andrea need to do to reconcile (be close to) her mom again? (She needs to confess, to tell her what she did, ask forgiveness, etc.)

Our sins separate us from God. How can we be close to Him? (Through Jesus’ death on the cross; through confessing our sin; etc.)

Jesus’ death reconciled (brought us close) to God.

 

 

I pray that you and your family has had a blessed week. 

As we've studied and  prayed on the topics of serving others and reconciliation,

I hope that you've been able to have some good conversation, and great family time. 

We are so, incredibly blessed that Jesus came for us. 

I am overwhelmed sometimes by His love, and even more by His grace. 

His grace is REAL.  We are forgiven.

Many Smiles,

Elisabeth

Serve It Up

 

For your Family Time this week, choose an act of service that you can do together - then do it! 

 

 

Be sure to comment and let us know how your family chose to serve this week.  We can be the hands and feet of Jesus through our love, kindness and service to others.  I can't wait to hear the stories of how you all have blessed others!

 

Many Smiles,

Elisabeth

 

Doing Our Own Thing

It's Devotional Time!

Doing Our Own Thing Pose the question to your kids: Why is it easier to sin than to do what is right? Because of Adam and Eve’s sin, we are all born with a desire to sin. From the time we were little, we wanted our own way. No one had to teach us to be selfish, lie, or disobey. It is easier to sin than to do what is right. We need Jesus’ help to bring us closer to God.   Subscribe to Splink! here.     From Externally Focused Life:     Look up and read the following Scriptures in a Bible:   Matthew 20:26-27 Romans 14:18 Galatians 5:13   What do you learn from these Scriptures?     Have an awesome week!  Come back tomorrow for your weekly family night activity suggestions!  And don't forget - Treehouse & Kids Choir now meet on Sunday evening, from 4:00-6:00pm in Fellowship Hall.  I hope to see some of you there. Many Smiles, Elisabeth

God Still Loves

Happy Wednesday Friends!   This week in Sunday School, we focused on Reconciliation in our D6 Curriculum, and the theme of "It's All About People" and serving others from our series "The Externally Focused Life".    Here are a few conversation starters for your family meal times, car rides, or just little chats you can have with your family, kids, and friends.  I hope you find these little bits helpful!    From Splink (D6 Curriculum):   January 12 - 18 Reconciliation

God Still Loves Read and act out the story of the first sin from Genesis 3:1-6, 22-23. Ask: Did God still love Adam and Eve after they sinned? Adam and Eve chose their own way instead of God’s way. God wanted to be close to them, but their sins separated them from God. Even though they sinned, God still loved them and promised to send His Son to take away their sin.   From Externally Focused Life:   "So be good servants and use your gifts to serve each other." (1 Peter 4:10)   Look up the word "serve" in the dictionary.  What does it mean? Make a list of some ways that you can love and serve others.

Family Fun!

So here's a fun activity for this weekend:

Make a toy water-balloon yo-yo!  Make several of these and deliver them to kids in your neighborhood.

Image & additional directions from: http://www.kiwicrate.com/projects/Water-Balloon-Yo-yo/2112

 You will need:
small balloons
puffy paint or markers
large rubber bands
water

First, decorate the balloons.  Then, cut the rubber bands in half.  Fill the balloons half full with water.  Parents and older kids can blow up the balloons to the size of a small ball.  Tie the balloons shut.  Tie one end of each rubber band around the knot of the balloon.  Tie a loop on the other end of the rubber band.  Place the loop around your finger and gently throw the balloon and watch it come back to you!

Have fun!!

And...coming up this Sunday in Roots Troop...we will learn that "it's about Jesus."  Jesus set an example for us.  Read how Jesus helped (Luke 7:36-50), healed (Matthew 15:30, 31), fed those who were hungry (John 6:1-14), served (John 13:1-17), and was a friend to others (John 15:12-17).

I can't wait to see all of you on Sunday morning!  

Have an AWESOME weekend with your family and friends!

Many Smiles,

Elisabeth

Activity and scripture suggestions taken from The Externally Focused Life.  Copyright 2009.  

LifeBridge Christian Church.  All rights reserved.

Family Night Activity: God made us and knows us.

Spend time together.
In this week's lesson, we focused on the fact that God made us and knows us.  He made each person special and God's picture, His puzzle, isn't complete without each of our pieces.  Dig out a puzzle from your closet, or buy or borrow a new one, and spend time putting the puzzle together.  As you work, talk about what makes your family special and how your family wouldn't be complete without each family member.

We love puzzles ~ My mom, aunt & son at Thanksgiving!

 

A puzzling way to reinforce scripture.
Another fun way to spend time together, continue on the path of our puzzle activity, AND reinforce our memory verse, is to create your own puzzle.  Find a piece of cardboard, or cardstock.  Write the memory verse and decorate the picture.  Then, have someone cut it all apart in different shapes.  (Make sure the pieces are large enough to handle, but small enough to create a challenge!)  If you'd like, you can even download a puzzle template, just print it out, decorate, then laminate before you cut!  It will last even longer. Once it's all cut up, put it back together again.  You could even repeat this each week and have a set of puzzles to help you remember key verses!

If you participate in any of our activity suggestions - let me know!  

Leave a comment, or post on our Facebook page.  

Or - just tell me how it all goes!

Many Smiles,

Elisabeth

Portions of this blog post were taken from The Externally Focused Life.  Copyright 2009.  
LifeBridge Christian Church.  All rights reserved.

It's About God!

Hi everyone!

First of all, thank you for sharing your children with us at Rolling Hills!  We are blessed to be a small part of their spiritual formation, and absolutely love to see their sweet faces each week.  Over the next several weeks, we will be lining up our Sunday School and Treehouse curriculum with Pastor Gary's sermon series based on the book by Rick Rusaw and Eric Swanson, The Externally Focused Life from Group Publishing.  Each week while you are hearing the lessons taught during the Sermon, your kids will be hearing a similar message - participating in worship, Bible learning, crafts and activities that center around the fact that God gave us life to serve Him and others!

Image from www.group.com.

Yesterday, we learned that "it's about God" as we studied the life of Joseph - in Genesis.  Just as God had plans for Joseph, God has plans for each of us; and we need to allow ourselves to be a part of His story.  In order to do that, we need to be in a relationship with Him.  The kids decorated a blank canvas (with only the outline of a person), to reflect themselves.  We saw how we each look different - because God created us all to be unique and different.  How special!  We also colored pictures of Joseph and his AMAZING multi-colored coat.  The kids has fun doing this while hearing the story told. Be sure to ask your kids about the story - and what they remember about it.

This week, at home, here are some suggestions for you to engage your kiddo's in conversation:

Review the Bible Memory Verse for this week:  Ephesians 2:10

"God has made us what we are."

Ask these questions:

• Who made us and knows all about us?
• In what ways is each of us the same?
• In what ways is each of us different?
• What good things can we do for others?
• What good things can we do for each other?
• Make a list of some of the good things that you can do as a family to help others, and do them!

I challenged the kids, in class, to do at least one good thing each day - ask them what they've done today?  Or, maybe you've witnessed them doing something good - remind them of their actions, and encourage them to keep up the good work!

Image from http://www.jeremiandamyrichardson.com.

I hope you all have an AWESOME week - and stay warm!  It's cold out there. 

Check back on Wednesday & Friday for some fun 

family activities that will help reinforce these ideas!

Many Smiles,

Elisabeth

Study Questions and Devotional taken from Group Publishing, The Externally Focused Life - Children's Edition Study Guide - copyright 2009.  

LifeBridge Christian Church.  All Rights Reserved.

Family Night Activity: The Greatest Exchange

The Greatest Exchange

Items Needed: nice gift that your kids might want (or a $5 bill); box of junk—smelly trash, broken toys, dirty rag or sock, empty cartons or cans

Share an object lesson to talk about the great exchange—our sin for Jesus’ righteousness.

Invite one child to receive the box of junk and ask him or her to open it. 

This box represents us and the wrong things we do. The Bible even says that the GOOD deeds we do are like filthy, dirty rags compared to God’s righteousness. (Isaiah 64:6)

What are some wrong things kids do? (lying, stealing, disobeying, etc.)

Ask the child, “Would you like to trade that box for this box (with the nice gift or money)?” 

If he/she says yes, make the exchange.

Jesus wants to make a much GREATER exchange with us. We can exchange our sin for His righteousness. When God sees us, He sees not our sinfulness, but Jesus’ completely pure, clean, holy, righteousness! What a great exchange!

Celebrate New Year's Eve - Make Family Memories

A New Year

 

Happy (almost) New Year!  Holidays give us a great opportunity to have family moments together - where we can create traditions and build memories to last a lifetime.  This week, in Sunday School, we talked about ways that some people celebrate New Year's.  We even discussed the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah), and ways that they celebrate!  (Side Note: we taught the kids the Hebrew phrase "L'shanah tovah" which translates to "for a good year" - so don't be surprised to hear them speaking Hebrew!)

 In my family, we stay home, invite friends over, and have a "Pancakes & Pajamas" party!  Everyone wears their PJ's, we eat pancakes, bacon, cinnamon rolls and drink OJ and coffee!  We play games, do activities, watch the ball drop on TV, and have a relaxing and fun evening together.  

Items Needed: party horns, blowers, special foods, etc. to celebrate the new year’s arrival; Board game or other family activity.

Idea #1: Play a favorite board game to see who will be the reigning champion for the year. Record the name of the champ on the lid of the box. (Repeat every New Year’s Eve to see who gets to claim bragging rights all year.)

Idea #2: Have each family member and party guest fill out a New Year's "interview" of sorts.  List high's and low's of 2013, and list what you're looking forward to in 2014.  Write down the kids' favorites: food, color, movie, song, etc.  Save the interviews in a special folder, binder or box.  Get them out each year and reflect on the past years accomplishments and stats!

Since we are beginning a new year, invite each family member (including mom and dad) to share something they would like to stop doing OR something they would like to start doing better.

Pray and ask God to help each one (it is only with His help that we could ever hope to live godly).

Happy 2014!  

I pray that you and your families have a super awesome, 

joyful, fun, successful, full-of-laughter and faith filled year!

Many Smiles,

Elisabeth

Who Do You Look Like?

Get out the baby books and/or pictures and look at them. (If your child is adopted, talk about the day he/she was accepted into your family.) Talk about how family members look like other family members—not just physical characteristics, but other characteristics as well. (Janie is friendly like Aunt Sarah; Joey is a hard worker like Grandpa.)

The gift for this week is acceptance.

Yesterday, in Sunday School, we touched on Acceptance.  We had some awesome Praise and Worship time with the band, 'You Said My Name', leading our kiddo's in a live music class.  Shout out to Teresa, Kenny and Amy for their awesome witness through music.  It was so perfect, I thought, as we observed several of the kids being very shy and reserved in their singing and willingness to participate with hand movements, etc.  It made me think about how easy it is for us be shy or worry what people think if we're singing out loud, dancing and being silly in public.  So much of the time we hold back because we are worried that we might look dumb or that we aren't a good singer or a good dancer.  

Teresa shared her story of overcoming shyness - how she used to never be able to sing/play in public.  She was too afraid.  And now she's singing with a band for audience of all ages!  She told us how once she was able to let go and realize that her praise and worship was all for God's Glory - for nobody else - just for Him...how she now can rock out all day long!  PRAISE BE TO GOD!  By the end of class, all of the kids were singing and dancing.  We stopped worrying about what others might think about our song and dance, and realized that as long as we are accepted by God, then don't have to be afraid.

When God accepts us into His family (not because we are so good, because we are all sinners and have broken God’s commandments/rules), it is because of what Jesus did. God makes us right because of Jesus’ death on the cross. Then He gives us the Holy Spirit to live inside us to help us do what is right. He will slowly change us to look more and more like our heavenly Father.