Should we separate our boys and girls?

This is a new experiment we are trying in our elementary grade Sunday school group. After growing weary of getting after our rowdy boys to sit quietly so everyone can listen to our lesson, we decided to try separating the two groups. We still sit together for worship in our adult service and we still have a large group talk for about 15 minutes. After that we go to separate classrooms where our young ladies will be engaged with crafts and activities that most interest them, and our boys do the same for them.

Here is what it looked like last Sunday (our very first try at this). We were fortunate to have our lesson topic be about how God created man and woman. One of our very best teachers Eric Moore brought this lesson and did a great job making the point that man and woman were created differently. Adam from dust and woman from Adam's rib. He went on to talk about how God spoke the earth, stars, pants and animals into existence. He "created" man and said His creation was "very good".

Following our lesson, our two male teachers (Eric and Lance) took the boys into their own classroom where we had old electronics and tools laid out. The boys go to take apart these items and look inside to see what made them work. It was fascinating to watch them engage with each other comparing the "guts" of their project. They came up with a secret hand shake and are working on a name for our boys group.

Our ladies went to their class where we let them work with beads, flowers, glitter, pompoms and hot glue to create a beautiful framed mirror for their bedrooms. The girls worked quietly and diligently with their craft. Bonding with one another as they shared about their week at school and the stuff going on in their lives. We encourage them to come up with a group name as well.

This trial morning left our teachers encouraged, the kids felt special and understood and as for me, it has inspired me to seek out other men and women in our church to be a guest visitor for our boys and girls. Next week we plan to have a police office from our congregation join us. We are discussing how God gives us free will to make decisions. Bad decisions and disobedience can lead to difficulties in our lives. Our office can bring that point home.

Until then, God Bless you and you go on your way.

Labor Day Weekend in the City Park

I thought it might be a good idea to post about what NSC church is doing this Labor Day. We identify ourselves as "missional". This means we intend to serve our community in a way that glorifies God and transforms lives. Since we don't like to miss opportunities to worship outside the walls of the church, we will be combining our services in to one BIG service and moving' it out to the Edmonds City Park. We will have great music, a relevant message from our Pastor Barry Crane (who is also a Naval Chaplain). He has been speaking on the Ten Commandments. This week he speaking on Coveting. I am bringing my air cannon and will be shooting out goodies for kids of all ages to catch. Following the service, we will be preparing a meal in the park for all in attendance. We are relying on the Lord to help us know how many to cook for.

It is a great privilege to be able to freely worship in our Nation. We look forward to an exciting morning with our church family and neighbors in Edmonds. We pray that all in attendance will experience the presence of God and feel the joy we have in Him. Also, we pray that seeds will be planted in the hearts of those who do not know Jesus as their savior. That the Spirit of God will draw them to Him.

¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said,“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

We tend to tell folks they need to come to our church. This week, we will do as Jesus commanded and GO out to them. What a privilege.