Especially KidZone

KidZone is fun. Fun. Fun. Lots of work, but fun. This week we built Elijah’s altar. The short (very short) story is this: Elijah and the followers of a false god enter a contest to see whose God is real. They both construct altars, put on wood, add a sacrifice, then pray for fire. Of course, the false god doesn’t deliver but Elijah’s God sends fire that not only consumes the sacrifice but also the rocks of the altar and the water Elijah had poured over it and even the wet soil. Okay, with that bit of Bible story behind us, here’s what we did – in pictures.

I told the story -- again (told it last week, also)

Then we built an altar -- in a long storage container with a gravel base. The altar was fist-sized rocks and the boys needed a little help placing them.

Two of the kids added sticks. Another added the sacrifice -- a big, yummy, mouth watering chocolate bar! Well, we couldn't kill a cow! After that a boy added water like the Bible says -- actually three times. Now we're ready to pray down fire from heaven!

But, alas, a fireman rushed in and sprayed everything with a fire extinguisher because, as he said, fire was too dangerous in a room full of children. I know he was a real fireman but I'm not too sure about his extinguisher. It looked a lot like a can of whip cream with red paper wrapped around it. Hummmm. Maybe this was a setup?

Well, whatever it was, the kids loved it. After this, they made cupcakes into altars with candy rocks and strips of red licorice as fire. Then games. Some music woven in there. Fun. (but they learn about the Bible and Bible principles during all this fun stuff).

Our leadership planning retreat went really well. Trevor did a good job planning and leading. Friday evening he had us make an eco-map telling our own stories. This built a good sense of community. Saturday we tied this into the story of our church. Which then led to what we want our story to be in the future – what would we like our church to do (become) and how do we get there. Some good ideas and mini-plans. We have more to do, but that can be done by pastoral staff with approval of the leadership.

Sunday was different. Trevor and I decided to have a worship time with no singing – just a lot of “here’s the good things the Lord is doing.” We didn't have a pianist. She quit -- long story. Our usual song leader is gone -- another long story. Would you like to move Lebanon and be our worship leader? The morning went quite well I think. I closed with a very short meditation from Psalm 103 on the “benefits” of the Lord.

So be blessed. The Lord is good.