Filed under: The Orchard
Parents…here are some tips to help your child get the most out of their time spent in one of our Orchard Kid’s Sunday morning environments:
1. Communicate – Introduce yourself…we’re partners in your child’s faith development! Share important information – allergies, learning disabilities, changes in home life, etc.
2. Be on time – Help teachers by arriving on time and making a restroom stop before you drop your kids off for class.
3. Follow Through – Ask your child about their take home elements. Continue your child’s learning process by using their “Small Talk” or “Fridge Door” weekly take home paper.
4. Get involved – Let a teacher know if you can help out in the class when needed! The number of kids seems to multiply faster than volunteers :).
Posted by Kathryn Egly
Filed under: The Orchard
RE:PLENISH Thoughts on Grace – Mark Miller
Sunday 06.24.07
Setlist:
Marvelous Light – Charlie Hall
I Am Free – Desperation Band
Hallelujah – Hillsong United
Grace – U2
Your Grace is Enough – Chris Tomlin
Guest Speaker Mark Miller shared stories from his life, helping us to better understand the true meaning of grace. We are to recycle it, because the more we give it, the more we need it, and the more God gives us.
Posted by Mike Jones
Filed under: The Orchard
This is Dan Andersen – hard at work doing some heavy duty video editing. Dan is our video team leader @ The Orchard and you don’t EVEN want to know what this guy has been up to these past couple of days.
Just wait until this weekend. My oh my…….
Posted by Scott Hodge
I’ve been receiving some encouraging emails from our student team who is down in Birmingham, Alabama doing missions work. It certainly sounds like THEIR lives are being just as impacted as the people’s lives who they are there to reach out to! Isn’t that how it usually works? Here are a couple of reports:
This whole trip has been very humbling altogether. I always knew that I could be a missionary here in my home town and everything because that’s what everyone always tells me but somewhere in my heart i always thought that, you know, going to another country was better though because they need more help than we do here. I have found how completely wrong I have been in that thinking. People need just as much help here as they do in Africa or Panama or something like that. It might be more “popular” to go to exotic places and help them out there, but after seeing the reality of poverty and hurt in my own country, I have seen how easily it has been overlooked.
The most awesome part of this mission trip though was last night. You see, there has been this drought in Alabama for the longest time. Last night we were all debriefing and were all so connected to eachother and God. I could totally feel God’s presence. Well I mean I know he’s always there but I could really tell that he was touching every single person’s heart. Everyone was still shocked at their day and amazed at the work God is doing and all of sudden… it started pouring. Immediately I thought of the Michael W. Smith song Healing Rain. Healing Rain really is falling down. The work Tracy is doing down here. The things we are doing with these kids. The connections we are making with each other… it’s all healing rain. Falling down on Birmingham and soothing the hurt and the pain that poverty is bringing them. I love and miss you all, my Orchard family.
Thank you for keeping our students in your thoughts and prayers. I’ll share more updates as they show up!
Posted by Scott Hodge
Filed under: The Orchard
Sacred Roots: Eucharist – Scott Hodge
Sunday 06.17.07
Setlist:
Worship You Forever – Todd Fields
Love The Lord – Lincoln Brewster
Another Hallelujah – Lincoln Brewster
Beautiful The Blood – Steve Fee
Communion, the Lord’s Supper, the Eucharist. “Do this in remembrance of me…” Jesus has called us to be living Eucharists.
Remember. Reflect. Proclaim.
If you missed it, check out the podcast.
Posted by Mike Jones
Filed under: The Orchard
We have 18 students and adults in Birmingham, AL this week. Please be praying for them:
- For their safety, while they are there and on their journey home.
- For their effectiveness in reaching out to the community there.
- For God to do big things in the hearts and lives of those they are trying to reach and connect with.
- For God to do big things in the hearts and lives of our students who are there.
This team returns on Friday.
Posted by Mike Jones
Filed under: The Orchard
We just wrapped up our first year of small groups for kids. Though the small group leaders and I were paving uncharted territory – we feel that it was a GREAT, successful year!
From September through May the children’s service had two parts:
1. Large Group – where the kids worship and hear the Bible Story, and
2. Small Groups – where the kids are grouped by grade and gender.
We asked the kids to fill out feedback cards and here are their top four favorite things about small group:
- Meeting new friends
- Being with friends
- Doing fun activities together
- Their small group leader
As I observed small group time over the last nine months, here are some of my favorite things:
- Watching the kids build relationships with each other.
- Observing a great connection between the kids and their Small Group Leader.
- Hearing the kids talk about what they were learning and how it applies to their lives.
- Watching the groups pray together.
I am so thankful for the group of outstanding adults and teens who dedicated their time every Sunday (or every other Sunday) to invest in the lives of kids!!!! Thank you for the impact you’ve made!!
Posted by Kathryn Egly
Filed under: The Orchard
Sacred Roots: Water Baptism – Scott Hodge
Sunday 06.10.07
Setlist:
Vertigo – U2 (pre-service)
Let God Arise – Chris Tomlin
Salvation is Here – Hillsong United
Moving Forward – Hoobastank *****
I Stand Amazed (How Marvelous) – Passion Band
Have you taken this next step in your journey? Have you made a public declaration of your internal commitment to Christ?
“I’ll take the first step of a million more. I’ll make mistakes I never made before, but at least I’m moving forward…”
Posted by Mike Jones
*****(Please use discretion when previewing or purchasing other songs by this artist as other songs on this album may contain inappropriate lyrical content.)
Filed under: The Orchard
Within hours of school being out you’ll probably hear the words: “MOM, I’M BORED!”
I remember saying them to MY mom soon after school was out.
Guess what, boredom is a GOOD thing, according to Kathy Hirsch-Pasek, co-author of Einstein never used flash cards: “If we want kids to be creative problem solvers, being bored is a gift in disguise . Boredom prompts a child to fill his time with creativity and exploration. It helps a child discover that problems don’t have instant solutions.”
Now, when you hear “I’m bored” … just smile and realize this is the perfect time for your child to use their gift of creativity!
Let your children come up with things to make, build, and create … a play to act out, a dance routine to choreograph, a model airplane to build, a scrapbook to construct, or a kickball game to organize? Enjoy the summer!!!!!
Posted by Kathryn Egly
Filed under: The Orchard
Sacred Roots: Creed – Scott Hodge
Sunday 06.03.07
Setlist:
Let the Praises Ring – Lincoln Brewster
Tell The World – Hillsong United
How Great Thou Art – Charlie Hall
Creed – Third Day
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord: Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell. The third day He arose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
Posted by Mike Jones
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