"Rules" for a New School Year

Is it really time for school to start?! Wow, where has this summer gone?! But here it is, ready or not - a new school year begins!
With a new school year, kids will all be learning new rules for their new classrooms. Teachers outline expectations - students learn the boundaries for the classroom.
So it's got me thinking about rules for our Messy Life within the Church. Jesus really only laid out one rule for our classroom - Love one another as I have loved you (see John's gospel for this one!). On Sunday in Messy Church, we'll be learning about that LOVE, that unfailing, ever-pursuing love that God has for us. All Jesus set before us is to love one another with that same kind of love. But what does that love look like in action?

Paul set out some pretty good thoughts on love within the Messy Life of the Church, both in 1 Corinthians 13 and in Romans 12. In honor of a new school year, here's a look at what Paul has to say about the "rules of our classroom" in our life together as a church (from Romans 12):

- Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of you minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God - what is good and acceptable and perfect
- Let Love be real.
- Hate what is evil.
- Hold strong to what's good
- Love one another
- Serve God with Gusto!
- Rejoice in hope
- Be patient, even when things don't go your way
- Pray. And pray some more
- Be generous
- Be kind, but not just to your friends - make sure you're kind especially to strangers

I don't know about you, but those are some pretty good classroom rules!

We at AUMC hope that you and your family have a wonderful first week of school. We are praying for a safe and fantastic school year for all our children, teachers, volunteers, and parents!

See you Sunday at Messy Church (Aug 24, 9:45 a.m., in the gym)!!

Messy Church: It's Not Just For Kids!

We all probably remember the commercials for Trix cereal with the white rabbit who is always trying to get some Trix? The rabbit comes oh so close, only to have a child say, "Silly rabbit! Trix are for kids!"

Poor rabbit. I'm not sure he ever did get any Trix.

One thing that's NOT just for kids - Messy Church! It's easy to walk into the gym during Messy Church and see activities that are simply "for the kids." Sure, there are parents to help, especially the little ones with the crafts. We have dads hanging out, holding on to all the finished projects (much like my dad holding all my mom's packages while she shops). But at it's heart, Messy Church is supposed to be as much for the adults as for the children! It's about growing TOGETHER, experiencing faith TOGETHER.Too often - especially it seems in churches! - we find ourselves separated by age groups. Youth go here. Children go here. Adults go someplace else. Even in worship, some churches divide up by age groups. The downside of all this age segregation? So much of faith development in children comes from them watching parents and other adults model faith. Kids learn from watching, from observing. And they learn from working alongside parents and other adults.

Messy Church is deliberately for families - for all ages.

Even more, the messages we try to get across to the kids with Messy Church? Messages like "God is bigger than any giant you face," "God is more powerful than anything you fear" - adults need to hear those words, too! Maybe even more than their kids!

Our next Messy Church is August 24. The theme this time is "God's Unfailing Love" and the main Scripture verse is Psalm 23:6. "Surely your mercy and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life!" While I was getting ready for Messy Church, I came across this quote from C.S. Lewis about God's unfailing love. It's more "adult language" but the point Lewis is trying to get across here is exactly what we hope to show our families at Messy Church:

God's love for us is not wearied and it is relentless in pursuit of each of us!

We hope to see you all at Messy Church on August 24, 9:45 am in the gym, as we explore this theme of God's Unfailing Love!