February 2010 Archives

You may see and hear this phrase over the next few weeks and months. In order to renovate and create secure nursery and toddler space and to expand preschool and elementary age space for Sunday School and subsequently our classrooms, there will be a capital campaign conducted at Schweitzer. Campaigns such as this are always challenging but can be a huge blessing when God-given generosity of spirit is unleashed.

We staff members that blog have been asked to discuss what giving means in our life, so (and this is a tough one for me) here goes.

I was raised in a home where a tithe, or giving 10% of our income to our home church, was never optional. It was just something you did. My parents did so faithfully and I never felt like it was a burden or obligation. Something unsaid (they never discussed financial details) let me know that their heart and attitude were right about this committment. I never got an inkling that they would do this begrudgingly. My parents were careful stewards of their money and possessions-possibly a bit more than "tight" with it and yet faithfully gave their offering every week.

I received good teaching on this discipline at home and remember Sunday School lessons on being not just a giver but a cheerful giver. I went into marriage with the intent of always at least giving the minimum of 10%. Well, life happens, marriages fail and debts must be paid and it isn't as easy as it was before when I did it out of habit. Perhaps now it means more to me than then. I didn't think much about it when it was just something I did.

Sacrificial giving is a whole new ball game. I freely admit that this is a slightly new paradigm for me. I am back in the learning and growing stages of this discipline again. I have yet to determine what the $ amount of my committment to this campaign will be, but for me it won't be a sacrificial offering given joyfully unless I excede the amount of a 10% tithe to do so.

Completely believing in the call of God to increase our available space to provide for all of the new children and families who are coming here to seek and serve God is compelling reason for me to give to this specific need. Seeing firsthand how crowded our children and youth programs are on Sundays and Wednesdays I feel it is more than money well spent-it is money invested in eternity. Children and youth must receive a sure foundation in faith if our world is to have any hope at all. More children come each week and we need to give them our best, not simply squeeze them in and hope for the best.

Knowing that the church wishes to eliminate current debt before building/renovating gives me great confidence in the leadership of this congregation. I cannot think of a more responsible plan for our church.

In the past Professor Hom from MSU and students in his department  conducted research here observing responses to simple activities with children. They of course obtained permission from a groups of parents within Grow To Know and had our full support. The original study recorded children's thoughts about social understanding. Activities included discussions about pictures of different facial expressions, predictions of feelings and outcomes. I just met with Professor Hom this morning as they desire to conduct another such study and compare results to their prior findings.

Whenever the school is going to participate in any community or college special event such as this parents receive a notice from the researchers outlining their project and seeking permission for children to participate or be observed. Children are not identified in the research by name and generally it is primarily statistical data that is generated.

If and when this research comes about you will receive a detailed letter and permission slip so that you may grant permission for your child to participate. It is not required that you allow your child to do so. We do like to partner with the high schools and colleges in the area to promote quality education and we feel that this is a benefit to our program on many levels. Please call me if you have questions.

There is an upcoming event that might be of interest to parents. The church will be forming small groups to study the book Think Orange by Reggie Joyner. It is about parental impact on the spiritual development of children. This study will begin April 11th. Watch for notices of when and where groups will be held and how to sign up during the month of March. www.schweitzerumc.org

Children are still most strongly impacted by their family rather than school or peers. Parents who wish to encourage their child's spiritual growth have more influence over them than the church. One hour of Sunday School and possibly VBS in the summer and some Wednesday night programs will not do the entire job of raising a child to be a devoted follower of Jesus. This study will explore the idea of parents as the primary Christian educators and church based spiritual development as a suplement to what happens at home.

Once again we are having weird Ozarks weather. Consult TV and radio closing lists if it gets extreme. We will update the answering machine message at 881-1447, ext. 117 and the bulletin board at extension 183.

(It could be that the church office may be closed but we are still open, so check our extensions not just the church answering machine message.)

In the event we have very few children we will limit which rooms open and combine classes. Usually we use the Green room first and expand as necessary into other rooms. The extension is 114 for the Green room.

If Springfield Schools are closed our morning academic classes in Burgundy, Raspberry and Blue rooms are closed.