Friday, June 27, 2008

YMCA...

With apology in advance to Reggie McNeal and his book, The Present Future.

My wife and I are thinking about joining the local YMCA. It's a wonderful modern, clean, family-friendly place not far from our house. They have a pool, exercise equipment, and trained staff that can help us learn how to use all that great stuff to exercise and maybe lose a few unwanted pounds, tone up, and be healthier. Great idea- right?

How about if we went once a week and hung out in the equipment room for an hour or so. What if we watched the people using the equipment and maybe clapped a little when they finished a set with the Nautilus machine? What if we never got wet, but became great critics of the swimming styles of the people in the water? What if we never broke a sweat? Would we benefit?

That's the approach some people take to church. They spend a little time once a week hanging out with people who are exercising spiritual muscles and hope something rubs off on them. They watch from the sidelines and never actually get engaged. They never break a spiritual sweat and wonder why their spiritual muscles are flabby.

Hal Hunter
Ministry Pastor & Administrator

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Ways to worship with your life...

1) Love the unlovely (Leviticus 19:18)

2) Give God your firstfruits (Proverbs 3:9)

3) Pick up litter (1 Peter 4:10)

How many times do we pass the same crushed up Coke can that's been on the sidewalk a week? Trash pickup isn't listed as a specific spiritual gift per se, but perhaps lifting a hand to clean up the world around you is exactly what God is calling you to do.

Rick Painter
Worship Arts Pastor

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Something neat I want to share...

Something really great happened last night at our house. I was playing a game with my four year old granddaughter, Lilly. We were "talking to God" on the cell phone. Her eight year old sister, Savannah, was watching.

During the conversation, Savannah started telling me the Biblical story of Esther. She floored me! She knew the story, the names, the details, everything. She was able to tell the story better than I could!

I asked her, "How did you learn about Esther?" She looked at me and said simply, "In UpSteet."

You need to understand what happened here. The pastor's granddaughter didn't learn this Bible story as his knee- she learned it in the UpStreet environment. Dedicated people working with not only Savannah but with dozens of other kids communicated Biblical truth. A complicated story was presented in a way that made sense to an eight year old and made a lasting impression. She didn't memorize the story- she learned it. She learned it so well she could explain it to her granddad.

I am grateful that God has gifted our fellowship with people that have a heart for kids. I am grateful that my grandchildren learn from people who love kids and know how important they are to God. I am grateful that we are able to make a difference in the lives of not only my family but the lives of so many more families in our fellowship.

I am constantly amazed at the people God sends us. I am thankful, every day, for the gifts He has given our fellowship. Thank you to all the people who are working in our children's ministries.

Next time you wonder if what we do here at Argyle matters - think about these kids. It matters. It matters a lot.

Ken Dyal
Senior Pastor

Monday, June 09, 2008

SummerStuf Stuf...

We are adjusting to the new summer schedule here at TCAA and there is still some confusion in the Children's Ministry. I hope if you are a blogger/blog reader this will clear up some of the fog.

There are Children's Ministry small groups for both Amazing Place (babies - 4 year olds) and UpStreet (Kindergarten - 6th grade) at 10:00 during the Worship Service.

Our 6th graders have moved up into the student ministry but all of our other ages still meet in the classroom they were in during the school year. We will not move everyone else up into their new grade/classroom until the fall. So, if your child just finished 3rd grade, they are still in the 3rd grade room upstairs. If they turned 2, 3 or 4 on or before September 1st, 2007, they are still in the same classroom downstairs, etc. We are using the same classrooms and curriculum, rather than purchasing a separate curriculum for the summer months. Some of their leaders during the school year have taken a break and God has led some new leaders to serve during the summer! I know this makes the transition even a little crazier but they all have a background check along with a servants heart and attitude and I pray you will encourage your children to be patient and helpful as any new leaders, really all of us, become comfortable with our SummerStuf schedule and small group routines.

I pray for your continued patience and support as I am combining old and new, learning what works and what doesn't and being open to God's leading and will even though it continues to mean change and growth as much for me as for all of our leaders and children. I take very seriously the responsibility of our ministry to build a foundation for your children in God's Love and Word and to partner with you as parents to have another adult in your child's life that will say the same thing you would say in growing them into young men and young women for the Lord.

He is so good to provide and we are blessed with each leader, "veteran" and "rookie", student and adult!! As a parent and/or member, if you are led to serve or have any questions or comments please contact me at 777-1238 or at my email address amygieger@thechurchatargyle.org.

Amy Gieger
Children's Ministry Director