CCC Gainesville | Blog
Tomorrow we are looking at PPK: Peace, Patience, Kindness. I’ll use this as an example of cultivating patience.
In his book Tell It Slant, author Eugene Peterson uses the short parable in Luke 13:6-9—a parable about manure, of all things—to talk about our need to practice resurrection in everyday life. In the parable, a man has a fig tree in his vineyard that doesn’t yield any fruit. Frustrated, he says to the man who takes care of the vineyard that after three years, it’s time to cut the thing down. But the caretaker replies, “Leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.” Peterson reflects on how this parable challenges us as believers—a challenge worth hearing at Easter, when we celebrate the power of resurrection. He writes:
Instead of goading us into action, [Jesus’ Manure Story] takes us out of action. We have just come across something that offends us, some person who is useless to us or the kingdom of God, “taking up the ground,” and we lose patience and either physically or verbally get rid of him or her. “Chop him down! Chop her down! Chop it down.” We solve kingdom problems by amputation.
Internationally and historically, killing is the predominant method of choice to make the world a better place. It is the easiest, quickest, and most efficient way by far to clear the ground for someone or something with more promise. The Manure Story interrupts our noisy, aggressive problem-solving mission. In a quiet voice the parable says, “Hold on, not so fast. Wait a minute. Give me some more time. Let me put some manure on this tree.” Manure?
Manure is not a quick fix. It has no immediate results—it is going to take a long time to see if it makes any difference. If it’s results that we are after, chopping down a tree is just the thing: we clear the ground and make it ready for a fresh start. We love beginning: birthing a baby, christening a ship, the first day on a new job, starting a war. But spreading manure carries none of that exhilaration. It is not dramatic work, not glamorous work, not work that gets anyone’s admiring attention. Manure is a slow solution. Still, when it comes to doing something about what is wrong in the world, Jesus is known for his fondness for the minute, the invisible, the quiet, the slow—yeast, salt, seeds, light. And manure.
Manure does not rank high in the world’s economies. It is refuse. Garbage. We organize efficient and sometimes elaborate systems to collect it, haul it away, get it out of sight and smell. But the observant and wise know that this apparently dead and despised waste is teeming with life—enzymes, numerous microorganisms. It’s the stuff of resurrection.
Lord, I have heard of your fame;
I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord.
Renew them in our day,
in our time make them known;
in wrath remember mercy.
–Habakkuk 3:2
Tomorrow I’ll introduce this verse that I’d like everyone above the age of 4 to memorize. We’ll seek to learn & pray it together in the language of the 1984 New International Version (NIV84)
Hello, church family! VBS is coming soon! If you wish to register your children, please click here (or on the graphic above).
If you don’t have a child participating in VBS we still need you! As part of our service projects for the week there will be several items that we will need donated. Check the foyer on Sunday, June 24 for a list of the items we will need and how you can help.
And, as always, we covet your prayers for our teachers and for the children who will attend!
Dear Parents,
Well we are two weeks into our new Summer schedule. I hope your family is adjusting and finding our efforts to make a smooth transition into the new schedule helpful.
I wanted to send out a quick note about the Summer curriculum so you know what your kids are getting this Summer. We are using a new curriculum from Faith Alive, a reformed publishing company. It is solid Christ centered lessons, packed with fun activities and crafts. Last week the kids in the older classes got to do a science project and watch water filter, everyone planted flowers, and saw how big our God is through his complex, imaginative and beautiful creation.
Another reason I would encourage you to take advantage of our Summer classes for kids is that all of this learning about our great God is done within carefully arranged classes that encourages community growth. Each week your kids get to fellowship with their friends in a fun and creative environment. We hope that your family is able to take seriously worshiping together during one service and then you and your children are able to enjoy fellowship and education during another. Because of the 15 minutes between the two services, fellowship for both you and your children is designed to take place in the classrooms. I love seeing my friends at church and meeting new people, kids do to. Our education times are a very important part of your child’s church experience. This is the time when they develop relationships with kids their age, friendships made at church are vital to a child’s understanding of how the body of Christ functions. We have put a lot of time into arranging our class rooms so that not only are they learning about God but they are also experiencing his love through caring teachers and peer friendships.
If you have not been able to take part in both hours, worshiping and education, I want to encourage you to give it a try. Worshiping and education are meant to support each other, and thus your experience and your child’s will flourish much more when the two are combined.
So What Are My Kids Learning Anyways?
Toddlers will be traveling to Creation Station on the Creation Train all Summer. Each week they will walk through each day of creation, we will talk about Adam and Eve’s “big mistake and the slippery snake” and end with God’s Big Story–his plan to rescue his people and his never stopping always and forever love for us.
June Memory Verse
Psalm 89:11 You made the world and everything in it!
July Memory Verse
Genesis 1:31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.
August Memory Verse
Psalm 126:3 The Lord has done great things for us, we are glad!
Preschool-4th Grade
June 17th Fins, Fur and Feathers. Scripture: Genesis 1:20-25
June 24th Large and In Charge! Scripture: Genesis 1:1, 26-31; 2:7-9, 15-25
July 1st Small Snake, Big Mistake. Scripture: Genesis 3
Creation Celebration memory verse: Psalm 148:1-4
July 8th God’s Family Grows. Scripture: Acts 2:1-12, 41
July 15th Life in God’s Family. Scripture: Acts 2:42-47
July 22nd Being a Working Family. Scripture: Acts 3:1-10; 5:12-16
July 29th Being a Caring Family. Scripture: Acts 9:32-42
August 5th Being a Welcoming Family. Scripture: Acts 10
August 12th Being a Global Family. Scripture:
God’s Family in ACTion memory verse: Colossians 3:16-17
Calling children of all ages!
This Summer our children are studying two different topics, Creation Celebration and God’s Family in ACTion. Right now we are two weeks into learning about God’s wonderful creation during the second service hour. We are using a delightful and imaginative curriculum that really helps open our eyes to how big God’s world is, how complex and beautiful he made it. For the second part of the Summer we are walking through the book of Acts learning how the body of Christ works together to show God’s redemptive story to their community and the world.
Your kids have two memory verses this Summer
Preschoolers and Kindergarten are learning Psalm 148:1 Praise the Lord! Praise him from the heavens, praise him from the heights!
First-4th are learning Psalm 148:1-4 Praise the Lord! Praise him from the heavens, praise him from the heights above! Praise him, all his angels. Praise him, all his heavenly hosts! Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created.
The second set of verses are:
Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the father through him.
Colossians 3:16-17 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another with all wisdom; and with all gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the father through him.
The Summer Photo Project
Going with our two themes, creation and the church family, we are hosting a Summer photography project for your kids to participate in. We want your kids to submit pictures in the context of where they see God in: creation, their family and their church/community.
These must be submitted by August 5th for display in the art gallery.
They may be submitted by email to hollibest@gmail.com
Children may submit more than one photo. They may submit a collection of photos from each category (I see God in: Creation, My Family, My Church or Community).
This is open to children of all ages.
Drop us an email if you have any questions.
