FAMILY EDUCATION NEWS
October 2019
Theme: Build Each Other Up
Verse: 1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”
Encouraging one another doesn’t sound so hard. A fist bump here, an “atta girl” there. A quick text to say “Hang in there, you can do this!” A hug when you see a friend in person.
Encouraging one another sounds pretty easy . . . until you realize it’s not.
What happens when she gets the opportunity that passed you by? What about when your co-worker gets the credit for a job well done that couldn’t have happened without you? When that mom in your moms’ group has everything already figured out? When it’s a weary looking shopper in the cereal aisle at the grocery? When it’s your spouse as you meet to unravel a financial mess you might attribute to their bookkeeping? When it’s another family member and you worry about embarrassing yourself or them?
Encouragement sounds simple, but if our own emotions get in the way, it can actually be rather difficult to “encourage one another and build each other up.” She doesn’t need me to tell her she’s doing a good job; she must know already. I don’t even know that lady — she’ll think I’m kooky. Don’t we want to be encouraged? Don’t we deserve to be built up by another?
We do. You do. But the Lord doesn’t give us a free pass to withhold encouragement because of jealousy or fear.
He does ask us to speak life into the hearts of the people in our lives no matter what, because that’s what He does for us.
I know it can be hard. I know that for many reasons, you may not always feel like building someone else up. Encouraging, uplifting words don’t always come naturally, and there can be a fear of those words — of our hearts — being rejected.
Anytime we put our hearts on the line, we take a leap of faith. But in the leaping, we allow the Lord to hold our hand.
Offer the encouraging word nearly spilling from your lips, held back only by fear. Grab the hand of God and let Him guide you — following His lead will never let you down. Encourage one another and build each other up — as simple, and sometimes as difficult, as that.
Who can you boldly encourage and build up this month?
(by Anna Rendell – Go to www.incourage.me to sign up to receive words of encouragement)
Thank you to the volunteers that are teaching and helping with Sunday school. Every year we have wonderful volunteers that take on the challenge of ministry to the kids. I feel that they are part of the reason our church is doing so well with Sunday school attendance. The volunteers go the extra mile to make sure the students’ faith is strengthened and to make the students feel loved by Jesus. I’m so proud of the high school students who are helping this year.
We welcomed our newest students to our P3 class this year on September 8th. They each received a wonderful kids’ bible with great bible stories and pictures. I encourage parents to read it to them every day.
Parents: Please sign and return the field trip/photo usage permission forms that are being sent home. The form is double-sided, so be sure to complete both sides. If you need the forms, there are extras in the wall cubes on the lower level.
The Third Grade students received the ESV Student Study Bible on September 15th, Bible Sunday. We celebrated this milestone event with cake and milk! All students in grades 3 on up: Remember to bring your bibles to class!
P4 Mission Project: P4 class will be collecting items for Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes.
- Find an average-sized shoebox. 2. Decide whether you will pack for a girl or boy and the age category. 3. Fill it with gifts…fun toys, school supplies, clothing outfit, hygiene items (no toothpaste, liquids or candy). 4. Pray for the child that will receive your gift. You can also include a personal note and photo. 5. Drop-off your shoebox, or items to include in a shoebox packed by the P4 class, by the end of October. National Collection Week is November 18th-25th, 2019. Check out the website for more information and ideas. https://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/
Confirmation students will be filling food packets for Feed My Starving Children on Saturday, October 5th, 2019. We will leave RLC at 7:15am and hand-pack meals for malnourished children from 8:00am – 10:00am. Permission slips have been given to the students.
The Sunday school will be having a service walk event on October 13th, 2019. This event will take place during their normally scheduled Sunday school class time and will consist of a walk around the area in support of Grace Place. Their mission is to provide Christian help and care for families. All Sunday school offerings in the month of October will be donated. For us to take your child off church grounds we will need your signed permission for our records. Please sign and return the form being sent home with students (or return the general field trip permission form).
Fourth Grade students will receive catechisms on October 27th at the 9:00 AM church service. Parents and students will be receiving information letters in the mail about this milestone event.
October is Pastor Appreciation month! Please take a moment to thank Pastor Steve for all that he does for our congregation. As their service project, the 2nd graders showed their appreciation to Pastor Steve on Sunday, September 29th.
Fifth graders will have first communion on Sunday, October 20th. Cake will be served in honor of this milestone event.
Enjoy the beautiful fall weather and scenery!
God’s Grace,
Christine Anderson, Family Education Director
507-858-5968 or [email protected]
You can now give to Rushford Lutheran Church by downloading the free app Give+. Simply download the app, create an account and make your tax free donation. It is that EASY!!
