cm@trinity helping families grow in faith, obedience & joy

May 2019

May Baby Blessings!

Chloe Davis Siler Barrett David Fitzgerald Hine HHoonnoorriinngg tthhee LLeeoonnaarrddss Luke James McCreary Sunday, May 19 Aiden Michael Bailer 10:00am service Odunayo Deene Oshodi Reception immediately following

Jesus Is the Way to Heaven

Death is a tough topic, especially for assure them we’ll always be with Jesus in a place with no sadness or pain. As SAVE-THE-DATE children. It’s challenging to explain why people die and what happens kids grow older, we can let them know God & Me @Sea VBS to them after they die. Some kids Jesus is the only way to heaven—and have little experience with death, any teachings about different paths to July 1 – July 3 while others may have had their eternal life are false. Jesus says, “I am 9am-3pm world turned upside-down by a the way, the truth, and the life. No one loved one’s passing. can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Death is sin’s ultimate “sting,” but POWERSOURCE for Christians, Jesus has erased it. During life’s trials and challenges, PRAY TO JESUS: By rising from the grave, Jesus followers of Jesus can find comfort in “gives us victory over sin and death” the sure hope of heaven. Yet we don’t 1. Thank Jesus for dying on the (1 Corinthians 15:55-57). Jesus need to wait until we arrive there to cross and for rising from the promises to “prepare a place” for us experience Jesus’ presence and tomb to forgive and save us. in heaven, saying, “There is more peace! He promises to be with us than enough room in my Father’s “always” (Matthew 28:20)—a message 2. Ask Jesus to remind your family home” (John 14:2). that children and adults of all ages members of his love and his need to hear often. promise of heaven. The concepts of heaven, hell, and eternity are too abstract for younger Use the ideas on the next page to 3. Ask Jesus to help you tell others children to understand, but we can celebrate Jesus’ promise of heaven. about him—and about heaven.

GODQUEST GODQUEST Amazing! The Great Commission April 28 – May 29 Awesome! The children will learn about Jesus’ final instructions to His Auction disciples before he went up to heaven. Sat, June 1 For details, visit the Trinity website: www.Trinityny.org 4:30-6:00pm

We Have the Hope of Heaven

Until children are about 5 or 6, it’s best to talk about heaven as a place where they can live someday. Don’t try to explain the spiritual or abstract TEACHABLE aspects of heaven yet. As children grow, they’ll begin asking more MOMENTS questions—especially why people go to heaven or hell when they die. If you don’t have all the answers, be honest and research what the Bible says. Postcard Perfect Explain that Jesus wants everyone to live with him forever and remind kids that people’s actions don’t send them to heaven or hell. Believing in Jesus You’ll need a Bible, postcards or is the only way to heaven, and it’s his free gift to us. pictures from vacations, pencils, and A Special Place Say: When we’re 1:8-11. Ask: How hard was this blank card stock cut in postcard friends with Jesus, we’ll go to game? What do you think about shapes. Look through postcards heaven someday. The Bible says how Jesus disappeared in the together and discuss favorite vacation heaven is amazing. Have family clouds? Why do you think memories. members use modeling dough to Jesus returned to heaven? Say: create shapes of what they imagine Jesus is preparing a place for Say: These places are beautiful, but I heaven will be like. Say: Matthew us in heaven, but he’s still with know of an even better place. It has 6:20 says we’ll have treasures in us today, in our hearts. Jesus is streets of gold, no tears or pain, and heaven. John 14:2 says heaven never missing. no night. Ask: Do you know what this has rooms for many people. place is? Have you ever received a Revelation 19:1 says people in A Work of Heart On Memorial postcard from heaven? Say: No, me heaven shout praises to God. Day (or when there’s a death in neither. But someone who went Revelation 21:3-4 says God lives your family), make a reminder of there has given us a special gift! with us in heaven and wipes people who’ve gone to heaven. away our tears. There’s no more Decorate paper squares, listing Read aloud Acts 1:8-11. Say: When sadness or death in heaven. It’s one person or group (such as Jesus went back to heaven, he didn’t our forever home with God. soldiers) on each square. Tape send a postcard; he sent the Holy squares to form a remembrance Spirit. The Spirit helps us believe in Transformed When you see quilt. Say: When people die, we Jesus so we can go to heaven. butterflies, discuss their lifecycle miss them. The Bible tells us a and how that symbolizes our reason to not feel so sad. Read Hand out pencils and card stock. Say: rebirth in Jesus. Say: After a John 3:16. Say: If we believe in On one side of the postcard, write or caterpillar spins a cocoon, it Jesus, we’ll go to heaven. What draw a thank-you to Jesus for begins a new life as a beautiful do you think we’ll do there? sending the Holy Spirit. On the other butterfly. Someday we’ll die, but Pray, thanking God for people side, draw a picture of what you when we believe in Jesus, he who’ve already gone to heaven. think heaven is like. Close in prayer. gives us a beautiful new life in heaven. We’ll be happy and free Crown Jewels Make crowns out “For this is how God forever! Draw or make butterflies of construction paper and craft as reminders of new life in Jesus. loved the world: He gave gems. Read aloud Revelation 21:10-11, 18-23. Ask: Why do you his one and only Son, so Headed to Heaven Place a variety think heaven is filled with gold, that everyone who of small items on a tray. Say: Look precious gems, bright light, and at these items and try to believes in him will not no darkness? Read Revelation remember them all. Have family 2:10. Say: We’re children of perish but have eternal members close their eyes while Jesus the King; we’re his heirs. you remove one item. Then have life.” That means we’ll live in his them guess what’s missing. Play kingdom of heaven. —John 3:16 several rounds. Read aloud Acts

MEDIA MADNESS

CULTURE MOVIE MUSIC & TRENDS

Title: UglyDolls Artist: Halsey Dolls With Disabilities The 2019 Genre: Animated musical comedy Synopsis: Singer- Halsey line of Barbie dolls, out in June, Rating: Not yet rated rose to fame via Tumblr and has built a includes a doll with a prosthetic limb Cast: Emma Roberts, Kelly Clarkson, following for the past five years. Now and one with a wheelchair (plus a Nick Jonas, Janelle Monáe 24, Halsey has gone mainstream, often ramp for the Barbie Dream House). Synopsis: Free-spirited misfit dolls are appearing on TV and awards shows Mattel consulted a 13-year-old each searching for an ideal human and ever-present on kids’ playlists. Her disability activist and medical experts match. They leave UglyVille for the single “Without Me” was a chart-topper, for advice. Also debuting are dolls Institute of Perfection, where beauty and she’s working on her third . with “a new body type and braided and conformity are prized. Moxy, the Halsey’s lyrics and videos are often hair texture.” (disabilityscoop.com) group’s leader, helps the UglyDolls feel dark and sexually explicit, featuring good about being exactly who they violent imagery and alcohol use. Walk & Talk Therapy A new mode are—flaws and all. Our Take: Halsey has bipolar disorder of counseling is ideal for stroller- Our Take: As a kid-friendly parable, and advocates for suicide prevention, pushing parents. Some therapists this movie champions the value of which is admirable. She’s also vocal now offer “on the go” sessions, individuality. Parents can add a biblical about her bisexuality and struggles as walking alongside parents who either perspective, emphasizing that God a homeless teenager. The mature lack child-care or prefer to stay with makes us each different and special. content in her lyrics and videos isn’t a their kids. Counselors say people Encourage kids to be proud of their positive influence or appropriate for tend to open up more while walking unique traits and talents. kids. side by side, when eye contact isn’t required. Plus, exercise releases mood-boosting endorphins. (cnn.com) Games, Podcasts & Apps Candygrams Pants on Fire Kanopy Kids QUICK STATS This colorful anagram In this silly game show, To access the content board game for two to listeners become lie- available through this Sorry, Young Chefs Only 4% of four players involves detectors to decide which app, all you need is a moms say they want breakfast in bed luck and strategy. It’s of two “experts” is real. library card. The kids’ for Mother’s Day. Instead, make like a child-friendly On each episode, a child section is filled with a reservations! Almost 40% of moms Scrabble hybrid, with interviews two people to wide variety of animated prefer brunch at a restaurant. (Zagat) color-coding thrown into determine who knows books, educational the mix. Candygrams their stuff and whose videos, and TV series. Rats! In a survey, people who helps kids develop word pants are on fire from Parents should oversee owned rats when they were 17 or skills and can be played lying. The podcast, usage, though, making younger say they were happier with at different paces. It geared toward preteens, sure young users stay those pets than with others such as costs $24.99 and is teaches kids to be good only in the Kanopy Kids cats and dogs. (rightpet.com) designed for ages 7+. question-askers. section.

This page is designed to help educate parents and isn’t meant to endorse any movie, music, or product. Our prayer is that you’ll make informed decisions about what your children watch, read, listen to, and play.

May

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Pentecost

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 harp concert

at trinity

7pm free

19 20 21 22 23 24 25 THE LEONARD’S CELEBRATION 1 SERVICE 10AM

26 27 28 29 30 31

SAVE-THE-DATE God & Me @Sea VBS July 1 – July 3 9am-3pm