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Hello everyone!

We are having a really great time in SPARKS on Wednesdays! The kids are awesome!!!

This Sunday, our Kindergartners through 2nd graders will be singing during the 11:00 Worship Service... March 15.  A few of the kids have solos... so PLEASE be sure to come and support them. If your child tells you they don't like to sing... don't believe them. Miss Cindy has them all singing every time... and they really do enjoy it and have such sweet voices!! :) Please have the kids in the sanctuary at 10:45am to run through the song with Ms. Cindy. I believe Cindy will be sending you the words to the songs... so you can review them with your child.
 
Every week, the kids enjoy being with one another and playing with each other either on the playground with Little Tykes cars racing down the hill or basketball... to the pool and foosball tables... to playing chess, legos or doing homework together. Snacks are always a hit during our Free Time!! Very special thanks to Spin and Warner Sellers' grandmother, Linda Sellers, for providing us with delicious homemade goodies every week!

What we are learning in SPARKS ...
The stories of Jesus' last week on earth are some of the foundational stories of our Christian faith. It is hard to imagine that so much happened in one short week. But for the next few weeks the kids will hear the pivotal stories of the time we call Holy Week - Jesus and his friends come to Jerusalem for the Passover (Palm Sunday), Jesus celebrates the Passover with his friends (the Last Supper), Jesus is arrested in the garden of Gethsemane, Peter denies even knowing Jesus, Jesus is tried and crucified, God raises Jesus from the dead (Easter).

This week, we began with the event that set all the other events into motion - Jesus coming to Jerusalem for the Passover. [Palm Sunday does not actually occur until April 5, and we began with that story and will experience the others in chronological order. We will have a celebration on that day... waving of the palms in a processional on Palm Sunday during worship.] Up until this point, Jesus has remained discreetly outside the city of Jerusalem. He knew that to confront the Jewish religious leaders on their own turf would cause trouble and it did. But it was trouble that God had already foreseen and was necessary for God's promise to be fulfilled.

The stories of Easter are much harder to tell than the stories of Christmas or the life of Jesus. They involve deceit, betrayal, cowardice, greed, and other not-so-admirable character traits. But to hear the stories helps the children understand the great gift that God gave to us through Jesus Christ. We begin with a celebration of Jesus as the promised Messiah, the one that God sent to save the people. Hosanna! Blessed is the one!

Kit Dulin leads our children in our SPARKS CHAT. She shares the week's Bible story and talks about how we can apply it to our lives. Thanks, Kit, for your continued love and witness to the children.

Other learning opportunities ...
These lessons are first introduced in our Sunday School program on Sunday mornings from 9:45-10:45 in grade level classrooms. Hands on activities help to reinforce the Bible story along with our wonderful teachers! If you are not attending Sunday School, please consider coming during these weeks leading up to Easter! I can also recommend some wonderful classes for adults... we have 10 to choose from!

Wednesday night, following our family night dinner, is also a time for some learning opportunities. If you would like more information on any of the offerings at this time, please let me know, or you can email Sally Campbell-Evans at sally@saintpaulsumc.org.

Children's Art Auction ...
Beginning on April 5 - 8, the kids' art projects will be on display in Sanders Hall. Our United Methodist Women's group has organized an Art Auction to help raise funds for the annual Women's Retreat. In SPARKS ART, Peggy Benton has been working with the kids on clay faces... that you will surely want to purchase for your home. I hope you will come on April 5 (Palm Sunday) and purchase the art your child has prepared for this event. If you have any questions, please contact Wendi Waltz at 383-8191.

SPARKS Musical Production ... April 19 ... Pirates of the "I Don't Care"-ibbean
The SPARKS kids are preparing for their musical, and they need to be listening to their CD at home. Of course, if you didn't receive one, please let me or Cindy know, and we will get you a copy. It helps them learn the lyrics. Please encourage them to do this as often as possible... the car is a great place too! If you have any questions about the Musical... please contact Cindy Stockstill at CStockst@maclay.org .

Summer is coming ...
Our Vacation BIble School week will be held on June 15-21. Camp E.D.G.E.... Experience + Discover God Everywhere!! I hope you will register your children and encourage their friends to join us as well.

Extreme Explorers Week is for rising 3rd -6th graders! The date is still being set... but you will be the first to know those dates!

Watch for the SUMMER SPARKS NEWS... coming soon!

Have a great weekend everyone and see you Sunday!

Jill Merryday
Director of Children's Ministries
Saint Paul's United Methodist Church