Friday Focus

Last year the shoe boxes that our school collected were sent to needy children in the Philippines, China, Chile, Russia, Venezuela, Thailand, Mexico, and Nicaragua.

Operation Christmas Child Begins

This month our school is taking part in Operation Christmas Child. Last year over 5 million hurting children experienced the joy of Christmas as gift-filled shoe boxes were distributed in 94 countries affected by war, poverty, disease, and disaster. This was made possible by thousands of individuals, churches, and groups that prepared, collected, and processed shoe boxes.

This year our school will once again be a part of this worldwide project. This is how you can help:

First, pray. Pray for our children and their families as they work together to fill shoe boxes. Also pray for the children who will receive these shoe boxes. Prayer is the most valuable support you can give.

Second, we need your participation. By filling a shoe box with small gifts for delivery overseas, you will be making a difference in the life of a hurting child. Getting your church, business, or group involved is a great way to share god’s love with even more children.

I appreciate your partnership and look forward to working with you this year to share the true message of Christmas with children around the world. The shoe boxes need to be returned to school by Monday, November 14, 2005. We will take them to a nearby collection center.

This year our community will collect over 200 shoe boxes.

These boxes will reach children and families around the world with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Countless lives will be changed as a result of our generosity.

May God bless you!

More About Operation Christmas Child...

50’s Day!

Tuesday we'll have a school wide celebration for the 50th day of school.

Break out your poodle skirts, bobby socks, chiffon scarves, roll up your blue jeans, and slick back your hair or tease it up!

Our campus will be decorated with pink and black construction paper chains. During P.E. we'll play with hula hoops, jump ropes, and play hopscotch. We'll even have quite a few surprises that day!

At lunch time everyone will be treated to ice cream sundaes.

At the end of the day, the kids will also get to listen to some great 50's tunes.

Come and join us!

Music from the 50's...

Confidence Boosters

Are you the parent of a child who's glued to your lap at birthday parties? Do you often hear, "I can't do it!" or "I don't want to try it"? If so, you're probably concerned about your child's self-confidence. All kids need a boost at one time or another.

Happily, there are a few things you can do to help your child feel more capable and successful. Here are some suggestions.

Focus on the positive. Point out your child's accomplishments--no matter how small. "You poured milk on your cereal all by yourself!" Also, give lots of encouragement when she's not successful. Remind her that most things take practice, and she can try again another time. This will help her feel good about attempting new things.

Kids' choices count. Whenever possible, give your child the chance to make decisions. For instance, does he think Grandma would like a new sweater or plant for her windowsill? Asking for his opinion and taking his suggestions seriously will build his confidence.

Added responsibility. Meaningful chores teach responsibility and help make children feel great about helping. They can care for pets, pick up toys, dust, set the table, make beds, and water plants. It always helps to point out a job well done.

Remember: Playing with others can help your child feel more confident socially. And maybe then he'll hop off our lap and join the party.

Index to Articles for Parents...

Trunk N Treat

On Monday evening, October 31, families are invited to Trunk N Treat. This is a a safe alternative event for kids and adults alike.

We'll have face painting, pumpkin carving, games, lots of food, and sweets, of course. At the end of the evening kids will go from trunk to treat of everyone's car to get "goodies."

Join the fun by decorating your trunk, stock up on some "goodies" to give away and join us from 6:00 to 8:00 pm in the rear parking lot of 363 El Camino Real, South San Francisco, CA 94080.

Map to Trunk N Treat...

School Pictures

Friday, October 28, 8:30 am. Free Dress for Everyone.

Speaking of pictures, check out our CSI: San Francisco pictures online (link below).

Photos of CSI: San Francisco...

Soul Work Is Slow Work

We're spoiled to "instant" things. Instant messaging. Instant coffee. Instant photos. Instant rice. Instant access. Instant results. You get my drift, right? I'm as bad as most and worse than many about the desire for quick outcomes.

While I can defend the value of quick turnaround in many settings, I think it serves me poorly for the most part. It caters to my impatience. No, it serves to magnify my impatience. Not every destination can be reached by a shortcut.

Most of the people I know want to have a good reputation. But that can lead to the shortcut path of doing a good thing for the wrong reason. Doing it to get noticed. Being conspicuous with a gift for the sake of being honored. Building real character as the foundation for a good reputation is a slow thing that takes place over time and without calling attention to oneself. It can take an entire lifetime.

Schools and churches may be the worst offenders of all. We have been given important things to do in this world. We have a mission from Jesus Himself to tell everybody about the good news of God's love. For most churches, this seems to translate to filling up our church buildings and making a splash in our communities. So we get loud, bully our own members, and elbow our way into the consciousness of people who've made it clear they aren't that interested in what we are doing.

Both individual believers and whole communities of Christians seem to fall prey to the temptation. We try to get God's results with the devil's methods. We market to someone's felt needs. Manipulate him with a Christian version of ads that worked in the last political campaign. Manipulate her with guilt into joining a study group or attending a weekend retreat. Something fishy is going on here.

Authentic faith doesn't lend itself to slogans. Doesn't advance by mass marketing. Doesn't transform hearts and lives over a long weekend. Spiritual life is created through a personal relationship with God, nurtured in churches where people challenge and encourage one another, and brought to maturity through struggle and failure over time. There are no shortcuts. The growth of souls in love and faith, joy and peace, self-control and uprightness is slow work.

So be patient with yourself and others. Be skeptical of pat answers and shortcuts but open to struggle and questions. Don't get fixated on programs for your spiritual growth, but focus instead on caring about others and helping them.

Right where you are today is where God wants to start to build you into a person who will reflect His nature. He won't rush you. Be patient with yourself.

--Rubel Shelly