Friday Focus

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas...

School Christmas Program

Invite your family and friends to our school's annual Christmas Program on Wednesday evening, December 14. The program will begin at 7:00 pm, although children need to be at school by 6:30 pm.

Students with assigned parts should dress appropriately for the part they are to play in he program. All other students in grades 1-8 can wear an appropriate Christmas costume or "church cloths." Kindergarten/Pre-first-the girls can dress in party dresses (like Clara in the Nutcracker) and the boys should wear dark pants and dark shirts... we'll have hats for the boys to wear!

The evening's program will contain musical selections performed by all grade-levels, including the first public performance of our school band.

In addition to a variety of musical selections, the performing arts department will also be presenting a skit entitled, "Away With the Manger." The evening will also include opportunities for the audience to participate in singing some favorite carols and holiday tunes.

Seating is limited in our Worship Center--please encourage your family and friends to arrive early in order to obtain a seat.

A reception will follow immediately after the program.

Sound of Silence

Join schools and churches around the world in a three-minute Sound of Silence at 4:58 p.m. (PST) on December 25 to remember those who lost their lives and to honor the survivors of the tsunami that hit southeast Asia.

On this first anniversary of the brutal death of their loved ones, the survivors need to know that they are not alone; they have not been forgotten.

How Can I Get My Child Moving?

"I feel like I'm always telling my child to hurry up!" Does that ever sound like you? You don't want to rush your child, but he/she has a tendency to dawdle. How can you help without nagging?

A little dawdling is OK. Curious children enjoy taking time to watch a cat sleep. Or they ponder the movements of a clock. This helps them learn. But when kids dawdle too much, it keeps them from important tasks, such as doing homework or getting to school on time. Try these simple tips to keep your child on task and finish a job:

Be clear about time. Your statements should be specific. "Please get dressed and brush your teeth now," is better than "You need to get ready to go."

Follow up. If you say, "It's time to do homework," make sure your child gets started. Don't get distracted by a phone call and then have to make the same request again.

Avoid overwhelming your child. If you ask her to do several things at once, she may do the first task, but forget what else she was supposed to do.

Use when/then sentences to encourage success. "When you get in bed, then I'll read you a story."

Holiday Overload

The holidays are filled with food, fun, and family. But they can also be a time when children feel stressed from too much activity, too much sugar, and not enough sleep. Simply taking time to go for a walk or have some outdoor fun can help reduce holiday overload for you and family.

Here are some tips on keeping your child calm and ready for learning during the holiday season:

Stick to routines when you can. Make routines for meals and bedtime high priorities.

Follow traditions. Whether it's serving a special food or reading a favorite story, be sure to stick to your traditions.

Limit sweets. Between grandma's fudge and Aunt Dee's cookies, your child could eat a lot of sugar over the holidays. Limit the sweets your child consumes.

Build in quiet time. The holidays can be frantic. Allow a few extra minutes before bedtime for some quiet reading and snuggle time. Turn on some soothing music before dinner.

Focus on giving. Bake cookies to give to a neighbor. Buy a toy for a toy drive.

Your Forgiveness Scale

Scripture affirms that humans have blown it—we’ve missed the mark, we’ve done our own thing instead of living up to God’s standards. But “lawbreaking” isn’t the real point. We have broken God’s heart by failing to experience the good He created us to know and to embrace the peace and joy He intended for us. We are prodigal children far away from home, and far away from a relationship with a loving Father.

In Chicago recently, 44-year-old Russell Sedelmaier was in court to be sentenced. He had murdered Ivon Harris, 65, and his 24-year-old daughter, Sarah. Harris was a Lutheran pastor, and his daughter was a fifth-grade teacher. Sedelmaier was interrupted while burglarizing the Harris home and murdered the two victims by beating them brutally and slashing their throats.

Eileen Harris, the wife and mother of the victims, was also in court that day. She too is an ordained minister and serves as in-house chaplain for a nursing and rehabilitation center. As various family members made victim-impact statements, hers was particularly powerful and especially important to the court.

Dressed in a black suit, the petite woman described the pain and loneliness she had experienced since the crime. Then she called the murderer’s name. “Russell,” she said. Sedelmaier didn’t look up. “Russell,” she repeated. When he raised his head, she continued: “Because I value the gift of life and I know God forgives and loves all of us – especially you, Russell – I support a sentence of natural life.” Heavily influenced by her statement, the judge sentenced the man who would have been eligible for the death penalty at trial to life without parole.

Perhaps you respect Mrs. Harris’ action. Maybe you think she thwarted justice. That isn’t really my point in telling you her story. It is for perspective.

All of us get hurt by people who break rules, violate law, and betray trust. And it is hard – some even contend impossible – to forgive those people. Really? Tell that to Eileen Harris! Criminals and cads need to be held accountable. Their evils should not be minimized. And consequences are very real and painful.

Has someone lied about you? Stolen your promotion? Taken credit for the work you did? Is she guilty of flirting with your husband? Betraying a confidence? Spreading a rumor about your child? Forgiveness is difficult even to consider.

Yet the burden of scorn, anger, or hatred is so heavy it warps the soul. Better to pray for strength to forgive than the chance to get even. Until we have as much justification as Mrs. Harris, she rebukes our reluctance to try to forgive.

--Rubel Shelly