Lent, Sunday #2, March 4

The Change Bandits have left the building. We will be going to the Children's Hospital Friday (3/2/12) afternoon to turn in our loot. If you would like to join us, please contact Lenae.

This past week our classes (ages 2-12) discussed the season of Lent. We discovered Lent is a sad time in which we remember and prepare for the death of Jesus. We also discussed that this time is not meant to remain sad. We will rejoice together on Easter because Jesus is alive! The Elementary students also discussed Lent as a time to give up something or to start doing something good. This will create a space where we can remember what Lent is about while forming a new, good habit.


Nursery
*This week we will talk about Jesus as the Good Shepherd (John 10).
*Ask your child what shepherds do.
*Why do sheep follow the shepherd?
*Talk about how we can know and follow the Good Shepherd's voice.


Elementary
*This week we will discuss Jesus, the Good Shepherd (John 10).
*Ask your child about parables. What are they? Is this a parable?
*What hidden meaning can we find in the parable of the Good Shepherd?


Middle School
*Ask your child what story was read and what skit was performed (hint: the Golden Calf).
*How do they understand this story?
*NO BOOK CLUB--let's dance at 6pm in the fellowship hall!


High School
*Shall we dance? Sunday, 6pm in the fellowship hall

The Season of Lent

Nursery

• We will begin the Season of Lent by reading part of the book Lent Is For Remembering.
• We will also discuss the Liturgical Calendar, pointing out that Lent is a season the church observes, just like Advent.
• You may want to continue this discussion at home. This is a time where we use the color purple. This is a period of 40 days (excluding Sundays). This is a time to consider death as well as life. This is also a time we will be continuing our discussion on the life of Jesus as The Good Shepherd.
  

Elementary

• We will begin the Season of Lent by reading part of the book Lent Is For Remembering.
  
• We will also discuss the Liturgical Calendar, pointing out that Lent is a season the church observes, just like Advent.
• We will prepare the Atrium for Lent.
  
• You may want to continue this discussion at home. This is a time where we use the color purple. This is a period of 40 days (excluding Sundays). This is a time to consider death as well as life. This is also a time we will be continuing our discussion on the life of Jesus as The Good Shepherd.
• BOOK CLUB will be canceled. Enjoy the DANCE at DPC.
  

Middle School

• Continuing Bible reading and skit-creating with David.
  
• Book Club is canceled until after Easter. Let's DANCE together at DPC, Sundays at 7pm.
  

High School

• Continuing the series on women in the Bible with Jewly, using the Sunland music.
• Shall we DANCE? at DPC on Sundays, 7pm.
  

This Week at DPC, February 19

Wisdom from last week:

• "God is a wise, rich generous person. He gave us imagination. He's being generous all the time." --Edward
• 
  
• "God gives us water, life, and air. He did not give us magic." --Sam

Nursery

• Matthew 18:12-14
• God loves us like a shepherd loves his sheep.
• Discuss with your 3-5 year old how a shepherd cares for his sheep.
  

Elementary

• **No boys' book club this week**
  
• Luke 16:19-31--"The Rich Man and Lazarus"
  
• Read this story together and discuss it.
• Remember, this is a parable. There are hidden meanings. What might these be?
• What keeps us apart from people?

Middle School

• Book Club at Lenae's (6-7:30) on Sunday
• After this week we will take a break to join Lenten DANCING at DPC Sundays at 7pm.

CHANGE BANDITS will return this week! Be ready to ask! Be ready to give!

February 12 at DPC

Great singing, JuveNiles! Your voices were a beautiful addition to last Sunday's music.

Nursery Aged Kids

• This week we will, again, be discussing how we can show love to all people--just like God does.
  
• Think of ways your family can show love for people this week.

Elementary Aged Kids

• Book Club at the Dark's house, continuing Buddha (6-7:30)
  
• This week we will be discussing the story of the Forgiving Father/Prodigal Son found in Luke 15:11-32
• Work on memorizing Luke 15:31&32
• Talk about God's forgiveness to us

Middle School

• Book Club at Lenae's house, continuing the Red Pyramid (6-7:30)

Parents and Teachers and other "Grown Ups"

• Perhaps we can show love by considering ways to give our time this week. One-on-one time with the special kids in our lives will strengthen our relationships. Sometimes this takes planning. Sometimes it means spontaneous dance parties (who knew one very special boy loves nursery dance parties?).
  

February 5 at DPC

At-Home Discussion for Nursery Aged kids

• Review last week's lesson: God loves all children everywhere, regardless of hair color, food preferences, gender, etc. We have favorite foods and favorite people, but God loves us all equally. Isn't that amazing?
• This week, we will discuss how we can show love to people.
  
• I John 4:8b "God is love."
• How do we show love to our family? To our friends? To people we don't know very well?

At-Home Discussion for Elementary Aged Kids

• Last week we read a modern parable, "The Wood-Carver's Visitor." What do you remember from that story? How does it relate to Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan?
• This week we will discuss God's invitation for all people to live in the Kingdom of Heaven.
  
• Luke 14:15-24
• Wonder together about the importance of honoring people. How do we do this? How do we honor God?

Middle School

• Book Club, Sunday 6-7:30pm--we continue The Red Pyramid
  
• Possible opportunity to help Liz with her Lenten installation project, more info. to come

This Weekend at DPC

Aesop's Fables:
Saturday, January 28, 2pm.
This is a FREE event for ALL AGES. Nashville Ballet at Belmont University's Massey Concert Hall. They will perform "The Tortoise and the Hare, The Fox and the Crow, The Wind and the Sun, and The Ants and the Grasshopper" are woven together with an original narrative. These stories creatively depict Aesop winning his freedom from slavery through his cautionary storytelling."
For this event, we will meet at the concert hall.
**Please let Lenae know ASAP if you are interested in meeting there**



Ages 2-5 Sunday School Lesson, 29 January

"God's love is for all people everywhere"

• We will discuss the idea behind John 3:16, God loves us all.
• We are all very different, yet all loved by God
• Talk with your child about his/her likes and dislikes (food, colors, textures, sounds, etc.)

Elementary Age Sunday School Lesson, 29 January

"Who Is My Neighbor?"

• Luke 10:25-37
• Discuss the traditions we have that could prevent us from loving our neighbor
• Discuss your own Samaritan Stories. Who in your family or circle of friends helped someone who was in need?

Book Club

Middle School Girls--Lenae's house (Sunday, 6-7:30pm)

• Last week we read all of No Girls Allowed, a fantastic graphic novel highlighting seven women through history who changed their appearance in order to do something only men were allowed to do.
• This week, we will choose a new book. We will also look at a few more amazing women.
  

Elementary School Boys--Darks' House (Sunday, 6-7:30pm)

• The Buddha saga continues...

***Nursery News***

There is a new DPC Nursery Handbook available in the nursery or on the information table of the church. Please be familiar with this book if you have a child (or two) in the nursery. This addresses our Sick Policy, Age Policy, and suggestions to provide a better experience for your child.

This Weekend at DPC

We had lots of fun at our last outing to the origami club at Plaza. Please join us for our next activity this Saturday. We will meet around 12:30 to carpool down to the Wilderness Station. There we will have an Animal Encounter (1:30-2pm). If it's warm outside, we may take time to use the playground. We should arrive back in Nashville around 3:30.
http://www.murfreesborotn.gov/default.aspx?ekmenu=126&id=3286

This week, the elementary students will learn about Jesus announcing Good News to the poor.
At home, you may

• Look at the text, Luke 4:14-30
• Discuss the Year of Jubilee (check out www.jewishencyclopedia.com for further information)
• Wonder together what a world or community of equally shared resources would be like

Middle School and High School will continue with their series (the lectionary and women of the Bible, respectively).