CDC news
The babies are here! After months of planning and preparation, we were so excited to welcome our doors to new infant families just a few weeks ago. It’s the favorite room in which to get a moment of inspiration or respite in a work day!
"For you are a turkey, but I am one too.
So if you are lonely, remember this truth.
If God can love turkeys, then God can love you.”
—from "If God Can Love Turkeys, Then God Can Love Me."
Yes, we can all be turkeys at times with not so melodious voices, dirty feathers, and ugly facial expressions. And yet, God still loves us.
Read more in the November issue of the Christ Lutheran Child Development Center newsletter.
One of the goals of Christian education is preparing children to listen to God. One way we teach children to listen to God’s calling is by encouraging their participation in faithful activities. Whether it is Sunday School, children’s choir, or even our daily Jesus time in the morning, parents who encourage children to participate in “activities of faith” allow God to speak to their children in a meaningful way through the teaching of others.
Read more in the October 2008 edition of the Christ Lutheran Child Development Center newsletter.
Young children experience “eye-opening” discoveries regarding their behavior daily. Read Ms. Cori’s thoughts on this and more Child Development Center news by downloading your September Newsletter now.
In a recent Worship and Wonder chapel, our children cozied up on the floor before the chancel, every inch of space taken by one of our little learners. Little Eric from our Robin class was so excited to hear the Bible story, he pushed his way up from the crowd to be in the front row. (Imagine that! Oh, if we adults could show so much outward anticipation each time God’s word is read in church!) Mr. Smith began telling the story of the healing of Naaman, who had an incurable skin disease. He had taken his servant girl away from her family to work in his home. The girl told Naaman’s wife to go to her country and see Elisha. Elisha told Naaman to wash seven times in the Jordan river to be made well. By this time in our story, Eric had gotten restless at Mr. Smith’s feet. The Blue Jay class was all in line with their number cards to help us count to seven and so Mr. Smith decided to make Eric part of the story. He pulled him up into his arms and lifted him up to be “dunked” in the water as we counted to seven. I wish you all could have seen Eric giggle with delight as he was lifted those seven times! What a moment!
When I was in first grade, I attended a small Lutheran school in the mountains of Utah. The school was a second home to me, as my father was the pastor and my mother was the kindergarten teacher. At that time, the church was using every available space to house the school. The second through sixth grades held classes in a converted barn on the property. The kindergarten class was in a small room toward the back of the church. The first grade classroom was in the fellowship hall with temporary walls that could be opened up on Sunday mornings for coffee hour.
What a wonderful and blessed spring we have! Starting out our spring term in a new facility, hiring new staff, and continued growth in enrollment have led us to being at full capacity beginning the summer term at the end of May. What joy it is to share such good news! As I think about the challenges our school has faced in the last few years, I am comforted to see how God’s work and the faith of our people has held us in tact and brought us new life.
As a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, this month our school celebrates “Week of the Young Child” on April 13-19.
What a melodious sound to hear little footsteps as they enter the sanctuary every Wednesday morning! At the beginning of this school year, we started a new form of worship experience with our children called “Worship and Wonder” which is held every Wednesday morning at 8:35 a.m. This program grew out of the desire of our staff to give even our youngest children a place where they can worship, praise, and learn about their Heavenly Father within a setting that has been specifically suited to their developmental needs. The worship experience builds on our weekly bible curriculum that the teachers use in their classrooms.
During this month, when our schools will be celebrating Lutheran Schools Week, please accept the gratitude of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America for your creative, faithful, joyful ministry of education.
Did you know…?
Nearly 1,800 ELCA congregations support schools and early childhood centers.
Nearly 2,000 ELCA schools and early childhood centers are in existence.
Nearly 20,000 teachers serve in ELCA schools.
Nearly 250,000 students are served by ELCA schools.
Shuffling through a clump of doilies, conversations hearts, and miniature cards with such zest that I haphazardly ripped the construction paper pocket I had toiled over just days before, I finally found it… my first love letter.
