Most Sundays as I move from the 8:30 service in the sanctuary to the 9:45 service in the gym, I pass one of God’s special children waiting for his “Sunday Granny”. Ethan is a special needs child who has captured the hearts of several ladies in our church. These “Sunday Grannies” keep him during the 9:45 service so his parents can be in worship. Often times they will be in the lobby of the Family Ministry Building as I leave that service. There is a special bond that has developed between Ethan and those who stay with him during that hour. Even more, they experience Jesus in each other.
This week, I visited Ethan in the hospital. His mother expressed appreciation for those who serve as his “Sunday Grannies.” As I left his hospital room, I remembered the words of Jesus, “Let the children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” (Matthew 19:13; NRSV) I give thanks for those who serve children.
Ethan is not the only child in our church family who is confined to a wheelchair. Every Wednesday during chapel we have another child who makes his way in and out of the sanctuary in his wheelchair. He is able to join his class in most activities, except he cannot get around on our playground, because presently our playground is not handicap accessible.
One of the goals of our Children’s Ministries is to change this by raising funds for a new Handicap Accessible Playground. The Child Enrichment Center is sponsoring a Golf Tournament on Saturday, May 14th. It will be held at the Cullman Municipal Golf Course. You don’t have to be a golfer to help make this tournament a success. The real key to a successful Golf Tournament is sponsorships where most of the money is raised. There will be “hole sponsorships,” as well as some creative sponsorships such as “trees” and “sand-bunkers.” Some of us will see those signs more than once as they are in the center of the fairway. You can contact Gina Guess gguess@gmvumc.org or Kay Moman kmoman@gmvumc.org for information on sponsorships.
Along with sponsorships, another key to a successful Golf Tournament is the prizes. The goal is to have enough door prizes so that each golfer gets one. Door prizes can range from a certificate for a meal or haircut, to gift cards, golf balls, even a weekend at a lake home or beach condo. As you think about door prizes, remember there will be male and female golfers in the tournament.
Of course, golfers are vital to a successful tournament. We have people who have helped with other golf tournaments helping in the planning of this one. Pass on the date to the golfers you know. You can get register by going to the church web page, www.gmvumc.org. Information on the Golf Tournament is in the scrolling announcements, and also under the Child Enrichment Center tab.
Another ministry of our church has been the Easter Egg Hunt for the children of the United Methodist Children’s Home. Clyde and Brenda Cork have been giving leadership to that outreach for many years. It will be held at Camp Sumatanga on Saturday, April 23. They have worked it out with Camp Sumatanga so that children in our Group Homes across Alabama and the panhandle of Florida can spend the night at camp on Friday night and be there for the hunt on Saturday. One of our special offerings is for this Easter Egg Hunt. You can support this ministry through the church by marking you gift for “Children’s Home Egg Hunt.” The money is used to put prizes in the eggs along with special gifts for all the children and for the 12 golden eggs that are hidden each year.
This week most of our Small Groups for the “24” series began. It’s not too late to join a group. We have several that will begin tonight as part of Wednesday Grow and another one Thursday night. If you are out-of-town for Spring Break, join one next week. There was a list of all the Small Groups in this week’s “Connection.”
I have found Adam Hamilton’s “40 Days of Reflection” devotional book, that is related to “24”, to be a meaningful way to enhance my personal journey through this Lenten season. We still have some of those books and we have ordered some more of the “24” book if you would like one.
As always, your responses to these Reflections are welcome. You can email me at rguess@gmvumc.org.
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