Whew! It’s been a week of Holy Activity for sure. Monday had us laying out the family-friendly-hands-on-lift-it-up-hold-it-carry-it-touch-it-smell-it stations of the cross that are out all week. We’ll get to use them tonight at my first Parent’s Night Out with our students. I’m bringing my camera and hoping to have some shots of our little disciples going full out.

One of my 2011 New Year’s Resolutions is to attend some sort of educational event with a friend who makes me laugh my head off each month. Yesterday, I had several of these friends share in training for a movement that is led by a covenant – Safe Sanctuary. Having attended trainings previously, and leading training events on this very topic myself (I use a Safe Sanctuary bingo game that I would be happy to share by email), equips the church to provide an environment that is safe for everyone. We live in uncertain times and it thrills me to no end that we can do something about it inside our families of faith.

Spent lunch with a friend who is so gifted in art that we are considering her taking her ministry on the road to ours to provide something fabulous for our little people in July. Knowing that VBS will be taking the last week of June, there are some hot days in the July when a morning of fun and creativity can be a cure all for days that seem to last forever. Now to find 2 other friends with gifts that can learned by our little people.

Made some labels to attach to goodies to hand out to worshippers who come to church on Easter Sunday. The research tells us that in today’s culture, 2 out of 4 Sundays are considered as active attendance. I don’t want to agree, but sometimes, It is what it is. That said, you may have 1/2 of your congregation attending worship on any given Sunday . . . except Easter. On Easter, everyone comes and then some. I LOVE IT!

Sunday was Palm Sunday and with the Choir Cantata, I got an email on Friday asking that there be children at the early service to wave the palms. I only had a few correct emails already in the laptop, so an email was sent to those. Before we knew it we had us some children and a faithful servant offered to pick up breakfast and and we had a lovely time getting to know one another after the Children’s Moment at the early service.

Today was the begining of Holy Week and with the help of the fabulous Mrs. E we had all of the stations, along with card tables, set up and ready to go by 12:30 just as a sweet friend arrived to take me to lunch. This sweet friend and I have been colleagues for many years. It all started when she was serving where I am now, and she is now serving where I was when I first met her. You just never know how God will use the properly connected Body of Christ today and in the years to come. We laughed a lot and my friend agreed to pray for me. This was fabulous especially since she loves the church where I am now serving, she lives across the street, and she knows my heart.

Fantastic Friday/Parent’s Night Out is ready for this Good Friday with activites of preparing Jelly Bean Prayers with candy grass for the local homeless shelter, Resurrection Bingo, Easter Memory Game, and a Scavenger Hunt of items throughout the church that when all the numbers are added together equal 40 – the exact number of days in the Lenten season. I got the memory game and the initial bingo placements from http://www.ministry-to-children.com and the rest I came up with on my own. If anyone wants a copy, let me know and I’ll send it as an attachment to an email.

It’s Holy Week, but now that the stations are set and open from now through Sunday morning, it’s VBS planning time.

I watched all the dvds that came with the Pandamania can for dinner theatre tonight. Listening to the music, I almost broke into dance. I really like how they use a lot of sign language in their worship songs. I stopped by Panda Express (picked up some chow mein and mushroom chicken for dinner) and spoke with the dinner manager, so I’m hoping to get a phone call of how they can help us (me and 5 other churches) with items for this summer’s Vacation Bible School. Great timing, too, that we are all helping each other by making decorations that can be shared. I LOVE the connectional system of the United Methodist Church!

So, this week . . . Easter . . . Stations of the Cross . . . VBS . . . Fantastic Friday/Parent’s Night Out . . . Safe Sanctuary updated info and applications . . . tons of emails . . . preparing new Children’s Ministry registration forms . . . preparing applications for Children’s Ministry interns for 5th grade and higher . . . praying through the claiming of scripture and the roll out of a summer of Titus 2 Guests for Children’s Church for ages rising K5-5th grade and Sunday School (now taking suggestions for a name) and maybe a Fitness Camp style of Sunday School for June and July while our regular Sunday School teachers get a chance to take a month of Jubilee.

Lord, I am desperate for your discernment because I am just too excited to think clearly. I think I’ll get a cup of “Get some ZZZZs” tea and go to bed with a notepad beside the bed.

Glad to stop by a RaceTrac to get a caffeine-free-diet-coke-on-crushed-ice on my way into late afternoon office hours. Wednesdays are my long days with weekday preschool beginning at 8am and planning not to end the day at second home until 8:30pm.

Discovered my new precious friend on campus who graciously helped me get my thoughts together for the first Childrens’ Council AND cut Jelly Bean Prayers which is WAY below her pay grade. This experience of having someone who communicates frequently and kindly has lessened many of the typical anxieties that come with beginning something new. She could write a book, that I would help promote, of how to lovingly and prayerfully welcome someone new on church staff. Her joy and smile, laughter and kind emails, phone calls, and face-time challenge me, encourage me, and give me confidence. I would hope that every one of my friends who serve local churches had this special someone when they began. She is amazing!

It is not my intention to lead these Council meetings, but as I shared with the ladies, I have so many questions and we have a lot happening within the next 90 days (Easter, Mother’s Day, VBS, Parent’s Night Out,) that I asked for permission to lead this and the next one. They were so gracious.

We answered an ice-breaker with my Gabbit toy that asks the questions for you. We had our first laughs. We opened with a very short prayer (been praying since April 1st), devotion from Sarah Young’s Childrens edition of “Jesus Calling,” and hit the calendar.

We talked about the schedule of Sunday School & Children’s church through May and shared an idea of taking the summer to prepare something different – physical play and storytelling, as well as Titus 2 guests for Children’s Church. One of the best lists I got was of church members and their “specialties/hobbies/natural gifts/spiritual helps.” Ideas were tossed around and I was encouraged when we chose to pray and make summer’s final decisions when we meet again in May.

Special events are anything outside of Sunday morning. With special events, the goal and purpose of each event should be decided upon first. Then we can communicate, market, and measure the successs of the event most effectively. Their responses were fabulous and I was encouraged.

I asked each council member to consider being the champion of their most important event – the one that means the most to each one AND to plan a season of jubilee (taking a backseat to children’s ministry leadership for a short period of time to be a part of the church family without being “on”.) I have been in the company of wonderful women who serve themselves empty and I don’t want that for them or anyone.

The meeting ended on time, thank goodness, and we plan to gather again on a Wednesday evening in May. In the meantime, we each have a sugar packet with a name on it to be prayed for until we meet again.  I placed my sugar packet on the ledge of the steering wheel on the dashboard of my car.  Immediately it fell inside a space and I have no idea where it is!  I won’t be needing the packet to remember to pray this time…I’ll be wondering  where it is and will automatically be reminded to pray for the fabulous Mrs. V.

I didn’t get home until after 10:30pm as I praised the LORD with Mandisa all the way home.

Headed out early today to do some dashboard research which really means that I did some googling of the church zipcodes (one side of the street is one zipcode, the other side is another,) and I drove around trying to get myself lost for a couple of hours. It lets me see what’s in the neighborhood as far as nursing homes, rehab centers, children’s parks, and Starbucks go.

I found one elementary school, but was really looking for another. Discovered that it might be a good idea to add “school” to the parent’s night out information forms. I also discovered that within a few miles you can cross into 3 different counties which makes it really interesting when the only address information in the file doesn’t have a city. I knew that the church’s Jerusalem was great, but good grief!

I also discovered that I can contact PTAs directly online at some of the local elementary schools to volunteer for career day (got shaving cream, goldfish, and flannel boards, will travel) and perhaps take a day a month to provide some goodies in the teacher’s lounges (do teachers still have lounges?  … well they should.) Made a note on the calendar for August.

Also had first staff lunch and got some table time with everyone which was great. We had calendars out and got to share stories and laugh a lot. Got the run down on how Palm Sunday, Easter Sunday, 5th Sundays, Communion Sundays, and Mother’s Day roll.

The worship leader had an extra printer in his office (all churches seem to have computer equipment just sitting all over the place) and I loaded the software all by myself. It’s the first time I loaded anything onto the laptop and I must say, Mr. Bob would be very proud. It’s Monday . . . can’t wait to see what my menfolk have prepared for dinner.

The Children’s Moment today was based on John 11’s story of Jesus being a great friend. I had a picture of my first prayer partner and precious friend, Chantal, to show as I shared how she is a good friend to me. I then had my old, huge picture of Jesus (which only cost me $5 to purchase, but 6 months to get because the store had to place a minimum order of some $1,000 with the company), to explain that Jesus was a good friend to Lazarus, Martha, and Mary. Then off to lead my first Children’s Church. I was so grateful that a mom followed to help since whoever was the helper did not arrive. The children really want to play and there is a play kitchen in the hallway that hasn’t yet been put together. I’ll be bringing my screwdriver and pulling that baby out tomorrow. I will plan to put some new “play” items in the room this week for the week to follow. We made a tomb from a styrofoam cup, a toilet paper wrapped-pipecleaner Lazarus, and a paper stone. Craft on a budget, but they got the story for sure. One of the older boys shared that he’s going to be a preacher when he grows up and he’s already read the bible through one time. He’s also memorized Genesis 1:1 and John 3:16. I think he’s on his way.

After worship, I attended my first brainstorming meeting for an outreach event that is being planned in the fall. The instructions were to bring your own lunch and drinks would be provided. I think I was the only one who brought a sandwich. Note to self . . . pick up some Luna bars from Target this week to keep in desk so as not to be so conspicuous eating lunch when nobody else does next time. The names of the movers and shakers were now matched with faces. I look forward to sharing life with these faithful servants of the church.

Hugs are fabulous. Some people are shakers, some are smilers, some are nodders, and some are huggers. I love them all, but to get hugs from some lovely women who express how glad they are that I am there just fills one’s tank like nothing else. And I was asked to give a Mama a ride home following the meeting . . . I think I have a new friend in the Lord. She makes me smile.

Introduced myself to the copier yesterday. I understand that it does everything, from punching holes to stapeling. We only made one-sided copies just to get to know one another.  We’ll do something more challenging next week.

Began to pray for my first, upcoming Children’s Council meeting that will take place next week. These lovely women have been the backbone and the faces of the ministries to children alongside the previous director and during this transition time. I pray that they will be fearless and bold in using their gifts and graces to champion the things they love for the children they love.  I pray that they will see me as a resource and a champion for each one as they captain their particular passions.  I pray they don’t say “yes” to everything, but only those things they desire to captain.  I pray they don’t say “no” to everything because they are weary.  And I pray they will let me be their friend in the Lord.

If the Sabbath is the day that is set apart, Fridays are my Sabbath.  I wake not to an alarm, but to a dog that need to goes out .  I do laundry (it’s quiet.)  I cook for my family (tonight is homemade Quiznos and potato salad.)  I may have lunch with a girlfriend (today I had lunch with my first Netflix download.)  I read (I discovered YEARS editions of Children’s Ministry magazine on the bookshelves, so I brought home every edition for June/July to give me ideas and to share with the Children’s Council meeting this week.)  I pray.  I take a walk.  I rest. Oh, and I stay in my pajamas as long as possible and drink tea from the biggest cup in the cupboard.  And I bake cookies.

YAY! I got my first message today. The fab Mrs. V handed me a handwritten note with, not 1, but 2 phone messages. People are finding out that I’m here and calling me at the church. Now I’m bonafide.  How cool is that!

OH, and I had a little person visit with a gift wrapped in aluminum oil – freshly baked Hummingbird Cake. My first gift, directly from the hands of a precious little boy, who has a kind and generous Mama. I found #1 son standing over the loaf at 10pm last night with a fork. How wonderful is that!

Sent in my first bulletin announcement and asked that it run for 2 weeks, so it takes the pressure off of having to restate information weekly. If I keep an updated calendar (now through December), I should be able to only publish information for the newsletter quickly and easily once a month AND provide bulletin information every other week. Communication is the the most time consuming of office hours, so we’ll try this schedule and see if it proves efficient.

I find that it is better to use office hours to build relationships, especially in the beginning of a new endeavor: pray, visit, chit-chat, ask questions, write notes (like the one that’ll go out in the mail today thanking a new friend for that delicious Hummingbird Cake.)

There were several times yesterday I wished I could have rung a “glory” bell, so I made a quick stop at Staples on my way home.

Do you hear it dinging? Well, it is.

Spent a short day in the office due to networking luncheon and afternoon bible study.

Today I sent out a couple more emails and discovered where the shop vac is located. Also found out that I should carry my cell phone with me every time I get into the elevator. Now I just have to load the fire station’s phone number in my cell. Just one more reason to plan to take the stairs – good exercise, for sure.

Went to networking luncheon today (love those ladies.) The question to discuss this month was “With the bible, volunteers/fellow servants, and congregational support as givens, what 3 items are the absolutely must-haves to do efficient ministry?” The following are the responses shared:

Knowledge…of what is developmentally appropriate for little people
Freedom…to be creative, to interpret curriculum
Space…usable and flexible (some have offices, some do not; just because the space is considered “multi-use,” it really means the space is used by a lot of people, so don’t move anything)
Laptop/Computer…most efficient means of communication
Big Towel…can use as a blanket for a picnic, a cover for a sick little person, clean up a mess, cover a hot slide
Ball…helps to take turns, gets the wiggles out, start a game
Prayer…just one more reason to have a prayer team
Projector…for churches that do large group
Dedicated private space and dedicated private time…necessary to get and keep the creative juices flowing and hear the Holy Spirit
A Budget… to know what is real and be able to make seasonal decisions

I would like to add another…Goldfish.

Submitted my first newsletter articles, plugged the laptop into the ethernet (doing it old school), and sent emails for 3 upcoming meetings. I know, 3 meetings seem a bit excessive, but Easter and VBS planning are just around the corner and I have a new calendar with a lot of white space.  I forgot that it takes a while to set up a whole slew of new email contacts and contact lists.  It helps to do these tasks with Pandora.com music.

Moving the desk to face the door will help with peripheral distractions, and hanging up some “DeDe items” have gotten the creative juices flowing. I’ll look for the vacumn tomorrow.

I got my first visitors today. Pastor came by a couple of times to pray with me, encourage me, and help set the most immediate priority items. The fabulous Mrs. V stopped by to show me another printer (the one I used yesterday took 50 minutes to print out a blank calendar) and tell me the names of the custodians, who whisked by in their cleaning frenzy. And the son of my predecessor sat and visited a while. He misses his Mom, but is very excited about his own upcoming move. He’s tired of eating Ramen noodles.

The homefront always takes a backseat in the brain when a new endeavor is begun, so Bob & I made new supper arrangements for Mondays. Sure enough, I came home to find hot, cajun beans, steak fries, and doctored hamburgers. Scrumptious!

I’ll be breaking out the crockpot tomorrow.

Sunday is Game Day and each church has it’s own traditions and routines. These are just some of the questions I pulled into the parking lot hoping to get answers for my first Sunday:
– Which door does everyone come in?
– Where does the staff park?
– Who unlocks all the hundreds of doors?
– Does the staff “talk business” on Sundays?
– Is there Goldfish already in the cabinet?
– Does the building have wireless?
– Where can I find a plastic fork? (I brought my lunch, not knowing all the particulars that follow the last worship service.)

The morning the worship leader is the most busy . . . he knocked on my office door and offered to get me coffee before the first service AND stopped praise band practice between services to introduce me to everyone. What a wonderful expression of kindness.

I also needed to ask the youth leader if I could use his space on Easter Sunday morning. He graciously said “sure,” before he even knew what it was for. What a wonderful expression of cooperation.

I met smiling children who were polite, engaging, and attentive during Sunday school and Children’s Church.  Real children with real hearts, real hands, and real handshakes.

I met precious nursery servants who were on the floor playing and talking with the babies, who shared smiles and conversation.

And there were 2 long-time members who came and introduced themselves to Bob & I individually. They each shook our hands, they each asked us questions about ourselves, and we all shared our first laughs. And that was before we were even introduced. When the pastor did introduce us, the folks in both services applauded. What a lovely welcome.

I not only felt welcomed, I felt wanted and prepared for. The office had been organized and little notes of information were placed on the couple of stacks of resources. On the desk were the 5 most important files: Children’s Rosters w/contact info, Volunteer Schedule through April, Budget, Children’s Council job descriptions, and bulletins for the last 2 months.

I’m grabbing the last pictorial directory this afternoon and writing info around all the new faces we worshipped with today.

For the ones who came before me, thank you . . . surely goodness and mercy have followed you.