Hello Friends, Can I ask you a question? Have you ever had a dream or dreamt about becoming something when you get older? When I was your age, I wanted to be a dinosaur so that I could travel back in time and see what life was like thousands and thousands and thousands of years ago. I could just see myself stomping through the thick vegetation, untouched forests, and being able to see above the trees–a world that most of us only dream about, I wanted to see in person. Then I......

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Hello Friends, Are you getting ready for Halloween? Have you picked out a costume? Have your parents bought your favorite Halloween candy yet? I can’t believe that Halloween is only twenty-two days away. Then after Halloween comes Thanksgiving, then Christmas, and then Happy New Year! I have a feeling these next few months are going to fly by. If you are struggling to pick out a costume for Halloween, I have a suggestion for you. You should dress up like a donkey!!! Why a donkey, you ask? Well let me tell you….......

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On Sunday, we came together at Jesus’ table to share a meal. This was no fancy meal: there weren’t any mashed potatoes or salads or casseroles or sandwiches or even desserts. However, this was an important meal. As a matter of fact, this meal is what we call in the church “The Lord’s Supper” or “Holy Communion.” And what made it even more important, was the notion that as a Church–throughout the world–we had this meal together. During this meal, we gathered at the table–which has a spot for you and me–and......

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Hello Friends, I can’t believe that this is the last Sunday of Summer. The next time we meet, it will be Fall! And even though Fall will officially begin on Thursday, September 22, 2022, it seems like and looks like people are already moving on to winter, specifically Christmas. While scrolling through social media, I have noticed that people are already posting about Christmas and how many days it us until Santa comes (98 days from today) and what sort of decorations are going to be the most popular this year. Additionally,......

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Hello Friends! I was thinking the other day about an nursery rhyme that my mom used to say to me. It involved a person sitting on a wall, possibly shaped like an egg, and taking great fall. I think there were even horses and other people involved. Do you know the nursery rhyme? “Humpty Dumpty” is correct! Now how many of you could recite it right now? Let’s say it together: Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall; All the king’s horses and all the king’s men......

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Hello Friends, I have to share this with you. Last week, I was listening to a very interesting and encouraging children’s message regarding pencils. I will admit, I was a little confused at first, but by the end of the message the point of the lesson was loud and clear. The teacher gave each person a pencil and a small notebook; and asked each person to write something or draw something in that notebook. Everything seemed to be going to plan until someone said, “My pencil isn’t sharpened.” Then another person said,......

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Hello Friends, Well, did you make it through your first full week of school? Are any of you tired, worn out, or ready for summer vacation? After my first week of school, no matter what grade I was in, I was always tired after the first full week of school. There was so much to learn, so much to memorize, so many things to keep track of, and always remembering when snack time was. There was just so much to make my brain tired; so by the end of my first week......

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Dear Gracious God, we pray that you bless the students: that you grant them wisdom to learn, motivation to grow their curiosity, and compassion to do unto others as they would have done to themselves. May their pencils bring success and right answers, may their colored pencils, crayons, and markers bring color to their imagination, and my their notebooks be filled with stories of hope and achievements. May their folders contain the excitement of new beginnings, may their glue sticks remind them that your love, O Lord, is stuck with them, and......

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Hello Friends, Well the week that some of you have been dreading or have been anxiously waiting for all summer has arrived: the start of a new school year will commence in just a few days! Here in Oblong, school starts on Friday, August 19, 2022, and you can certainly feel the school spirit in the air as the community gathers to support the children, the teachers, the librarians, the music teachers, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, janitors, and those involved in the school system. Whether we want to realize it or not,......

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Hello Friends, Summer is winding down….Are you getting ready for school to start again? I was trying to remember my very first day of school, and let me tell you its tough trying to remember all those years ago! I remember getting a new backpack, going school supply shopping, watching my mom write my name on every single crayon and marker, and making sure I new my address and telephone number. There was a lot going on for my 6 year old self back in 2001. Trying to remember that day, got......

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