Big Top Bash! September 29, 2009

So, today I wore a fall sweater. I just thought I should share that because it made me happy. Enough with this hair destroying humidity. I want crisp air!!! That reminds me that it is almost OCTOBER!! (that is really scary on a number of levels that I won’t get into right now..) But it does mean that the BIG TOP BASH is approaching. Our SECOND annual Big Top Bash – to be exact – a super fun family event to be held on October 31st from 6:30-8:30 at our Kerns Campus. I am very excited about this night. It’s a night to provide a safe and fun place for families to come. Children can get dressed up (no scary costumes please), and we can open our doors to the community and let our light shine bright!! We’ll have lots of fun events for the family and all children will receive a bag of candy. Which reminds me, PLEASE START BRINGING IN CANDY DONATIONS! There are bash booths at Kerns and Eaglesfield for drop off! We don’t want sad kids…we want happy kids! Stay tuned for some exciting candy announcements coming up….(and by exciting, I mean embarassing….)

I am looking forward to this night….It’s one of my fav’s and such a great chance to bring our community together and for us to serve!!!

Stay Tuned for more details!

Following Jesus…

Shelly

Midweek Madness Week! September 22, 2009

It’s hard to believe that today is the first day of fall (I am pretty excited about that), and it is also the week of kicking off our MIDWEEK KIDZ KLUB programs! Yahoo!

Last week I met with 2 teams of fantastic leaders and I know that we have a great year ahead. Tonight we begin our program at our CP Ellis Campus in Hamilton at 6:45, and tomorrow at 7:00 we kick off at Kerns in Burlington with Christian Service Brigade, Nav-i-gation and Navigate Girls. Wahoo! I am believing for a great year of discipleship and mentoring for these children as they grow in their faith – that is what we are all about. Throw in some fun and friendship and it’s a great time for everyone! (you also can come and join us at 6:00 for Kerns Bistro – a great family dinner before club starts…..families can eat…..kids go to club, and parents can go to bible study! It’s win win!!)

Midweek provides a great chance to connect with children more personally than on Sundays, and relationship building is key. Being new last year at CP, midweek was a great chance for me to get to know children and families. If you are looking for a place for your children to connect and make friends, then midweek is another great venue for that! I also pray that it will become a great outreach – that we will attract children in our community to come to our clubs!

So, come on out and join the fun as we continue to follow Jesus in all that we do!

Shelly

U shaped Magnets September 14, 2009

We had a fantastic kick-off Sunday yesterday. I was so excited to see the halls full of children and parents, and all the buzzing that was going on. I love hearing buzz! It was super to have our leaders all back, ready to serve and I hope that everyone was as excited as I was.  We had our fabulous fall fair after the morning service – a perfect family time! I would like to apologize to any child who got their face painted by me….it’s not really my gifting, and I was in a cold sweat when I got a request for a half spider man/half batman face. I fear I let that little boy down deeply…..

Yesterday was a day of energy! I love energy. It’s contagious and magnetic (I stole that from Pastor Micheal’s staff devotion a couple weeks ago) and it attracts people. We want to attract people! I have a picture in my head, it’s probably from an old cartoon when I was a kid – of a giant U shaped magnet, and everything in its vicinity get’s pulled and stuck to that magnet. Fridges, stoves, car, etc – nothing can resist it’s pull! It’s so strong!

The love of Jesus is magnetic too. It draws people, it has pull, it is attractive. We as leaders and followers of Christ, have that magnetic love of Jesus in us.  We should be like the giant U shaped magnet. People should see something in our lives that they are pulled too. Unconditional love and acceptance.  Help and service. affirmation and care. Kindness and openness. These are attractive things. These are transforming qualities that people are longing to see genuinely displayed. That people are searching for.  They want to be around people who have that pull. And that pull, can lead them to Jesus.

Real heavy duty magnets are strong. If you have ever stuck a couple of them together, it’s very hard to take apart. I pray that Compass Point Kidz will be a place of Magnetic Love. That through all we do, we will show the love of Jesus without compromise or discrimination and that children and families will be drawn closer to the unfailing love of Jesus.  A love that they can hold onto, and that will pull them closer and closer to him in their faith journey and relationship.  The ultimate magnetic love. I am excited about the days ahead of us  and the opportunities that God will give us to be magnetic for him, drawing people into his kingdom! Let’s be U shaped magnets for him! Attracting people with the love of Jesus! It’s all about him!

Shelly

Hello Fall… September 11, 2009

Well, it is Thursday evening and I must say that it has been quite a week. I have cleaned, organized, phone called, swept, dis-infected, picked stuff up, stapled stuff up, photocopied, purged – and the list goes on…..However, all that work has paid off – WE ARE READY FOR FALL! (and I must add that I had some fabulous kidz leaders come in and give me a hand – thanks team!)

I love fall. I am itching to pack away summer clothes (I know just a few months ago I was excited about flip flops, but I am over them now…) and get out cuddly sweaters, drink pumpkin spice lattes (I love you Starbucks) and take cool walks at night. Most of all, I am excited for a new season of Compass Point Kidz to begin.

I am the type of person who just naturally expects that good things are going to happen. I believe that each year we have the opportunity to do better than the year before, that we learn as we go and that we continually have new and exciting avenues to take us to the next step that God has for us. I don’t want this year to be the same as last year, I want it to be better. I pray that we will see children growing more and more in Jesus as they are discipled… I am excited to see leader’s coming more and more into their gifts, serving with confidence and purpose. I pray that our community will be transformed by the love of Jesus – and that we can show them that love. It’s alot to expect. And I have been sometimes accused of expecting too much. But I serve a God that has a vast amount of greatness that I can depend on. With HIS leading and guiding, no dream is too big! Even in my most overwhelming moments and feelings of inadequacies, HE is there, lifting me up, reminding me that it is HE who works through me (and you) and that with HIM, nothing is impossible.

Sunday morning, campuses will be buzzing with children and families, getting back to our routine. In a few weeks our new campus in Hamilton will be doing the same. It makes me happy, it makes me excited – it’s a new season for God to continue to do great things – and I am blessed to be a part of that!

Hope to see you Sunday

Shelly