Use the resources below as we begin a new children's series about the Armor of God. This week we will focus on the first piece of armor that the apostle Paul mentions to the Ephesian church- the Belt of Truth. Without a good belt, everything becomes more difficult, like moving, protecting ourselves and interacting with others. Knowing the truth of God's word makes our life better and more productive in carrying out our main mission- letting others know about Jesus! 

"Without the belt of truth, you are left with the burdensome responsibility of carrying the full weight of your own 'breastplate'- our righteousness." - Priscilla Shirer

As we discuss the role of the belt of truth, begin to think ahead to how knowing the truth and applying it to your own life can help with the other parts of the Armor of God. Read Ephesians 6:10-18 and discuss with your child. 

Josiah's age didn't stop him from doing great things for God. Talk with your kids about some of the ways they can use their faith for good even today. Share some ways that you grew in your faith when you were their age. Remind them that Josiah was able to accomplish a lot of good because he also had some great advisors (just like they have parents, teachers, and other grown-ups who want to help them be the best they can be).

DID YOU KNOW?

Halloween began as Hallows Eve, the night before the celebration of All Saints Day - a Catholic holiday remembering the faith of all the saints who have passed before us. Without Christ at the center, it's little wonder that the world began to focus on death and darkness (even if it is in a lighthearted way). But in Christ, we celebrate life, hope, and faithfulness that conquers the power of the grave!
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This year, we invite you to remember the faithfulness of the saints in your own life who have passed on. Share stories of parents, grandparents, and old friends who have gone to be with the Lord. 

Some ideas to celebrate together:

• Make a meal or dessert with a favorite family recipe passed down from a loved one. Talk about any memories you have associated with that food.
• Take some time today to share faith stories with your kids of friends and family members who have passed away. This can actually be a fun opportunity to ask older members of your family to share about your family history. (Tip: You may not have relatives who lived particularly "Christian" lives. That's ok. Take some time to share about the unique ways you saw God's imprint in their life and character, or even the things you learned from their mistakes. Part of the beauty of God's work with humanity is that he loves us and uses us despite our failures!)

See below for print activity and coloring sheet for your kids to keep them occupied during worship!

Miss Emily shared today about what it's like to feel lost, and finding hope in Jesus and with people we love. This can be an excellent opportunity to check in with your kids to see how they're doing during a pretty stressful year.

Around the dinner table or at bedtime, follow-up on discussion from our theme of vision and direction with these questions:

• What do you think about what’s happening right now? (Starting with an open-ended question can help you get a sense of how your kid is experiencing the world around them right now. It may be very different than your experience!)
• How do you think your friends are dealing with everything? (If your kid has a hard time identifying their emotions, it may be helpful to guide them to reflect on how their peers - or even a favorite fictional character - would respond.) 
• I’m feeling [try a bunch of different adjectives here]. How about you? (Modeling and normalizing emotion sharing can be a really helpful way to encourage your kids to open up.)
• What’s got you excited right now? What are you really loving? (This is helpful both because it can be easier to share positive emotions AND because it can remind your child of things that bring them joy.)

The point in all this is open up communication with your kids. Create a safe space and grow together! Don't feel like you need to make everything fit into a nice and tidy box at the end - that can actually create an environment where kids feel less willing to share and acknowledge negative emotions. But DO point back to Jesus and share ways that you have found hope in difficult circumstances.

This week church will be going back to virtual as many are feeling sick. This is in order to help keep everyone safe and healthy. When we are back together, we will continue to encourage you to wash your hands in church and wear a mask when you cannot be socially distant. We want to keep you and your family healthy. Have a great week! 

As we continue our journey through the book of Acts, we see a great example of discipleship and teaching others to lead and be lead well. Paul is continuing his journey and he ends up in Corinth. There he meets two tentmakers named Aquila and Priscilla. He lives and works with them for awhile and one day takes them with him on the next part of his travels. When they arrive in Ephesus, Priscilla and Aquila see an exciting young preacher, Apollos, teaching but he doesn't know the whole story of Jesus. He never mentions Jesus' death, resurrection or the coming of the Holy Spirit. He needs their help to learn more. Paul, Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos all spend time learning and teaching and encouraging each other and others. This is what discipleship should look like! 

Starting this week, we will be meeting for Sunday school with our Elementary aged students. Pre-K students will still be meeting in the service or in the nursery. However, if you are still needing to worship at home, we are continuing to provide weekly worship guides here online. We hope you will continue journeying with us through the book of Acts. 

Next Sunday (September 13th) we will be opening back up another part of our services at First Brethren Church. Our nursery and Elementary aged classes will be opening again! (Unfortunately, our Pre-K class will not yet be open. If your students need to leave the worship service, they are welcome in the nursery.) 

This week, we will be looking at how Paul shares the message of the Gospel in Athens with 3 different groups. Their responses are kind of curious. I wonder how we will respond (or have responded) to this message?