What an exciting time to be involved in ministry at Christ the King! Over the last 4 weeks, our 4th grade Christian Education students have been preparing for their 1st communion. Two weeks ago, our students made personalized 1st communion banners that will adorn our worship space on Maundy Thursday, April 14th, when they partake in their 1st communion. This will be the first group of 1st communion students to be together in the sanctuary for their first time at the Table since 2019. Maundy Thursday worship will be a much more intimate experience with just our 1st communion students and their families. This will allow for social distancing to take place. We are feeling incredibly blessed to be able welcome them to the table.
Over these last few weeks, they have learned about Moses, the Exodus and Passover, and most importantly about how communion ties us all together and is a gift of God’s unconditional love and grace. It has been so great to be leading these classes in person with Pastor Nate and Pastor Dara, for the first time, in two years. It is always a blessing to see the faces of our 1st communion kiddos light up when they finally have that “a-ha” moment of God’s unconditional love and grace is for them. And that by participating in communion, they get to be the body of Christ in the world. That they get to share that same love and care with others. It is my absolute favorite time of every year.
I’d like to share with you all the most heartwarming moment that takes place at the end of every single 4th grade class. We take prayer requests and students volunteer to lead us in prayer. At the beginning of the year, their prayer requests were like talking to God as if God were the keeper of some sort of celestial vending machine. They are embarrassed to pray aloud and worried that they will say something wrong. Now they take time to really listen to each other’s concerns and taking time to share their thankfulness and praise. The absolute best part is that, by the end of the year, there are always multiple hands volunteering to be the ones to pray us out. I have about a million other stories that I could share. Each year these students blow me away with their questions and insights. I’ve said this every year, but our future is bright with kids that have this much kindness and compassion. These students are more than ready to join us in the body of Christ. Thanks be to God!
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