Our Newsletter      

Dear Ministry Partners,                                                                                                                                                  May, 2012

            Ιt is always great to have new children start attending the programs and we have had several new kids join us this past month.  It takes a while for the new kids to learn how we do things at the center. For example…they need to know what the three balloons on each side of the stage are for. The balloons are a method of “crowd control”.  There are three balloons on the girls side and three balloons on the boys side. (We separate the boys from the girls…another form of crowd control.)  If the boys are goofing off during the lesson, one of their balloons is popped.  If the girls are goofing off during the lesson, one of their balloons is popped.  If all three balloons are popped during lesson time the boys (or girls) do not receive the take home goodie that is handed out on the bus ΑND they have a “time out” during recreation time.  Ι share all this to tell you about Logan, a new first grader that just starting coming to COC.  On his first day at COC the balloons were explained to him and he understood the concept.  The next Saturday he attended Kid’s Church there were over 150 balloons on the boys side of the stage and over 150 balloons on the girls side of the stage. The balloons were put up for a preschool program and they looked so great the balloons were left up.  When Logan came into the ministry center his eyes got huge. His comment, “HOW MANY CHANCES DO WE GET THIS WEEK?”

            This gave all the workers a chuckle but more important it is an awesome reminder of how many “chances” the Lord gives each of us to do what is right in His sight.  The Lord is a loving God that always forgives us when we ask.   What a great lesson for the kids and workers alike!

            As we shared before, we are working with community kids in Brooksville on Thursday evenings.  We share the same Kid’s Church lessons on Thursdays that we share with Largo/Clearwater kids on Saturdays.  This month we taught a lesson on how God created “us” and declared it “very good”.  The memory verse was “I praise You because of the wonderful way You created me.” Psalm 139:14 Mr. John stated that if God declared us to be “very good” then how come we see kids picking on one another.  We should treat each other better and even tell each other that you love each other.  Well…the Brooksville kids took that lesson to heart and began telling each other (and the workers) that they loved them.  Even the next week a few kids told us that they loved us. That lesson sunk in!
                            
            Vacation Bible School will be June 11-15.  We are making plans for this event and we want to give every child a special COC T-shirt. The shirts cost $7.00 each and we need your help to provide them.  Please send your gifts to make this happen and mark the gift “T-shirts”.  These shirts are not just worn during VBS.  The kids wear them throughout the year and are a valued part of their limited wardrobe.  Thank you in advance for providing this piece of clothing for kids that often go without.

            Continue to pray for the center, our finances, the children and families, Christ the King Lutheran Church, staff and for these folks with health concerns: Brenda’s mom (doing very well following surgery), John’s step-dad in Greece (complications with broken arm), son David, Bernice, Betty, Jake, Jack, Phyllis, Jean, Sue, Bill, Eileen, Elizabeth, Richard, Marilyn, Maria, Gloria, Ida, Nelle, Karen, Diane, and Elise(She has had her last chemo treatment and has progressed to monthly checkups for the next two years-no signs of cancer. PTL. She just turned 13!).

Blessed in His service, John & Brenda Grampsas