Here’s an idea:

Have your family dye eggs in patriotic colors like red, white and blue for national holidays.  Draw flags, stars, fireworks, etc. on the shell before you begin the dying process.  (You can also just color them for the fun of it in any colors that you like!)  You can have an egg hunt, use them as decorations, and don’t forget, they can be used to make egg salad or deviled eggs to take to a barbeque. Have fun with it, remembering that you can always be celebrating the resurrection of Jesus each and every day!

Alleluia!  Christ is Risen!

He has Risen Indeed!  Alleluia!

There are wonderful rituals found in special Holy Week worship services that really do make powerful impacts on the faith of kids.

At our Maundy (which is a word originating in Latin helping us to remember that Jesus gave us a new commandment to love one another at his last supper with his disciples) Thursday service, we remember the Last Supper as we participate in communion  Some congregations do a foot or a hand washing as a witness to the act of service that Jesus gives.  Music is always reflective and so rich in telling the story.  At the end of our service, we strip all of the items and the linens from the altar, leaving it stark and bare.  The visual is powerful.

The gradual darkening of the church throughout our Good Friday evening reminds us that Jesus, the Light of the world did indeed die and for a time all seems dark and hopeless.  It seems like THE END!

But then when we enter the church on Sunday morning, white and gold banners are hanging, the altar is filled with lush and colorful flower, we really see the change.  And we know it’s not THE END, it’s only the beginning.

Perhaps there are rituals that you remember growing up.  Perhaps if you are reading this and not from my congregation, there are things that you do and would like to share.  Perhaps this is helpful in preparing your kids for what to expect at Holy Week Worship.

May this Holy Week enrich your faith and remind you of the power of God’s love!

For the complete information, please go to the CDC Website at: www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance_homecare.htn

Symptoms of the H1N1 flu virus infection (formerly known as swine flu) range in a wide variety  including fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with novel H1N1 flu. Like seasonal flu, novel H1N1 flu in humans can vary in severity from mild to severe. Severe disease with pneumonia, respiratory failure and even death is possible with novel H1N1 flu infection. Certain groups might be more likely to develop a severe illness from novel H1N1 flu infection, such as pregnant women and persons with chronic medical conditions. Sometimes bacterial infections may occur at the same time as or after infection with influenza viruses and lead to pneumonias, ear infections, or sinus infections.

Steps to Lessen the Spread of Flu in the Home

When providing care to a household member who is sick with influenza, the most important ways to protect yourself and others who are not sick are to:

• keep the sick person away from other people as much as possible (see “placement of the sick person”) especially others who are at high risk for complications from influenza
• remind the sick person to cover their coughs, and clean their hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub often, especially after coughing and/or sneezing
• have everyone in the household clean their hands often, using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub. Children may need reminders or help keeping their hands clean
• ask your health care provider if household contacts of the sick person—particularly those contacts who may be pregnant or have chronic health conditions—should take antiviral medications such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) or zanamivir (Relenza®) to prevent the flu
• If you are in a high risk group for complications from influenza, you should attempt to avoid close contact (within 6 feet) with household members who are sick with influenza. If close contact with a sick individual is unavoidable, consider wearing a facemask or respirator, if available and tolerable.  Infants should not be cared for by sick family members.  

Placement of the sick person

• Keep the sick person in a room separate from the common areas of the house. (For example, a spare bedroom with its own bathroom, if that’s possible.) Keep the sickroom door closed.
• Unless necessary for medical care or other necessities, people who are sick with an influenza-like-illness should stay home and keep away from others as much as possible, including avoiding travel, for at least 24 hours after fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine). This is to keep from making others sick. Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods. 
• If persons with the flu need to leave the home (for example, for medical care), they should wear a facemask, if available and tolerable, and cover their nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing
• Have the sick person wear a facemask – if available and tolerable – if they need to be in a common area of the house near other persons.
• If possible, sick persons should use a separate bathroom. This bathroom should be cleaned daily with household disinfectant (see below).

Protect other persons in the home

• The sick person should not have visitors other than caregivers. A phone call is safer than a visit.
• If possible, have only one adult in the home take care of the sick person. People at increased risk of severe illness from flu should not be the designated caretaker, if possible.
• If you are in a high risk group for complications from influenza, you should attempt to avoid close contact (within 6 feet) with household members who are sick with influenza. If close contact with a sick individual is unavoidable, consider wearing a facemask or respirator, if available and tolerable. For more information, see the Interim Recommendations for Facemask and Respirator Use.
• Avoid having pregnant women care for the sick person. (Pregnant women are at increased risk of influenza-related complications and immunity can be suppressed during pregnancy).
• Avoid having sick family members care for infants and other groups at high risk for complications of influenza.
• All persons in the household should clean their hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub frequently, including after every contact with the sick person or the person’s room or bathroom.
• Use paper towels for drying hands after hand washing or dedicate cloth towels to each person in the household. For example, have different colored towels for each person.
• If possible, consideration should be given to maintaining good ventilation in shared household areas (e.g., keeping windows open in restrooms, kitchen, bathroom, etc.).
• Antiviral medications can be used to prevent the flu, so check with your health care provider to see if some persons in the home should use antiviral medications.

If you are the caregiver

• Avoid being face-to-face with the sick person.
• When holding small children who are sick, place their chin on your shoulder so that they will not cough in your face.
• Clean your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub after you touch the sick person or handle used tissues, or laundry.
• Talk to your health care provider about taking antiviral medication to prevent the caregiver from getting the flu.
• If you are at high risk of influenza associated complications, you should not be the designated caretaker, if possible.
• If you are in a high risk group for complications from influenza, you should attempt to avoid close contact (within 6 feet) with household members who are sick with influenza. Designate a person who is not at high risk of flu associated complications as the primary caretaker of household members who are sick with influenza, if at all possible. If close contact with a sick individual is unavoidable, consider wearing a facemask or respirator, if available and tolerable. 
• Monitor yourself and household members for flu symptoms and contact a telephone hotline or health care provider if symptoms occur.

Called Peanut Butter and Jelly Prayers,  Julie B. Sevig and her family share creative ways of expressing thanks to God for their food.  In this little book, she shares a series of prayers for different occasions.  

Divided into four sections, she first shares prayers for various food that her little ones enjoy.  (Yes, there is a prayer for the peanut butter and jelly days as well as a prayer to say in the car/restaurant when it’s a fast food meal.  There are prayers for mac ‘n cheese, pizza and even leftovers.)  

Then there is a section which includes prayers for special occasions such as having friends and family over for dinner and holidays, seasons and special celebrations.  

There is a  section focused on the season of the church year.  Advent, Lent, Easter as well as many of the other days that we commemorate as part of our worship life together and her prayers help us to make the transition from what’s happening at church to what’s happening at home.  

And finally, there is a section for ordinary days of the week as well as traditional table prayers from around the world and across the cultures.

Added to the prayers, there is also a conversation starter, called Table Talk (in the tradition of Martin Luther, I’m sure) for folks to discuss during their meal together.  

What I appreciate about the book is that while some of the table prayers are quick and easy for kids to memorize, others are longer and have real depth and meaning to them.  I think it’s nice to have a well-rounded prayer life that is modeled to children.

Just so you know, Julie Sevig is an associate editor for The Lutheran magazine, so you may have seen some of her work through that.  

I’d heard this book was out there and am very excited to share it with you.  For now, I’ve got it in my office, but I’m thinking it might find it’s way into the church library.  Or maybe I’ll just have to get another copy!

Let me know what you think!

Pastor Kathy

Now, the reality is that they have recently moved to a new town, and they haven’t started school yet, so I’m thinking that once school starts and they make new friends, texting Aunt Kathy is not going to remain high on their list of priorities.  I get that, so I’m taking advantage of the texting while I can.

However, I forgot to turn off the ringer on my phone when I went to bed on Monday night, so 5:30 ish on Tuesday morning, it goes off and it’s my nephew texting me, and I’m wondering, what he’s doing texting me when it’s 2:30 in the morning in California?  Do his parents know he was texting someone that late?  And the bigger dilemma… do I tattle on him?  Or was this message sent hours earlier and lost in the text cyber world?  For now, I’m assuming it was lost and then finally at 5:30 found my phone.

But the question is to you parents who have teenagers who text, do you know what they’re doing at 2:30 in the morning?  How do you set parameters on the cell phones?  

So I heard from my nephew… he was bored at 2:30 in the morning and he thought he’d say hi.  It sounds right… He’s 15.  I remember 15.  They didn’t have texting when I was 15.  They didn’t even have the internet.  But two things haven’t changed.  One, I, too, could stay awake all night and sleep all day.  And two, how special it is for kids to know they are deeply loved even when it comes through a text.  

Happy Texting!

I don’t know about you but often when I’ve thought of God’s creatures and transformations that have to do with resurrection, I think about the caterpillar and the butterfly.  The waterbugs and dragonflies were a new one for me.  However, the book is very well written, and the story is poignant.  While it has more of a nature cycle message than a “Christian message”; it can easily be interpreted and adapted to the message of Jesus that brings us so much hope and comfort as we face death. 

Death is a tough thing to explain to kids, hopefully these resources can help if you face that situation. 

(Note, if you good search or google Waterbugs and Dragonflies, you may be able to find the story online!)

Before - The Fluffy Dog!

Later she called back and said, “You love me, right?” 

I had a sinking feeling in my gut.  “Yeaaah.” 

“Well,” she said, “Zip looks sooo handsome!  His hair is really short, but he looks so handsome.”

“How short?” I wondered.

“Like Bruno’s.”  Bruno is her dog and he has short hair, not thick and fluffy like out little Zippy.  I honestly didn’t know what to think and her assurances of Zip being so handsome weren’t really playing well as I was trying to envision what happened to our dog.

When we got home on Monday, we saw him for ourselves.  To be honest, Jeff and I could only laugh when we came in the door.  We laughed until we almost went to the bathroom in our pants.  I had tears rolling down my cheeks because our dog looked like a shadow of his former self.  Gone were the thick tufts of fur.  Gone was the fluffiness that made us think of him as our little butterball.  His ears now stand out, as they don’t get hidden amidst the fur.  He looks like a different dog.  

After - Who knew what was under all that fur?

I keep petting him and assuring him that it will grow back, he seems to need that.  I honestly think he knows he got a bad haircut at the groomers.  The really odd part is that they didn’t really seem to mess with his tail, so it’s still full and fluffy.  Poor little guy… I hope he’s not too cold!

Jeff and I have found that laughter in our home goes a really long way in how we connect with one another.  We try to laugh at the little things, and yes, sometimes, the big things.  We try to laugh at ourselves and yes, at our animals.  We laugh at each other but never in a mean spirited way, just at things that strike us as funny.  Laughter for us goes a long way.  I’ve heard that laughter is the best medicine and that it’s a great way to relieve stress and anxiety.  We have certainly experienced that.

In your family and within the walls of your house, I hope that you have the gift of laughter – that you are finding things to laugh together about.  If you aren’t laughing much, then maybe it’s time to do something silly just to make your kids and your spouse laugh.  I’ve always said that it’s okay to look silly when it’s for Jesus, and giving your family the gift of laughter, relieving their anxiety and stress, is something I think Jesus appreciates.

So laugh a little!  Be silly!  Have fun!  It’s a gift your children will love!

Pastor Kathy

If you are looking for a fun activity to do with your kids or grandchildren the night before Easter, I’ve heard this is a great one that helps the kids understand the meaning of Easter. 

So Grab your Apron and Let’s Cook!

“Resurrection Cookies” 


~Also known as Easter Story Cookies~

You will need:


• 1 cup whole pecans 

• 1 teaspoon vinegar 

• 3 egg whites

• a pinch salt 

• 1 cup sugar

• a zipper baggy

• 1 wooden spoon

• Scotch tape

• Bible

Instructions:  These are to be made the evening before Easter. 

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F
*** (this is very important — don’t wait until you are half done with the recipe).

• Place pecans in zipper baggy and let children beat them with the wooden spoon 
to break into small pieces. 

Explain that after Jesus was arrested, he 
was beaten by the Roman soldiers.  Read: John 19:1-3

• 
Let each child smell the vinegar.  Put 1 teaspoon vinegar into mixing bowl. 


Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. Read: John 19:28-30

• Add egg whites to vinegar.  Eggs represent life. 

Explain that Jesus gave his life to give us life. Read: John 10:10-11

• Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand.  Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. 

Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’ followers and the bitterness of our own sin. Read: Luke 23:27

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. 

• Add 1 cup sugar. 

Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us.  He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read: Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16

• Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. 


Explain that the color white represents the purity in God’s eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read: Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3

• Fold in broken nuts.  Drop by teaspoon onto waxed paper covered cookie sheet.

Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was laid.  Read: Matthew 27:57-60

• Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF.
• Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door.

Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed. Read: Matthew 27:65-66


GO TO BED!!!!!!

Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight, just like Jesus’ followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read: John 16:20-22

On Resurrection Sunday (Easter) morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie.  Notice the cracked surface and take a bite.  The cookies are hollow!  On the first Easter Jesus’ followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read: Matthew 28:1-9

~Source for these cookies is unknown.

Good Friday

April 10, 2009 – 7:30 p.m.

On Friday, we remember that Jesus died on the cross.  It’s a very sad story, but a very important one. 

A good question, that many people ask is:  

Why did Jesus have to die on the cross?

God is so good and so wonderful that it’s not right for people to be close to God when sin has made us dirty inside.  Sin is something we do that isn’t what God wants us to do and it can be doing something that hurts God, hurts our neighbors, or hurts God’s creation, and we sin a lot, even when we don’t mean to.  We need to get cleaned up before we can be close to God!  Jesus died on the cross so that God can forgive us of our sins and clean us up, so that we can be close to God.

We call today Good Friday because even though this day was so sad for Jesus, it is good for all of us because Jesus gave us a very special gift that makes it so God can always love us.  When we look at a cross, it helps us to remember how much Jesus loves us.

At church on Good Friday,  you might notice that:

• Black is draped around the cross. 
• There are no decorations on the altar except for an arrangement made out of crosses and thorns, like the thorns that they put around Jesus’ head. 
• The church will get very dark as the service goes on.

You will hear the story of when Jesus died and we will sing songs that remind us how sad it that day was.  Listen for something very loud when it is darkest.  It might sound like thunder, and it reminds us of how sad God was, and how sad the people were when Jesus died.  After the thunder a small light will be brought back into the church and it will help us remember that this sad night isn’t the end of the story because something really special happens on Easter Sunday.  Can you guess what?

Some questions to talk about:

Why do we call this day “Good” Friday?

How does it make you feel to know that Jesus died?

How does a cross help us remember how much Jesus loves us?

Holy Thursday (Also called Maundy Thursday)

April 9, 2009

Worship at 7:30 p.m.

On Thursday we remember the last supper Jesus had with his disciples.  This is when Jesus took the bread, broke it, and said “This is my body.”  This is when Jesus took the wine, blessed it, and said “This is my blood.  Do this to remember me.”  This is a famous painting about that night.  (Jesus is in the middle.)

Why is it called Maundy Thursday?  “Maundy” comes from a word that means commandment.  Jesus gave his disciples a new commandment at that last supper.  “Love one another as I have loved you.”

On that night, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples.  It was a way to show his love for his disciples.

At worship, we are going to be hearing three Bible stories,

1.     The first is about the Passover

2.    The second is about communion

3.    The third is about Jesus washing feet (and listen for the new commandment)

At the end of church, watch for something very different.  We are going to take everything off the altar and put it away.  You will be watching as we do that.  Everything will be plain.  It helps us get ready for Good Friday, the day Jesus died.       

Some questions to talk over with your kids:

What is the new commandment?

What did Jesus wash?

What is this day called?