The Family Table

Feeding the Faith of LEFC Families

TFT: Hymns for a Kid’s Heart

June 2, 2024

Dear LEFC Parents,

Here are some items to set the table for disciple-making in your family in the week ahead:

Where Do Babies Come From?

Focus on the Family recently aired a broadcast interview with Dr. Justin and Lindsey Holcomb on how to answer that unavoidable question in a kid-friendly way. The Holcombs are the authors of the short book, God Made Babies: Helping Parents Answer the Baby Question.

Challenge “Thrift Store” Now Open!

The Challenge Crew’s free “Thrift Store” is officially open for “business!” Stop by the rooms on the northeast wing of the church building to see what you might want to take home with you (and leave a donation to get our teens to Challenge 2024!).

The Gospel Project at Home

Today’s Bible Study is “The Church Met Together” (Volume 12: Unit 34: Session 1). Ask your kids what they learned in Kids Bible Class this morning and/or do the family devotional you can find at this link.

Snack and Yack!

When the auditorium empties after worship, girls and boys (grades 3ish-7ish) who listened to the sermon (remember to fill out a handout!) are invited to Pastor Matt’s office for a tasty treat and a brief discussion with an LEFC elder couple about the message.

And for dessert…

Our recommendation for family discipleship this week is a magnificent set of books that introduce classic Christian hymns to our kids.

Joni Eareckson Tada and Bobbie Wolgemouth have selected two dozen of the best hymns for every Christian to cherish and sing and then written a short chapter about the hymn. Each chapter includes beautiful illustrations by Sergio Martinez, the true story behind the hymn’s writing, a devotional thought about the hymn’s message, a page with the actual sheet music and lyrics, a corresponding memory verse, and a prayer inspired by the hymn.

They have also recorded each of the hymns with an orchestra and kids’ singing, so that your kiddos can sing along (Vol 1Vol 2).

What a treasure!

Both volumes of Hymns for a Kid’s Heart are now out of print, but Pastor Matt and Heather have them in their home library and are happy to loan them out to young families in the congregation. Families could easily use these books for many weeks’ worth of rich devotions.

We hope your family eats it right up.

Matt Mitchell, Pastor
Holly Crumrine, Family Table Editor

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EXPLAINER: THE GOSPEL PROJECT AT HOME

For the last several years, our Children’s Church ministry has utilized The Gospel Project as our Bible study curriculum. The Gospel Project is really excellent–it takes our Little Learners and Bible Explorers chronologically through the whole Bible over the course of three years while always focusing on Jesus as the center of the big story. If your student was in Little Learners or Bible Explorers this morning, they received a coloring page and take-home sheet that corresponds to this lesson. You have also been given a full-color Big Picture Card that you can use to reinforce the lesson with your child, as well.

To reinforce what your kids are learning each week in Children’s Church, you can now access The Gospel Project At Home online. Each week in this email, there will be a link to follow to get this free resource which includes:

1. A guide to using the Gospel Project at Home.
2. Scripture to read and discuss with a recap video of the Bible Story (Preschool and/or Elementary).
3. Scripture memory verses and a song to sing together.
4. Prayer prompts and family activities that correspond to the lesson.

Please consider setting aside at least 10-15 minutes once a week for a family devotional time using this resource as a guide. We are hoping The Gospel Project At Home will help keep all of our LEFC kids “on the same page,” and feed their faith in Jesus.

This might be especially helpful if for some reason your child has to miss a week of Children’s Church. You can show them the Bible story video to keep them up to speed on what the other children are learning.

**Note: The first time you access the link, you will need to register a free account with Lifeway’s Ministry Grid. This will also provide you ongoing access through the “training” tab to many other discipleship resources including the Gospel Project at Home for previous weeks. Many hours of excellent things to absorb for free!