From a Teacher's Point of View

By Guest Blogger: Wayne Clinton

During our Popcorn and Parable Series (November 2015), our Kreek Kids classes studied two stories called parables found in the Book of Luke chapter15. 

During Saturday's teaching time with our K-5th grades,  we had ten hidden cut out sheep in the room that the kids had to find.  They also had four silver coins that they had to find. These activities lined up with the "looking for lost things" in the parable stories; Lost Sheep/Lost Coin. Once they had found them all, we decided to celebrate just like they did in each parable. We made invitations to hand out and invite individuals in our lobby to come up and celebrate with us. During the dinner break, before worship, our chaperoned students went down and invited six middle schoolers to come up and join us at our party. 

We had chocolate milk, sparkling cider, chips, pretzels, gummy worms and chocolate chip cookies along with our main dish, chicken noodle soup. What a celebration! And the music...it was a good gathering!

We learned that the true meaning behind the parables Jesus told were really about people, and not coins and sheep. And that people truly matter to Jesus. The kids, both K-5th and our middle schoolers had a great time! In fact, our guests went down and brought up other middle school guests and then the pre-K kids came and joined in. It was a great night!

So if your looking to help make Kreek Kids a safe place where kids can come, learn, have fun in a variety of creative ways, all while learning the truths in God's word, check out Kreek Kids Saturday nights or Sunday mornings. It's always a joy to see new faces:)

Wayne Clinton 

One of Kreek Kids Saturday Night Teachers

SPECIAL INVITE!  January 16 & 17, 2016: THIS weekend, during our Enter the Worship Circle Series, don't miss Wayne's creativity in action in the auditorium during each service; Saturday 6pm, Sunday 9 and 10:30am!  Directions to AC3 ~Allen Creek Community Church

Want to get connected to Kreek Kids? Contact: Trina (SAT) or Alicia & Twila (SUN)

Looking Back...

by Guest Blogger: Alicia Christiansen

Looking back over the year…

Over the past year I have realized that I have gained so much in such a small amount of time. My journey began back in August of 2014. I wanted to find Easton a preschool nearby and Bethlehem Lutheran came to mind. I already knew the teachers and was comfortable with the church as well as the curriculum. However, something was pulling at my heart strings into a different direction. A gal I went to school with shared a posting from Prepare the Way Preschool at Allen Creek Community Church on Facebook. I sent her a message and she explained to me that this was the school’s first year and that I should really check it out. I took her advice and found myself calling the school and scheduling a tour of the facility.

My first impression of Miss Chandra was forever a lasting one. The warm smile from her gleaming face said it all! Walking through the church I realized that everything about it just felt right. Before I knew it, I had Easton enrolled and ready for his first day of Preschool at Allen Creek Community Church. Over the next several weeks I began to build several friendships among the preschool moms, especially one in particular, Jamie Williamson. This girl has made a lasting impression on me. I would have never thought I’d be attending a church, accept Christ as my Lord and Savior, and get baptized all within a year!

God continued to call me into a direction I never thought I’d follow. I had a hard time trying to find my place in the church. I was lost at where my need would be fulfilled. I volunteered in the Kreek Kids Co-op on one Sunday morning to see what it was like. That was the day God answered my prayer. I was sitting in a rocking chair watching Veggie Tales with a couple of the kids in the Nursery.  Suddenly, a small child climbed onto my lap and laid against me as he watched the show peacefully. I was in utter awe. At that moment I felt God tugging at my heart once more. This is where I was needed. God wanted me to be there for the kids and much more.

I began meeting with Twila to discuss many opportunities in Kreek Kids. There were several needs in the ministry that I was suddenly overwhelmed. I prayed about it to the Lord and he answered. Twila and I came up with a position that contained a mixture of many roles. Before I knew it, I was taking on the new role as Team Mom for our Kreek Kids Ministry! With the help and guidance from Twila, our ministry has accomplished so much. We have a monthly bulletin board with tons of info, healthier snack options, new toilet seats for potty training, and a quarterly event to appreciate all teachers and volunteers in Kreek Kids!

As I look on to the future, I pray that the Lord continues to show me what I’m called to do. My confidence has increased and my anxiety is almost inexistent since I have attended Allen Creek Community Church. Not only does my Father see a change in me, but my peers see it as well. My faith will continue to grow as long as I have my brothers and sisters at the place I call home, AC3. 

AC3 VB101 Enter the Worship Circle

Join Rick and Dan this week as they talk about their own personal experiences with a worship time where they had significant growth spiritually. Enjoy! :)

One Word

by Guest Blogger: Amanda Crain

So, I started a devotional on my phone called “One Word that will change your life”.  Honestly I was just curious what this one word could be and it was a short 4 day plan so figured I would give it a try.  As I read the first day, I was instantly intrigued.  Then I read that it was an alternative for making New Year’s resolutions that you never achieve, so then I was hooked.  The authors describe it as a “simple discipline of developing a One Word theme for the upcoming year.  Not a phrase, not a statement, just a single word.  Discovering your One Word for the year, gives you more clarity, passion and purpose for your life.  It brings simplicity and focus.  It cuts through the distractions and keeps you focused on what really matters.”  They warn the reader to be careful in getting your One Word.  They say as soon as you discover your word, the battle will begin.  “It will initiate a process of teaching, developing, refining and molding.  God will use your word as a light and a mirror – illuminating your path and revealing things that need to change.”

Before I even finished the 4 days, I started thinking of words.  There are so many good words!  How would I ever choose just one?  Oh yeah, then I remembered that I should let the word choose me.  I stopped thinking about it for a couple days and then one night as I was trying to think of another song to sing to Luke as he asked for “one more” for the 10^th time, the word “intentional” popped into my head.  Huh, that was a word I hadn’t thought of before.  I forget what song I ended up singing, but after that I started to pray about that word and what it meant.  It was perfect, and scary.  I realized that I really don’t like being intentional, especially in places that are already outside my comfort zone.  My tendency is to coast through the day and I probably miss a lot of opportunities to glorify God and witness to others.  “Intentional” takes work and effort and can set you up for failure.  Now I see why they said to be careful!!

I also started becoming more aware of areas where I already try to be intentional.  When I pray with my boys, I make it personal, specific and relevant to what happened that day and always try to balance the prayer with adoration, thankfulness and then requests at the end.  When I sing songs to my boys, I try to pick worship songs that relate to challenges they may be facing.  I try to be intentional with my husband in telling him thank you for specific things he does. These are just small examples.  The true test is changing my behavior…  God is all about life change.  I have an opportunity coming up to be “intentional” outside my comfort zone at one of Jonah’s classmate’s birthday parties.  I’ll be alone (I can’t make Nate do the talking), at their house (so no where to hide) and I won’t know ANYBODY there.  This will be a test, but I’m excited, sort of…

I’m sure there will be many failures and successes but I’ve made sure to share my word with my “Stretch Team” as they call it.  Even that is being more intentional, by actually sharing my word and asking for accountability, encouragement and help to stretch and grow.  I also give anyone reading this permission to ask me about my One Word and not let me quickly reply with just a one word answer!

I encourage you to find the devotional on the YouVersion Bible App or go to www.getoneword.com to get more details.

AC3 VB100 Bloopers/Best of 2015

Here it is Video Blog #100! Check out AC3's Bloopers/Best of 2015 video blogs. Enjoy! :)

AC3 Jan News Desk

Check out this months AC3 News Desk! Get all your AC3 news right here for the month of January. Enjoy! :)