Sactity of Life Chapel

All PCA chapels focused on Sanctity of Life.  How we do that is different at our different age divisions.  For our Lower School students, we focused on being created in God's image.  

Mrs. Steen did a fabulous job presenting to us.  She made things so concrete for our students by bringing a copy of the PCA Lion's Roar publication.  Several students were pictured in the magazine.  Students could easily understand that they were looking at an image of the person - not THE person.  After several more tangible examples, students could understand that, though we are certainly NOT God, we are created in His image.

We discussed our differences and how we are ALL created in God's image - reminding us to appreciate our differences.  

 

 

 

Thank you, Mrs. Steen, for reminded us that we are created in God's image and that we are to nurture and care for each other.   Like the entire chapel, the bubbles were a very tangible example!

Here's What's Been Happening in Chapel!

There is something so special about our students coming together for the sole purpose of worship!  

Enjoy some highlights of the past few chapels:


Growing As Christians

Meghann Head, the Children's Minister at Prestonwood North, spoke a few weeks ago.  She gave a great illustration on how we grow as Christians, using plants real life examples the students could relate to.  Students were reminded they need prayer and God's Word in order to grow into mature followers of Christ. 

 

 

 

Courage

Our own PreK 3 teacher, Kristin Dysart, was was our chapel speaker!  She told the students about being brave!   As Mrs. Dysart said, "Courage is doing what is right when it isn't easy."  Students read Joshua 1:9 "Have I not told you to be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified.  Do not be discouraged for The Lord your God will be with you."  

Students were able to dress as superheroes to illustrate courage and were able to make the connection that we don't need a cape or superpowers because we have the Holy Spirit and God's Word to guide us as we need courage.  

 

 

 

 

Students received bracelets as they left chapel to remind them what they had just learned about courage. 

Red Ribbon Week Chapel

Mrs. Lainie Montgomery, our Campus Ministry Team Coordinator, came to speak to us about Red Ribbon Week!  She used something we all love - LEGOS - to illustrate how a hammer can smash something beautiful, reminding us to take care of things that are precious to us. We discussed many ways we can use our words or actions to harm ourselves or others.  

Our third and fourth grade students performed songs to encourage us to say "NO" to things harmful to us. 

 

 

 

Authority of Scripture

Pastor Kouba was our speaker when we discussed "authority of Scripture."  He had great examples, primarily illustrating how we can trust our parents because they love us and want our best.  Likewise, we can trust God and His authority in our lives.  

In the picture below, Dr. Kouba had blindfolded his daughters and gave them directions to lead them through a maze.  While he was giving them directions, he asked the students to shout out conflicting messages.  It was easy to see the analogy:  God has a clear voice giving us direction, while others want to confuse us and take our focus off of our Father.  

 

 

 

 

Kicking off Operation Christmas Child

Yvonne Valasek, Lower School Assistant Principal at PCA Plano, was our speaker to help kick off Operation Christmas Child.  Students heard several stories - all showing God's sovereignty and illustrating how children receive the box intended for them.  We heard about a little girl who received a box, but looked sad.  As it turns out, her twin sister was home sick that day and didn't get a Christmas box.  When the little girl opened up her box, she had two dolls - and two of everything!   Students also heard that each child receives the Gospel message in his/her native language.  Our PCA North students have a goal of collecting 50 boxes!  We will celebrate with a "reward" of having "50's Day," yet our students know that the true reward is sharing the love of Jesus with children around the world.  

Our first and second graders performed in both English and Spanish.   

 

As you can see, we have been blessed with great chapel speakers and our students have learned a lot!

Chapel - RESPONSIBILITY

I always love sharing pictures from our chapel times.  We have two chapel programs each Friday:  One for our PreK and K students and another for our 1st - 4th grades.  

This past week, Mrs. Arredondo had prepared hymnals for students!  Our students learn a hymn each month and now they will have a copy of a PCA hymnal to use during chapel.  We discussed with the students the days before the words of the songs were shown on the "big screen."  It was a sweet memory for me to be able to tell students about my collection of hymnals and the memories I have of my grandmother holding the hymnal for me and moving her finger along as we sang each phrase.  Mrs. Arrredondo told students that although she took music lessons, she really learned to read music by following along in the hymnal. 

 

 

 

 

Our chapel lesson was about 'responsibility.'  Many thanks to Lainey Montgomery, Director of PCA's Campus Ministry Team, for being our chapel speaker.  

Chapel - R-E-S-P-E-C-T!

As with every chapel, we began with praise and worship.  This week, Mrs. Arredondo played the keyboard and fourth grade leaders helped with the motions.  Also, our fourth graders led in pledges and prayer.

 

 

I didn't dress up and sing " R-E-S-P-E-C-T" - but the thought did enter my mind!  Last week's chapel was on the topic of "respect."  I had the privilege of being the chapel speaker.  

Our scripture passage was I Peter 2:17:

Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.   

We had a demonstration showing the fragility of an egg.  The egg can even seem tough and sturdy with the shell intact.  Likewise, some people we encounter may seem "tough" and as if nothing will bother them.  However, within each of us is a spirit that can be damaged if we aren't shown the proper respect.  

The teachers started by passing one egg...then two...then three...and then four!  They did a great job of demonstrating the care needed to protect the egg from harm. Students could tell me they were being "gentle" with the egg.  They were "protecting" the egg to make sure its "insides" weren't hurt.  This was such a simple example, but a tangible way to show our students that, even those people who seem to have a tough exterior shell, have a fragile spirit inside. 

One thing I love about our chapel time is the intentional follow-up that happens.  We call this our "Bible Study Method."  Once students get back to class, they work with their teacher to complete a worksheet reinforcing our weekly topic, learning to dig deeper into God's Word.  Here is a copy of the Bible Study Method sheet digging deeper into the subject of "respect."  

Student Name:  ______________________________________________________     Aug. 29, 2014

DIGGING IN DEEPER:  Bible Study Method

“RESPECT”

Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers,

fear God, honor the emperor. 1 Peter 2:17

OBSERVATION:  What does this verse say?

1.  We are called to respect to everyone.

2.  We are supposed to have respect for God.

3.  Respect your leaders (those in authority).

INTERPRETATION:  What does this verse mean?

1.  Look up “respect” in the dictionary.  What does it mean?

2.  Why should we show respect to eveyone?

3.  Why is showing respect so important?

APPLICATION:  How do I live it out?

1.  …In my Class:

2.  …In my House:

3.  …In my Community:

Our First Chapel - Learning from Dr. Taylor

At PCA North, I'm sure we will celebrate a year of firsts!  I can only imagine that in May, we will still say we are celebrating our "first end of school!"  Oh, I do love a reason for a party and celebration.

Our first chapel, held this past Friday, was a great first!  Our children - even our youngest ones - did GREAT!  We had lots of help and support from the Plano campus to make sure we got things started off in a terrific way!  Joel Rutherford, Director of Fine Arts, came to lead in worship.  Dr. Taylor, our Head of School, was our chapel speaker.  AND - representatives from our Campus Ministry Team, Lainy Montgomery and Gabe Boyd, were there to lend direction and support.  What a team! I've continued to marvel how cool it is that we are able to establish our own "North culture" - but always as a part of Prestonwood Christian Academy.  Truly, we have the best of both worlds!  

As always, I have like telling stories through pictures, particularly when precious children are involved!  

Here are some photos from our chapel for our little ones, our PreK and kindergarten students.  

 

 

 

 

 Dr. Taylor taught students students his favorite verse, Colossians 3:23.   

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as unto the Lord, rather than man.  (and then - he always ends with Ohhhhh-Yeaaaaaa!) 

As students were leaving, Dr. Taylor gave them a little treat - a PCA cup filled with goodies!  

 The first through fourth grade students also heard the same chapel message.  Dr. Taylor is masterful at gearing at speaking to the developmental stage of each age group.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a great first chapel!