Family Day! (Weekend Ministry Experience #1)

This weekend, I had four different ministry experiences. I have devoted a post to each one, so be sure to read all four!

Yesterday was Family Day at the Lutheran church in Jamina. Children and their families, and volunteers, gathered in the yard of the church for a morning of worship, games, fellowship, and fun. 

Photo was taken at the end of our time together.

We started the day off with a time of worship together in the church. These children (well, at least some of the girls) love to sing and have their favorite songs out of the contemporary hymnal. We sang a couple of their favorite songs and then I taught them a song in English. 

Hallelu, hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah 

Praise Ye the Lord (x2)

Praise ye the Lord, Hallelujah (x3)

Praise ye the Lord!

I put on my teacher hat (well, really it was my camp counselor hat) and quickly taught it to them and we had some fun with a call and response. After we sang it, I was told they have a Hungarian version, so they know it! But even so, I'm thankful they were willing to try it in English. 

I had the privilege of planning the worship. I chose the texts for the day and even gave a short sermon, which you can read at the end of this post. Zoli and I essentially created a dual-language worship, with the text read in both English and Hungarian. He also translated my short sermon into Hungarian. [Later in the afternoon, he told us the joke he has about the translator... but I'll save that for another time.] 

After our mini worship, we all made our way back to the yard and the families began to play games.  The games included the following: 

a fishing relay race (complete with gummy worms)

a race to get everyone to Jesus to be healed

putting the lines of the Lord's Prayer in order (as fast as possible, of course)

glueing as many sunflower seeds to the paper as possible (in a few minutes)

They also had an opportunity to do crafts, play balloon games, get their faces painted, and take an adventure up to the top of the church tower. Of course, after using so much energy, the children were happy to eat a delicious meal of spaghetti, made by some of the volunteers. It was a great time for all, as shown in the photos below.

Someone also brought some fresh cherries.

Nagyon finom.

(Very tasty.)

I also had an sweet moment with some wonderful teenage girls. I was standing near them, and suddenly they asked, both in Hungarian and English, "Do you sing opera? Would you sing some for us?" 

Side note: in the past, I have strongly disliked singing for people in a non-formal setting. However, this year, I have become surprisingly comfortable with singing in random places and for a variety of people, simply to share the gift of music. I often forget that most people don't spend 8+ years around other musicians. It is so important to share our gifts!

Anyway, I agreed and sang a bit of "Deh vieni non tardar" from Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro. Then I asked if they would sing for me! After some convincing, they shyly agreed but we moved away from the other people sitting at the picnic tables. After they sang one of their favorite songs, we continued to exchange songs and even sing some together (in our respective languages). We were able to share things about ourselves using a combination of broken English and broken Hungarian. My heart was beaming after sharing stories and songs with them. I could feel their excitement and love. They are super great, really. 

It was also an extra special family day for me, as my mother was able to meet and spend time with my Hungarian family. Yay! 

Love, laughter, excitement, and fellowship time together. An overall great day. 

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Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!

Serve the Lord with gladness!

Come into his presence with singing!

Know that the Lord, he is God!

It is he who made us, and we are his;

We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,

And his courts with praise!

Give thanks to him; bless his name!

For the Lord is good;

His steadfast love endures forever,

And his faithfulness to all generations.

Mark 6: 30-34

The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

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I have some exciting news for you!

It’s the end of the school year!

If you walk through the school during the next week, it is clear that the students (and teachers!) are filled with excitement knowing that it will be summer. For many of you, summer is a time of play, filled with joy and spending time outside while the weather is warm and beautiful. After all, you will have almost three months away from school! How could you not be excited?

[Insert: one boy said "It's not enough time!" haha]

You may also be excited to talk about all of the things you have learned and accomplished this year, and I bet there are people in your lives who can’t wait to hear the countless stories you now hold.

In the Gospel reading today, the apostles have just returned to meet Jesus after proclaiming the wonder of God, casting out demons, and healing those who were sick. Mark writes, “The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught.” Then Jesus said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.”

Today, you are like the apostles. You have taken tests, created projects, and shared your time together. You have learned more about yourself and your friends, and have created great friendships with one another. Sometimes you were frustrated and it wasn’t always easy, but you have worked hard and learned a lot (and hopefully you had some fun doing it). But now, like the apostles, Jesus invites you to a place of rest for the summer. He invites you to remember all of the things you have done during this last year and celebrate them!

Jesus often reminds us of how important it is to find rest, especially after a time of hard work. It is good to rest your minds, bodies, and hearts so that you may also prepare yourself for the next school year.

Although we are called to find rest and refreshment this summer, we are also reminded to give thanks to God for what He has done and for what has passed. We have many things to be thankful for!

We give thanks for the teachers who have taught with patience, love, kindness, and excitement, and we remember that they need to rest just as much as you do!

We give thanks for the new things we have learned and for the many ways we have grown as students and people.

We give thanks for the new friendships we have made, and we give thanks for strengthening the friendships with those we have known for longer.

We give thanks for those who love and support us. We love them and often do not tell them how much we appreciate them.

We give thanks for the opportunity to go to school and learn together each day and we recognize that it is gift to do so.

We give thanks for the joy and excitement we feel when we accomplish something.

We also give thanks for the things that have pushed us and challenged us, so that we may continue to learn and grow.

God loves to hear our thanks and praises, and we are encouraged to share those with Him each day.  God also encourages us to share our thanksgivings with those in our daily lives.

Who do you want to thank? How can you show them you are thankful?

Take time today, and in the coming weeks, to tell each of them (perhaps your family, teachers, and friends) how much you appreciate their time, efforts, and relationships. We all like to hear that we are making a difference to someone, and we all need to hear that we are loved.

 Now, I’d like you to take your hands and cup them together. Take a moment to think about the things from the past year that you are thankful for.

Whisper them into your hands and then close your words of thanks within your hands.

On the count of three, we will joyfully throw them up to God.

Ready?

One…

Two…

Three!!

Amen.