Generally most Sunday school teachers and youth leaders do not get to witness the fruit of their labor when mentoring  and teaching children and youth.  Teachers deliver information about the scriptures and share the  the stories of God's grace  in hope that we connect with the children and youth.  The youth move on to college, jobs and many times you lose track of them.  If you  are lucky enough to stay in  Kidmin (kid ministry) long enough it can happen.  And it just did!!!  Here is  post from one of our former students:

"The definition of happiness differs form each human being. What makes them comfortable, what reminds them of the good and positive life can give, and where they can feel their original personalities, instead of masquerading as someone else to earn praise or likeness. For me, mine’s a building. It’s the people who inhabit the building. It’s a magical, calming soothing environment that cures worry, sadness, any emotion known to man, in an instant. My church. My sanctuary. I would not be the young woman I am today without it. Growing up in a place, the same place, for 17 years. I’m 20 years old now. I have had moments of embarrassment, anger, and sadness here, but also some of my happiest, most cherished memories were enacted here too. Everyone has that place where they know dreams are alive and within reach, and yes it sounds cliché, but it’s so truthful. People’s paths are moved from crooked to straight. My path has been made straight. It may get bumpy when I try to walk on it’s surface, but God washes the bumps away, adds more soil, and the sun and water grow thick trees with iridescent green leaves. They have all kinds of fruit to pick, flowers of every kind; peonies, roses, daisies, and sunflowers, and rivers and streams to keep my path hydrated and growing. My church, my home, made that come to be my path. My family is what makes the inside glow with light and shinning beauty. My most cherished friendships grew to become my family. To conclude this poem of praise and admiration for my church, I have to say one more thing. Thank you God, for giving me this home."

Thank you Olivia for your loving testimony so beautifully written.  Your church family loves and admires you and your faith journey. God's love is so evident through your description of our beautiful church family.  It is wonderful that you recognize this blessing so early in your life  and YOU share it so well with others. We are ALL blessed!

If you  would like to read more of Olivia's  work, check out her  blog:
https://oliviaspoetrycom.wordpress.com/

It's coming! Mark your calendars!  That first day of school!  

The day that students are sad and parents are glad!

 Actually, it can go the other way as well.  Many children love to be back in class with their friends and  families  will miss their vacation time with extended  family and friends.  On that day families will have to share their children's time with  the school day.

There  are many blessings that come with the new school year. It's a fresh slate, a new beginning.  New  subjects to learn, new friends to make and  new milestones to conquer!  There's  nothing better than being in the room when a child has an ah-ha moment.  So fun to see growth!

At North Scottsdale United Methodist church we like to send  students back to school with a bag tag and a blessing!  If you're a student, YOU ARE INVITED!

ALL children are invited to bring their backpack to church on Sunday August 13th, 2017  so both they and their backpacks can be blessed at our 10:00 a.m. worship service.

These backpacks are our children’s constant companions as they go about their school days, so the pastors of  NSUMC   would like to bless  them.  After the blessing they will give each child a tag to put on their backpack to remind them that God is with them in their daily life and that their church family will be praying for them throughout the year.

Don't have any students at home? All are invited to be a blessing to other less fortunate children by purchasing a NEW backpack and bringing it to the church that Sunday. These new backpacks will be distributed to Vista del Camino Recreational Center in south Scottsdale.

Summer IS coming.  For many people it's a time for vacations!   For parents, it's the time of year when we scramble to find excellent, yet affordable summer camps and activities for our children.    While families do take vacations, they are also in need of those daily activities.  These activities help parents avoid the "I'm bored." summer syndrome. 

Our church has a fabulous ministry of offering Vacation Bible School for the past four decades!  Vacation Bible School (aka V.B.S.) at North Scottsdale United Methodist church is a week long day camp from 9:00 am until 12 noon.   The camp offers children exposure to music, drama, cooking, physical education, crafts and science (from Steve Spangler/    https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/ ).  We also offer a waterslide on Friday and a follow-up celebration on Sunday at 10:00 am.  The week-long camp only costs $45 per student ages 3-12 years old.

If you are interested in more information about our camp check out these links:

http://www.nsumckids.info/vbs.html

https://www.facebook.com/events/431636610510897/?acontext=%7B%22source%22%3A5%2C%22page_id_source%22%3A47497314050%2C%22action_history%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22page%22%2C%22mechanism%22%3A%22main_list%22%2C%22extra_data%22%3A%22%7B%5C%22page_id%5C%22%3A47497314050%2C%5C%22tour_id%5C%22%3Anull%7D%22%7D]%2C%22has_source%22%3Atrue%7D

Our goal is to offer  an affordable camp that helps parents avoid the "I'm bored" summer syndrome.  While it is important to keep our children busy, the bonus of academics and nurturing teachers  makes everyone happier!

Which comes first the egg or the chicken?  Preparation or Reflection?  Many times our busy seasons will take a lot of preparation.  What if we reverse this and we reflect BEFORE we prepare?  Sounds backward, right?

We move so quickly with all of our preparation for holidays, events, and family activities because there’s never enough hours in the day.  If we stay home, many expect more from our time and talents because we have the “extra” time.  If we have a day job, we then come home to all of our family responsibilities. Regardless of how you do life, we are all very busy.

Consider these moments .  Have you ever:

- hand washed and dried dishes (yes, not put them in the dishwasher).

- planted the holiday plants in the  gardening bed by the front door?

- sat with your child and read them a nighttime story?

- enjoyed that cup of coffee or tea in solitude before the sun came up?

Do you think God intentionally created these slower moments for us to better prepare for our daily life?  These moments require us to not work at 21st century speed.  They allow us moments to reflect on things that bless our lives and things that cause chaos. If we slow down in these God given moments, then we can better prepare for the next activity, event or holiday.

If we take the time to reflect during these moments instead of hurrying to the next activity, we can reflect on our world and see it with healthier eyes and  open hearts.  This perspective can help us make better choices for ourselves and our family activities.  We can see our world through God’s eyes not through the lens of chaos.

Wow! If we allow reflection  during our menial tasks we can put so many more God moments in our day.  We can get a clearer picture of the wants and needs of ourselves and our family.  And bonus, we can enjoy every minute of the day because we reflected on our actions and the dashboard of to do items!

Here’s to the reflection in your  next cup of java (and/or dish drying towel)!

I would like to invite  the community to come prepare for the Lenten season at North Scottsdale United Methodist Church's Mardi Gras Jazz Luncheon and Lenten Reflection on Sunday, February 26th, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm.  We are  located at 11735 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85254. This event is free to the public.
 
As attendees enter this Mardi Gras Jazz Luncheon & Lenten Reflection, they will be welcomed by the award winning Desert Mountain High School Jazz band.  The attendees will begin the Lenten Reflection by literally donning a mask.  This mask will represent the figurative mask that people wear.  . Pastor David Wasson will offer up a Lenten Reflection that will suggest that everyone take off their masks.  These are the figurative masks of self-deception, self-control, as well as the literal masks people are wearing. The reflective prayer will ask people to lay down the things that keep them from connecting to God.
 
After the opening reflection the attendees will enjoy more jazz music from the DMHS jazz band and partake in a traditional New Orleans’s meal of gumbo, rice, French bread, salad and the meal will end with King’s cake shipped direct from Haydel’s Bakery in New Orleans, Louisiana.
 
Lent is the period of 40 days which comes before Easter in the Christian calendar. Beginning on Ash Wednesday, Lent is a season of reflection and preparation before the celebrations of Easter. By observing the 40 days of Lent Christians replicate Jesus Christ's sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for 40 days.

If you  are looking for a new way to begin the  Lenten season, please join  us for the festivities!

 Welcome  to the season of Advent.  It's the season that leads up to the most amazing birth that changed our universe!  

Advent is the period before Christmas that lasts anywhere from 21- 28 days, and includes four Sundays.  It is a time of preparation for the coming of the baby Jesus. Each Sunday of Advent churches around the world prepare for Christmas by speaking about four very important elements of Advent (peace, hope, love and joy), and their meaning to Christians.

But in the 21st century Advent has become a "MARTHA" season.  The four weeks of hustle and bustle to create the most magical Christmas experience for our families.  We are shopping, wrapping, cleaning, cooking, baking, card writing, decorating and even some of us creating Advent Celebrations at our place of worship.

This is a season of getting things done but what if we really could focus on a "MARY" season?

Do you remember this story?

Luke 10:38-42​At the Home of Martha and Mary 38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary,  who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one.[a]Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Wow!  Can you relate to Martha?  Her thought process is  to be efficient  and caring by doing all of this for her family and guests.  Good intentions, yes, and we all have those thoughts but the focus isn't really on the Christ child.  The focus isn't in the moment with our friends  and family.

My hope is that this Advent can be turned into a "MARY Season of Advent."  A new season where we are joyful and grateful for the:

-  ability to make purchases for our friends and family
-  time to wrap a package with our toddlers or loved ones next to us
- home to clean ,  bake, cook and decorate
-  friends and family to send blessings to
- church family to offer and receive both love and support 

My wish for all of us is that we can intentionally slow down and find the peace in all the moments during  this "MARY  Season of Advent." May we all find  “the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him.”  Let’s make each moment the centerpiece. Let’s not sacrifice our daily walk with God for the daily urge to do more. Instead, let’s intentionally enjoy every moment through all of our senses with all of our family and friends, “singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness … to God” (Colossians 3:16b, ESV). Because if we can focus on the four elements of Advent (peace, hope, love and joy), those elements can make every minute of this season magical  for anyone!

Wishing you and yours a blessed "MARY Season of Advent!"

Please consider having your family join the North Scottsdale United Methodist church family  at  our 18th Annual Advent Celebration and enjoy the moments of  the  "MARY Season of Advent."  http://www.nsumckids.info/advent-celebration.html

Our church will be hosting our 18th annual Trunk or Treat Festival from 4-6 p.m. on Sunday, October 30th in the North Scottsdale UMC parking lot located at 11735 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85254.

This event provides an opportunity for the community families to enjoy a free, safe and friendly trick or treating experience.  This year’s event will begin at 4:00 p.m. with carnival games, snow cones, and bouncers.  Food trucks will be onsite selling dinner options. Halfway through the event the NSUMC Youth Group will lead children in a costume parade.  The night will end with the awarding of trophies for exceptional costumes and decorated trunks, and the highly coveted “Trunk-or-Treating.”

The basic Trunk or Treating guidelines include:

*  Wear a friendly costume (please leave the scary ones at home)

*  Back your vehicle into a NSUMC parking space

*  Decorate your trunk (creativity is good!)

*  Set up folding chairs next to your trunk

*  Place your treats (candy) in your trunk.

It will be a sweet night of trick or treating planned for children. 

Our NEW mission project this year is to collect canned food for Vista del Camino Recreation Center in south Scottsdale.  The food collected will support their Thanksgiving Food Drive.  You are welcome to bring donations into Sunday School or place the donations on the FOOD DRIVE table at the event itself.

This is such a fun, family friendly, multi-generational event for our entire community.  If you are in Scottsdale on Oct. 30th, please come visit us!
​

Our little  (and big) blessings are just about ready to return to school.  We would like to celebrate their promotion to a new  class and a new school year with a  blessing and a backpack tag gift.

These backpacks are our children’s constant companions as they go about their school days, so the pastors of  NSUMC   would like to bless  them.  After the blessing they will give each child a tag to put on their backpack to remind them that God is with them in their daily life and that their church family will be praying for them throughout the year.

Blessing the backpacks is not just for the kiddos. College students, come on down! Adults headed back to school, you too! Teachers, YES! This invitation is for people of all ages returning to school and in all capacities.  And if you forget your backpack, come get blessed anyway! After all, it is really a blessing of people expanding their knowledge– you don’t need a bag to get blessed =)

Don't have any students at home? All are invited to be a blessing to other less fortunate children by purchasing a NEW backpack and bringing it to the church that Sunday. These new backpacks will be blessed and distributed to Vista del Camino Recreational Center in south Scottsdale.

​All children are invited to bring their backpacks to the 10 a.m. worship service for the blessing. Details: 10-11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 14. 11735 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. Free. 480-948-0529, http://www.nsumckids.info/blessing-of-the-backpacks-milestone.html

 As long as our church has been open, we’ve had Vacation Bible School (VBS) every summer.   That's nearly forty years of VBS fun.  Our church offers a half day one week summer day camp (VBS).  ​This  day camp experience requires nearly four dozen volunteers, donations of food, supplies and camper scholarships. 

Every year our congregation members always manage to fill all of these requests!  We have amazing members!  We have people who:

-bake daily snacks for our leaders
-prep for our crafts
-donate supplies for our crafts
-prep for our daily camper snacks
-donate gift cards for the groceries
- use their vacation time so they can volunteer all week
-build stage sets
-offer their talents as teachers of drama, science, music, art and physical education
-share their mission work 
-lead the daily stations
-shepherd campers from station to station
-take photos and create YouTube videos of these photos
-run the opening and closing assemblies

We have nearly four dozen people who are just perfect for the positions that they have volunteered for which allow us to create a magical VBS experience.  Our amazing congregation comes together to offer these campers and their families a low cost full week of science, games, crafts, snacks and learning.  I couldn’t be more proud of the way our members step-up and serve the children in our community.  They use their God given skills to expand the knowledge of these little campers and to share their love of God with all who enter the doors.

North Scottsdale United Methodist Church is blessed by the most wonderful little campers and the most amazing volunteers and supporters of our VBS every summer! 

​God is good all the time! All the time, God is good!

There are so many choices for our children during their  summer break.  There are so  many teaching styles and  curriculum opportunities.  

This summer North Scottsdale United Methodist Church is creating educational summer fun with the Surf Shack Day Camp.   This camp adventure will be held Monday, June 27 through Friday, July 1, 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon at NSUMC.  It is open to all children ages three through twelve.  The requested donation is $45 per child for the entire week’s program.

Surf Shack  day camp offers  a wealth of  great STEM (science,  technology , engineering and math)  activities using Steve Spangler's  hands-on  science experiments.  At  Surf Shack the  children will catch the wave of science adventure. The program incorporates curriculum and experiements from Steve Spangler Science  http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/. 

​The day camp  also offers  activities for other learning styles.  The drama class will offer great  drama training and interactive skits.  The  craftivities will include many mediums (beads, shells, fun foam, wood and wax).  Our choir class will teach the campers upbeat songs and fun hand motions to make the songs more memorable. Our PE  station will be active,  offer daily exercising fun and it will  include  a  14 foot waterslide on Friday.

Children  will enjoy a  variety of  learning  modalities and  non-stop action  to keep them  active, happy and learning.  If your children need  a  positive, upbeat, active, educational and affordable day camp this summer, please check out  the NSUMC  SURF SHACK  Day Camp.