​Has anyone ever broken a promise they made to you? How did that make you feel? You were probably very disappointed and said something like, "But you promised!" Sometimes we aren't very good at keeping our promises.

Our Sunday School lesson today is about a promise that God made to Noah. Noah built an ark and made sure that there were two of every kind of bird and animal on that ark. He kept all the animals safe on that boat for 40 days.  

As the flood waters receded Noah sent out a dove to find dry land.  When the dove came back with a leaf Noah knew that they could all depart the ark safely.  God made a promise to Noah that he would never again destroy the whole earth with a flood. Then he did something to remind Noah of that promise. He placed a rainbow in the sky and he said to Noah, "I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the promise between me and all life on the earth." God said that every time he saw the rainbow, he would remember the promise that he made.
 
This is our second week learning about Noah and this week we will learn about God’s Rainbow Promise.  Your children and grandchildren can make a rainbow crafts or recreate rainbow experiments. They can pretend that they are a chef and make fruit salads, veggie kabobs, waffles, and popcorn, all in rainbow colors!  The next time you see a rainbow; remember God’s promise to us.  You are loved!

Do you like to construct things?  Puzzles?  Legos?  Recipes?  What if I gave you a set of instructions and told you I wanted you to build a boat that was 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. Do you think you could do it? You would probably say, "No way! That is bigger than a football field! I can't build a boat that big!"

Well, that is exactly what happened to a man named Noah. One day God looked down on the world that he had created and he saw how unkind the people had become. It broke his heart to see the way people were acting.

But God saw that Noah was different. God saw that Noah was a good man, so he decided that he would spare Noah and his family. God told Noah about his plan to send a great flood to destroy everything on the earth. He told Noah to build a big boat called an ark and to fill it with animals -- two of every kind. Noah obeyed God. He built the boat and then he put two of every kind of animal into it.

Soon the rain began to fall. The raindrops made little puddles, then bigger puddles. The big puddles became streams and rivers, then mighty seas. Soon the whole earth was covered with water. The ark tossed up and down on the waves, but Noah, his family and all the animals were safe and dry inside the ark.

It rained for forty days and nights until finally, the rain stopped. It took many days for the flood waters to go down. When it finally did, Noah, his family, and all of the animals left the ark. Noah thanked God for keeping them safe.

God had a plan for Noah's life. Because he was faithful and obeyed God, Noah and his entire family were saved. God has a plan for your life too. God has told us about his plan for us in the Bible. Listen to what he said, "I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
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Sometimes it seems that there are challenges too big for us. But when we remember to put our trust in God, anything is possible!
 
We will be enjoying Noah and his Ark for two weeks.  This week’s Sunday School lesson we will focus on the animals.  We can recreate animals to add to the ark!  Noah thought the task was too big but God helped him and He can help you, too!

​If you make something for fun, you can decide how it should look. You get to construct it all by yourself. You can be as creative as you want because it’s your design!
Did you know that God created the world and everything in it in almost the same way?

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."
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God created the world, so He was the one who got to decide how it should be. He created night and day, the stars in the heavens and the fish in oceans, the plants and the animals of the sky and sea.  He created all of that and said it was good.

But God didn't only create the world; He created all of us in His likeness and did you know what he said?  He didn’t just say that we are “good.”  He said that we are “VERY GOOD!”
Next time you look in the mirror, remember that “YOU ARE VERY GOOD & LOVED” by your creator! 

This week our Sunday school lesson is about creation.  We have collected geode cookies, stain glass cookies, and rock candy recipes.  We also have rock art ideas to spark your creativity!  While you are creating all of these, please remember that the creation He is most proud of is YOU!

​ Blessing of the Backpacks PARTY with FOOD TRUCK
Sunday, Sept. 12th, 2021 @ 10:00AM
 
SCOTTSDALE, AZ – North Scottsdale United Methodist Church would like to celebrate the milestone of a new school year with a blessing, party and yummy pretzels from the MUSTACHE PRETZEL FOOD TRUCK!  NSUMC will be offering blessings on students, educators, their mobile devices and backpacks during their worship service on Sunday, September 12th @ 10:00AM PLUS a “Welcome Back to Sunday School” party complete with balloon making, photo booth, crafts and gourmet pretzels.  For those that did not send a student off to school, they welcome your financial donation that will be blessed and shared with   Vista del Camino.

FREE backpack tags will be given to all that attend the service and party.  The backpack tag is constant reminder that God is with the students of our community in their daily life and that their church family will be praying for them throughout the year.
 
The Sunday School PARTY will include balloon making (including whale balloon art), Jonah crafts, photo booth, and FREE pretzels from Mustache Pretzel Company FOOD TRUCK to the first 50 students.

Don't have any students at home? All are invited to be a blessing to other less fortunate children by making an ONLINE DONATION. The financial gifts will be blessed and distributed to Vista del Camino Recreation Center to support families that need extra help at the beginning of a school year.  Vista del Camino is a recreational facility in south Scottsdale that offers after-school care, clothing, food and financial support to less fortunate children.
 
North Scottsdale United Methodist Church celebrates the love of God through Christ by offering a 10AM ONLINE  and in-person service on Sunday.  Sunday school is available in-person and online @ www.nsumckids.info.  They have children and youth activities including; children’s choir, volleyball, mission trips, small groups, festivals and youth groups.  N.S.U.M.C. also offers ONLINE and in-person adult Bible studies, men and women’s groups. 
 
If you are interested in additional information about N.S.U.M.C. or any of these events, please contact the church office at (480) 948-0529, office@nsumc.com; check out their website or find them on   Facebook    or   Pinterest.                  ###