​Jesus presented some of His most memorable lessons as parables.  Parables are gifts we have received from God through Jesus’s walk on earth.  The Parable of the Leaven is a short but profound parable.

"Again He asked, 'What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.'" (Luke 13:20–21, NIV)

What is leaven?
When someone was making bread in the first century, they'd throw in a little piece of dough that was held over from the last time they made bread. By this time that dough would have fermented and become leaven. When leaven was added to a new batch of bread, it would act like yeast, causing the bread to rise.

Leaven provided a perfect image of the kingdom of God. Here are three points that Jesus intends for us to take away from this parable.
1. Jesus’ Ministry started humbly
Like leaven, God’s kingdom would transform everything it touched, eventually changing the character of every culture.
2. Jesus’ Ministry wasn’t understood
The leaven works in secret, transforming people from the inside.
3. Jesus’ Ministry still transforms lives
Bread cannot leaven itself. In the same way, humanity was unable to manufacture the kind of changes required to reconcile with God. Through Jesus' ministry, death, and resurrection, the leaven of the kingdom was kneaded into humanity—and through the Holy Spirit's arrival at Pentecost, it was activated.

This week our Sunday School lesson offers children and families ways to bake some homemade goodness!  We have yeast and unleavened bread recipes.  Yeast experiments that let children blow-up balloons and create a geyser.  Just like the yeast in bread, God’s grace has given us the ability to grow… in love, acceptance and forgiveness to all!  

​The Bethlehem star that the magi followed became a little more popular in 2020.  On the eve of the winter solstice (12/21/2020) two planets aligned and became a planetary conjunction.   Historical astronomers believe that as two planets converged they were most likely responsible for the light that the magi followed to the manger.  That conjunction only happens every 400 years and was last seen over 800 years ago!
 
The star, the light of hope, and the candle for Christ’s birth!  What an amazing light to celebrate especially during the COVID season.  A meme posted on social media said that “After of 40 days of rain God showed Noah a rainbow. At the end of 2020 God shows us the Star of Bethlehem!”  The sweetest part of this is if you are a Christian, one gift that can never escape you is the gift of HOPE that began in that manger over 2000 years ago.
 
This Sunday we invite the children to join us in-person at NSUMC for Sunday School and learn about the star, the magi, their camels and HOPE!  We encourage our families to hold onto the HOPE that came with that star that the magi followed to the manger.  We pray that the “hope born with the Christ child” is your guiding light in 2022! 
 
Come celebrate the magi’s gifts with your Sunday School teachers this Sunday!

​North Scottsdale United Methodist Church is hosting a LIVE NATIVITY DRIVE-THRU from 7:00-8:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 18th in the N.S.U.M.C. parking lot located at 11735 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85254. The event is free and open to the public.
 
N.S.U.M.C. would like to help holidays sparkle a little more for the children and community by hosting a “Live Nativity Drive-Thru.”  This event will provide an opportunity for our neighbors to enjoy a free and friendly Christmas Season experience.    All families are invited to DRIVE-THRU the NSUMC parking lot beginning at 7:00pm.  The passengers will be able to gaze on the festive holiday lights and a live nativity scenes.  After driving past the lights and the nativity scenes, each vehicle will be given one Advent gift bag before the exiting the parking lot onto Jenan Road.  NSUMC is offering free Advent gift bag to the first 100 vehicles.
 
The live Nativity scene will include:
 

• Live actors (Mary, Joseph, Shepherds, Angels and Wise men)
• Live animals in the nativity scene
• Vehicles are invited to turn in to 89.3FM radio station to listen to Christmas story as they DRIVE-THRU
• Please enter from Jenan Drive & DRIVE-THRU the N.S.U.M.C. parking lot to view the nativity. The scenes will be located throughout the parking lot.
• Each vehicle is invited to one Advent Gift bag prior to leaving the parking lot at the Jenan Road exit

 
N.S.U.M.C. invites attending families to make an online donation toward the DIAPER DRIVE for AZ Helping Hands a foster care support program.  Check out the N.S.U.M.C. website to make this donation.  The community’s generosity is appreciated and encouraged, so together we can offer support to sweet young families in need!!

We are excited to offer the “FIRE & ICE SCIENCE SHOW”  in the NSUMC fellowship hall at 10am on Sunday, Dec. 19th while the adults are in the sanctuary enjoying the CHRISTMAS MUSICAL CELEBRATION.  All children ages 5-18 are invited to join us in the fellowship hall (the large room just east of the sanctuary) for a FREE show that is open to the community. NSUMC is hosting the Mad Science “Fire & Ice Science Show.”  The NSUMC “Christmas Musical Celebration” is best suited for children ages 12 and up. You know your child and what works best for them. All are welcome at either experience.

This year the interactive show will be a presentation about fire, ice and snow! This spellbinding S.T.E.M. (science, technology, engineering and math) special event will introduce children to the power of fire and magic dry ice.   Mad Science offers hands-on elementary-level workshops for students that complement concepts they're learning in school. Their interactive approach is sure to give our students a deeper understanding of fundamental scientific principles.

We invite you to join us this Advent  Season!

​North Scottsdale United Methodist church invites the children in the community to

Sunday, Nov. 28th @ 10AM
During Sunday School @ 10:00AM, We will learn about how the prophets prepared for Jesus' birth & Children's Moments returns!
 
Sunday, Dec. 5th @ 10AM
During Sunday School @ 10:00AM, We will learn about Jesus' parents & Children's Moments returns!
 
Sunday, Dec. 12th @ 10AM
During Sunday School @ 10:00AM, We will learn about the shepherds, Children's Moments returns & Youth LOAD the ANGEL TREE truck!
 
Saturday, Dec. 18th @ 7PM
Live Nativity DRIVE-THRU the first 100 cars will receive an ADVENT goodie bag!
 
Sunday, Dec. 19th @ 10AM
NSUMC will host FIRE & ICE SCIENCE SHOW @ 10AM in the fellowship hall for ALL CHILDREN ages 3-18 (instead of Sunday School). Adults will enjoy the Christmas Musical Celebration in the sanctuary.
 
North Scottsdale United Methodist Church
If you are interested in additional information about N.S.U.M.C. or any of these activities, please call the church office at (480) 948-0529; email us at office@nsumc.com, visit us at 11735 North Scottsdale Road (85254), check out our websites (www.nsumc.com or www.nsumckids.info ) or find us on Facebook and Pinterest.

​North Scottsdale United Methodist Church is hosting its 23rd Annual Trunk or Treat from 4:00-5:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 31st in the N.S.U.M.C. parking lot located at 11735 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85254. The event is FREE and open to the public.
 
N.S.U.M.C. would like to make the holidays festive for the children in the community. This event will provide an opportunity for our neighbors to enjoy a FREE, COVID-safe and friendly trick or treating experience.    All families are invited to DRIVE-THRU the NSUMC parking lot beginning at 4pm.  The passengers will be able to catch sight of the festive holiday trunks and friendly costumes.  After passing all of the trunks, each car load is invited to collect one over-sized goodie bag before the exit the parking lot onto Scottsdale Road.  NSUMC is offering Trunk or Treat bags to the first 200 vehicles.
 
The basic Trunk or Treating guidelines include:
 

• Wear a friendly costume and remain in your vehicle
• Enter from Jenan Drive & DRIVE-THRU the  N.S.U.M.C. parking lot to check out the decorated trunks
• Each vehicle is invited to collect one goodie bag as they exit the parking lot at the Scottsdale Road

 
It will be a sweet evening of DRIVE-THRU Trick or Treating planned for children. 
 
N.S.U.M.C. invites attending families to make an online donation toward the DIAPER DRIVE for AZ Helping Hands a foster care support program.  Check out our website to make this donation.  The community’s generosity is appreciated and encouraged to “TREAT” other sweet young families in need!!

​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.                  ###

 ​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."
​
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!