Family Night of Praise
5:30 p.m. Friday, April 26. Join us for a family-friendly night of worship and fun! Enjoy pizza and a mix of contemporary Christian hits and VBS classics. Bring your family and invite friends for a lively evening together!
Creating an Advent Wreath
Whether you’re familiar with the Advent Wreath or it’s a new concept for you, Hyde Park is taking a new approach to an favorite tradition this year. It’s likely that the use of Advent Wreath in the Christian tradition began in the home as a focal point of devotion. It was then adopted in regular worship services during the season of Advent, the four Sundays prior to Christmas. Because we will be celebrating Christmas in online worship services, we are providing ways for you to create an Advent Wreath for your own home.
Different Types of Wreaths
A coloring version is available at illustratedministry.com. Our Children’s and Youth Ministry will be distributing these materials during our Advent Kit Pick-Up Event on Nov. 29 and Dec. 2. Find more information here.
To make a traditional wreath, use a circular oasis and either artificial greenery or real greenery. The advantage of the artificial version is that you can use it again in future years. One made with real greenery requires periodic watering to keep the greenery fresh. Regardless of how you make it, the fundamental aspect of the wreath is a circle with four candles, representing that Jesus is the light of the world.
Resources
- United Methodist Resources: umcdiscipleship.org – Search “Advent Wreath”
- Crosswalk.com – Search “Advent Wreath”
- Pinterest has many resources – Search “advent”
Experience Christmas at Hyde Park United Methodist with all our events and worship services.
Buy or Make Manna Bags
We have some Manna Bags that are for sale if any family would like to pick some up. Please contact Emily, email, if you’d like to purchase and pick them up for $5 each.
If you would like to make your own Manna Bags at home, these are the items that we use to make them:
- Fruit Gummy Pack (small): Kellogg’s Fruity Snacks Variety Pack (2.5 oz., 36 ct.)
- Beef Jerky/Slim Jims: Slim Jim Original (120 ct.)
- GO GO Apple Sauce: GoGo SqueeZ Applesauce, Apple Apple (3.2 oz., 28 ct.)
- Salted peanuts or mixed nuts (2 oz pkg): Planters Snack Nuts Variety Pack (1.75 oz. Pouches, 24 ct.)
- Small waters: Member’s Mark Purified Bottled Water (8oz / 80pk
- Cheese and peanut butter crackers: Lance Sandwich Crackers, Variety Pack (1.41 oz., 40 ct.)
- Vienna Sausage: Armour Vienna Sausage (4.6 oz. can, 18 ct.)
- Breakfast bar: Nature Valley Oats ‘n Honey Crunchy Granola Bars (49 pk.)
- Plastic fork and spoon w/napkin: Member’s Mark White Plastic Cutlery Packets (200 ct.)
- Gallon Freeze Ziplocs: Ziploc Storage Slider Gallon Bags (120 ct.)
- Hillsborough Homeless Coalition Street Survival Guide (.pdf)
- Jesus Loves Me card
- Sanitary Wipes
- Socks
How to Help Your Kids and Teens Deal with Anxiety
How is everyone doing in your house? No, really! How is the worry and anxiety level in your home this week?
Do you know what the most common mental concern is in the United States is? It is Anxiety Disorder. It effects 40 million adults. It also is the most common mental struggle for children and teens. Nearly 32% of adolescents have suffered from serious anxiety at some point.
According to statistics and studies, if you have a child or teen in your home, there is a 1 in 3 chance they are struggling with some form of anxiety. Thanks to phones and social media, teen anxiety disorder is on the rise. It is not surprising, but that does not mean we as Christians need to brush it off as lack of faith or spiritual weakness either.
We want to offer you some helpful, loving advice and guidance. We do not want to ignore this growing problem that may be also impacting your family. We want to encourage you to take the time with our child to talk about how they are feeling. Find out what is stressing them or what might be bringing on worry before it turns into something more.
Not every feeling of anxiety and worry is sin or evil. We know that there are many things that can affect your children and their feelings of anxiety. We do have a powerful God with powerful promises. As you pray over your child this week, whether they are struggling with anxiety or not, consider a few of these verses.
- Luke 12:22-26: May my child not be worried or anxious about the superficial things of this world.
- Psalm 27:1: God, allow my child to realize that they can run to you in moments of anxiety and you will protect them.
- Psalm 118:6-7: Guide my child as they go through their day today. Allow them to not worry about what other people say, think, or do.
- Philippians 4:6-7: Lord, give my child peace in their heart and their mind.
Watch this great video resource as soon as you can. We hope this helps you and gives you a bit of time to reflect on your child/children’s mental, emotional and spiritual health. Take the time today or this week to sit down face-to-face as a family and check in on each other’s worries and anxiety levels.
We are available to talk, pray, or just listen to you and/or your child. Helping a child or teen with anxiety is a challenge Click here for age-appropriate resource for your child or teen for tips and practical ways you can help. If you are seeking professional advice or help, please also let us know. We would love to suggest some local adolescent professionals in our area. We are praying for you! Let us know how we can pray specifically for you and your family.