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Donna and I wish you a very Happy New Year filled with joy, peace, good health, and a steady increase in faith for your family and friends. This article has a bit of levity with it, as we celebrate God's gift of a new year. I note that our somber season of Lent will begin in seven weeks on February 18th. Easter Sunday's celebration of Christ’s Resurrection is April 5th. A few years ago, I came across an article or email about messages delivered on “hats.” Many of you have seen some of the “message hats,” that I wear. &nbsp;Here are just a couple others: * “I read the last chapter! God wins!” * “Pastor Warning: Anything you say or do could be used in a sermon.” * “I don't know how to act my age - I've never been this old before!” * “Normal isn't coming back ... Jesus is!” On a more thoughtful note, for those who like to play cards. Viewing a deck of cards with biblical historical facts: &nbsp;An Ace or a number 1 is Jesus Christ. There are 2 natures in Jesus and 3 persons in the Trinity: followed by 4 Evangelists and 5 books of Moses, known as the Pentateuch. There are 6 days of creation with a day of rest on day 7. There are 8 Beatitudes, 9 Fruits of the Holy Spirit, 10 Commandments,&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong style="border-color: rgb(229, 231, 235); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-pan-x: ; --tw-pan-y: ; --tw-pinch-zoom: ; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-gradient-from-position: ; --tw-gradient-via-position: ; --tw-gradient-to-position: ; --tw-ordinal: ; --tw-slashed-zero: ; --tw-numeric-figure: ; --tw-numeric-spacing: ; --tw-numeric-fraction: ; --tw-ring-inset: ; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgba(62,172,255,.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-blur: ; --tw-brightness: ; --tw-contrast: ; --tw-grayscale: ; --tw-hue-rotate: ; --tw-invert: ; --tw-saturate: ; --tw-sepia: ; --tw-drop-shadow: ; --tw-backdrop-blur: ; --tw-backdrop-brightness: ; --tw-backdrop-contrast: ; --tw-backdrop-grayscale: ; --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: ; --tw-backdrop-invert: ; --tw-backdrop-opacity: ; --tw-backdrop-saturate: ; --tw-backdrop-sepia: ; --tw-transform: translateX(0) translateY(0) rotate(0) skewX(0) skewY(0) scaleX(1) scaleY(1); --tw-border-opacity: 1; --tw-filter: ; --tw-backdrop-filter: ;">11 faithful Apostles, and 12 doctrines of faith in the Apostles Creed.&nbsp;&nbsp;Yet, many question whether Christ is with us. All we need is prayer, for God to open our eyes and strengthen our faith-filled hearts to see His presence, at work in our lives. &nbsp;In His Service, Pastor Dale Skurla

From The Pastor's Desk - New Year Levity

This is the third post in a new series in which we sat down with our staff members and asked them about their experiences at St. Paul, and what brought them here. Our “little school” is robust and filled with faith, love, family and community. &nbsp;Mrs. Martini speaks life into what that looks like every day here at St. Paul Lutheran School. &nbsp;&nbsp; – Pam Robinson, Principal<h2>Spotlight: Debbie Martini</h2><figure id="figure-fxeh3esapomhcaeyds"><img id="fxeh3esapomhcaeyds" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/39HvhRmuCOAuICJpVkfQsW5FQ4RgCu3Y4n4x0kVR7BTsV7shJZFnxPXPGqUG7XIB.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: 50% 50%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="1:1" data-caption="" data-positionx="50%" data-positiony="50%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/39HvhRmuCOAuICJpVkfQsW5FQ4RgCu3Y4n4x0kVR7BTsV7shJZFnxPXPGqUG7XIB.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: 50% 50%;"></figure>The reason that I work at St. Paul Lutheran School in Leavenworth, KS, is because I just LOVE the Christian atmosphere! &nbsp;I have been a dedicated, on fire Christian for forty-four years. &nbsp;I have taught in a couple other Christian schools as well as in the public school in my thirty-three years of teaching. &nbsp;This is the ONE school wherein I feel totally respected and appreciated. &nbsp;I delight in the fact that I can integrate the Bible in every area that I teach. &nbsp;Jesus is the Word of God and He loves words as well as numbers. &nbsp;I work at getting my students excited about the Lord and learning. &nbsp;Nothing thrills me more than hearing my students talk about the Lord, show confidence in what they are learning, and help others. &nbsp; I also value the families of my students. I try to build a collaborative relationship with the families in order to better educate the children. &nbsp;St. Paul’s lends itself to that by having activities to connect the school and teachers with the families. I appreciate St. Paul Lutheran Church for maintaining the school. Many parents have told me that they just love “this little school.” The military families who stay only for one year due to being transferred, are quite sad to leave. &nbsp; I am very grateful for the opportunity to teach here at SPLCS for however long the Lord God has planned for me. &nbsp;I thank you for these eight years!&nbsp;

Principally Speaking - Showcasing Her Love for St. Paul

You better watch out; you better not cry; Better not pout,I'm telling you why: &nbsp; Jesus Christ is coming to town. He 's made a list, no checking it twice; &nbsp; He already knows who's naughty or nice: Jesus Christ is coming to town. &nbsp; He sees you when you 're sleeping; He knows when you 're awake; &nbsp; He knows if you've been bad or good; So be good for Goodness sake. &nbsp; Ohl You better watch out; you better not cry; B etter not pout; I'm telling you why: Jesus Christ is coming to town. He's made a list, no checking it twice; &nbsp;He already knows who's naughty or nice: Jesus Christ is coming to town.&nbsp;Dear Friends in Christ, &nbsp;You're already familiar with the tune for the above edited Christmas song. I believe this edit clearly identifies the Biblical truths we have been taught. Jesus Christ is coming in just a few short days. So, in these remaining days of Advent each of us should be preparing for the arrival of the King of Kings. Not only should we prepare for the anniversary arrival of Jesus, known as Christmas, but also for the personal arrival of Jesus when He comes to take each of us from this life. &nbsp;In either case we need to be ready. We prepare for visitors in our homes, often taking weeks to make our homes ready. Do we take that same amount of time to prepare for His arrival to take us home? Ready or not, Christmas will be here. Ready or not, Jesus already knows the year, month, day, hour, minute &amp; second He will call us from this earthly life. &nbsp;Interesting is that by properly preparing for the anniversary of His birth, we prepare for His coming for us. That preparation is not in the gifts we give to others (although it may be) but it is in the preparation of our hearts to receive Him, His teachings, His words into ourselves so seamlessly that everyone will know that we are His followers known as Christians. Just as Jesus is seamlessly both God &amp; Man, we are to be seamlessly both human and Christian in thought word &amp; deed in all the places He places us each &amp; every day. The revised wording to the song above says it all. &nbsp;Merry Christmas from Donna &amp; me,Pastor Dale Skurla

From The Pastor's Desk - Jesus Christ is Coming to Town

This is the second post in a new series in which we sat down with our staff members and asked them about their experiences at St. Paul, and what brought them here. We are blessed beyond measure to have faculty ready to share of the Lord’s goodness with our children. We are blessed that Meredith has been able to embrace her true calling here at St. Paul. I encourage you to continue to pray over each individual faculty member and student, so that we can continue to receive and share of His glory.&nbsp; – Pam Robinson, Principal<h2>Spotlight: Meredith McKenzie</h2><figure id="figure-fxeh3esapomhcaeyds"><img id="fxeh3esapomhcaeyds" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/3brvZI3hjr4Lud2Ts2IUwqOPqyzIBZh1CGCK3MsDCEYAvNB4K9aew4q16SZpkdWk.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100" style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: 50% 50%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="1:1" data-caption="" data-positionx="50%" data-positiony="50%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/3brvZI3hjr4Lud2Ts2IUwqOPqyzIBZh1CGCK3MsDCEYAvNB4K9aew4q16SZpkdWk.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: 50% 50%;"></figure>I’m a military spouse of almost 19 years, with two sports-loving boys and two sweet fur babies. Thanks to the craziness of military life, I have had the opportunity to gain teaching experience in a wide range of areas from preschool to elementary school to adult ESL. &nbsp;Teaching little ones has been my favorite teaching experience and my true calling! This is our second time stationed at Ft. Leavenworth and both times we have been here, St. Paul has been a blessing in our lives. In 2017, my oldest son attended Pre-K 3 here and I was thrilled to be able to join the faculty and staff in 2024. &nbsp;Teaching preschool in a church setting isn’t where I originally saw my career going, but it’s definitely where God knew I needed to be. It brings me such joy to not only impact little lives though their education and development, but also through their growing knowledge and love of Jesus. I pray that my time as their teacher is fruitful service to the Lord! &nbsp;I have treasured all the time I’ve spent in church schools, and St. Paul is no exception. There is nothing better for a teacher than to be spiritually nourished within the school environment- to have colleagues who pray for and with you, lift you up, and remind you of the path that God has set before you. &nbsp;

Principally Speaking - Embracing Her True Calling

High Five in a Children's Educational Setting

<h2>The Importance of Teaching Gratefulness</h2><blockquote>"In everthing, give thanks." </blockquote>We are commanded many times thoughout God's word to be thankful for every thing, and in every circumstance. Gratefulness is more than just saying "thank you." Our attitude of gratefulness or ungratfulness can significantly impact our life. Teaching children to be grateful from a young age can help them develop into empathetic and compassionate individuals, in addtion to giving God the praise he is due. Here are five effective ways to instill this valuable, Biblical trait in your children.<figure id="figure-9sfs3o2e5kmi6gyng8"><img id="9sfs3o2e5kmi6gyng8" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/3aOuZ15HuE5ZeDJac08BdrZn9727zb0WKtrzLZBK8JD0WfZD9vjnqldudHwG7sNC.jpeg" alt="children gratitude" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/3aOuZ15HuE5ZeDJac08BdrZn9727zb0WKtrzLZBK8JD0WfZD9vjnqldudHwG7sNC.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;"></figure><h2>Model Grateful Behavior</h2>Children learn a lot by observing the adults around them. By consistently demonstrating grateful behavior, parents and caregivers can set a powerful example. This can be as simple as expressing thanks for small acts of kindness or acknowledging the positive aspects of daily life. When children see adults practicing gratitude, they are more likely to mimic these behaviors.<h2>Incorporate Interactive Gratitude Activities</h2>Interactive activities can make learning about gratefulness fun and engaging. You don't have to incorporate every graditute exercise, especially not all at once. Choose one or two that you can easily incoorpate into your family life and culture. Here are some ideas to get started:<ul><li>Gratitude Jar: Have children write down things they're thankful for on slips of paper and place them in a jar. Review these notes together regularly. Thanksgiving can be an especially wonderful time to review how many notes are in teh jar over the course of a single year! You could even use accumulated jars to decorate, creating a lasting testimony of God's goodness.</li><li>Thank You Notes: Encourage children to write thank you notes to friends, family, or teachers. This simple act can make a big impact on both the giver and the receiver. Even young children can scribble on a card, and graduate to drawing a picture, with you writing "Thank you" before having them hand off the note. Start small and build habbits through practice.</li><li>Gratitude Walks: Take a walk and discuss things you both feel grateful for along the way. The Bible tells us in Psalm 19:1 that "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork." and getting outdoors is not only good for your mental health, but makes a wonderful conversation starter for thankfulness.</li><li>Gratitude Journal: Ask them to draw or write down three things they are thankful for each day. This practice not only helps children with reading and wrting skills, it will help them recognize the positives in their lives, and also fosters a habit of reflection and appreciation. Don't be afriad to use prompts like "What made you smile today?" or "Who helped you today?"</li><li>Good Deeds Detective:&nbsp;Teach your kids to recognize good deeds. Ask them to scout for acts of kindess wherever they are: at home with family, at school, at the grocery store, or the gas station. Look for people who hold open doors, give way to others, lend a helping hand, or share a kind word. Have them share their evidence to discuss together. You could also give them "Caught Being Kind" stickers to share with others. The goal is to teach children to spot those who serve, and to lavish praise on them, rather than expecting the world to serve them.&nbsp;"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Phillipians 4:8</li></ul><figure id="figure-k1in39djmi6gyw8a" class=""><img id="k1in39djmi6gyw8a" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/9LIvTfwPSYNtxgFjLLMfVTVyevd2U9sEfnObBUGtJrULyrRk5znA53YkvzD9TVjl.jpeg" alt="family activity gratitude" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/9LIvTfwPSYNtxgFjLLMfVTVyevd2U9sEfnObBUGtJrULyrRk5znA53YkvzD9TVjl.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;"></figure><h2>Storytelling and Books</h2>Books and stories are excellent tools for teaching children about gratitude. Choose stories that highlight themes of appreciation and thankfulness. Reading together not only strengthens the bond between parent and child but also provides opportunities to discuss and reflect on the lessons presented in the stories.<h2>Creating a Grateful Environment</h2>A grateful environment is essential for nurturing this trait in children. Encourage open discussions about what each family member is thankful for during meals or family gatherings. This practice normalizes sharing positive feelings and builds a supportive atmosphere at home.<h3>Incorporate Gratefulness into Daily Routines</h3>Making gratitude a part of daily life can solidify this value in children. Consider integrating gratitude into bedtime routines by discussing the day's events and highlighting what everyone is thankful for. Over time, this will become a cherished family activity that reinforces the importance of being grateful.<figure id="figure-dqj7jbwpasmi6gzbpf"><img id="dqj7jbwpasmi6gzbpf" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/1393780584/photo/mature-woman-with-her-little-granddaughter-praying-together-over-bible-in-bedroom.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=Txr-qgBJRT78qbYL-8iBr63e1DHbruwCGB5qBej6h68=" alt="Mature woman with her little granddaughter praying together over Bible in bedroom" title="Mature woman with her little granddaughter praying together over Bible in bedroom" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="null" data-positiony="null" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/1393780584/photo/mature-woman-with-her-little-granddaughter-praying-together-over-bible-in-bedroom.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=Txr-qgBJRT78qbYL-8iBr63e1DHbruwCGB5qBej6h68=" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h2>Conclusion: The Lifelong Benefits of Gratefulness</h2>Teaching children to be grateful is an investment in their future well-being. Grateful individuals tend to experience greater happiness, improved relationships, and better overall health. ﻿"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Phillippians 4:6-7. By fostering an attitude of gratitude in children, you equip them with a tool that will serve them well throughout their lives.

5 Effective Ways to Teach Children Gratefulness

All of us tend to complain. We complain about the long lines at the checkout counter. We complain if traffic is crawling. Our kids complain if they don't like what's for dinner. Our Heavenly Father is not happy with us when we complain. In the Book of Exodus, we read that the Israelites complained - a lot!! They started complaining about three days after their escape from Egypt. They had witnessed God perform some incredible miracles, including the Ten Plagues and the parting of the Red Sea, but still, they complained. They complained about a lack of water. They complained that they didn't have enough to eat, and God provided them manna. They ate the manna, but then they complained that they didn't have meat. Later, they complained openly and the Lord was angry. "Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord, and when he heard them his anger was aroused." (Numbers11:1)&nbsp;The Lord doesn't like it when we complain. We should be thankful that there is abundant food in the supermarket. We should be thankful that we can afford to put food on our kids' plates. We should be thankful that we have a car to drive and that the road is paved. We should be thankful for the sunshine and for the water that falls from the sky to feed our crops. &nbsp; "(L)et us be thankful and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.” (Heb 12:28) &nbsp;In His Service, Pastor Dale Skurla