CCY CONNECT AUGUST 2022

Praying for Schools

It’s hard to believe that summer has flown by again and another school year will start in just a few short days! In 22 years of working in public education, both in the classroom and administration, I’ve seen our schools face many challenges, though I can honestly say the past 3 years have been the toughest. Entering the 2021 school year, we expected there would be educational deficits for many of our students, but we didn’t anticipate the severe social and emotional deficits we found as well. Teachers and administrators grieved as we realized that school would never again be the same. And then, as the school year came to a close, another heart-wrenching school shooting broke our hearts and left us with even more challenges to keep our schools safe.

As we enter this new school year, I am certain there will be challenges. Could I ask you to please be in prayer for the students, parents, teachers, staff, and principals? Below is a list of some specific prayer needs that I hope will provide a starting place and we will trust in Him to guide us beyond.

Students

• Emotional Needs – learning to express needs, wants, & feelings in healthy ways
• Safety – during the school day and at home
• Relationships – healthy relationships with peers and teachers
• Reduced Anxiety – related to COVID, safety, & peer relationships
• Love – to have a teacher who loves and believes in them

Parents

• Anxiety – about student safety concerns, both physical and emotional
• Guidance – to have wisdom and a support system to guide their child through the school year
• Teamwork – to partner with their child’s school and teacher to help the student become their best

Teachers

• Wisdom – in the classroom and in collaborating with challenging students or parents
• Encouragement – through the ebb and flow of the school year
• Reduced Anxiety – in being safe and healthy, keeping students safe and healthy, and through daily (sometimes hourly) changes
• Purpose – To remember their “WHY” when challenges arise
• Renewed Focus – to meet the challenge of establishing a new “normal”

Principals

• Wisdom – in daily school-wide decisions and addressing challenges at the individual level
• Reduced Anxiety – school safety and navigating parent and staff complaints
• Peace – about tough decisions made
• Encouragement – from parents, staff, and the community
• Safety – health, physical, and emotional
• Renewed Focus – to meet the challenge of establishing a new “normal”

As a new school year is quickly approaching, one of the best things we can do for our children to prepare them for a new school year is to help them start off with the right mindset. As the freedom of summer ends and the unknown of a new school, what better way is there than to be in God’s word? Sharing encouraging Bible verses, praying scripture with them and for them, and even writing these verses out and placing them around your home or in your child’s bag or lunch box as a reminder that God is with them and helps them keep their focus where it should be.

One of the things I love about CCY is the love poured out on our children and families. We don’t like to miss out on opportunities to encourage and support teachers throughout the year either! Beginning on August 7th, we’ll have the Apple Tree set up in the gathering space. The Apple Tree is a tradition that has afforded us the opportunity to pick an apple or choose a bookmark from the tree and pray for the student or teacher named. This year we’d like to take this a step further to make this an even more personal experience by including a photo of the teacher or student. How cool will it be to recognize and see the student or teacher you’re praying for throughout the year? You might even be inclined to let them know you’re praying for them!

I’d like to suggest a few verses to keep in mind and hide in your heart as you pray for this new school year. I encourage you to commit these verses to memory and pray them over our school faculty and students as they prepare for and journey through the academic year. Please also pray them over our Sunday school teachers and volunteers as they endeavor to share God’s word with our children and youth.

Hello CCY!

Man oh, Man! Is it hot outside, or what?!?! Truth is, it’s just a matter of time before we are saying the exact opposite. From one extreme to another here in Oklahoma, but summertime is a nice time to vacation. Getting away for some R&R or playtime with the family, or just a change of pace and scenery is exactly what we need. Pretty soon we’ll be back to normal routines with kids getting ready for school, gearing up for fall football, and dare I say…the holidays??? 😳

No matter what our schedules look like, we know that God is always with us. Leading and guiding all things for our good. As we move forward, I’d like to invite you to consider asking God to step into your plans and move in a way you might not have considered before. Let’s be intentional in our requests! Maybe God is stretching us beyond our comfort zones, into new zones, to grow you and his Kingdom. We know all things are possible through Him and that He calls us to serve his people whether in our neighborhoods, community, or church. Take a few minutes to reflect on this question:

Where and how am I serving today?

There will always be needs that need filling in this lifetime. People need people. I encourage you to prayerfully consider taking on new ways to serve this Fall. If we have been blessed with talents, wealth, knowledge, time, and the like, it is expected that we benefit others.

“To whom much is given, much will be required” (Luke 12:48).

This is the holy word of God. Let’s not bury our talents, but use them to multiply the kingdom of heaven.

It’s always exciting serving God and CCY has many opportunities! Stay tuned at the end of Sunday services to watch the announcements, be sure to check out Facebook, or simply call the church. We are in this together and want to support each of you in your journey.

Blessings to you brothers and sisters in Christ!

Dana Park