By volunteering for just 4 Sundays this summer in Heroes Gate, you can make this ministry great and give regular school year volunteers a break! 4 Sundays in one of 4 age groups – Infants, Toddlers, Preschool, or Elementary. No experience or prep is necessary, just a willingness to play, smile, and help.

If you’re ready to help us out, just fill out the form below and we’ll get in touch! Or, if you have questions first you can reach us at childrens@whchurch.org or 651-287-2712.

Update: downloads from the evening are now available here!

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Our Q&A night that went along with our Tapestry sermon series was on Tuesday, May 22. As usual, Paul and Greg were on hand to tackle all the questions that people had throughout the series.

Most of us have had our thoughts about who God is and how He interacts with the world change over the course of our life. So much so, that it may be hard to remember all the different places your theology comes from. Was it Sunday school? Was it C.S. Lewis? Was it Father Dowling Mysteries? Who knows.

In our Tapestry series, we’ve been trying to cover the histories and origins of the most core beliefs to Woodland Hills. If you’ve still got some questions about those, or you need further clarification on something you heard in a sermon, or if you just want to hear Greg and Paul answer other peoples’ questions, then you’re going to want to download this Q&A (files will be available for download in the next day or so).

It goes without saying that Woodland Hills could not function without the hundreds of volunteers that make it all happen.

Not that we could ever adequately express our gratitude for all you contribute around here, but here’s a little ditty we used in our services last weekend to say “Thank you friends for all you doooo!”

If you’ve liked our page on Facebook and see yourself in the video, make sure to go to our page and tag yourself!

You may have noticed at Woodland Hills Church that we’ve been trying to do short Q+A’s after every sermon. Last week, we received a question that we just had to share with the world:

My son, Nate(9), wants to know why God doesn’t create things (such as dragons) to defeat the devil. Thank you! :)

Dear Nate:

Awesome question! I think Dragons would be a great way to defeat the devil. I can see those winged creatures flying around the world, fighting evil with their fiery breath and defending the helpless with their powerful tails and armor. What a creative way to defeat the devil you’ve come up with! But God has an even cooler plan for conquering the devil, and I think you’ll like it.

Do you know what angels are? They are creatures that God made to watch over creation and help him in running the universe. In fact, they are a lot like dragons! They can fly around, fighting evil with fiery swords, and they defend the helpless with the truth of God. They are constantly at war with the devil and the demons. And while we can’t see them, they are there to protect you and me from danger.

But you know what’s even more powerful than angels? God’s own son, Jesus. Jesus came down to this Earth to fight the devil, but he didn’t fight him with swords or fire. Instead, he fought the devil with truth and love. He loved other humans more than anybody has loved anyone else. He taught people how to live their lives following God: which is the greatest way that we can fight the devil too!

Jesus died in his fight against the devil, but only because he knew that his father, God, would raise him from the dead and make him a newer and stronger being. We, too, will one day die, but we, too, will be raised from the dead to be a newer and stronger being. You see, God doesn’t need dragons because Jesus is more powerful than dragons and death, and he fights with stronger weapons than fire and armor. He fights with truth and love.

And you can fight right alongside Jesus! You can put on the armor of love and fight with the sword of truth! God created us to take care of this world and defend other humans and creation from the devil. We can fight evil, just like angels and Jesus. Love the other kids in your school. Live your life by the truth of God. Help those who need helping. In this way, you become so much stronger than dragons too!

GB

Thanks Nate for the question, and good luck in your quest of being a warrior for God!

Update: here are some photos from Kiln #12 (thanks to Jerad Phelps for the photography help!)

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Our next Kiln event is coming up next Monday, May 21! We’ll hear from five very talented artists:

Amy Koopman, original music
Clark Donnelly, actor
Cynthia Ali, jewelry designer
Joanna Hallstrom, graphic designer/illustrator
Luke Dekarske, original music

You’ll also get a chance to meet others engaged in creative endeavors. Whether you’re an artist yourself or appreciate the arts, come and celebrate some of the diverse gifts in our body!

Please join us – Monday, May 21 at 7:00 in the Gathering Area.

More about the Woodland Hills Arts Collective

Greg will be one of the speakers at this year’s National Day of Prayer gathering in the Twin Cities. The event happens on Thursday, May 3 from 7:00-9:00pm at Mariucci Arena on the U of M campus. From their site:

The Twin Cities is one of the youngest-growing metropolitan areas in America. Presently the masses represent the least churched and most biblically illiterate generation in our nation’s history. We need God to turn the tide. We would like to invite all generations from diverse backgrounds to come to hold hands and seek God for personal, city and nationwide awakening.

Check out the full list of speakers and musicians and get more information about the event on the UNITE web site.