Our chapel time this school year has been great! We have 165 students and teachers all singing, praying, and growing in God’s Word together. Chapel for K-4th grade meets on Wednesday mornings. We have a variety of speakers, and starting in January our preschool students join in our worship time.
2012 - 2013 School Year Chapel Highlights
April 17th: Mr. Perris, ODCS first grade teacher, led our chapel. This month we are focusing on all the ROCKS(respect, obedience, consideration, kindness, and service) during chapel times and throughout the day. Mr. Perris used Jesus as our true example of ROCKS. Jesus was kind to many people when others were not, He was considerate of others, and He came to serve. He is our ultimate example. Thanks Mr. Perris for showing us Eph. 5:1 which says “Be imitators of Christ”.
April 10th: Our speaker was Gab Haff from Family Fellowship Church. We learned about the story of Mary and Martha. The story is found in Luke 10:38-42. Martha was busy getting things prepared and was upset that Mary wasn’t helping her. Mary was listening to Jesus and spending time with him. Gabe helped us see that, although we have many things in our life that take up time, we should always have time for the Lord. We should make that our first priority. Spending time with God helps us grow closer to Him.
March 13th: Mrs. Andrea Mindling presented a chapel on service. Her son, ODCS graduate, Ryan Mindling is on an extended missions trip. He is traveling to 11 countries in 11 months! He recorded a message for everyone which was really a challenge. He challenged us to find someone to serve at school or at home and to pray for him that he will serve like Jesus. She had pictures of Ryan in different countries praying and serving others. Mrs. Mindling reminded us of Matthew 20:28 which reads, “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” We are praying that Ryan will continue to serve like Jesus and return home safely
February 27th: Mr. Stewart, ODCS parent, was our speaker. He brought a special guest with him! Miss Erin Shelly, owner of ATA Karate Studio, was our guest. She explained her love of Karate and how she combines Karate with her love of the Lord. She teaches respect and discipline not only in Karate, but in learning and following God's Word. Mr. Stewart explained to us that God has a plan for our life and has a calling for us. He read from Jeremiah 29:11 which says, "I have a plan for you," declared the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you a hope and a future." Miss Shelly uses God's call on her life to reach others for Christ. Thanks to Miss Shelly and Mr. Stewart.
January 30th: Mrs Donnelly and Mrs. Wilkinson, 2nd grade teachers, have been sharing for the month of January on consideration. Consideration is thinking of others first. Mrs. Donnelly started a program at the beginning of the month called, “Pay it Forward.” Students who are chosen pick another 5 students to think about by making a card, cookies, reading or praying with them. During this chapel, students shared their experiences with this project. It was a blessing to hear how this has impacted not only the students who received a special treat, but those who did the sharing as well! It was great to see how God is using this ministry in the lives of our young people!
January 23rd: Mr. Brown, ODCS parent, taught from Philippians 2. The text teaches that we should think of the interests of others before our interests. It also teaches that we should consider others, out of humility, better than ourselves. He helped us see that this is what true consideration really is. The text goes on to say that we should have the same attitude of Jesus, who laid down His life for us. Thanks, Mr. Brown.
January 16th: Mr. Brooks, ODCS parent, spoke to us about consideration. He told the students that consideration is thinking about others. It is considering what someone else needs. Mr. Brooks taught from Mark 10. The story is about Jesus healing Bartimaeus’ sight. Jesus considered Bartimaeus’ need and then He restored his sight and said that Bartimaeus’ faith had healed him. Even though he was rebuked by the crowd, Bartimaeus was determined to talk and be with Jesus. Mr. Brooks asked us if we are determined to be with Jesus and serve Him. He is our example of all the ROCKS descriptions! Thanks, Mr. Brooks!
January 9th: Our first chapel for 2013 was great! Mrs. Donnelly, second grade teacher, was our speaker. The topic for the month of January is consideration. She helped the students understand what consideration really is and how it is different from kindness. It really is about thinking of others, how someone feels, and going out of your way to bless them. Over the next month, Mrs. Donnelly, is going to help our students think of others and ways to bless them. We are excited to see the blessings of this project.
October 31st: Mrs. Meier’s kindergarten class presented a drama about the feeding of the 5,000. Mrs. Meier read the story from the Bible about Jesus feeding over 5,000 people with just a few fish and some bread. It was a miracle! Her class helped us visualize the story by acting out parts of it. The whole class got on stage to represent the multitude! What a great reminder of how God provides for His people!
October 24th: Mrs. Bond’s first grade class led chapel. Our topic of the month is obedience and the class helped us learn more about obedience through the story of Jonah. The class acted out the story and even had props for us to better visualize the big fish and storm at sea! We learned it is better to obey God than to try to run from Him! Thanks, Mrs. Bond!
October 3rd: At the beginning of chapel, we enjoyed a special presentation by our middle school students to the song, “I Am Yours.” It was great! Our new theme of the month is obedience. Mr. Jamie Stewart, father of Mason, was our speaker. Mr. Stewart discussed the importance of being brave. He shared that God is with us even when we “strike out” and that God will strengthen us with His right hand. He shared the verse found in Isaiah 41:10 which says, “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am with you….” Life throws us curve balls, yet God is ever faithful. Thanks, Mr. Stewart!
September 26th: Our speaker was Dr. Burton, president of ODCS. He spoke to us on the importance of keeping Christ number one in our lives. He illustrated this with a few object lessons that really helped us understand that Christ really should be first. He showed us that we need to fill our lives first with Christ. Then, when trials come we will have Him as our foundation. Thanks to Dr. Burton for a great reminder!
September 19th: Ben Fowlkes, Church of the Open Door Children’s Pastor led chapel. Our theme is respect, so Ben read from the book of Matthew about the centurion who had so much respect and awe for Jesus that he felt so humbled by being in Jesus’ presence. The centurion’s servant was sick and he asked Jesus to heal him. Jesus didn’t even have to visit the home of the servant to heal him. Jesus was pleased with the centurion’s attitude. He can be pleased with our attitude too! Ben told the students it is really about showing others respect in our words and actions. Thanks, Ben!
September 5th: Chapel was led by third grade teacher, Mrs. Ereditario. Our theme this month is respect. We learned about King David’s friend King Nahash dying (see 1 Chronicles 19.) The king’s son, Hanun, took over for his dad, and he was not a very respectful person. King David sent some gifts as an act of kindness to Hanun for the death of his father. He was very disrespectful to King David’s men who brought the gifts. King Hanun cut the beards of the men and cut their clothes. Because of this act of disrespect their friendship was broken. Battles took place and people lost their lives. We can learn to be respectful to everyone we meet because God desires for us to be like him. Ephesians 5:1 says, “Be imitators of God.”
August 29th: We had an awesome chapel to start the beginning of our school year! Mrs. Lowe, elementary principal, was our speaker. Our topic for August and September is respect. Mrs. Lowe helped the students to understand that everyone, even if they look different or like different things than we do, is worthy of respect because God created all of us. She directed us to the greatest commandment which is to love God with all of our being and to love others as ourselves. If we always love others in this way we will please God and we will be respectful of others