Trinity United Methodist Church, Orrville, Ohio

Youth Sunday School:

Grade 7 & 8: Room 108 -The Junior High students study the Confirmation process. They learn about all aspects of the church; from worship, to who Jesus is and to the meaning of baptism.

High School: Room 110 - The Senior High Class chooses topics for discussion. It is Bible based with lively discussion and youth pastor Don Hart leads.

Methodist Youth Fellowship:

MISSION STATEMENT: The mission of Trinity MYF is to provide a safe harbor where God's people will see the face of Christ through fellowship and worship, become His hands through service to His community and gratify His heart by igniting faith in His children.

MYF is open to all youth in 7th-12th grade and meets year-round, usually on Sunday evenings. Activities range from Bible Study and discussion groups, mission workdays, dinners, and miscellaneous concerts and trips.

March 2010:

There was a song that has been made popular in a few different decades called “Cat’s in the Cradle.” Many of you might be familiar with the original version by Harry Chapin, while others might be familiar with the covers of it. The song’s lyrics, for those who have not heard the song or do not remember it, are about the story of a father and his child that take the listener from the time of the child’s birth to the point where the boy has now become a grown man with his own family. As the song progresses through the child growing up, the father is always telling the son that he is too busy and that he will make time for his son later. Eventually, the father finally has time for his son, but by now, the son is a young man and the tables have turned. The boy is too busy for his dad. The reason I bring this up, is that in many ways, this song has a connection with each generation as they become parents. The song tries to tell us a story and teach a lesson that has been needed to be told (for as long as and as many times as the song has been remade by different artists in different decades). It is also a song that really preaches when we look at the state of our children’s own spiritual growth. You see, many children are just too busy. This is not just an issue in one town, but across this country as parents try to help their children become successful for their future. Unfortunately, the strive for success, or dare I say it, even our own children’s approval of us has kept them in this busy cycle. In order for children to succeed in on area, another must be sacrificed. Often times, unfortunately, it is our time with God that is sacrificed. As the scoutmaster said on scout Sunday, what our children are learning now leads to who they will become. If a child is too busy for God now, odds are that they will be later. You see, behaviors are learned, and any habit that is ingrained in us takes much deliberate attempts to change.

Many times in the Bible, God is referred to as a father. In fact, the Lord’s Prayer begins with “Our Father.” This familial language is deliberate not just to describe God’s relationship to us, but also as a reflection of how important our own relationship must be with our children. They are dependent on us, and although they may think at times that they know what is right and good, they need your loving guidance and even your firm hand to help them learn what is truly good and important. This is true in all things, including spiritual growth. The more a child grows to know Jesus when they are young, the stronger their relationship will be with Him when they get older. Unfortunately, this world and its troubles will not wait for us on our timetable. We all at some age have to face the social issues and evils of this world, and the strength of our relationship with Jesus will determine much of how we view and deal with these issues. In other words, either we will form our morals and ethics by God, or the world will form them for us. I will leave you with a few questions to ponder. What does it mean to dedicate children in church, and what does mean to you when you dedicated your child(ren)?

Don Hart