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Another funky weather day for us in March 2026! I hope you’re staying dry and at a comfortable temperature to your liking! No matter what, I’m just glad it’s not snow!

I’m still recovering a bit from yesterday afternoon. We had an epic Youth Roots and Bridge Roots gathering here! So many friends!! So much pizza!! So much fun!! We had almost 40 4th-12th graders here for two simultaneous events - the March Youth Roots Gather event and the Bridge Roots Winter Retreat. In case you didn’t know, Jr. High and Sr. High Youth Roots have monthly “Gather” events which are recreational or social events hosted here at the church or offsite at church family members homes or other businesses. 

Bridge Roots is a new ministry for us in the 2025-2026 school year, specifically designed for 4th-6th grade Roots Kids. The purpose of this ministry is to “bridge” the gap between the transition from Lil’ Roots (K-3rd) and Youth Roots (7-12th). The Bridge Roots group meets during the Sunday School hour and on Wednesday Roots Nights, just like Lil’ Roots and Youth Roots. Outside of those discipleship times, the Bridge Roots Kids have a Winter Retreat and a Summer Work Camp. These are to mimic the experiences of a Youth Retreat or Work Camp, but in a 3-4 hour event, rather than a several-day experience. So, like a winter Youth Retreat, the Bridge Roots Winter Retreat was full of food, crazy games, a biblical lesson and small group discussions. Our topic for this first-ever Bridge Roots Winter Retreat was God’s flawless love! 

A special thanks to all the adults who helped run the Youth Roots Gather event and the Bridge Roots Winter Retreat! There are MANY ways to serve our Roots Kids, K-12! How is God nudging you to come alongside them? Remember, your Biblical call to generational discipleship does not expire with age! You’re never “too old!”

This week we’re up for another Wednesday Roots Night, so mark your calendar to join us for dinner and discipleship opportunities! We’re also not far off from many of the Holy Week events that we’ve been sharing about with the “Taking Up Lent” challenges each week. Watch the Gathering Area for “pre-registration” for the Good Friday Movie Showing and Dinner. We’d love to get a rough headcount for that event! We will also have an alternative movie for the younger audience (or whomever wants to join in!) as “The Passion of Christ” is quite graphic. 

Speaking of the “Taking Up Lent” challenges, don’t miss out on my weekly podcast episodes. They connect the BELIEVE topic with our Lent challenge! Sure I’m a little biased, but I think these episodes are a fun way to review what we’ve learned on Sunday and apply it to our week! You can grab “The Dig” on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or on our church website.

 

What WE’RE Learning This Week: A nugget of what our Lil’, Youth and Adults Roots heard this week

Our Key Idea: “I worship God for who he is and what he has done for me.”

Our Key Verse: Psalm 95:1-2

How Every Generation Lives This Out: Complete this week’s “Taking Up Lent” Challenge - Private Worship!

Check Out This Week’s PODCAST

*This season of the “The Dig” podcast is specifically designed for EVERY 

GENERATION to deepen their understanding, ignite their curiosity and grow as fruit-producing, God-glorying disciples! Don’t miss out! To make it easier for you to find and listen, you can now grab “The Dig” episodes on the church website: https://www.mgcb.org/family-ministries/the-dig-podcast--8

 

What I’M Learning This Week: Sharing what I’m reading and listening to lately

I was responsible for devotions during our staff meeting this morning, so I grabbed the “Taking Up Lent” Challenge bulletin insert and a few different Bible translations and we practiced this week’s challenge together!

First we read Psalm 100 in the NIV translation and asked the question - “what does this Psalm reveal about who God is?” We talked about how this Psalm reveals his awe and reverence, his faithfulness and his love for us. 

Then we read Psalm 100 in the Message translation and reflected on “how the Psalm points to Jesus.” We talked about how we’re reminded of Jesus’ power over all creation and his role in creation. 

To change it up a bit, we read out the KJV translation next. We answered “what does the Psalm mean to the church” with a lot of responses about joyful praise! 

We read Psalm 100 one more time, this time in the NIrV translation, the early readers version (a.k.a the kid’s translation!). The final reflection question asks “how does this Psalm prompt me to pray?” This Psalm is a great reminder of the necessity of being thankful in our prayers, not just requesting and confessing in our prayers. 

You certainly don’t need to read each of the daily Psalms in a different translation before you answer each reflection question, I just thought it would be a fun challenge. Maybe give it a try for a day or two this week!

 

Make Every Week Count: Parenting, Grandparenting & Spiritual Mentoring Resources

Something to Read: Next week in the BELIEVE series we’ll be studying Prayer. Here’s a kid’s prayer book that I really like! What Every Child Should Know About Prayer by Nancy Gutherie 

Something to Listen to: Another new song to share with you… You Will Make All Things New by Sovereign Grace Music

Something to Follow: The Knowing Faith Podcast is an excellent resource, one of my favorite theological tools. Check out this episode, “What is the Church Doing Wrong?” and its supporting resources, particularly the “State of Theology Report.” It’s fascinating!

 

How Can You Pray? Prayer Requests and Praises from Roots Ministries

PRAY for a Spirit-filled, worshipful heart this week!

PRAISE for so many Youth Roots and Bridge Roots friends at our event this weekend!