THE Word

Today Parker had a big day at church. It was 3rd grade Bible Presentation Sunday. It has long been a tradition in the United Methodist Church to receive a brand new Bible while you are in the third grade. Daryl and I both still have the Bibles that we received from the First United Methodist Church in Seffner when we were in third grade.

Parker was called up with his friend Melanie to receive their Bibles. Joining us up front was also Melanie's mom, Cindy Brodie our director of Education and Phyllis Cottle, one of Parker and Melanie's Sunday School teachers. After receiving their Bibles, they both knelt at the altar rail while all of us up front laid hands on them and I prayed for them. Then the congregation had a little response that they said to celebrate the day with the children as well.

Parker has been thrilled with his new Bible. He's had one for a while but this one is a bit more grown up for him. He was already starting to read some of the stories and he dove right into all extra pieces on the side with background information. Apparently there is also a phone app that goes along with it that helps kids do Bible memory verses. He's already spent some time on that today too.

Our prayer for Parker? That this verse would ring true in his life: "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (Psalm 119:105).