Short. To the point. Powerful in its simplicity. First John 4:19 is all that and more. I call attention to this verse as I work with my kindergarten students and as I talk with my own children each year whenever we focus on Valentine’s Day. 

Looking around at the flowers, hearts, cupids and candy that overflow from store shelves this time of year, I know I can feel overcome by the commercialism of it all. That’s when it helps me to focus attention God’s love for us. And that’s the message I work to communicate to all the children in my care every day.

This year, Ash Wednesday comes just three days after Valentine’s Day. As Christians observe both, our Savior reminds us of his love for us, despite our sins. In the weeks of Lent ahead, as we prepare our hearts for Easter, we will think often about the mercy and compassion of our Lord Jesus who died on the cross because He loved us so much.

God himself is the source of all love. He is the essence and definition of the word love. In response to all he has done and all he will do for us, both now and throughout eternity, we actively look for ways to demonstrate his love by serving others.

Check out the CTA website for some great ideas about keeping children (and adults, too) connected to their Savior throughout the Lenten/Easter season. You will find many products and projects there that will make the all-important truth of God’s love a fun and easy one for your children to learn. Now that’s something to celebrate!

God's Love is So Big it's Amazing Children's Valentines Book

Did you know that February 14 falls on Sunday in 2010? Have you considered ways you might “seize the day” for the children’s ministries in your church? Maybe you’ve been thinking about it, but aren’t quite sure what to do. Or perhaps you find yourself knee-deep in the planning process.

In either case, you may want to consider the new materials CTA has developed for children across a wide age range. Consider these two options:

• Host a Valentine’s Day party for kids in Sunday school and encourage them to bring their friends on this special day.
• Offer a three- or four-hour “parents day out” on Sunday afternoon and encourage both church members and community families to bring their children.

No time to plan a party? CTA offers a free planning guide. It includes tons of ideas for games, food, activities, projects, and everything else you need to make your event a success. The guide is so complete that you might consider giving it to a small team of volunteers and letting them run with it.

In addition, you may find one or more of these free devotions helpful in your planning. They will help keep everything Christ-centered.

Plus, if you need publicity, check out these free, downloadable tools (invitations, flyers, and postcards for follow-up).

If you’re looking for inexpensive reminders of God’s love, reminders that carry an age-appropriate Valentine’s theme, CTA has developed many new products just in time for February 14. Check them out!

CTA's Valentine's Ministry Message

Yes, it’s this weekend! Valentine’s Day is February 14–this Saturday.

 If you teach kids in Sunday school, they will likely arrive revved up and ready to go! Your usual, well-crafted plan is likely to fly right out the window on Cupid’s wings! So now what? How can you capitalize on the potential chaos? Here’s a link to save the day!

Check out our FREE party planning guide that will help you keep kids of all ages interested and involved (and learning about Jesus, too!).

If you use the ideas, let us know how it went! We’re learning with you and want to share your best thoughts with everyone in our network so next year’s Valentine event can be even more spectacular!

When Jesus was asked how much he loved us, he stretched out his arms on the cross and said, “I love you this much!” Only Jesus, the light of the world, loved us enough to die on the cross for us. Remember that Jesus is love, keep him in your heart, and you will never be alone.

Editor: Check out our Valentine’s Day Products and these Free Resources:

• Valentine Promises From God
• Ministry Message: Valentines for Everyone