Pastor Jason Sanders from Spooner Wesleyan Church spoke at our chapel this week. He talked about how easy it is to be selfish. We are born with selfish desires, but we can act differently with God's help. Pastor Jason shared the story of the Good Samaritan.

Most of the students knew the story, but it was such a good reminder. There was a man who had been robbed and beaten. Two people, a priest and a Levite, walked by and saw the hurting man but walked on by him without helping him. Jews and Samaritans did not get along. Yet, it was a Samaritan that stopped and helped.

Luke 10:33-37 says, "But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, 'The one who showed him mercy.' And Jesus said to him, 'You go, and do likewise.'"

Next week, Mrs. Sarah Brant will be speaking at our chapel. She and her husband, Aaron, pastor Barron Foursquare Church. Chapel is at 10:30 a.m. every Tuesday at the dome (next to the main building). You are invited to join us!

We hope to see you at our Christmas Concert next Thursday, December 14, at 6:00 p.m. All are invited to hear a message of hope and joy through song and Scripture.

Students should dress nicely for the concert. Please, no jeans. Christmas colors or blacks and tans are appropriate. Please have your student dropped off at their classroom by 5:45 p.m. (Middle schoolers will gather in the music room rather than their classroom.)

Thank you to Ken and Mary Schmitz, founders of Wreaths with a Reason, for donating a number of Christmas wreaths and decorative swags. Also, thank you to Rita Sellers for selling these wreaths in our parking lot. So far, we have brought in over $1000! There are a few left. Rita will be selling them on Sunday morning from 9:00 - 9:45 a.m. if you want to stop by and buy one. The wreaths are $35 and the swags are $20. Thank you for supporting Ascension Academy!

A few parents have been asking about gift ideas for our staff. We filled out a Favorite Things sheet. This might help if you are looking for ideas to bless one of our teachers or Rita and Roger, who faithfully volunteer daily. Click on the words to the left (these are a few of my favorite things) to read the lists.

We have several fun events planned for the last week of school before Christmas break. First, we will show our Christmas cheer dressing up as follows:

Monday (Dec. 18) - Holiday sock day

Tuesday (Dec. 19) - Ugly Sweater Day

Wednesday (Dec. 20) - Christmas Accessory Day (earrings, hair pieces, ties, hats)

Thursday (Dec. 21) - Christmas Colors Day

Friday (Dec. 22) - Sweats and Slippers Day

Plus...

• The Christmas store will be on December 19
• Christmas parties will be on December 21
• Full-time students can earn a movie and popcorn party on December 22.

This is what the students are working on to earn their movie and popcorn party (students that do not reach the goal will have a study hall with Mrs. Sainburg):

K-1 - Kindness Bucket

2-3 - Reading Challenge

4-5 - Words of Affirmation

6-8 - Romans Road Memorization

We will collect items from now until Christmas for the Pregnancy Help Center. We are collecting the following items:

Little Gloves

Little Mittens

Washcloths

Baby Towels

Teethers

There is a Christmas tree in our hallway. Donated items can be hung on the tree. Items must be delivered to Ascension Academy by December 21.

December 11, Meatloaf

December 12, Tacos

December 13, Ham & Cheese Sliders

December 14 Baked Chicken

December 15, Pizza

Please remember to order lunch for the week by 8:00 a.m. on Monday morning. If you need to order after that time or change your order, email us at office@ascensionarrows.org. We cannot provide a regular school lunch to your student if an email is not received should you add or change the lunch order after 8:00 a.m. on any day that a change is made or a lunch order is added.

Students will have the opportunity to shop for Christmas gifts on December 19. There will be gifts for all ages, so students can shop for their siblings, parents, teachers, grandparents, etc. PTF volunteers will be helping that day and will wrap all of the purchased gifts. Students will come home with a Christmas store sheet on December 7 where you can specify who they are shopping for and how much they can spend.

Isaiah ministered primarily to the royal court of Judah in Jerusalem between the years of 740-690 BC. He prophesied during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. Your reading this week covers the reigns of both Ahaz and Hezekiah. Many of the events prophesied can be verified to have occurred in history.

God promises to restore his people. Not only would a remnant of the people of Judah be allowed to return to their home after the exile, but the coming of the Messiah would bring with it joy and true freedom. We believers can look forward to Christ’s return and to a New Heaven and a New Earth! (Revelation 21)

--From our Bible Roadtrip Curriculum

Students are memorizing the following verses for the first week:

K-3 Students - Isaiah 14:24

4-5 Students - Isaiah 14:24, 25:8-9

6-8 Students - Isaiah 14:24, 25:8-9, Isaiah 29:16

Isaiah 14:24, "The Lord of hosts has sworn: 'As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand.'"

Reading this week included the following:

Isaiah 14, 24, 28, 32, 37 (K-3)

Isaiah 13-14, 22, 24, 25, 28, 31-32, 37, 39 (4-5)

Isaiah 13-14, 17, 20, 22, 24, 25, 28-29, 31-32, 34, 37-39 (6-8)

Questions to ponder:

1. What does chapter 13 say about God’s sovereignty? Look at verses 3, 4b, 5b, 6, 9, 11-13, 17, 19. Why did God say he would take action? (Isaiah 13:11)

2. What do we have to look forward to? Why should this give us hope? (Isaiah 25)
   

3. How did God feel about the Israelites seeking help from their former captors rather than from the Lord? How can you seek God first? (Isaiah 31)
   

4. Why do you think Hezekiah showed the Babylonian envoys all his treasures? What does his statement in Isaiah 39:8 indicate to you about his character?
   

December 8, Christmas Caroling, 4 p.m.

December 14, Christmas Concert, 6 p.m.

December 19, Christmas Store

December 21, Christmas Parties

December 22, Last Day of School Before Christmas Break