Happy New Year! Plan for January 6

Happy New Year, Alive! leaders! I am thrilled to begin a new semester with you all. Now that Advent has passed, we will resume Grapple with another set of fascinating discussion topics. You will start off the new year with a series on relationships, specifically societal relationships. The questions in this unit are:

• What Difference Can I Make?
• Why Can't Countries Get Along?
• Why Isn't There Enough to Go Around?
• Is Our Environment Really Falling Apart?

You will undoubtedly hear a variety of viewpoints through this series, as children attempt to represent the diverse opinions their parents have shared with them. I'm thrilled that the Alive! room is a safe place for them to ask questions and identify how their faith informs these social issues. 

Here is the link to this week's leader guide:

What Difference Can I Make?

Wild

Wild begins this Sunday! Please encourage your crew to come from 5-7:30pm and meet in the Gym. They are welcome even if they haven't signed up yet - we can take care of that at the door. And let Sarah know if you'd like to chaperone one of the weeks!

Welcome, Bridgette!

Bridgette Ehly is excited to join the Alive! team this semester, and I am thrilled that she has chosen to do so. She will take Jill's place as Jill transforms into a #1 substitute leader. :) Thanks to all of you!

Plan for December 30

The plan for this week is easy! Since this is the last Sunday of the semester, and it is in the middle of the holidays, we are going to be relaxed. Snacks will be in your classroom when you arrive, and your whole duty for the morning is to build relationships and review the semester. Here is a loose structure for the hour:

• Enjoy refreshments and conversation
• Spend some time in semester review with these discussion questions:
• What was your favorite topic this semester? Why?
• What is one thing you learned through Alive! this semester?
• How have you grown closer to Jesus?
• What do you hope we can do in Alive! next semester?
• Pray together
• Share group prayer requests
• Have the group split into pairs or threes, and have them pray for one another.
• Then close in prayer
• Enjoy refreshments and conversation

There is one final installment of The Journey, and if you wish to look it over and discuss any of it with your group, feel free! 

The Journey - Shepherds

Happy New Year!

Thank you from Kim Smith

During 3rd-5th grade retreat, the 4th-5th graders decorated ornaments to be given to the Children's Ministry Team in appreciation for all they do. Kim Smith would like to extend her gratitude to the group:

Dear Third through Fifth Grade Ladies and Gentlemen, 

Wow! The ornaments you painted for the Children's Ministry Team Members are absolutely beautiful! Thank you, thank you, thank you! The ornament I received is hanging proudly on our Christmas tree and will be cherished for yeras to come. Thank you for all your hard work and your thoughtfulness.  

Merry Christmas to all of you and your families. I hope 2013 brings you many blessings. Love,
Kim Smith

Leaders, please take a moment to convey these thanks to the kids! The original note will be in your classroom on Sunday. 

Plan for December 23

This week, you are literally talking about a journey! Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem in this Sunday's lesson, and you and your Alive! crew will discuss their path and their stopping point in Bethlehem - a stable. Here is the link to the lesson:

Journey to Bethlehem

Make sure to spend some time talking through the small group discussion questions in the lesson, and do whichever of the activities you find the most appealing for your group of kids. 

Last week of curriculum!

This is actually your last week of curriculum for the entire year! On December 30, you will spend the morning enjoying snacks and fellowship and reviewing the semester. You'll ask the kids what they've learned, what their favorite topic was, and what they hope for Alive! next semester. You'll pump up Wild and just enjoy being together in Christian fellowship. 

In January, you'll begin a new series of Grapple, called Relationships: Why in the World? Topics include:

• What difference can I make?
• Why can't countries get along?
• Why isn't there enough to go around?
• Is our environment really falling apart?

It should be fun to hear the kids get political! :) Your biggest job will be to help them find the biblical background for their positions and to learn to disagree well. Let me know if you have any questions!

Thank you

Look for a small gift in your classrooms this week as a thank you from your class. 

Plan for December 16

On with the Journey! This week, Alivers will delve into the story of Elizabeth in Week 3. Here is a link to the lesson:

The Journey Week 3 - Elizabeth

Let me know if you need any suggestions for choosing which parts of the lesson to focus on, or if you need any supplies prepared for you by Sunday. 

Christmas Concert

This Sunday, the Christmas Concert will comprise worship at 8:45 and 11:15 in the Sanctuary. There will be a worship service with communion in the Chapel at 10am. I do not think these change in routine will affect Alive! attendance in any significant way, but I wanted you to be aware. 

Thank you!

Plan for December 9

Whew! Thank you to Betsy, Amy and Jill for your flexibility this past Sunday. With music, Christmas Eve offering voting, and PSALM Kids warm ups, you were pulled in many directions, and you handled it with grace. I can't adequately express how grateful I am to all of you!

This week should be a little more normal. :) You actually get to experience a real Advent lesson, as we enter week 2 of The Journey. Here is your leader guide:

Week 2 - Joseph

You are welcome to use as much of this lesson plan as you want. Make sure to give them a chance to look up the story in their Bibles and discuss it with one another. This curriculum is written for children in K-5th, so take liberties to make it relevant to your older age group. Focus more on discussion than on activities. 

Let me know if you have any questions at all! 

Plan for December 2 - Advent Week 1

This week begins our Advent focus, but it is going to be a little different from all the other weeks. Here is the schedule:

10am - Start off in Room 006 for music with Ms. Judy

• Have one leader stand at the Scout Center entrance to send Alivers to Room 006.
• Ms. Judy has been looking forward to doing music with the 4th-5th graders for weeks!

10:30am - Head to Room 005 

• This Sunday, all K-5th graders get to vote on our Christmas Eve offering recipient.
• Even though it cuts into curriculum time, I want to include the Alivers if at all possible.
• You will join the K-3rd graders as I explain the options to the whole group.
• Then, you'll return to your classroom (Scout Center) to vote.

11am - Dismissal

You probably won't have any time to do the actual lesson from The Journey for this week, but I will link you to it anyway:

The Journey, Week 1 - Mary

Nothing big to prepare this week! Let me know if you have any questions. 

Welcome to Advent!

Plan for November 25

Hello, Alive! leaders! Welcome to the last week of the robots series. :)

This Sunday, you get to bring it all to a climax with What Does God Want From Me?  The following Sunday, we will begin our Advent curriculum, The Journey, by Adam Hamilton. You will download those lessons from this blog as usual.

Music with Ms. Judy on December 2

Ms. Judy has made a special request to do music with the 4th-5th graders periodically, and I have really wanted to grant that request. So, on December 2, she will meet you in Room 006 at 10:15am for about 15-20 minutes of music. You will then return to class to briefly begin our Advent series, The Journey by Adam Hamilton.

Spring 2013 Leaders Update

Introducing, our Spring 2013 Alive! leader team:

• Betsy Smith
• Cindy Barr
• Becky Will
• Elizabeth Straub
• Amy Frederick
• Bridgette Ehly
     

Jill is taking next semester off in order to preserve the integrity of the schedule, and Bridgette Ehly is excited to come on board. As Bridgette will tell you, they are starting the process of putting their home on the market in order to move out of state, and it is hard to know how long that process will take. I am hopeful that her house will not sell until May 31, but if her plans do change and she has to leave, I will talk to the remaining 5 of you about recruiting another leader or doing a rotation of 5. That will be your call! I'm happy either way. 

Enjoy this last week of Grapple for 2012! Blessings!

Plan for November 18

Hello, wonderful Alive! leaders! I hope you had a blast with the exhausted retreaters on Sunday and are ready for another great week of Grapple. This Sunday's What's the Point? question should generate some interesting discussion: Why Didn't Got Make Us Like Robots? 

Stewardship Cards for 4th-5th

This Sunday is Stewardship Sunday, and as with all aspects of worship, we want 4th-5th graders to participate fully. In your classroom will be Sharing My Blessings cards. 

Please take a few minutes to explain the general concept of stewardship, however you see fit, and distribute the cards to those who haven't yet filled one out. Those that are going to worship at 11:15 am can lay their cards on the altar at the end of that service. 

Music with Ms. Judy on December 2

Ms. Judy has made a special request to do music with the 4th-5th graders periodically, and I have really wanted to grant that request. So, on December 2, she will meet you in Room 006 at 10:15am for about 15-20 minutes of music. You will then return to class to briefly begin our Advent series, The Journey by Adam Hamilton.

Advent

During Advent, you all will maintain the same schedule as usual, with everyone serving on the regular rotation. I will post the Advent curriculum here on the blog each week, and you will use that rather than the Grapple curriculum.

You will enjoy the Advent curriculum together for 4 weeks - December 2, 9, 16 and 23. On December 30, you will have a review and fellowship day.

Spring 2013 Leaders

Right now, the following leaders have committed to serve in Alive! during the spring of 2013:

• Betsy Smith
• Cindy Barr
• Becky Will
• Elizabeth Straub
• Bridgette Ehly (need to confirm)
     

In my opinion, if 8 people wanted to do Alive! next semester, that would be no problem! There would just be more help each week. However, I wanted to let you know where things stand so that you feel no pressure one way or another. Pray about where God would have you serve in our church next year, and then let me know!

p.s. You are all wonderful, and my vote is for you all to lead in Children's Ministries next semester, one way or another. :)

Alive! Plan for November 11

How was your first week in the What's the Point? series? I saw the awesome posters the kids made, and I'm excited to see them completed and displayed outside your class.

This Sunday continues with How Come I'm Not Perfect? The emphasis is on helping them to accept themselves as people that God loves unconditionally. You get to remind them that nobody is perfect, but that each of us can continue to grow in God's love.

Music with Ms. Judy on December 2

Ms. Judy has made a special request to do music with the 4th-5th graders periodically, and I have really wanted to grant that request. So, on December 2, she will meet you in Room 006 at 10:15am for about 15-20 minutes of music. You will then return to class to briefly begin our Advent series, The Journey by Adam Hamilton.

Advent

During Advent, you all will maintain the same schedule as usual, with everyone serving on the regular rotation. I will post the Advent curriculum here on the blog each week, and you will use that rather than the Grapple curriculum.

You will enjoy the Advent curriculum together for 4 weeks - December 2, 9, 16 and 23. On December 30, you will have a review and fellowship day.

Spring 2013 Leaders

Right now, the following leaders have committed to serve in Alive! during the spring of 2013:

• Betsy Smith
• Bridgette Ehly (need to confirm)
• Denise Waggener (need to confirm)

In my opinion, if 8 people wanted to do Alive! next semester, that would be no problem! There would just be more help each week. However, I wanted to let you know where things stand so that you feel no pressure one way or another. Pray about where God would have you serve in our church next year, and then let me know!

p.s. You are all wonderful, and my vote is for you all to lead in Children's Ministries next semester, one way or another. 

Alive! for November 4

Wow, ladies, my apologies - I completely let this post slip this week! I promise next week will be better. Also, I am having some technical difficulties with my links, so I will e-mail the lesson and this post out to you all separately.

This week we begin the news unit of Grapple, entitled What's the point? This unit explores some very personal topics:

• Why did God create me?
• How come I'm not perfect?
• Why didn't God make us like robots?
• What does God want from me?

You will want to enter this unit with prayer, and fill each week with the resounding message that God loves them through and through. Between the beginning of 4th grade and the end of 5th grade, Alivers will question  who they are for perhaps the first time. This is a great opportunity for the church to communicate a message of love and acceptance to them. And beyond that, we want them to know they are loved just the way they are, but they can also "take up their cross" and follow. Life with God is not always easy, but it is good. 

Let me know if you have any questions, and please accept my apologies for the late post!

Alive! for October 28

Whew! Sunday was quite an adventure! Thank you so much for coordinating the ushering at 10am, especially considering the PSALM Kids singing, acolyting and dramatic reading that all took place at that service as well. Special thanks to Kim Smith who provided the snacks at the last minute, since Sarah had forgotten about them. :) Special thanks to Caroline Frederick for reminding Sarah in time.

This week's lesson

This week, you get to finish up the Bible- Fact or Fiction series! Here is a link to the leader guide:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/cjgkbd8m5b2b3al/Grapple_F%20or%20F_4.pdf

Enjoy the exciting conclusion!

Hallway artwork

Also, I saw the wonderful Bible-themed artwork on the wall outside your room on Sunday, and I have to say, I was blown away. Thank you for displaying that work, and for instilling the knowledge and love in the children so they could create it.

Blessings,

Sarah

Ushering Plan for October 21

This Sunday is another great Children's Sabbath week, and we are switching up the schedule a bit to allow Alivers to serve this week. Welcome to Ushering Week in Alive!

Alivers will be encouraged to usher at all three services. At the 10am service, Alivers should meet in the Gathering Hall to receive their ushering assignments and instructions. There will be a sign on the Scout Center door to direct Alivers to the Gathering Hall, and they will receive an e-mail this week with instructions.

You should station yourselves in the Gathering Hall and help to assign them to stations, with the help of Pat Isaacs, one of our main ushers.

Pat will assign Alivers to pass out bulletins, take offering, and assist in many different ways. Anyone who does not want to serve or does not have a job can sit in the back pews.

After the offertory is taken and the Doxology is sung, you will all head back to the Scout Center for snacks and a debriefing. Give them a chance to share about their experience of serving in worship by asking:

• Did they get any funny looks from people? Why?
• Do you have to be a certain age to serve in the worship service at church?
• Why do we have ushers? What would worship look like without them?

I'm hopeful that Pat will join you for some portion of this time to answer any ushering questions the kids may have. She is always looking for more ushers and would welcome them to usher anytime they are available. 

Let me know if you have any questions or concerns! We will finish our Grapple series the following Sunday. 

Blessings and thanks!

Plan for October 14

Sarah in and out this Sunday

I am on vacation this week, but I will be present this Sunday. If you have questions during the week, please contact Amy Ashton or Kim Smith!

Fact or Fiction, Week 3

This week's Grapple question is, "How is the Bible different from other books?" Please take this great opportunity to encourage the Alivers to bring their Bibles to church every week!


Schedule change

If you take a look at the Alive! schedule for the next few weeks, you will notice a change. Our October field trip day is now October 21, not October 28. This has been pushed up to allow Alivers to serve as ushers during all 3 worship services that day!

Details are still working themselves out, but the current plan for October 21 is as follows:

• For 8:45am service, any 4th-5th graders that are available should report to Pat Isaacs in the Gathering Hall by 8:30am. She will instruct them to pass out bulletins and take the offering at the appropriate times.
• For the 10am service, any 4th-5th graders that are available should report to Pat Isaacs in the Gathering Hall by 9:45am. She will instruct them to pass out bulletins and take the offering at the appropriate times.
• After taking the offering, Alivers should come down to the Scout Center for treats and discussion about serving in our church. 
• I'm hoping to have Pat Isaacs join you to give feedback and more information about serving in the future. 
• For the 11:15am service, any 4th-5th graders that are available should report to Pat Isaacs in the Gathering Hall by 11am. She will instruct them to pass out bulletins and take the offering at the appropriate times.

Alivers who are acolyting or participating in a dramatic reading will probably want to wait until another time to usher - and there will be plenty of opportunities!

This schedule change means that you will complete the Fact or Fiction series on October 28. Please convey any questions or concerns to me!

PSALM Kids Sings this Sunday

Reminder: 2nd-5th grade PSALM Kids sing at the 11:15am service this Sunday! PSALM Kids leaders will come to the Scout Center around 10:45 or 10:50 am this Sunday to collect all 4th-5th grade PSALM Kids and take them to warm up.

Warm ups for PSALM Kids will take place in Fellowship Hall at 10:55am.

Coffee, anyone? (repost)

The Children's Ministry Team would like to thank you for your amazing leadership on Sunday mornings. As a small gesture of support, we will begin providing coffee, bottled water, and (occasional) treats for you each week.

Starting this Sunday, please help yourself to coffee and pastries in the kitchenette that is on the lower level of the Children's Wing, right next to Room 005. You will find coffee, cream, sugar, cups, bottled water and pastries. Feel free to brew a fresh pot any time during the morning - we want you to have the freedom to make it however you like it, so we will leave that part up to you.

Thank you, and please help yourself! If there is any other way the Children's Ministry Team can support you, please let us know. Blessings,

Your Children's Ministry Team
Steve Jones, Chair
Teri Allen, Sunday Coordinator
Jenna Wheelock, Sunday Coordinator
Kim Smith, Sunday Coordinator
Andy Stone, Inviting Ministries
Jenny Fishback, Serve Coordinator
Amy Ashton, Early Childhood Coordinator
Janet Hagerty, Nursery and Childcare Coordinator
Lisa Watkins, Music Director for Childrenand Students
Sarah Flannery, Director of Children's Ministries

Plan for October 7

Sarah on vacation this Sunday

You're on your own this week! :) I look forward to hearing how wonderful Alive! is without me. Jenna Wheelock, whom most of you know, is leading K-3rd Large Group in Room 005 at this time, and if you have any questions, feel free to come find her.

You can always go to Amy Ashton or Janet Hagerty with questions as well!

Fact or Fiction, Week 2

This week's Grapple question is, "How do I know that the Bible is true?" You can find the lesson here. I strongly encourage you welcome the kids' questions and responses this week. The goal of this lesson is to have them struggle with a difficult question, not to provide them with all the answers.

Schedule change

If you take a look at the Alive! schedule for the next few weeks, you will notice a change. Our October field trip day is now October 21, not October 28. This has been pushed up to allow Alivers to serve as ushers during all 3 worship services that day!

Details are still working themselves out, but the current plan for October 21 is as follows:

• For 8:45am service, any 4th-5th graders that are available should report to Pat Isaacs in the Gathering Hall by 8:30am. She will instruct them to pass out bulletins and take the offering at the appropriate times.
• For the 10am service, any 4th-5th graders that are available should report to Pat Isaacs in the Gathering Hall by 9:45am. She will instruct them to pass out bulletins and take the offering at the appropriate times.
• After taking the offering, Alivers should come down to the Scout Center for treats and discussion about serving in our church. 
• I'm hoping to have Pat Isaacs join you to give feedback and more information about serving in the future. 
• For the 11:15am service, any 4th-5th graders that are available should report to Pat Isaacs in the Gathering Hall by 11am. She will instruct them to pass out bulletins and take the offering at the appropriate times.

Alivers who are acolyting or participating in a dramatic reading will probably want to wait until another time to usher - and there will be plenty of opportunities!

This schedule change means that you will complete the Fact or Fiction series on October 28. Please convey any questions or concerns to me!

Plan for September 30

This week, we are on to the next Grapple unit. This unit is called Fact or Fiction, and the focus is on the Bible. You will start with the question, "Did God really write the Bible?" Gear up for some interesting, perhaps open minded discussion!

You can find that lesson here. The following topics in this series include:

"How do I know the Bible is true?"
"How is the Bible different from other books?"
"Why should the Bible matter to me?"

This series is a great opportunity for you to encourage the kids to bring their own Bibles to Alive! In fact, Ms. Jenna has already told them that if they all bring their Bibles this week, she will personally donate $10 to the Festival of Stars basket fund.

Feel free to offer incentives for them to bring Bibles! Children's Ministries will gladly provide candy, special prizes, etc. for Bible bringers if you would like to keep track of that.

Enjoy the next four weeks of Bible focus!

Recap of Field Trip on September 23

How was the first Alive! field trip day? Jenna and Cindy reported to me that the hour was great, but I would love any more detailed feedback you may have. If you weren't there, you can check out the plan for the morning here.

Because there just wasn't enough time for the Alivers to share their stories back to the whole group, that is something I'd like for you to finish this week

Jenna will return for the beginning of Alive! this Sunday (Sept 30) to lead the wrap-up of last week's project. She will any children who attended last week to:

1. Share the Bible story their worked on last week or at home.
2. Explain how that story relates to their own lives. 

For example, if a child tells the story of Noah, she could finish by saying that Noah trusted God by building the boat and getting inside, and she can trust God to take care of her as well. 

All Alivers who share and relate will have completed their first Milestone! Each Aliver that completes this Milestone will earn $5 for the Festival of Stars basket. I can't wait to show them what all we can fit into that basket with their earnings!

Please contact me prior to Thursday evening with any questions you may have.

Coffee, anyone?

The Children's Ministry Team would like to thank you for your amazing leadership on Sunday mornings. As a small gesture of support, we will begin providing coffee, bottled water, and (occasional) treats for you each week.

Starting this Sunday, please help yourself to coffee and pastries in the kitchenette that is on the lower level of the Children's Wing, right next to Room 005. You will find coffee, cream, sugar, cups, bottled water and pastries. Feel free to brew a fresh pot any time during the morning - we want you to have the freedom to make it however you like it, so we will leave that part up to you.

Thank you, and please help yourself! If there is any other way the Children's Ministry Team can support you, please let us know. Blessings,

Your Children's Ministry Team
Steve Jones, Chair
Teri Allen, Sunday Coordinator
Jenna Wheelock, Sunday Coordinator
Kim Smith, Sunday Coordinator
Andy Stone, Inviting Ministries
Jenny Fishback, Serve Coordinator
Amy Ashton, Early Childhood Coordinator
Janet Hagerty, Nursery and Childcare Coordinator
Lisa Watkins, Music Director for Childrenand Students
Sarah Flannery, Director of Children's Ministries

September 23 - Field Trip

This is our basket!

Festival of Stars is an annual, 3-week silent auction in Fellowship Hall during the month of November. This year, the Outreach and Justice Team is providing empty baskets which people can fill with themed items and return. The baskets will be wrapped and auctioned off, and the proceeds will benefit charities. 

I have signed Alive! up to fill one such basket. But, rather than having the kids (read: their parents) purchase items for the basket, Alivers will spend this Sunday earning the money needed to fill the basket with all sorts of wonderful things. 

Alivers will earn this money by working toward and completing some of the Milestones set for this group this year. Each child that completes a Milestone this Sunday will earn $5 toward the basket. This means that you will need to keep track of how many children achieve a Milestone and let Ms. Sarah know afterward!

To provide guidance and answer questions, Jenna Wheelock will join you this week. Jenna is a member of the Children's Ministry Team who has worked closely on the development and implementation of Milestones. She will get you started and then stay the whole hour to assist or lead as needed. 

We will focus this week on just a couple of this year's Milestones:

1. Share with the group a basic Bible story (such as Good Samaritan, Noah's Ark, Prodigal Son, etc.), and demonstrate an ability to apply that story to own life. 
2. Memorize the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37-40)
3. Memorize the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20)

Jenna will start you off with #1, helping the kids to choose a Bible story they know, find it in their Bibles, review it, tell it, and then connect it to their own lives. 

If everyone gets through that Milestone and there is still time left, the kids can start working on #2 and #3. 

Summary

We will work on the 4th-5th grade Milestones as projects to earn money for a Festival of Stars basket, which will be auctioned off to raise money for charity. 

Hint: Encourage the kids to find the basket in Fellowship Hall in November and get their parents to bid on it! 

The BFF Series Has Ended!

I am eager to hear how this first unit of Grapple has gone. Please send me an e-mail, write me a text, or comment on this post with your thoughts about the last four weeks of:

• Why do some people have more friends?
• Am I only supposed to be friends with Christians?
• Do I have to like everybody?
• Why are my friends so mean sometimes?

The next post will introduce this week's exciting "field trip" activities, but take a look at what's coming up after that in the "Bible - Fact or Fiction?" series:

• Did God really write the Bible?
• How do I know the Bible is true?
• How is the Bible different from other books?
• Why should the Bible matter to me?

It's going to be a fun semester! Share your thoughts now - GO!

Alive! for September 16

Gear up for some heart-felt sharing this week, because the Grapple question is "Why are my friends so mean sometimes?" And maybe bring some tissues.

Here's the link to this week's lesson plan.

Self-release update

We discovered quickly yesterday that there was a problem with Check-In, which meant that no Teacher Tags printed for 4th-5th graders. Since the self-release information was contained solely on the Teacher Tags, there was no way to know who was allowed to self-release and who wasn't.

I have fixed the problem this morning, so Teacher Tags should print this coming Sunday. Therefore, please do enforce self-release procedures this week! If you need a reminder about that procedure, click here.

Thanks for leading this group so beautifully! Let me know how I can support you, please! I'm just an e-mail, text or phone call away.

Alive! Plan for September 9

This week, the BFF theme continues, with Jill leading and Betsy and Becky assisting. You get to ask the question, "Do I Have to Like Everybody?", and I'm sure the kids will have plenty to say in response.

Keep in mind that this is 2nd Grade Bible Sunday, so our numbers may be up a little bit because many families will make a point to attend. We are also coming off of a holiday weekend, so I anticipate having good numbers this week. Plan for at least 25 kids.

Room Update

Cindy and I met with Terry Strange, our wonderful scoutmaster, to discuss the use and needs of the Scout Room. Terry has created space for us to install a cabinet with doors for supplies, and he graciously moved the fire pit and some other items out of the main room to improve traffic and make it roomier. Terry is a wonderful leader, and I'm grateful we get to share space with someone as easygoing and accommodating as he is.

Additionally, Cindy let me know that you all could use a more portable dry erase board so that you can write on a board without messing with the Scout messages that might be on the main board. I will endeavor to have a smaller dry erase board (like 3"x4") in the room either this Sunday or next, so that you can simply place it in front of the main board and use it without worry.

Please let me know what else we can do to make that room the best possible fit for all parties. Thank you!

Alive! Plan for September 2

This is the second week of the BFF series in Grapple, and the topic is, Am I Only Supposed to be Friends with Christians? I'm sure the kids will have plenty to say about that one.

Click here for this week's lesson.

Remember: All kids must bring a Teacher Tag or be wearing a guest tag in order to enter the classroom. Children who aren't tagged should go check in electronically or come to Room 005 for a guest name tag. Thank you for helping us track attendance and keep our kids secure!

You all are doing a simply fantastic job. I'm so elated that you are leading our Alivers this year. Bless you!

Check-In for Alive!

Hello, leaders! I am curious to know how yesterday's lesson went - did you grapple? Let me know if you have feedback!

Looking at the Alive! roster from yesterday, I am so glad to see that you filled kids' names in even if they didn't have tags. That will be essential in case of a fire drill, etc.

However, 4th-5th graders must do Check-In before entering the classroom. If a child comes into your class without a nametag and teacher tag, please send them back out to the Check-In screen. We always prefer for parents to do Check-In for their kids, but that is just not always possible with this older, more independent group.

I'll send an e-mail to 4th-5th grade parents this week, reminding them that this group must be checked in before they go to Alive!. You can help by being the last defense! Just send kids to the Check-In screen, or walk them there yourself, to make sure everyone is checked in. Check-In is how we track attendance as well as maintain security.

Thank you!

Introducing... Kim Smith!

I am thrilled to introduce you all to Kim Smith, your Alive! representative on the Children’s Ministries Team. You may know her better as Charlie’s mom. J 

Kim is serving on the Children’s Ministry Team this year by meeting with me 3-4 times a month to discuss and design Sunday morning opportunities for 4^th-5^th graders. As a mom of a 5^th grader, she understands this age group and will help to be my eyes and sounding board for Alive!.

Kim is a great resource for you all as well. She may stop in from time to time to see how things are going and offer support. If you have any feedback about Alive!, questions about a certain issue or child, or if you want to pass along feedback to me in an easy and friendly way, please share those things with Kim. Since I am tied up with large group K-3^rd time at 10am, Kim can be a liaison for you.

So when you do see her, please thank her for taking this leadership role and share with her any ideas or feedback or experiences that will help us to design the best Sunday morning possible for our Alivers. 

August 26 - First Week of Grapple!

This week, Alive! begins your Grapple curriculum. Here is a link to this week's lesson, entitled Why do some people have more friends? This is the first in the Best Friends Forever series, which you will focus on for the next four weeks.

Online Access

At our training meeting, I told you that you would have online access to Grapple lessons. However, when I logged in online and looked at the lessons for this quarter, I quickly realized that the current content covers material that these kids have already heard at retreat and Wild last year!

So, for this semester, we are going old school. I have a leader book from another Grapple series, and my ministry coordinator, Valerie, is going to make copies of the leader book and scan them into PDFs. Once all the PDFs are created, I will post them here, so that you can see all the lessons for the quarter in one spot.

I do apologize for that speed bump, but it shouldn't stop us from having a fantastic first semester of Grapple. I love this Best Friends Forever series, and I hope you do too!

August 19 Alive! Plan

This Sunday, August 19, we will once again focus on getting to know one another and setting the groups' tone for the year.

Click here to look at this week's small group outline. Your morning will include discussion questions, games, setting class rules, and prayer.

Contact Sarah if you have any questions!

Promotion Sunday Outline

Are you ready for a fantastic Promotion Sunday! I am so excited I can hardly stand it. Here is a link to the detailed small group outline for Promotion Sunday. Feel free to look over the plan prior to Sunday, but you are not required to do so! Copies of this outline will be available in the Scout Center when you arrive.

Please do remember to station one person in the main hallway to direct 4th-5th graders to the Scout Center. They are used to coming to Room 005 from the summer, so it may take some redirecting to get them to the right place! Thanks.

Call or text me with any questions (494-4729). See you Sunday!

Promotion Sunday - August 12

Promotion Sunday is August 12 at Christ Church! That means that all children from birth-high school will jump up to a new age group.

As a small group leader, you rotate Sundays with another team. That means that for half of you, August 12 is your first Sunday, and for the other half, August 19 will be your first Sunday with the kids.

Here's what you need to know: August 12 and 19 are introductory weeks. There will not be a set curriculum for these weeks, but rather an outline and get-to-know-you activities.

1. Arrive in Scout Center at 9:50am
1. Assign 1 leader to stand out in the hall to direct 4th-5th graders to the Scout Suite.
2. Greet at the door.
1. Put "Teacher Tags" in the binder.
2. Give the kids some interaction and fellowship time. 
3. At 10:10, begin the get-to-know you time
1. Do provided icebreaker activities together.
2. Ask about which schools they attend.
3. Set classroom expectations
4. Have everyone learn everyone's name.
5. Discuss the 4 Questions.
6. Take prayer requests and pray. 
4. At 11am, kids may be dismissed.
1. If their Teacher Tag says "Allow self-release", they are free to go.
2. If not, they must stay until a parent picks them up. 

4 Questions

1. Where have you seen God's love in your life this week?
2. How are you growing in God's love this week?
3. Who has God put in your path that needs to experience his love this week?
4. How have you shown God's love this week? 

The mission of Christ Church is becoming living proof of God's love, one person at a time. This mission is for all ages! Asking and answering these four questions will help children internalize and live out these questions.

Take at least 5 minutes each week to ask one or more of these questions in your class.