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!