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!