November 3 - Stewardship Lesson

This week we will take a break from regularly scheduled programming to focus on a Stewardship lesson. Dale will lead the lesson, with Tara and Elizabeth along for the ride. 

The Take a Risk unit explores some of the most frightening "What if..." scenarios that we all struggle with, even as adults sometimes. This is meant to be an empowering series, one that helps kids overcome their fears and choose the right thing, even if it's not easy. 

Here is an overview of the Take a Risk series:

October 27 - What if I Don't Like It?
November 3 - Stewardship Lesson
November 10 - What if I Fail?
November 17 - Christmas Eve Offering vote
November 24 - What if I Give Up?
December 1 - What if I Get Hurt?

Stewardship Lesson

In preparation for Stewardship Commitment Sunday next week (Nov 10), this week you will teach from a stewardship lesson developed by our own Leigh Moore, member of the Stewardship Committee. The goal of this Sunday is to teach children two things:

• Giving to God is a matter of TRUST in God.
• Giving to God is a HABIT we should start. 

The lesson will have 3 parts:

• Bible Story: The Widow's Offering (Mark 12:41-44)
• Craft/Activity: Making Stewardship Banks
• Discussion questions

Supplies for the stewardship bank craft will be in your classroom when you arrive this week. You should already have a copy of this lesson by now, but if not, please contact Leigh Moore. Thank you!

Spring 2014 Plans

The staff and Children's Ministry Team at Christ Church cannot thank you enough for your leadership in Children's Ministries this fall. Your love for the children and desire to teach them about faith has an eternal impact.

You committed to lead from August 18-December 29 of this year. What are your plans for Spring 2014 (January 5-May 25)? You get first dibs! We would love for you to continue leading your group thru the end of the year.

Please e-mail Cindy Bagley this week to say either, "Sign me up for spring!" or "My last day is December 29."

Thank you!

Where to go in Sarah's absence:

Sarah will be on maternity leave thru December. In her absence, here are directions for whom to contact:

• Curriculum & supplies - Amy Ashton or Janet Hagerty
• Substitutes - the sub list posted on this blog
• Sunday morning questions/needs - Cindy Bagley, or another floater in the hallways

3rd-5th Retreat Registration is Open!

Make sure to check out the new bulletin board in the middle of the hallway. Encourage all 3rd-5th graders to post their names on the board if they are coming to retreat, which is November 9-10. 

To register, families can go to www.ccum.net/children for more information.  

October 27

Hi crew! Amy is the leader this week, and Andrea and Elizabeth will be present to assist. This is the first week of the Take a Risk series!

The Take a Risk unit explores some of the most frightening "What if..." scenarios that we all struggle with, even as adults sometimes. This is meant to be an empowering series, one that helps kids overcome their fears and choose the right thing, even if it's not easy. 

Here is an overview of the next few weeks:

October 27 - What if I Don't Like It?
November 3 - Stewardship Lesson
November 10 - What if I Fail?
November 17 - Christmas Eve Offering vote
November 24 - What if I Give Up?
December 1 - What if I Get Hurt?

Here's this week's lesson link:

Take a Risk

What if I Don't Like It?

Be sure to take time to check in with the kids, either during large group or small group. Ask how they're doing, how you can pray for them, and how they can pray for one another. 

4th-5th Grade PSALM Kids sing at 11:15 

The 4th-5th grade PSALM Kids will sing in worship at 11:15 am this Sunday. PSALM Kids leaders will come to your classroom to collect kids at 10:50 am. 

Spring 2014 Plans

The staff and Children's Ministry Team at Christ Church cannot thank you enough for your leadership in Children's Ministries this fall. Your love for the children and desire to teach them about faith has an eternal impact.

You committed to lead from August 18-December 29 of this year. What are your plans for Spring 2014 (January 5-May 25)? You get first dibs! We would love for you to continue leading your group thru the end of the year.

Please e-mail Cindy Bagley this week to say either, "Sign me up for spring!" or "My last day is December 29."

Thank you!

Where to go in Sarah's absence:

Sarah will be on maternity leave thru December. In her absence, here are directions for whom to contact:

• Curriculum & supplies - Amy Ashton or Janet Hagerty
• Substitutes - the sub list posted on this blog
• Sunday morning questions/needs - Cindy Bagley, or another floater in the hallways

3rd-5th Retreat Registration is Open!

Make sure to check out the new bulletin board in the middle of the hallway. Encourage all 3rd-5th graders to post their names on the board if they are coming to retreat, which is November 9-10. 

To register, families can go to www.ccum.net/children for more information.  

October 20 - Children's Serve Sunday

This week is Children's Serve Sunday! Jenny Fishback, Serve Coordinator on the Children's Ministry Team, will lead preschool-5th graders in service projects to benefit Lighthouse Ministries.

There is no curriculum to prepare this Sunday. However, we do need you! Please come ready to help guide your class in service. Andrea is the scheduled leader for the morning, and Amy and Dale will be there to assist.

Meet in Fellowship Hall at 10am

We will start off in Fellowship Hall this week, so please report there no later than 10am. We will finish the hour in classrooms, so parents should be instructed to pick up in classrooms at 11am. Here is the plan:

• 10:00 - Arrive in Fellowship Hall, assist with crowd control
• 10:05 - Music, Scripture, introduction to Lighthouse Ministries, youth testimonies
• 10:25 - Service projects in Fellowship Hall
• 10:40 - Go to classrooms for a prayer buddies activity
• 11 - Pick up in classrooms

Members of the Serve Team will be present the whole time to instruct and lead. Those leaders are:

• Kindergarten / 1st grade - Jennifer Welch
• 2nd / 3rd grade - Teri Allen
• Alive! - Andrea Donan

Contact Jenny Fishback with any questions!

Where to go in Sarah's absence:

Sarah will be on maternity leave thru December. In her absence, here are directions for whom to contact:

• Curriculum & supplies - Amy Ashton or Janet Hagerty
• Substitutes - the sub list posted on this blog
• Sunday morning questions/needs - Cindy Bagley, or another floater in the hallways

3rd-5th Retreat Registration is Open!

Make sure to check out the new bulletin board in the middle of the hallway. Encourage all 3rd-5th graders to post their names on the board if they are coming to retreat, which is November 9-10. 

To register, families can go to www.ccum.net/children for more information. 

October 13

Hi crew! Elizabeth leads the lesson this week, with Tara and Dale assisting. This is the last week of the Hide 'n' Seek series. 

Your new series in the Grapple curriculum is called Hide 'n' Seek, which raises questions about integrity, the fact that sin hurts everyone, the fact that God looks at the heart, and our responsibility to honor our parents. Here is an overview of the four lessons:

September 22 - Is It Okay if I Don't Get Caught?
September 29 - Is It Okay if Nobody Gets Hurt?
October 6 - Is It Okay if I Was Trying to Help?
October 13 - Is It Okay if My Friends' Parents Say It's Okay?

Here's this week's lesson link:

Hide 'n' Seek

Is it Okay if My Friend's Parents Say It's Okay?

Be sure to take time to check in with the kids, either during large group or small group. Ask how they're doing, how you can pray for them, and how they can pray for one another. 

Children's Sabbath

At the 11:15 am service this Sunday, the Children's Worship Team as well as many children from our church will lead worship in the Sanctuary. There will be no Children's Worship at 9am this Sunday. K-3rd graders who attend the 9am service will stay in the Sanctuary to worship with families the whole time.

All other normal procedures will take place this morning. Childcare staff will pick children up from classrooms between 10:55-11am and take them to the Sanctuary.

Stickers for Children's Serve Sunday

October 20 is Children's Serve Sunday, and that day in Sunday school will be very different from most. More to come on that!

In preparation, there will be a sheet of label stickers in your classrooms this week. Please make sure that every child gets a sticker before leaving. These stickers tell kids which items to bring to donate to Lighthouse Ministries on October 20. 

Contact Jenny Fishback with any questions.

Where to go in Sarah's absence:

Sarah will be on maternity leave thru December. In her absence, here are directions for whom to contact:

• Curriculum & supplies - Amy Ashton or Janet Hagerty
• Substitutes - the sub list posted on this blog
• Sunday morning questions/needs - Cindy Bagley, or another floater in the hallways

3rd-5th Retreat Registration is Open!

Make sure to check out the new bulletin board in the middle of the hallway. Encourage all 3rd-5th graders to post their names on the board if they are coming to retreat, which is November 9-10. 

To register, families can go to www.ccum.net/children for more information.  

Self-Release

This year, I am experimenting with making self-release an opt-out rather than an opt-in. At 11am, you can allow all of your class to exit, whether "self-release" appears on their tags or not. Parents who do not want their children to self-release can indicate that, and we will put that on tags. 

But remember - no need to dismiss anyone prior to 11am, unless a parent is there for them! Thanks!