December 1

Welcome to the first Sunday of Advent! We finish a series this week, and you will see many indications of Advent throughout worship this Sunday.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday leading up to this Sunday!

Curriculum

This week, we finish the Take a Risk series. This 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 Get Hurt?

Kindergarten-5th PSALM Kids sing at 9 & 11:15

ALL K-5th PSALM Kids will sing at the 11:15 am service this Sunday. That means that PSALM Kids leaders will pick them up from classrooms at 10:50 am. Please be ready for them to knock at your door and call the PSALM Kids out at that time. Other children attending the 11:15 service will still be picked up by childcare staff at 11 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

November 24

Thank you for your leadership of the Christmas Eve Offering vote last week! I hope that went well, and I encourage you to contact Patty Groot this week to find out who the chosen recipient was, so you can share that information with your class. Feel free to pass along any feedback about the process as well! 

Elizabeth leads the lesson this week, with Tara and Amy assisting. 

This week, we continue with Week 3 of the Take a Risk series. This 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 Give Up?

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

November 17 - Christmas Eve Offering Vote

This week features our annual tradition of inviting K-5th graders to select the recipient of our Christmas Eve offering. This is the third year children have made this selection, and in the past two years the offering has topped $20,000, in large part due to their involvement!

Elizabeth, Dale and Andrea lead this week. There is no curriculum to prepare, but all three of you will be integral in helping the kids to process their options and explain their choices. 

Christmas Eve Offering

For the past 2 years, the K-5th graders have selected the recipient of our Christmas Eve Offering, and this year is no different! The entire Sunday school hour will involve learning about the three potential recipients for this year, casting votes, and praying for the three recipients.

• 10:05 - Drop off in regular classrooms
• 10:10 - Take your class to Fellowship Hall. (Close your door and leave the provided sign that explains you are in Fellowship Hall)
• 10:15 - Presentation of offering recipients
• 10:35 - Return to classrooms

Once you are back in your room, you will have a stack of postcards for each vote. Review the choices with your class, then allow them to choose the card of the recipient they'd like to vote for. 

The cards contain space for kids to write or draw their reason for making that choice. Give them time to fill in this space. 

Once the cards are ready, pray together over all of the recipients. Then have them turn the cards in to you before they leave. Cindy Bagley will collect cards at the end of the hour. 

Questions? Contact Patty Groot. 

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

November 10

Thank you for your leadership of the Stewardship lesson last week! I hope that went well, and I encourage you to contact Leigh Moore or Brandon Dirks with feedback or stories about the lesson if you have any. 

This week, we continue with Week 2 of the Take a Risk series. This 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. 

Tara leads the lesson this week, with Amy and Andrea assisting. 

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 Fail?

There is a video clip available for you to show this week if you would like. You can preview it here:

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. 

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 

This weekend is 3rd-5th retreat! Teachers of those ages should expect a large and possibly tired crowd! Normal operating procedures still apply for this weekend.