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This month in ClubHouse, our preschoolers are learning about doing the right thing! Preschool age children are just beginning to discover the difference between right things & wrong things. Doing the right thing is hard sometimes, but God wants us to do the right thing!
(Q) What does God want you to do?
(A) God wants me to do the right thing!
Our memory reminds us that God wants me to do the right thing:
LEARN (point finger to head)
TO DO (pound fists together twice)
WHAT IS RIGHT (put 2 big thumbs up).
ISAIAH 1:17 (hold hands in front like a book)
HOME TIP: This month,as you reinforce doing “the right thing” at home, remember to help your child apply this truth too: God loves you no matter what. When we do the right thing, God loves us. But even when we do the wrong thing, God still love us! Say this over and over as your child grows older to help them understand the overwhelming love of God.
MAY BIBLE STORIES
May 6- Joseph Does what is Right ( Genesis 37:12-28, 41:36-56)
May 13- Joseph Forgives His Brothers (Genesis 42:1-6; 45:1–46:7)
May 20- Daniel’s Diet (Daniel 1:1-16)
May 27- Daniel and the Lions (Daniel 6:1-28)
May 1, 2012
This month in ClubHouse, our preschoolers are learning that Jesus wants to be their friend forever!
(Q) Who is your friend?
(A) Jesus is my good friend!
Our memory reminds us that we can be a good friend just like Jesus:
A FRIEND (Clasp hands together)
LOVES (cross arms over heart)
AT ALL TIMES (Spread arms out in front of you).
PROVERBS 17:17 (hold hands in front like a book)
HOME TIP: This month, reinforce this verse by “catching” your child being a good friend. Ex. When your child shares a toy with a sibling or a parent, praise them and say “You were a good friend by sharing your toy. Remember the Bible says, A friend loves at all times.”
APRIL BIBLE STORIES
April 1- Palm Sunday Parade ( Matthew 21:1-16)
April 8- The Lord’s Supper & Easter Story (Matthew 26: 20-30, 28:1-7)
April 15- Mary & Martha (Luke 10:28-32)
April 22- Caring for Jesus (Luke 7:36-50)
April 29- A Place for Us (John 14:1-4)
April 11, 2012
A short Spring Play Day session has been planned (only 4 weeks) at a discounted price of $10.00. As always, we’ll provide all the supplies & the snacks. All play days for preschoolers & their parent(s) are on Thursdays from 10-11 a.m.
Play Days give kids an opportunity to make friends in a relaxed environment while parents connect with other parents.
You must register in advance to participate. Each play day session is limited to 20 kids. Email Jessica at JessicaS@wschurch.org to register.
Spring 2012 Session:
April 19, Washington Park, Making Nature Discovery Boxes
May 3, TBA
May 17, Centennial Park, Flower Planting
May 31, Henson Robinson Zoo
April 11, 2012
A Fun in the Sun basket, perfect for preschoolers or younger elementary students, will be auctioned off at the Pasta Dinner & Auction on April 22nd to raise funds for this summer’s Kenya mission trip.
You can bid on this item or others in the cafeteria/gym at West Side Christian Church between 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. on April 22nd. Click here, to find out more about the Pasta Dinner & Auction.
The basket includes:
$20 Baskin Robbins Gift Certificates
Sidewalk Chalk
Small Sand Bucket & Shovel
Water Toys
Gazillions Bubble Gun
Small Watering Can
Bounce Ball
Giant Pinwheel
April 11, 2012
West Side Kids Families,
We have exciting news about how God is using West Side Kids!
- Our Children’s Guest Center checked in 150 guests in the first 6 weeks of 2012.
- Our children’s ministry has seen a 10% increase in attendance since this time last year.
- Elementary kids are more enthusiastic than ever about Bible memorization thanks to the Wild Take Home Edition and the Bible Bucks program.
- Each week, an increasing number of early childhood parents report that their children are expressing simple Bible verses and principles at home.
West Side Kids is busting at the seams! We’re growing in every way—numerically and spiritually. Yet, we still believe God has called us to something greater. Parents, we need your help!
GET IN THE GAME!
The primary goal of West Side’s Family Ministry is to help parents become the primary spiritual leaders in their child’s life. One of the best ways for a parent to help their family develop spiritually is to volunteer in the children’s ministry area where their child participates. Currently, only 17% of our parents are invested as volunteers in their child’s church experience on Sunday morning. We believe our parent volunteer team can and should be much stronger! We hope to see the majority of West Side parents serving alongside their kids. Are you in the game yet?
WHY VOLUNTEER?
The benefits of getting off the bench and into the game
Parents who volunteer have given us valuable feedback! There are many reasons why parents should be eager about diving into the volunteer game with West Side Kids.
- Parents often suggest volunteering in kids’ ministry has helped them become a better spiritual leader to their own child. They take home useful tips on how to talk with their kids about God and His Word. And, volunteer parents are better able to reinforce concepts from church at home during the week.
- Parent involvement often helps children enjoy church more. When children see the value their parents place on serving and worshiping with them, they often enjoy and appreciate church more than ever before. Volunteering creates a shared experience between kids and parents.
- Parent that actively server as volunteers help West Side Kids become an even more attractive place. We all want our kids to have a thriving church home where volunteers are lovingly guiding them toward Jesus. If West Side is to continue to grow, we need more all-star volunteers to make church fun and relevant for kids.
What if volunteering with kids isn’t my “thing?”
Many parents volunteer in our children’s ministry without working directly with kids. Many unique volunteer roles and a variety of skills are useful in a thriving children’s ministry! Some roles focus on working with adults or completing tasks. Click here to read about the volunteer roles available in children’s ministry!
What if I have limited time?
Some volunteer roles require as little as one hour per month. Nearly all of us can give an hour per month! We can likely help you find a role that works for your schedule.
Help us get ready for the BIG GAME!
There’s a big game just around the corner (EASTER SUNDAY) and we want our team to be at its best. We’d like to add 80 new players to our volunteer roster between now and April 4. If you’re ready to suit up and get in the volunteer game, click here: I want to volunteer!
You’ll hear more about opportunities to get in the game over the next few weeks. Please consider how you might be able to serve… and how volunteering could positively impact your family. Get in the game!
Praying for your family,
Jessica Schildman, Director of Early Childhood Ministry
Missy Farley, Director of Elementary Ministry
February 23, 2012
Parents,
Thanks so much for entrusting your child to our care each Sunday morning. We love spending time with your child exploring practical, hands-on activities, stories and worship to help your child grow closer to Christ. Our time together each week is designed to help prepare your child for a life that honors God while building a solid spiritual foundation that will continue to grow as your child grows.
Beginning in January of 2012, we announced two new changes to our elementary programming. For those of you who missed it, here’s a review of those changes.
Merging the WILD and the DIVE
- Kids who attend multiple services will remain in the WILD for each service.
- While the big idea will remain the same in each service, the small group activities will be different at 10:15 than they will be at 9:00 and 11:30 (i.e. if we have options A, B, C, D, E & F each week, we’ll use options A, B & C during 9:00 and 11:30 and options D, E & F during 10:15).
- This will allow us reinforce the big idea over multiple services without too much repetition.
- It makes for easier transitions (you won’t have to pick up your child upstairs anymore from the DIVE). It also makes better use of the time we have together since we won’t have to transition the kids upstairs.
Offering a new “WILD Take Home Edition” opportunity for all kids
- A booklet of Bible memorization and application challenges will be available each quarter, pertaining to both WILD specific passages and general Bible knowledge (books of the Bible, Beatitudes, etc).
- This is a great opportunity to enhance your parent/child spiritual relationship at home by working on this together.
- Between services on Sunday morning you can bring your kids to a designated location to recite verses and confirm completion of the challenges.
- As your kids complete challenges, they’ll receive Bible bucks, to be exchanged at the General Store for prizes each quarter.
I’m super excited about these changes and hope you will be too. First of all, it will allow us to create an opportunity for all kids to go deeper, not just those who are able to attend multiple services. I’m also looking forward to the extra excitement and energy that we’ll have by keeping the kids together downstairs.
We are anticipating an incredible year of fun and learning with your child as we study the Bible together in lots of interesting ways!
If you have still have questions feel free to contact me this week.
Missy
February 8, 2012
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