Coming up on Sunday, April 11th our Elementary Ministry is launching a completely new way of doing Sunday morning programming as we introduce The Wild and The Dive.  To find out more about everything we have planned and to see how your family can get involved visit our Elementary Frequently Asked Questions page at:

www.WestSideKids.org/theWild

If you would like to attend, register by contacting RebekahS@wschurch.org by Wednesday, March 10th if possible.

Moms can chat and get to know eachother while the kids play.  If you are new to West Side, ask for Miss Jessica, and I’ll make sure you get connected.  I’ll also be taking some beverage orders and bring coffee from Gloria Jeans or sodas from the Cookie Factory as a special treat for all the moms.

If you have a friend who doesn’t attend West Side, please invite them too!

This week we learned that Jesus calms the storm!  All month long we’ve been learning, Is there anything to hard for God?  NO!  Jesus Can do Anything!  We had a lot of fun this week creating some fun art using our crayons, chalk, and a squirt bottle.  The kids had such a blast even though we all ended up a little bit wet!

During talk time we had a great conversation about the things that make us feel nervous or scared.  We also talked about how Jesus is our friend, and He will help us when we are scared.

If you haven’t heard your child say their memory verse yet, be sure to ask.  Our Bible says, “With God (point up with both fingers) all things (spread arms out wide) are possible (2 thumbs up!)  Matthew 19:26

Parents, use bathtime as an opportunity to talk about this week’s Bible Story.  Get out your children’s Bible, find a small toy boat and have some fun.  Let your child pound their feet on the bath tub floor to make thunder and splash the water to make waves.  Then at the part of the story where Jesus stood up and said STOP, have them freeze.  You might be surprised how many times they will play this game, telling this great Bible story!

Sunday morning we learned a great fishing story!  Simon Peter was fishing all day, and wasn’t catching anything.  But when Jesus stepped in to help, his nets were so full of fish that they broke!  Is anything too hard for Jesus?  Jesus can do anything!!!  

It’s a great to have a friend who can do anything.  We can for Jesus’ help when we are faced with something hard too.  To hep us remember our story, we played a fishing game (and got a little wet) and made colorful fish. 

Parents: kids are faced with lots of hard things like riding a bike, cleaning up their room, tying their shoes, and remembering to brush their teeth.  When kids are faced with hard things they often get a case of “the whinies.”  When this happens, remind them that they have a friend who can do anything!  Jesus!  Stop right in that moment, and pray with your child that God will help them with whatever they are working on.  Teaching your child to turn to God during difficult times is a great lesson to hide in their heart.

Our Bible memory verse this month is “With God all things are possible.”  Matthew 19:26

January 31, 2010

This month, we’ve been learning to love God like Jesus did!  How can you love God?  I can love God like Jesus did! 

We can love God by singing songs to Him, dancing for Him, reading His Word, memorizing words from His Bible, and praying to Him.  This has been a great month!  Each week we’ve had a blast worshipping God with fun and rowdy songs. 

Our kiddos also showed love for God by memorizing words from His Bible.  ”Love God with all your heart.” Matthew 22:37

Parents, We have had so much fun worshipping God this month at church on Sundays.  But showing love to God through worship is something that we should do all week long!  If you don’t have a great preschool worship CD in your car or at home, make it your mission to get one this week.  Here are my top picks:

Reach Up High by Willow Creek Association

Touch The Sky by Willow Creek Association

Little Praise Party by Yancy

Also, please note that we changed the Valentine Cookie Making Day to Friday, Feb. 12th at 10:00 a.m..  Come let your kids make a mess in our kitchen- instead of yours and take home some Valentine cookies to share with family and friends.

Today, we learned that Jesus taught his disciples how to pray.  He told us 4 things we should say to God.  1) God, you are special (wiggle fingers in the air) 2) God, your word is right (hold out 2 thumbs) 3) God, please give me what I need (hold hands out in front of yourself)  4) God, please forgive me (hug self)

Parents, praying nightly before bedtime with your child is a great discipline to introduce.  Just be careful not to let your child fall in the “rut” of using prayer time to name everyone they have ever met.  “God bless mommy and daddy, and grandma, and cousin Suzie, aunt Gladys, and aunt Mary, and Chelsie, and Billy, and the lady who works out the grocery store……”   Of course, we want children to care for others, but it’s important that we teach them to pray sincerely in coversation with God.   Be sure to be an example to your child when praying.  First, give God praise for who He is.  Emphasize his worthiness.  Then, ask for God’s guidance and forgiveness.  Next pray specifically for the needs of the day.  The more you pray conversationally with God, the more your child will want a relationship of their own with Him.

The kids have been working really hard on their Bible memory words.  They love “showing off” that they know it!  Be sure to say it at home with your child.  “Love (cross hands over heart) God (point up) with all your heart” (draw a heart with your fingers over your heart.)  Matthew 22:37  (hold hands open like a book)

Broken Promise is for children 4 years old through 8th grade.  One of the parents (not both) attends with the children.  Parents meet in a separate room with other parents to learn about what their child is experiencing and ways to help them.  Children are divided up by age group and will learn about the grief cycle and the emotions that everyone goes through when they experience a loss.  They will also learn appropriate ways to express their anger, as well as tools for coping with difficult emotions.

One of our parents wrote this about Broken Promise:

My son went through Broken Promise when he was 4 years old.  At that age, he didn’t have a clue what being married was or what the word divorce meant.  While going through the program, he had a conversation on the phone with his daddy.  His dad was telling him that he missed him and that he wished that we could all live together again.  My son responded, “No Daddy, you and mom tried living together before and you couldn’t, so you got a divorce so now you have to share me.  I love you both!”  This just floored me because it showed how much my son was understanding because of Broken Promise.  It was amazing.  The program touched us so much, we are now serving other families through the Broken Promise ministry.

It is a life-changing program for children.  If you would like more information click here.  To register, call the church office at 793-2800.  Registration ends February 1st.

•  Thurs. Jan. 14^th,  10 a.m.,  White Oaks Mall play area
• Thurs. Jan. 28^th,   10:30 a.m., Chuck E Cheese      we’ll provide some tokens so the kids can play
• Friday. Feb. 12^th, 10 a.m., Centennial Hall at WSCC,  Valentine cookie making.  We’ll provide all the supplies, you can take home the finished product!

Feel free to invite other moms you know who might like to join in!