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

This morning we learned about the 2 most important things.  Jesus said that the most important this is to LOVE GOD.  He said, the second more important thing is to LOVE OTHERS.  This month our key question and answer are:  How can I show love to God?  I can love God like Jesus did.

To help us remember our story, we drew pictures of people we love, we played a game jumping on hearts, and we made a yummy strawberry jelly heart-shaped sandwich for treats.

Parents, During our talk time, we named people that we can show love to this week.  We talked about how important it is to show love for people even when it’s hard.  This week continue this conversation at bedtime.  Remind your child of times you saw them show love for others throughout the day.  Ask them if there were times they didn’t show love to others?  Be sure to give your child lots of praise for the ways they have obeyed God, while challenging them to always try to improve.  Be sure to say, “I am so proud of you for showing love to others and God is proud too.”

Our memory verse this month is “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  Bible)

This morning we learned a story about when Jesus was a little boy.  Did you know that Jesus got lost?     His parents didn’t know where He was!  When His parents finally found Him, He was at God’s House.  Makes sense, right?  Jesus was obeying God by spending time with Him.  Our big question this month is:  How can I love God?  I can love God like Jesus did!

Parents, at home this week, track down this story in your child’s Bible.  It’s found in Luke 2: 41-50.  Point out that Jesus’ mommy and daddy looked and looked for Him because they loved Him so much.  Play a game of hide-n seek in the house.  When you find your child, give them a big hug and say, “I love you and God loves you too.”  Play the game a few more times.  Always repeating, “I love you an God loves you too.”  It’s important to repeat these key Bible truths to your child so that they can be hidden deep in their hearts.

Be sure to practice your memory verse too.  “Love (cross hands over your heart) God (point up) with all your heart (draw a heart over your heart).  Matthew 22:37  (hold hands open like a Bible.)

This morning we learned that the angels announced Jesus’ birth to some shepherds who were watching their sheep out in the fields.  So many people came to celebrate Jesus’ birth!    To help us remember our story, we played a game where we looked for our sheep (cottonballs) in the dark using flashlights.  We also made sheep puppets and made sheep cookies.

Our kids really know our question and answer well, so be sure to ask it at home too!  How do we know God loves us?  God gave us Jesus!    This Christmas help your child focus on this important gift.  To keep their focus on Jesus, play this game.  On Christmas Eve morning, remove baby Jesus from your nativity set.  Let your child discover the missing Jesus for themself, or point it out.  On Christmas Eve, read the Christmas story from a children’s Bible.  When you read the part about Jesus’ birth, put Jesus back into the scene. 

Be sure to practice our memory verse too!  “God (point up) has given (hands extended in front of body, palms up) a Son to us.”  (fold arms together like you are holding a baby, and pretend to rock it.)  Isaiah 9:6 (hold hands like a pretend book)

Why did Jesus tell these stories? Jesus wants me to know what God is like!

Today we learned the story about Jesus teaching at the temple when He was just a young boy. We’ll be learning about some of the stories Jesus would tell (like the Lost Sheep, and the Prodigal Son.) Jesus would talk to all sorts of people about God because He wants everyone to know what God is like. Our Bible verse this month reminds us of that, “The Son wants to tell others about the Father.” Luke 10:22

At the beginningof our story, Jesus was lost and Mary and Joseph couldn’t find him. To remember this part of the story, we played a hide and seek game that was a lot of fun! We also had fun talking about our dads today. Jesus has a dad just like each of us have a dad. Jesus’ dad is God.

We had fun talking about our dads!

During our talk time, our question was, “What is one thing I know about God?” Our kids shared that God made the grass, God cares for us, God loves me, God is my friend, God is Jesus’ Father, God is BIG, and lots of other fun things they know about God. This month, as we explore the stories that Jesus told, we’ll learn even more about God.

Parents, our challenge for you this week is to talk each night at bedtime about the things you know about God. It might be fun to keep a list and add to each night. At the end of this week, count how many things you listed. God has revealed lots of things about himself to us. It might be fun for you to discover what things your child has already learned about God.

Who loves me? Jesus loves me!

Today we learned that we don’t have to be afraid of anything because Jesus loves me and will take care of me. The disciples learned this when they were caught on their boat during a thunder storm. The wind was howling, the thunder was clapping, the lightning was striking and the rain was coming down. But when Jesus woke up and told it all to stop, IT DID!!!!

To help us remember our story, we made fun boats, played with pots and pans to make storm sounds, and played a few really fun games. We also had yummy cookies shaped like umbrellas, boat, clouds, and lightning!

Since today was the last Sunday for our memory verse, we had an opportunity to say it all by ourselves for a special prize! Most of our kids were able to say it on their own! Good job, guys! Continue to practice it at home. “Love (cross hands over heart) each other (spread arms out) as I (point up, because Jesus said it) have loved you (hug yourself tight.) John 15:12 (hold hands out like a Bible)

Parents, This week share a story with your child about a time when you were a child and you were afraid (notanything too alarming). Talk about how Jesus is with them and Jesus love them, and they can ask Him for help being brave. Ask your child to share a fear too and pray about that fear each night. Pray that God will always watch over us and that he will help us trust Him always.

Next week, we begin a new unit with a new movie, new songs, a new memory verse, and new key questions and answers! We are so excited to see what God has for us to learn next month!

We continuted the Christmas story today as we learned about the night Jesus was born. We learned that there was no room in the inn, so Mary and Joseph had to spend the night in the barn…and that is where Jesus was born! Can you imagine all those farm animals- the sounds they made, and the smells. But Mary took good care of Jesus, and wrapped him in a blanket and laid him on soft hay in the manger.

To help us remember our story, we made manger pictures of Jesus, took care of some baby dolls, played with farm animals, and had yummybarnyard animal cookies! We got to choose between a pink pig, a balck and white cow, or a brown horse.

Memory Verse: “God (point up) loved (cross hands over heart) the world (make a world by circling hands) so much that he gave (extend arms in front) his only Son” (make a cradle with arms for a baby). John 3:16 (hold hands like a book)

Parents: Kids are often fascinated with babies. As you talk about the night that Jesus was born, tell your child about the special day or night that THEY were born.

Prof. Johnson's Cool Experiment!

At Wacky Works Crafts we made picture frames to hold a special VBS memory! And our Pretzel Cross snack was not only delicious, but reminded ushow much God loves us!

What's on the menu? "Infinity for Me"

In Preschool-Kindergarten games we had a blast with balls, and in the Elementary Hyperspeed Games we were jumping with joy!

We took some great leaps of faith at Hyperspeed Games!

We had another really great surprise when we found out that we more then doubled our offering! Tonight’s missions offering was $900.31! That means we have a total of $1,708.91! We have a long way to go to get to our goal of $4,000….so remember Peter (I’m tugging my ear) as you head back to VBS tomorrow night.If you want to share a story about how you helped Peter this week click here: How I helped Peter….

We are really proud of all of our classes for their great behavior! Here’s a big thumbs upfor those classes who won the Marvelous Monkey Awards and the Power Light Awards tonight. Way to Go! We’ll keep watching for more classes with great behavior.

One of the best surprises of the night was the explosion of growth in the 4th and 5th grade class.Theysurpassed the goal set in the slime contestby having 102 kids in attendance tonight! I guess someone is getting slimed afterall on Friday night!

Over 100 4th & 5th Graders at Wacky Works Crafts!

Tell us YOUR story! We’d love to hear what you’ve learned at VBS this year! We’ll take all those who submit a story and choose one of them (randomly) to win a special prize on Friday night! Click here to tell your story or read someone else’s!

Our Bible Point onThursday night will be JESUS GIVES US THE POWER TO TELL OTHERS ABOUT GOD! Start working on your power verse too, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” Mark 16:15

Friday Night Faith Fusion Finale: Kids will not be reporting to their classroom, but instead will come with their families for a fun finale! Arrive at 6:30 and be ready for a great time! We’ll worship together, see another awesome experiment, see some pics from the week, take up one last offering, and have a special treat!!!

I’m Max-full of life and energy! We’ll be meeting on the 4th night of VBS, Wednesday night!I want kids to know that Jesus gives themthe power to live forever!We’ll be learning about how Jesus died and came back to life (John 14:18). Our Bible Point will be JESUS GIVES US THE POWER TO LIVE FOREVER! Start working on your power verse, “Since I live, you also will live.” John 14:19

Did you know that a battery mixes two or more metals in a certain way to make electricity!

We’re hoping to mix up some of our own electricity at VBS by mixing a lot of fun with the Power of Jesus! I bet it will be explosive!Can’t wait to see you there!