Did you ever wish there was an instruction manual for raising your kids? Do you wish that you and your spouse were on the same page when it comes to discipline and instruction for your children? Well now, help is on the way!!!
For parents of children ages 3-12, there is a class taught by the experienced parenting team of Mike and Cindy Gorrell. They have walked manyfamilies through the “Growing Kids God’s Way” series by esteemed parenting experts, Ezzo and Bucknam. The class begins Monday, November 23rd. It will run every Monday night at 7pm for 4 weeks. We will break for Christmas and continue beginning Monday, January 4th for another 14 weeks. If it seems like a big commitment, it is. But think of it as getting a PhD in parenting. Well worth it!
The cost is $40 per couple or $20 for single parent family. Childcare is not provided so you must secure your own childcare. But think of it as a night out every week!
If you are interested in seeing your family unified in purpose and direction, please register for the class by clicking here oremail us at Parenting@westsidechurch.org. Registration forms available at church or you can stop by the table in the church concourse this Sunday, November 15th.
If you’re reading this message, you are in some way connected to the internet. But how safe are you online? Chances are the number of connected devices in your house has gone up, while the checkpoints you have in place to keep them safe haven’t changed. It’s not just the devices in your home that you need to concern yourselves with. Believe it or not, there are actually ways to make sure your family stays safe online, no matter what way they are connecting.
On Sunday, March 8 at 9:30 a.m., Josh LeVeque (our IT Director) will be leading a session on protecting kids online. In a world that is increasingly connected to the internet, come learn some simple ways that you can help guard your family against the dangerous aspects of the internet.
Every new year seems to start with this question…”What canI doto be betterthis year?”
I hope that one of your goals in the coming yearis to give your childwhat they need to grow a deeper faith and a stronger connection to Jesus.
One of the best ways to help your child grow spiritually is to connect your child with their church family through consistent attendance at church. This will allow your child to benefit from teaching and relationship building.
In the preschool area, we work on a key biblical truth each month that is revealed through a question and answer. The keytruth is repeated every week along with a memory verse. For January our Key Question is: Who loves you? Bottom Line: Jesus loves me. Our memory verse is “Love each other as I have loved you.” John 15:12. We tell a Bible story each week that reinforcesthe bottom line.
Because we believe that the greatest influencers in a child’s spiritual life is their parents, we seek to keep parents connected and equipped to talk about what we are learning at church with their children at home. We hope parents will check the blog weekly to see what their children learned about on Sunday morning and use the parent help to continue the lesson at home.
Emrace the new year! 365 days of living in God’s love is waiting for you!
This past Sunday we started our new series entitled “Get Ready For Christmas”.During this 5-week series our Elementary kids will learn the incredible message of HOPE that came into the world during the Advent Season.It starts with the miraculous message that the Angel Gabriel brought to Mary and ends with a New Year’s massage about the importance of growing like Jesus did.
Five key words thatwill help us get ready for Christmas are:HOPE, PREPARE, GIVE, SEEK, & GROW.Each week ask your child(ren) to recite the memory verse with hand motions (this week’s verse is Luke 1:37 NIV).They are off to a GREAT start already.
Every family needs to pick up one of the“family enteraction guides”at the table outside of E205, if you haven’t already.This guide is designed to help you reinforce with your children what is being taught each week during the weekend service.There are five days of fun ideas and activities you can do as a family, as well as the memory verse we are learning for the week.
We have also made available for every Kindergarten – 5th grader an “activity booklet”that coincides with each week of our series.Please encourage your child(ren) to take advantage of this resource as it helps further establish the Biblical truths they are learning on Sunday.
One last thing…During their small group time everyone receives a “student handout” which helps facilitate discussion over that day’s lesson.There are three things to do at church, and three things to do at home.When a student brings back their completed handout the following Sunday they will receive a prize. Parents, please helpyour child remember to bringhis/hers back each week!
This weekend, 8 families gathered together to dedicate their children to the Lord. On Saturday morning, we began by eating together with family and friends. Then, we gathered in the chapel for a short devotional message from Cindy Lash who inspired us to rememberteh influenceweALL (moms, dad, grandmas grandpas, aunts, uncles and friends) willhave in the lives of these children.
Finally, the parents came forward and made these promises.
I believe that my child is a gift from God.
I commit to be an example in my own prayer time, Bible study and daily walk with God.
I will seek God’s will in the decisions I make as I parent my child.
Building a relationship of love and trust with my child will be a priority for me because I will be influential in their view of God.
I will help my child connect with God’s family through involvment in our church community.
I commit to intentionally teach and train my child to love God and follow Jesus Christ.
I will encourage my child, giving them every opportunity to develop a personal relationship with Jesus.
The friends and families made a promise as well- to support and encourage the parents as they seek to honor God through their parenting decisions.
Thank you to Kerri Taylor, who planned the party and made the room so inviting and fun. Thank you to Hylia Graham and Louella Rugg for serving our families. And thank you to Cindy Lash for making our day so special by inspiring us with your message to encourage and love these tiny blessings.
This morning, our 8 families were recognized during our Sunday morning services. Michelle Engle, thank you for taking care of our families this morning prior to the recognition.
Thank you to allthese families for embracing your role as parentsandmakinga commitment to your child’s spiritual journey.
Just a reminder that the deadline to register for our Family Dedication Experience is just around the corner…. October 21st! For more information, click here.
