Children’s Baptism Celebration follow-up

What an AWESOME day Sunday was as 5 children got baptized! And I think we have another one planning on it this upcoming Sunday. This is what the church is all about! AMAZING!!!!!!

Children’s Baptism Celebration

We will be having a special baptism celebration just for children and their families on September 14th. After church we will meet at Saluda Shoals Park and have a cookout and then baptize the children in the river. We know that some children are intimidated by standing in front of the church on a Sunday morning in front of the adults to be baptized so we created this unique opportunity for this reason! If your child is interested in being baptized - please contact the church office.

BIG changes!

We are making some BIG changes in the next few weeks to better facilitate the growth we have had in our children’s ministry. If you are a parent of a child in our program, you’ll want to pay close attention:

*starting June 1st, we have new age classes:

• Room 101 – babies until 1
• Room 102 – Seedlings – 1’s
• Room 103 – Sprouts – 2’s
• Room 104 – Saplings – 3’s
• Room 105 – Big Backyard Jr. - 4’s
• Room 106 – Big Backyard – 5’s & K

* Elementary small groups (1st – 4th) and then the Clubhouse will be moving to the old Youth Room

* We are looking for 2-3 vounteers who would like to help in the Clubhouse when we need them as well – dramas, games, leaders, etc. These can serve on a weekly, monthly, or as needed basis – whatever works for you!

* We will be integrating our 5th and 6th graders into leadership roles as well through the 56. Our uprising 5th graders will not enter into the 56 until January. However, we’ll be using them and our previous 5th graders to help lead worship, sound, etc.

Exciting things coming up!

A few exciting Children’s Ministry happenings:

(1) This past Sunday, the boys turned in 16 pounds of offering money, but the girls won with 19 pounds! We’re excited as we’re trying to reach our $75.00 goal to provide dinner for an evening for The 153 Project.

(2) The BIGGEST egg hunt Friarsgate has ever seen is only 5 days away! If you live in the Irmo area, you need to be inviting everyone on your street! We got approval from the school board today to send flyers home with kiddos at two of the local elementary schools in our immediate area.

(3) Pray for this Sunday as we talk to your children about the COURAGE Jesus had when He died on the cross. Because of what Jesus did, we can know that “we don’t have to be afraid of anything because Jesus can do anything.” We are praying for the Holy Spirit to speak to the children through the powerful message we are working on.

(4) Starting April 6th we will be offering the “Now That I Am A Christian” class during first hour to children in 3rd & 4th grade. This class walks children through what it means to be a Christian, how you become a Christian, and how you live your life as a Christian. The class will run for 6 weeks from 9-10 am on Sundays. Parents should receive more information within the upcoming week. If your child is younger than 3rd grade and may be interested, please contact me.

Offering challenge!

Okay, calling all Clubhouse kids!

Next week we will have an offering challenge. Boys and girls will compete to see who brings in the heaviest offering. We will collect both boys offering and girls offering in separate containers then weight them to determine whose is the heaviest. The winning team will get a prize!

Our offering money this time is going to support the 153 Project, the homeless ministry in downtown Columbia. The kids are aiming to raise $75.00 to provide 120 pieces of fried chicken for the meal. This will feed the participants for one night.

The kids are excited about the opportunity to serve others and the practical application to their own lives. Who doesn’t love fried chicken?

“the 56″

If you are in 5th or 6th grade there is a new small group for you! Come Sundays at 9:00am to the youth room and join together with others in 5th and 6th grade. You’ll find a place just for you where you fit in and can ask some of life’s most difficult questions — “what if Jesus is a liar?”, “why can’t I go to PG-13 movies?”, etc.  This new group will let you dig into God’s Word as your tackle real life issues and thoughts, you’ll also get to know new friends and join in on youth trips like Jr. High Believe. Mrs. Gina and Mr. Blake are awesome at leading it and hope to see you Sunday!

Eating Jesus

In case your toddler tells you about eating Jesus today, let me clarify. The toddlers and preschoolers are learning this month that Jesus can do anything. Today’s story centered on Jesus walking on water. The toddlers had blue pudding for part of their lesson to signify the water, but “Jesus” was graham cracker sticks. I know my little boy ate a lot of Jesus this morning, he came home talking about it.

Hmmm… I know there’s a spiritual application there somewhere!

October Key Points

We are studying the following this month in our Sunday morning classes:

Toddlers & Preschool: “God Made Everything”

Elementary: “Respect: responding with words and actions that show others they are important.”

This past Sunday we had fun in the 1’s & 2’s class painting leaves on trees, playing with water, and seeing that God made land and water. In the 3’s-5’s classes the children played with sand dough, made volcanoes, experimented with water, and saw that God made the land and waters. It was a great, creative day for the kids with many hands-on projects teaching them God’s truths.

In The Clubhouse the kids learned that we need to “treat others how we want to be treated” and the main way we do this is by showing respect. They looked at wolves as an example in nature that God has given us to see respect in action. Wolves follow the alpha male and female with utmost respect. The same is needed from God’s people. There are people in authority over all of us, God created authority, and we can choose respect or rebellion.

Week 4 – INITIATIVE: Leftovers

This week in The Clubhouse, the kids will be talking for the last week about Initiative – seeing what needs to be done and doing it. This week we’re looking at the story of the feeding of the 5000 (John 6:1-14). The bottom line is: “Do what you need to do, then watch what God can do.”

Many times our kids feel they can’t do something. They may face problems too hard to solve – a test in school, facing a tough situation - a bully, a teacher who doesn’t like them, problems at home. This week will show them that beyond whatever is going on, all they have to do is their part – be a  peacemaker, study for the test, practice, etc. But then they can watch the amazing ways that God takes care of impossible situations. If He can take 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish and make enough to feed a crowd of 5000 with leftovers, then we know He can handle our problems.

So, ask your kids about it this week. And if you know they’re struggling with something — remind them to “do what they need to do, then watch what God can do.”

Baptism Celebration

This is an exciting Sunday we are getting ready for as we are having a service centered on baptisms. I love these services for a few reasons, (1) people are making life changing decisions – the biggest one and it is great to celebrate with them!, (2) I love the education that goes into teaching others about baptism, (3) It makes me look forward to the next one!

We are having 2 youth baptized this Sunday – Parker R. and Autumn L.

I always tell children and their parents – don’t feel like you have to know everything there is about God. You don’t know everything now that you’ll learn in school later. The same is true about the Bible, church, and God. You’ll always be learning.

If your child has expressed interest in making a decision to be a Christian and follow in baptism, let me know. If they’re asking questions that’s always great too! It’s a step in that direction. I hope to hold another “Now That I’m a Christian” class this winter to look at it more in depth.