Worship 411

Today I received our new curriculum for Worship 411. It looks really good, very well done. It comes with: a countdown and Power Point Game, songs, pre-made slides for the lesson presentation, and a short video. I think it will be "easy" to lead a quality, elementary children's worship in our short 30 minute time span with these materials.

I'm excited about our first study topic, "Fear". It seems that our kids are growing up in a world where fear can really grab hold. Children deal with bully's, conflict, parent's travels, a harsh political environment, school shootings, a desire for real connection. It would be easy for a child to internalize these events that they cannot control, and, experience many negative emotions.

During Worship 411, we are going to "Deal With It!", the Biblical way, and learn about some of the negative feelings and actions that weigh heavily on our children and explore what the Bible has to say.

I anticipate our start day for Worship 411 to be February 6th, if not a week or so sooner.

Here are some things you will need to know:
1) Worship 411 will target Kindergarten - 3rd grade children. 4th/5th are welcome to come and will likely be used in leadership roles.
2) Any KWCOC member that chooses to use Worship 411 for their children will NEED to sign up to help on a rotating basis.
3) We NEED a few more team leaders that can commit to teaching once a month. As I mentioned, everything is scripted, prepared, and all you need to do is familiarize yourself with the material and present it on your assigned Sunday.

Contact me if you'd like more information!

Journey Land Workshop Leaders Needed Starting January 16th

Our elementary children attend Journey Land on Sunday mornings. Each week, they get to visit a different workshop, a class that is designed around a particular learning style. This style of ministry we often say has, "the creativity of VBS with the depth of Bible Class".

The workshops are very easy to teach. Teachers receive a curriculum guide with a full lesson plan. They then prepare one REALLY GOOD lesson, and, teach it for 6 weeks. Teachers love that they can put the time and effort into that one REALLY GOOD lesson and perfect it as they go through the rotations.

We only have two openings on our team right now! That's really amazing to me because more and more, our teachers are saying this is so easy and fun, they want to just keep going with it!

For this next rotation, we need a STORY Workshop leader and a THEATER Workshop leader. Our lesson topics will the Trial and Death of Jesus. I have the curriculum ready for the teacher and can even help you work it up over the Christmas holidays.

Let me know if you would like to lead the story or theater workshops. This is your chance to touch the lives of children with the Good News of Jesus!

Sunday Funday - December 12

Once a quarter, we join other Houston area churches on an outing with their elementary students. Here is the information for the next Sunday Funday! RSVP to Shannon if you are coming (commenting on this post or on Facebook is sufficient).

What: Sunday Funday! Bring $15 PLUS a wrapped gift under $5 for a boy OR a girl. We will have lunch, participate in a service project and have a gift exchange.

When: December 12th. The bus will leave immediately following services from the FLC doors. We will return around 5:00 PM, in time for LTC.

Who: 3 – 5^th graders

Why: Serve others and have fun together!

Worship 411 Update

Many of you have asked when we will begin Worship 411 again. Worship 411, for our elementary children, was halted at the end of last school year as Chuck DeBenon and Carri Tacker stepped aside for a much needed break.

We are still open to restarting Worship 411 when we have at least 4 teams of two adults to lead the elementary children's worship. I think it will be important to have the team approach so that our volunteers do not feel over-committed.

At the same time, we still need additional consistent volunteers in some of Sunday morning Bible classes, so, we must be careful to not draw volunteers already teaching away from their current responsibilities or overwhelm them with too many classes. I have a couple of volunteers that are teaching 3 times a week right now!

If you feel that an elementary children's worship is important to your family and to visitors that we may be reaching out to in our community, I encourage you to step up and let me know that you'd like to lead in this ministry.

Kid's For Christ - Pack the Pulpit

Our Annual Kid's For Christ Pack the Pulpit and Impact Service Project is just around the corner. Please review the following email for more information about that event.

Kids for Christ

need your help to

PACK THE PULPIT!!

Sunday Nov 21

When we say pack the pulpit we mean

PACK THE WHOLE PULPIT AREA!

We want to share our many blessings!!!!!!

Items needed:

Chili

Beef Stew

Green beans

Corn

Peas

Mixed Vegetables

RamenNoodles*

*Impact needs lots and lots of Ramen Noodles

At Walmart you can buy them by the case, you get more for your money with the plastic packages of noodles instead of the cups.

Parents this is a great opportunity to raise your children with compassionate hearts. Please take the time to read to them what this ministry does to be the hands and feet of Jesus and they can be a part it!!

12 Apostles Game

One of our Bible skills we are focusing on for the next 6 weeks in Journey Land is knowing the names of the 12 apostles and a fact or two about each one.

Click here for a fun computer game I found today that is FREE! This will be good for you 3rd graders and up. Younger kids might be frustrated with the game unless you give them a list of correctly spelled names.

Here is another FREE GAME website, click here. This website actually has two games, one game allows kids to match the apostle with the fact. The other game is a memory game, which may be helpful to younger kids that are just trying to learn these funny Bible names. We will probably use the matching game in "JourneyLand Park" where we review the Bible story, skills and verse in each rotation.

Journey Land Musuem

Each week, elementary children get to attend Journey Land during our Sunday AM Bible Class. The goal of Journey Land is to increase the depth of our Bible study, while, aknowledging every child is different and have their own learning style.

The Journey Land Musuem focuses on teaching children about Bible places and culture. Melissa Green has just finished decorating this room and we think the kids are going to say "WOW"! I know I did!

Our goal is to eventually have all of our rooms with that "VBS flare" so that our children's ministry environment is exciting and attractive to children while taking their Biblical education to the next level.

Thanks Missi for all of your hard work!

Earn Bible Bucks By Listening to the Sermon

Right now, we do not have Worship 411. Most kids are sitting in the worship service with their parents. For our little bit older kids, I wanted to provide a resource to help the children engage in the sermon.

Today I read a blog that gave the idea for a sermon note taking worksheet and notebook. I thought this was a wonderful idea and excellent tool for helping children engage in a time that is more adult centered. If you'd like to read the original blog post that includes a copy of the form, click here. I will be making these forms available at the Family Ministry kiosk beginning this Sunday morning.

If a child would like to earn a Bible Buck for filling one out, all they have to do is show it to me sometime within that week. I'll initial the page and give them a Bible Buck.

The author of the original blog post let their children decorate a binder and place copies of the sermon worksheet in the binder so they could keep a journal of the sermons. You may even include a little pouch for pens, pencils and map colors. Younger kids may write some words but are not ready to fill in such a large amount of information. I have often encouraged River to draw pictures of the sermon. Either way, children are listening and interpreting what they are hearing so learning is facilitated. As a parent, you could use their sermon worksheet during the week to follow up with the children during their devotional time.

As a person who tends to learn best visually and who enjoys taking notes, I can see a very real benefit to using a worksheet like this even for myself. What a great tool to teach children early.

Journey Land Rotation Kick-Off: The Last Supper and Arrest

Journey Land, our Sunday AM Bible Class for elementary students Kindergarten - 5th grade, kicks off a new "theme" this next Sunday morning.

For over a year, we have been journeying through the life of Jesus. Sunday, October 24th, we will begin a new theme, "The Last Supper and Arrest". I know it's not the "right time of year" to start into this portion of Jesus life. But, the Journey Land concept is giving the kids real opportunity to dig deep into God's Word and understand His plan.

This Sunday, we will review the objectives from the last rotation and kick-off the follow objectives. You may want to review these at home with your children.
1) Reading with them the passages
a. Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey & clears the temple (John 12:12-18)
b. Jesus washes the disciples’ feet (John 13:1-10)
c. Last Supper (Mt. 26:20-30; Mk. 14:17-26; Lk. 22:14-30; Jn. 13:21-30)
d. Garden of Gethsemane and Arrest (Mt. 26:35-56; Mk. 14:32-52; Lk. 22:33-
52; Jn. 18:1-11)
2) Practice with them the names of the 12 disciples. Continue to review the books of the New Testament.
3) Practice the memory verses: Luke 22:19b, John 3:16,17
4) Use the Lord's Supper each week to help your child understand what each element represents. It's ok to whisper it in their ear. Remind them that Christians take the Lord Supper to remember that Jesus gave His life for us to deliver us from sin.

Bible Bucks Palooza - This Sunday AM

This Sunday is Review and Kick-Off day in Journey Land. We review the concepts we just learned and kick-off the next rotation with a quick overview of the Bible truths the children will be encountering during their 6-week journey.

Have your kids been saving up for the perfect item from the Bible Bucks store?

This Sunday, I'm going to make it a goal to give away as MANY BIBLE BUCKS as possible!

Help your children out by reviewing with them these concepts:
1) The New Testament Books of the Bible
2) Finding passages in the New Testament
3) Review Bible Verse: Mark 10:45a
4) Share ways Jesus was a servant.
5) Share ways the child can be a servant like Jesus.

See you Sunday Morning!!!

November Kid's For Christ

SPONSORS ARE NEEDED!!!!

to coordinate

November Kid's For Christ

Every other month we alternate a "fun" activity with a "service" activity. November will be a field trip of choice by the parent coordinators. Please let Shannon know ASAP if you are willing to coordinate and sponsor November's Kids For Christ.

Kid's For Christ - Tomorrow!

Don't forget that Kid's For Christ will meet immediately tomorrow after worship in the Worship 411 room. The plan is:

1) Lunch

2) Decorate gifts for the Firefighters

3) Story time to review the Golden Rule and how we respond to those that do not treat us with respect.

4) At 3:00 PM, Mr. Jordan, a local Tae Kwon Do instructor, will review general safety issues with the kids and how to respond in an emergency. Parents are invited to attend the presentation.

5) Pick up at 3:30 (or slightly after, when the presentation concludes).

AND IT'S ALL FREE!!!!!

Out of School Special for Girls - October 11, 9:00-11:30 AM

It's a "party" for girls of all ages. Preschoolers should attend with an adult. Elementary may be dropped off. 9:00-11:30 AM in the Worship 411 room.

Veggie Tales, "Sweetpea Beauty" is a new release that shows girls how they can be "A girl after God's own heart". We will watch the movie and have some crafts, snacks and games.

Older girls and moms are encouraged to stay and help out.

Kid's For Christ

Sunday, October 10th, Immediately Following Services

Bring a sack lunch and meet in the Worship 411 room.

We will be making gifts for the Firefighters for Firefighter Sunday.

One final detail has yet to be determined that affects the cost. More information soon.

Fourth and Fifth Grade Girls Bible Study

This summer, we hosted a Bible study on Monday afternoons for girls in the 4th grade - Middle School. We talked about character traits the girls should aspire to have in their lives, and, allowed the girls to ask questions that were relevant to their needs. The questions were challenging and even a little "sensitive" in nature. This just underscored the many mature issues our children are faced with at such a young age.

This school year, the 4th/5th grade girls will again have a Bible study focused on the needs of pre-teen girls. 6th - 8th grade will also be taking part of a Bible story for their age group in Middle School. As we talk about issues important to a young girl, we will study God's Word and learn what He has to say that will help us through this sometimes trying years.

I will be using the study guide "Becoming a Young Woman of God" written for Middle School girls. Even those these girls are not yet in Middle School, the design of the study will be to proactively prepare them for the transition to Middle School.

Just as we did over the summer, the girls will be encouraged to ask questions that are important to them. We learned over the summer that even our elementary girls had some fairly serious questions! The goal of this class is to answer any question they ask as clearly and honestly as possible and always point the children back to their parents. If a question is VERY sensitive in nature, we may ask the child to allow us to answer the question the next week and we will send a brief summary of the question and our answer to you, the parent, in advance.

Parents, you may want to know a little more about this study, so here are our lesson topics:

1) Less Than Becoming: A Look at Our Culture. It is good to be aware of cultural stereotypes set by media of how "respected" women should look. We will talk about being comfortable in the skin that God put us in, that we are beautiful just the way He made us.

2) Start Becoming: Exposing Lies and Embracing Truth. This chapter not only talks about cultures stereotypes but the "lies" that are used to help us believe those stereotypes.

3) Becoming Wise: Choices. One of our primary themes of our girls class is that "God gave us a choice". Choices are a gift from God. How we use our choices will help us grow closer to Him or separate us from Him. Girls can choose how they act, how they treat others, and how they feel about themselves.

4) Becoming Focused: Setting Goals. Our goals will help us determine who we are and how we are going to get there. Girls knowing and understanding their goals will help them to make wise choices throughout life.

5) Becoming Splendorous: Accepting the Skin Your Are In. Girls don't need to dress a certain way or over-do their make-up to get anyone's attention. Girls need to understand that God loves them and made them just the way He wants them.

6) Becoming Balanced: Keeping Your Body in Check. We all have seen the girls that wear clothes way to "old" for their age. What is modesty? Why is it so important to wear modest clothes?

7) Becoming of Christ: Self Worth. Girls may feel rejected by friends, boys and sometimes, even family. But, God has chosen each girl. This chapter is designed to help each girl discover their self-worth in Christ.

8) Becoming in Tune: Feelings. This chapter will help girls trust their feelings but not be slaved to their feelings.

Last Week's Girl's Bible Study

I didn't get a chance to blog about the girls Bible study from last week. We are now up to 12 girls ... 8 in 4th/5th and 4 middle school girls. It's so great to have all these girls together. The Middle School girls stepped up into a natural leadership role. But, I do believe their faith is being reinforced and deepen through our study as well.

We talked about having courage. Courage like Rahab. Rahab wasn't the type of person that you would have thought to do the right thing. But, she did. She had heard about God and she knew she needed to be on His side. Rather or not she believed in Him, she had the courage to cross her own people, hide the spies, and help them out of Jericho. Rahab, saved her life and her families life by making this courageous decision.

Then, the girls talked about the courage that they must have each day in their daily lives. They must have courage to make new friends. They must have courage to do the right thing. They must have courage to show wisdom in how they use technology. And, they must have courage in the desire to "date" boys.

One of our Middle School girls shared what they learned at camp. They talked about having an inner circle and outer circle of friends. The inner circle are those that challenge a girl to have a deeper relationship with Christ. The outer circle are those they can influence for Christ. This strikes a good balance and develops priorities in relationships.

Then we talked about boys. Alot. Again, I saw great leadership from our Middle school girls. We talked about three things specifically:

1) The girls need to have a serious conversation with their parents about when it's ok to "go out with boys" or "date". Parent's refrain from answering, "when you are 30". Kid's want and need boundaries, it's ok to give them some reasonable boundaries.

2) The dating is an activity that can be, and should be, reserved until the age a teen is beginning to think about serious long-term relationships. Dating is to find a future spouse.

3) Once a girl begins to date, they may have to make other choices, like when to hold his hand, or kiss or so on. These things are progressive, so it's best to wait until they are older so that they are not tempted.

Well, that's about it! As always, let me know if you have any ideas, questions or comments about this study.

Important Information about Sunday Night activities and special events

Important Change for Sunday Nights
Kevin Welch will be teaching the Sunday Nights at the movies this summer. We have decided that we will meet in the auditorium with the church family instead of doing the family nights @ KWCOC. All movies seem to be family friendly but an alternate will be provided if we identify any movie that is not appropriate for young children. We will have fresh made popcorn, kids are welcomed to wear their PJ's and bring blanket and pillows. We have found these family film nights to be very fun in the past and look forward to doing it again!

Important Change for Special Events
A sign-up sheet for each special event (preschool story time, lock-in, etc) has been made available at the Family Kiosk. This will help us determine our supply and volunteer needs. An event will be canceled if participation is limited! So, it is very important that you sign your child up for the event!!!! Deadline for events through July 13th will be Sunday, July 4th.

Art Camp Workday
Tuesday, June 29th, 10:00 AM will be an Art Camp workday. We need all hands on deck! Childcare will be provided.

Girls Study this week: Being Unselfish

The girls in the 4th grade - MS will be studying about Moses mother today and talking about being "unselfish".

I just got back from a week at camp. I got to spend a lot of time with our KWCOC kids. I also got to spend a lot of time with Reese. I couldn't help but identify emotionally with Moses' Mom today as I read the story in preparation for the class.

Moses' Mom nursed him until he was 3 months old. At 3 months old, she couldn't continue to hide him and if she did and he was discovered, he would be killed. She had to protect her soon and the only way to do that was to let him go. She built a small boat, a basket of sorts, for him to float among the reeds. She couldn't have known that he would be discovered by the Pharaoh's daughter, or brought back to her to raise. God works amazing plans in our lives when we are unselfish and do His will. How hard it must have been to let him go into that water! How she must has cried knowing her son may not ever come back to her! Her heart must have broke as she made the decision that was more likely to save his life but was still highly improbable at best. Yet, she let go.

Unselfish love is God's plan for the world. It is God's plan for our girls too!

However, in school, they meet selfishness in most everything they do. I'm convinced that all sin is rooted in our selfish desires. Because, when we are thinking about other people and putting God first, it's much more difficult for Satan to get to us. Our girls are in the midst of selfishness. Kids are not taught to be unselfish ... ever been to a kids sporting event? Most kids have parents whose whole world revolves around them and too often, these children are being taught that getting ahead by any means possible is the "right" thing for their life.

Selfishness in girls have given rise to the "Mean Girls" phenomenon. I talked to one HS girl who said, "Girls are just mean. Really mean. They will do anything for themselves. Even my friends,I know to expect that from them".

So, as we prepare our girls to transition into Middle School, we can begin teaching them healthy relational skills, how to deal with conflict, and how to always put another persons "right" interest before their own. They should always think about building up and not tearing down. Gossip and sarcasm need to be seen as SINFUL and not just wrong. Parents can help their girls prepare for Middle School by walking through these issues with their girls.

This weeks Bible verse is: Ephesians 5:21. The Daily Beauty Treatment (or daily Bible reading) is 1 Corinthians 13. And our Spiritual Aerobics is thinking of a way to be unselfish each day and work on it each week. We will talk about this more next week at Bible Study.

Bible Study for Girls in 4th Grade - 8th Grade

Every Monday, we will meet at 2:00 PM for a study called, "Beautiful in God's Eyes". We will be preparing girls for their transition into Middle School and the new experiences they will face. I'd love for your pre-teen/teen to be involved. We will not meet next Monday, June 14, due to camp.

Dear Parents,
I am so happy to have your daughter taking part in "Beautiful In God's Eyes." I look forward to spending this time teaching the girls, and I hope that the class will be a blessing for each of them.

This class will deal with the fact that beauty in God's eyes is not based on external appearance, but on the heart. Our attitudes and behaviors make us beautiful in God's eyes. Girls are constantly bombarded with images of physical perfection in our culture. This can lead to low self-image and competitive, judgmental behavior. I hope that in this class the girls can begin to see that they should judge themselves and others not by what is on the outside, but what comes from the inside.

The class is designed so that the girls will be doing work not only here, but also home during the week as well. In this we will need your help. Each week your daughter will have a memory verse, a daily Bible reading, a prayer commitment, and a behavior to practice. Please help her work on learning her memory verse. She should read, or have read to her, the Bible reading selection each day. This is the same Scripture every day of the week. It would be helpful if you would discuss this Scripture with your daughter as well as reading it. Each girl is also asked to make a commitment to pray for one classmate during the week. Encourage your daughter to be faithful in this commitment. Each week the girls will select something specific that they will work on in their own lives. Celebrate with your daughter's successes and support her when she struggles. Help her remember that God's grace covers us all as we seek to do God's will. The girls are encouraged to bring their Bibles each week. An occasional gentle reminder would be helpful.

Each girl will be assigned a prayer partner, a mother of an older child or even a "grandparent". These prayer partners will pray daily for their girls, send them encouragement notes, and attend a special blessing activity at the end of the summer.

I am excited about working with the girls during this time. I hope that if you have any questions or concerns, you will feel free to contact me. I hope also that you will pray for me as I take on the responsibility of teaching your daughter and the other girls.

For His Kids,
Shannon Rains

Important Information Regarding Worship 411

Carri Tacker and Chuck Debenon have lead Worship 411, the elementary children's worship, since the beginning of 2009. These two leaders have invested a considerable amount of time and energy in teaching the elementary children at KWCOC during the sermon. The children have enjoyed Worship 411 and it has provided an age appropriate opportunity for the children during a time in the regular service that some children find it difficult to sit still and pay attention.

Carri and Chuck have decided to take a much needed break. As we continue to evaluate the future of Worship 411, we have decided to take a break for the summer quarter (months of June, July, and August). During this time, we will determine the future of Worship 411. In order for Worship 411 to continue in the fall, it will be very important for a leadership team of dedicated volunteers to be established and to share the responsibility for teaching in this ministry. If this is an interest and passion for you, please let me know as soon as possible. Planning for the fall should begin not later than August 1st.

I understand that our parents have many different opinions regarding an elementary children's worship service. If you would like to discuss these with me, please call or email anytime. I will be meeting with the elders and deacons that serve in the Children and Family Ministry over the summer to discuss our next steps and would like to share the parent responses with them at that time.