This Past Week in KidQuest and FirstLook

Yesterday was a pretty neat day in KidQuest and FirstLook.

We had our normal large group teaching time and worship, but instead of doing our small group activities that reinforce the teaching time, we did something very special.

This past week, we found out that one of our kindergarten girls was diagnosed with Leukemia. So instead of doing our activities, we were able to have a special time of prayer for a girl in our church family. Not were we able to have a time of prayer, but we were able to make some cards for her and her family. Tonight when I go see her, I am going to be taking her a huge stack of cards that our KidQuest and FirstLook kids made for her.

We gave the idea to our elementary kids and they ran with it. Their cards are very heart felt and include things like "get well soon," "we love you and miss you," "can't wait to see you back at church with us," and various other notes of encouragement.

Our kids are great kids. I know some of them are out there this week thinking about ways they can help the family even more than just write them some cards.

If you are interested in their story, go to www.caringbridge.org/visit/makaylam

On another note, here are the take home materials for July 26.

FirstLook and Nursery Small Talk Cards


KidQuest GodTime Cards


KidQuest Fridge Door Card

August

KidQuest

In KidQuest during the month of August, we will be talking about forgiveness. What a great virtue for us to talk about. Forgiveness is something we all need to have in our lives because people hurt us all the time.

Forgiveness is deciding that someone who has wronged you doesn't have to pay.

We'll start off with Jesus' parable of the unmerciful servant (Matthew 18): since God forgives you, you should forgive others.

Week 2 is all about Jesus and Zacchaeus (Luke 19) and the fact that when people are forgiven, it can change them.

In week 3 we'll be talking about getting even God's way and what Joseph did when faced with the opportunity for revenge (Genesis 45). When you want to get even, do the opposite.

And we'll end the month with "go first," what Jesus said about forgiveness in Matthew 5: don't wait to start making things right with others.

Watch this video to learn even more about the virtue of forgiveness and what it means in our life.




FirstLook

In FirstLook we will having a very fun filled month of famous Bible stories. The Bible says in Psalm 18:30: "God's way is perfect," (NIrV). Wow! It's perfect. That means God's way is the best way. What a powerful truth. What a hard thing to internalize when you are in the midst of something you don't understand. No matter how turbulent a time you are experiencing, you can always know that God has a plan for you. That is something we as adults need to remember, and we need to show our preschoolers that we can trust Him even when we don't understand His plan.

This month, preschoolers will learn that God made them the way they are and has a plan for them through the story of Esther. God made Esther and placed her where He did for a specific reason. She did not understand why she became Queen, but trusted God, and He used her for an amazing purpose.

Preschoolers will also hear the story of Jonah. Now, here is a story with which we can all resonate. God gave Jonah specific directions, but he ignored them with intense consequences. In the belly of the big fish, Jonah realized that he still could and needed to follow God's directions. By doing as God asked, Jonah saved many lives. The story of Jonah is a favorite of preschoolers and is such an amazing way to teach them that God's way is the best way.

In my reading

I have been doing a lot of reading lately about family, and making our church better at ministering to them. While I was reading "Think Orange" by Reggie Joiner (which is available in the WCC library) I came across this passage about parenting. I wanted to share it with you because I truly feel that I am here to support the family and their efforts to grow children in Christ.

"Kids already have a front-row seat to their parents' lives; the question is, what are thy watching? Is it just show? Or is it a real-life adventure where they see courage and passion to overcome personal obstacles? Parents must show them what it is like to pursue a better relationship with God. Show them what a committed, loving marriage looks like. Show them how it looks to prioritize Jesus above anthing else. Show them what it is like to reject the materialism and consumerism of this world. If parents want their children to have it in them, they have to see it demonstrated.

Kids need to see their parents
struggle with answers,
face their weaknesses,
deal with real problems,
admit when they are wrong,
fight for their marriage,
resolve personal conflict.

Children need to see their parents make relational, emotional, and spiritual growth a priority. If parents don't make it personal, it may never be personal for their kids."

2 Pieces of Exciting News

The FirstLook Room

We will begin remodelling for the FirstLook room very soon!!!!! Quite possibly next week. When the construction begins, we will temporally be moving our preschoolers to a different room until the new environment is complete.

I am very excited that our preschoolers will be getting a space of their own. I can't wait to show it off to the kids and you, their parents.

In case you are curious, we will be knocking down a wall to make our space bigger as well as adding some cool touches to make sure the kids know that this new space is theirs. I can't tell you what those are yet, but it will be GREAT!!!


New Website

The church is in the design phase of a new website. Not only does this mean great things for the church, but that the children's ministry part of the website will be greatly enhanced as well. So be looking of info about the new website launch.

Children's Ministry

As I continue to unpack children's ministry and how important kids are to the future, I continue to be amazed at what I find and how truly important kids are not only to God but to the church and the future.

Look at this list to see how kids matter to God.

• Children are a gift from God -- Deut 7:13; Ps 127:3
• Adults receive special blessings through their children -- Num 5:28; Deut 28:4,11; Lam 4:2
• Children are desirable -- Gen 9:7; Deut 6:3; LUke 1:24-25
• Children need to be taught how to think and act in relation to God and His ways -- Ex 12:26, 37; Deut 4:9-10; 6:1-7; 31:12-13; Ps 78:4-6; Prob 22:6
• To haver a fruitful relationship with God, children must be taught to obey him -- Prob 8:32; 19:26; Jer 2:30; 3:22; Eph 6:1; Col 3:20
• God wants to have a genuine relationship with His children -- Ps 8:2, 34:11; 103:13; Mal 2:15; Matt 21:15; Mark 10:13-16

Prayer

I know this is normally what I write on here....but could you join us this week in these prayer areas.

1. Starrett Family -- 3 of 4 girls have been sick this week and they have made 2 hospital visits.
2. A Volunteer -- A KidQuest volunteer spent last night in the hospital and the docs said she has Gastronitis
3. This weekend, I am kinda bummed it falls on a holiday weekend, but I am teaching about the Prodigal Son and how God is always there to welcome us regardless of the choices we make.