Announcements for September 2012!

Hello All!

It is a BUSY month in 4:12 Kids as we begin our brand new school year together! I truly beleive this is going to be the best year! I have a ton of announements so parents be sure to read all of them so you don't miss anything important! I promise it won't take as long as you think! If you have any questions or would like to register your kids or sign up to volunteer for anything below, just email me at emilym@fumcmaumelle.org!

Fall Volunteers

Volunteers are needed to lead a Small Group for 2 Year Olds every other Sunday and -4^th Grade for the upcoming school year during the 9:30 hour. If you are interested, please contact Emily at emilym@fumcmaumelle.org.

Promotion Sunday

Promotion Sunday will be THIS Sunday, September 16^th. All children will begin in their new classrooms on this date. Join us as we kick off the new school year with a big celebration!

KIDstuf Volunteers Needed

This year, KIDstuf will be on the first Sunday of each month. Our first one for the year will be Sunday, October 7^th. Volunteers are needed to act and lead worship for this service. If you are interested in volunteering in the KIDstuf ministry, please contact Emily as soon as possible. Practices will be on the 2 Wednesday nights before each KIDstuf service from 6-8pm. Without volunteers, KIDstuf will not be possible so please sign up today!

3^rd Grade Bible Presentation

All 3^rd Graders will be provided with a new Bible on Sunday, October 14. If you have a 3^rd grader, please email Emily with his or her full name to reserve a Bible no later than Sunday, September 30!

2nd-3rd Grade Hands-On Bible Study

Join us every other Sunday from 3-4 as we explore the books of the Bible, have a snack, and make a craft that goes along with our story for the day. We will learn how to use and read the Bible and apply different stories to our lives in a relevant way! Registration is required. Our first Bible Study will be on Sunday, October 7^th!

Fourth and Fifth Grade Bible Study

All 4th and 5^th graders are invited to join us every other Sunday from 4-5 as we learn how to study, understand, and apply different stories of the Bible to our lives in a relevant way!  Registration is required. Our first Bible Study will be on Sunday, October 7^th!

Preschool Story Time

We meet one Monday a month from 10:00-11:00 a.m. Join us in the Coffee Bar for an hour of songs, stories, fun and fellowship. This event is open to all preschool aged children. Our first Story Time will be on Monday, September 24^th!

Parent Cue

Each week, kids will come home with a “Parent Cue” card. This card will give parents a summary of what we learned in Sunday School and will include activities and topics for you to do with kids throughout the week. If you miss a Sunday, you can download the “Parent Cue” app created by the Rethink Group on your Iphone or Android. This App allows you to view the Bible Story from the week, find activities to do with your kids during bedtime, play time, and drive time, and find articles and podcasts on anything Parent related in raising your child in faith! All Parents should download this App! We believe what happens at home each week is far more important than what happens at church! This is one way for us to partner with parents to help kids grow in their relationship with Christ.

Remodeling/ Painting the Children's Ministry Area

Painting plans are underway and remodeling will begin soon so check back for more information on this project!

Stay Tuned for a HUGE announcments involving 4:12 Kids next month!!

Happy Fall!

-Emily

Camp KIDventure Day 6

It is officially the last day of camp! I cannot believe that it is almost over.. this week has flown so incredibly fast. The kids are eating lunch and getting ready to pack up their things before one last activity until parents get here!

Parent's- I know you are so excited to see your kids! I wish I could say the same about the kids but I don't think anyone is ready to leave yet! When I told the kids this morning that they would see their parents and go home this afternoon, I expected shouting and excitement but all I got was a long sigh. They have definitely had a great week.

I didn't post yesterday because it was so busy and I didn't have a chance to even look at my computer! Yesterday morning was spent mountain boarding (yes everyone is still alive), hiking, and playing field sports. After a much needed nap everyone went swimming one last time. We then headed up to do the Shady Chute but it has been raining a lot this week so we weren't able to do it.. but the kids decided to play an intense game of dodge ball. The teams were all of the kids (20) against the counselors and me(5). The counselor's lost if you couldn't figure that out. :)

Last night was skit night where all of the groups came up with skits about their week and performed them in front of the group. We then came back to the lake for our last worship service where we all shared communion. I've said it before but listening to these kids worship with everything they have is the greatest thing in the world. No doubt.

I will tell you all that your kids are going to CRASH as soon as they get home tonight. You're welcome! Ha. Since last night was our last night we all stayed up late and watched Madagascar 2 and had smores... from the microwave. Oh burn bans we love you.

This morning both groups went out to the garden where they were able to feed some goats and chickens, mulch some blueberries, pick corn and tomatoes, and much more. They ended the morning at the DAC which is Ferncliff's Disaster Action Center where they made hygiene kits to be shipped around the world when a disaster strikes. I think they made close to 300 kits!

So now it is time to say goodbye to our friends and prepare to come home and back to reality. I don't think anyone is ready just yet.. maybe if we had just a few more days. It has been an amazing, life changing week. I am so blessed to know these kids and to have the opportunity to watch them grow beyond measures in their relationship with Christ.

The Bible verse this week was 2 Peter 1:3, "God's power has given us everything we need to live a godly life." I have no doubt that these kids have been changed this week. They are plugged in to God just as Peter was and I cannot wait for them to come home and share it with their friends and families. We have a God that is BIGGER than BIG who has done some HUGE things through these kids this week. Amen to that.

We will see you all at 4! Just 3 more hours of camp.. Now to prepare for next year!

-Emily

Camp KIDventure Day 4

Good Evening Parents!


Wow what a day! I didn't think camp could be any better but I was wrong on so many levels. When I say today was the best day that we have ever had at camp, including past years, it is an understatement. I am so incredibly proud of your kids!


We spent the morning on the low ropes course doing team building exercises. The kids had a blast learning to work together. They have all said that we are one big family this week. They are divided into 2 teams, Blue and Red, so they have decided to rename the group to Bread, because we are all one.. One Family, One Camp, One Body of Christ. Bread United. Amen to that.


This afternoon we had water games. The sun finally came out just in time after a gloomy morning! They played all sorts of games including a water balloon toss, drip drip splash (a version of duck duck goose), and a game called Torpedo. Torpedo is when you line up and through a bucket of water on the person behind you and yell TORPEDO. The point is to get everyone wet. The kids loved it.. so much that they(with the help from the counselors) torpedoed me with a HUGE trashcan full of water. It was lovely.. and cold, but worth it to see their faces and hear their laughs. Sadly, we did not get pictures. The camera stopped working. Darn.


After water games we had a cookout. The kids made "Hobo Bags." This is where they prepare their food and wrap it all in foil to cook on the grill. While the food was cooking, the kids had time to just run around and play. It was so encouraging to see all of them playing together and having a blast.
We then went to a carnival where they played lots of games and were able to interact with other kids that are here at Ferncliff. Everyone had snow cones which made the night 10 times better than it already was! We ended the night with worship around the lake. I am convinced that the greatest thing in life is listening to a group of kids singing and worshipping God with everything they have to give. There is nothing better.


We have been blessed with some of the greatest counselors. Tonight we were talking during snack and all of the counselors told me, no lie, that they have been amazed this week because your kids have been absolute angels. Yes.. every single one of them! And I couldn't agree more. We have not had one problem.. none. A few nights ago I challenged the kids to learn our memory verse and talk about it with each other. Jordan, one of the counselor's said he got out of the shower that night and was worried because it was so quiet. He then found every boy in the cabin reading their Bible quietly on their bunk. We have been focusing a lot this week on what it means to spend time with God through prayer, journaling, and scripture reading. I told the kids that if they just spent 5 minutes extra each day with God then things would change. They would learn how to be plugged into God. Another counselor told me that this morning the kids woke up early and spent 10-15 minutes reading their Bible and praying. The counselor didn't tell them to read their Bible.. he was just making sure they were ready in time. They are getting it. I truly believe that this week has been life changing for these kids... and we still have 2 more days! When I say your kids are blowing me away.. I mean it. I am so amazed at the things that God is doing through them this week. They are true blessings.


Tomorrow is another full day so I will leave you with a few pictures from today! I know that you are missing your kids.. I think the homesickness has hit the Parent's way more than the kids this year! We have still not had any problems.. knocking on wood and saying a prayer again tonight!

Camp KIDventure Day 3

Hey Parents! Ever wonder how amazing your kids are?! Becasue the have blown me away the past few days!

Wow has it been a long day! All of the kids are fast asleep in their bunks and gearing up for a long day tomorrow! It has been such a joy to spend time with these kids and to witness them growing closer to Christ each day. This week we are learning what it means to be "Zapped" by God's love and power. Today, one of the kids told me that without God's power and love in our lives, we would be like a TV that had no outlet to turn it on.. pointless.

We discussed the story of Peter walking on water towards Jesus this morning. When Jesus told his disciples to cross over to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, they ran into a huge storm. When they looked up they thought they saw a ghost. Matthew 14 says "The figure on the water spoke to them and said, "Be brave! It is I. Don't be afraid." Peter looked out at the man and said "Lord, if it is really you, tell me to come to you on the water." Jesus said, "Come." This is where Peter shows courage and jumped into.. or onto the water. He focused everything on Jesus and forgot about the storm that was going on around him. He was plugged in, connected to Jesus. He was walking on the water. But then Peter started to look around and saw the wind and the storm. He got distracted and started to sink. Peter cried out "Lord, Save Me!" Immediately, Jesus reached out and caught him. He said 'Your faith is so small. Why did you doubt me?'

Peter had a 'superpower' for a moment while he walked on water. But Peter was just like you and me. An everyday, normal human. Sometimes he got it right and sometimes he got it wrong. Like us, the times he got it right were when he was focused on Jesus, when he wasn't distracted and was really plugged into the power of God. The times he got it wrong were when he took his eyes off of Jesus and tried to do it all himself.

Sometimes, we feel like we are stepping off the edge of the boat to do the right thing. We may be afriad of what is going to happen and sometimes we get distracted by a fear or a storm in our lives. We have to remember that it's God's power, not our own, that keeps us from sinking.

Our Bible verse this week is 2 Peter 1:3a, "Gods power has given us everything we need to lead a godly life." We may go through times where we think that stepping off the side of the boat is scary and insane, but if we learn to depend on God and to keep our eyes focused on Him we will tap into the things that God has given us to overcome the storms and discover the things that He has planned for us.

Just like one the kids said, without God we are like a TV without an outlet. The campers have blown me away and we havent even made it half way through the week yet. Tonight they all made a goal to spend a minimum of 5 extra minutes with God before they went to bed through prayer, journaling, reading the Bible, or talking through the lesson with a counselor. I am so blessed to have the oppurtunity to witness the kids grow closer to God each day. They are being "Zapped" and plugging into Gods Power and Love.. becasue we have a God that loves and forgives us no matter what.

These campers get it. I am constantly amazed as I listen to their conversations, watch their actions, and listen to them worship a God that is bigger than big. Or in the words of a camper "A God that is bigger than big, large, huge, and ginormous."

It is a great week to say the least. One that is life changing.. for the campers, counselors, staff, and myself. 

Tomorrow is another full day of worship, a low ropes course, water games, swimming, campside cookout, and a carnival! Please keep us in your prayers as we hit the halfway mark! I know it will be another amazing day so stay tuned for more!

If you are not on facebook, here is a link to the pictures that I am posting. It is a public album so you should be able to see them without an account. If not, let me know!

https://www.facebook.com/mcelroyea#!/media/set/?set=a.1915535401254.2047331.1028010328&type=1

-Emily

PS: I have videos from each day but the internet is SUPER slow this week :( If I cant get them to upload you will all get copies at the end of the week!

Camp Kidventure Day 1.5

Good Morning Parents!

It is the 2nd morning at Camp KIDventure and things could not be better! We spent yesterday doing crafts, archery, swimming, and birdwatching for our main activities. Last night we played a game called chaos.. which is just that... chaos. It was so much fun and the kids were exhausted by the end of the day! We wrapped up our day with an awesome worship service led by 3 youth that came out to help for the night. Here are some pictures from the past two days! I hope everyone is enjoying the peace and quiet at home! If you are missing your home being loud and crazy don't worry.. we are being loud enough here so you should be able to hear us in Maumelle!

I will have the video uploaded at some point today from Sunday and Monday I promise! Internet is just a little slower than expected so it is taking a long time to upload :)

-Emily

4:12 Kids

Hello Everyone!

I cannot believe that it is already March and that spring and summer are upon us! I wanted to take the time today to explain a little bit about 4:12 Kids. I believe that this ministry is in the middle of an incredible journey and transformation. In December, we began a new curriculum that is not only a curriculum but a strategy. I am so excited about this and I truly believe this is a great time for the Children’s Ministry at FUMC and pray that parents and kids and the entire congregation will join 4:12 Kids during this time. Please take the time to read a little about this new strategy that we have taken on... I promise it will be worth your time!

At 4:12 Kids, we want to partner with parents to help your child discover and embrace the journey of a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. Based off of this statement and 1 Timothy 4:12, our ministry is split into 2 different areas: Discover 4:12 and Journey 4:12.

Discover 4:12 is our area for children 0-4 years. During this age, children are discovering all things in life, from how to walk to what color the sky is. What would happen if every child could Discover who God is so early in life that they never lived a day without believing that He really loves us. What if we could make sure every child believed these 3 truths: God Made Me, God Loves Me, and Jesus wants to be my friend forever, before they are 4 years old? Each month, children will experience small group activities, worship, bible stories, and crafts that will help them to learn and understand these 3 basic truths Through this new strategy, we believe that every child can discover God and know these truths before they leave for Kindergarten.

Journey 4:12 is our area for children in Kindergarten- 5th Grade. If your child is in Kindergarten you have 636 weekends left before they graduate High School. If your child is in 3rd grade, there are only 468 left, and in 5th grade there are only 363 weekends left. Most kids form their entire idea of who God is and chose whether or not they’ll have a relationship with Him before leaving 5th grade. That is why weekends are so important to us. What if before your child leaves the 5th grade and heads off to middle school, they know these 3 core truths: I can trust God no matter what, I need to make the wise choice, and I should treat others the way I want to be treated? This is done by showing kids that the Bible is the source of wisdom and truth, how what they learn applies to there every day lives, and that relationships with small group leaders and friends matter. These truths are reinforced each week by using Bible stories to teach core virtues, because virtues help to display God’s character and when we live them out, not only do we understand his heart more, so do the people around us. Each month, your child will learn the core virtue along with a memory verse that will all be tied together with KIDstuf at the end of the month. This is our chance to bring kids and parents together to help us grow in wisdom, faith, and friendship.

This is our opportunity to partner with parents to help children along as the discover God and embrace the journey of a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. I pray that this ministry will transform this year into a ministry that truly believes and lives out this new strategy and that we may begin to see these 6 core truths lived out in the lives of not only the children but adults as well. My prayer is that this church family that I know and love so very much will join me in this strategy and that through the children and this ministry, hearts and minds will be conformed and transformed. If you would like to learn more about the new curriculum and changes in 4:12 kids, please feel free to ask... I love questions and would love to talk about all of the great things that are occurring in this ministry!

-Emily

Generosity- Making Someone's Day by Giving Something Away

It’s official—the holidays are around the corner. December has finally begun and the busyness of the Holiday season has started! Not only has it begun at home with Christmas parties, presents to buy, Christmas break beginning, etc, it has begun within 4:12 Kids as well! I have been looking forward to this month for a long time, even counting down the days until Dec. 1st. This month, your children will learn about Generosity and what it means to truly give this Christmas season.

It’s so easy to lose perspective and get wrapped up in all the hustle and bustle of the Holidays. That’s why I’m excited to focus on Generosity this December—so kids (and adults like me) can be reminded about what we should get all wrapped up in this year! In fact, James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.” So, we know that God is the giver of all good things. But we also know that God’s generosity has a purpose. In one of the busiest times of year it’s important to take time to remember who gave first. We can stop and remember how amazing it is that God sent His Son to show us a new way to live and later make it possible for us to live with Him forever if we just believe .Other people should be valuable to us because they are valuable to God. When we give to others it shows God that we value the people He loves so much that He sent His son. So many times we think that our ability to be generous is connected to our riches. We are afraid to give because we don’t know if we have enough, and we think generosity is for those who have more than we do to give. But the cool thing about generosity is that we’re not generous because we are rich, we are rich because we are generous. When we choose to give generously to others, we are blessed with everything that really matters in life! Below I have listed some of the announcements for December. Be sure to check back throughout the month for more announcements and to find out what the kids are doing each Sunday!

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
KIDstuf is our Family Worship Environment that will begin on Christmas Eve at the 5:00 service. Beginning in January, KidStuf will be the last Sunday of each month during the 11:00 hour. KIDstuf is our opportunity to put the parents in the kids’ shoes. This worship environment is where families learn about character and faith together. It’s a fast, noisy, zany, multimedia, kid-focused, parent-centered, virtue-driven 40 minute extravaganza that creatively combines music, drama, and storytelling to teach God’s Word in a relevant way! This is our opportunity to partner with parents to help us, help their kids grow in wisdom, faith, and friendship. Please join me in prayer as we prepare to bring back this great ministry! Mark your calendars for 5:00 Christmas Eve to join as we kick off the First KIDstuf and invite everyone you know!

Painting Crew Needed- The set for KIDstuf is be built this week and volunteers are needed to help paint the set and decorate once it is complete. If you are creative and would like to volunteer to help, please contact Emily as soon as possible!

Bible Studies- There will be no Kindergarten-2nd Grade Bible Study or 3rd and 4th grade Bible Study this Sunday, Dec. 4th due to the International Children’s Choir. I encourage you to attend the service instead!

Preschool Story Time- The International Children’s Choir will be at the church all day on Monday,. Dec. 5th so there will be no Preschool Story Time, We will resume on Monday, Dec. 12th from 10:00-11:00 and will have a special Christmas themed Story Time on Monday, December 19th! All preschool aged children are invited to for an hour of songs, stories, fun, and fellowship

FAMILY WORSHIP SUNDAY– December 25th and January 1st will both be Family Worship Sundays. Enjoy your Holidays together as a Family!

My prayer for you through this Holiday Season, is that as a family you may be blessed beyond measures and become wrapped up in what truly matters this season! Don’t forget that we have Sunday School every Sunday at 9:30 for children 2yrs-6th grade! If you have any questions about things coming up, feel free to email me at emilym@fumcmaumelle.org. I pray everyone is having a great week!

-Emily