Reflecting on
conversations with the Children’s Ministry Leadership Team and looking ahead to
the beginning of Fall Small Groups, the word “Intentional” keeps
coming to my mind.
Intentional
means to do something on purpose; to be deliberate; preplanned.
I thought of our
strategy: Orange.
The color Orange
is created when two colors - Red and Yellow - are intentionally
mixed. Red represents the unconditional love of the Home. Yellow
represents the light of the Church, Jesus Christ. When the home and the
church deliberately work together, there is a greater impact in the life of a
child. The purposeful joining together of these two influences creates the
color Orange and represents our strategy.
It is important
for the home and the church to be intentional so that we get more than just red
or yellow. Being intentional allows us to tap into the “Orange Factor.”
(Parenting Beyond Capacity)
Both parents and
the church want the best for their children, the next generation. Working
on the same thing at the same time is not as effective as when we work on the
same thing at the same time with the same strategy. (Parenting Beyond Your
Capacity) Orange happens when we intentionally combine the forces of red
and yellow to pass on faith in Jesus to the next generation.
The church has
about 40 hours a year with children; while parents have about 3000. When
looking at the time parents have with their children we see that what happens
at home is way more important than what happens at church. Being intentional is
important in order to encourage and support parents so that they have better
and deeper conversations at home with their children.
This is why
Partnering with Parents is so important to small group leaders. This
partnership begins when they begin building a relationship. Parents will
hear from their child’s small group leader what we are talking about at church
and how their child engaged in small group. This happens weekly when parents bring
their child to small group and pick them up.
Another
intentional connection point is the Parent Cue Card which small group leaders
give to parents monthly. The Parent Cue Card does just what it says - it
cues parents into what we are talking about at church so that parents can use
everyday moments at home to talk to their child about Jesus.
When we read
Deuteronomy 6:6-9, we realize that God
has already shown us how and when to talk with our children. He tells us to
talk to our children during the regular, everyday rhythms of life. “These
commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on
your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the
road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your
hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames of your
houses and on your gates.”
Preschoolers
activities are geared toward times parents and preschoolers are already
interacting: morning, bath time, drive time, play time. The cues also
include the monthly memory verse and hand motions.
Elementary Cues
are also geared around natural times that parents and elementary children are
together: morning time, drive time, meal time, and bed time. The Elementary Cue
Cards also include the month’s Life Application (Life App), the weekly Bible
Story, and questions for families to talk about together that pertain to the
weekly Bible Story.
Parent Time
(also part of Parent Cue Cards), written just for parents, provides vision and
application of the month’s theme allowing children to see how God is to be part
of everyday life.
Social Media is
another way we Partner with Parents. The Bible Story, Memory Verse, Parent
Cue Cards, and Elementary Children’s God Time cards are posted weekly on our
website - www.hebronkidz.org
Follow us on
FB, Twitter, Instagram, and
Pinterest, too!
Rising
Kindergardener Celebration—Sunday, August 28
Join us from
4:30 to 5:45 pm in the Children’s Wing, 3rd Floor, Main Building, as we
celebrate our rising Kindergarteners! This is an opportunity for kids and
parents to check out their “New Space”, meet their small group leaders and
friends who will be in their small group, and celebrate the beginning of this
new phase in a child’s life:
RSVP: Ellen Dillard
*******
New Year Kick
Off is Sunday, September 4th!
Preschool and
Elementary Small Groups meet @ 9:15 and 10:45. Parents will receive a letter in
the mail with information about their child’s small group leader and room
number.
*******
Kidz Club for
1st to 5th Grade
Wednesday, Sept.
7 to Dec. 7 and Jan. 11 to Apr. 26 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Check-in begins at
4:45 pm in the Tower Entrance, Main Building.
Kidz Club is a
mid-week connection where kids gather with friends and small group leaders to
build relationships, have fun and talk about Jesus. The night includes large
group worship, Bible story, small group, games, crafts and dinner. Kids are
encouraged to invite their friends.
Cost:
$35/first child; $28/each additional child, per semester. Scholarships
available through the Holly Alm Camp Scholarship Fund. (Contact Ellen
Dillard 412-371-2307)
