Discipline – 1st-5th Grade Big Idea for January

Step It Up

Less is more. We're fond of saying that around here. And much of the time, we're more effective living by it. But sometimes MORE is more. Want a voluminous vocabulary? Read more. Want to nail the lines for your part in a sketch? Rehearse more. Want to master the "Cha Cha Slide" (like for January's large group, grades 4-5)? Practice more. You get the drift. And just like you need to lift more if you want bigger biceps, you need to do some things more if you want to know God better, like:

Read His Book. Can you think of a more foundational, first-step way to get to know Him? Plus, "God has breathed life into all of Scripture. It is useful for teaching us what is true. It is useful for correcting our mistakes. It is useful for making our lives whole again. It is useful for training us to do what is right" (2 Timothy 3:16, NIrV). What better example of the importance of engaging in God's Word than Jesus as a 12-year-old in the temple? (Which happens to be the Bible story for week 1.)
Remember His words. "By using Scripture, a man of God can be completely prepared to do every good thing" (2 Timothy 3:17, NIrV). Jesus showed us (particularly that time He was tempted in the wilderness) we not only need to (Step 1) read God's Word, we need to (Step 2) memorize it, internalize it, and take it to heart so that we'll be ready for whatever comes our way.
Talk to Him. "Don't worry about anything. Instead, tell God about everything. Ask and pray. Give thanks to him" (Philippians 4:6, NIrV). To get to know someone and to strengthen your relationship with that person, you have to talk him or her, right? It's the same way with God. You gotta talk to Him. This week (week 3) will help kids better understand Jesus' answer when one of the disciples asked Him how to pray.
Talk about Him with your friends. "I pray that you will be active in sharing what you believe. Then you will completely understand every good thing we have in Christ" (Philemon 1:6, NIrV). Saying what you believe out loud helps solidify your beliefs. Could this be one reason Jesus asked the disciples, "But who do YOU say I am?" (The story for week 4.)
Make Him more important than anything. "Worship the Lord your God. He is the only one you should serve" (Deuteronomy 6:13a, NIrV). This week (week 5) we'll be taking a look at what Jesus said about "the widow's mite" and how it helps us to worship the only one we should serve.

These are all priorities and habits -- disciplines -- that can help us (A) get to know God better and (B) grow stronger. Kids need to understand that they don't have to wait till they're older to get to know God; God wants them to start now. He's ready to help them, every step of the way, NOW. So this January, 252 Basics is designed to help kids see how discipline, which is doing what you need to do now so you can grow stronger, can help strengthen their relationship with God.
But that's not all. Because SOMETIMES more IS more. So in addition to helping kids understand and experience discipline as a godly virtue, each week in January will also offer practical experiences in the 5 Faith Skills we think every kid should master:

1. Navigate the Bible (survey and locate)
2. Personalize Scripture (memorize and apply)
3. Dialogue with God (public and private)
4. Articulate faith (share and defend)
5. Worship with your life (praise and give)

So get your shoes on, lace up, and let's step it up.
 

By Melanie Williams. © 2010 The reThink Group * www.rethinkgroup.org * All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Compassion – 1st-5th Grade Big Idea for December

Shake This Planet

What kid can resist it? A fist-sized glass orb filled with water and white particles, enclosing a miniature scene of a favorite vacation spot, Mickey Mouse®, or Christmas. Some play music, some stick to your fridge, others are inflatable yard decorations, but whatever their size or shape, snow globes are fascinating. Maybe it's the appeal of an enclosed world protected from outside danger, or maybe it's the power to really shake things up.
Which is what happened when God sent Jesus to this planet. What is that verse about the world groaning? "We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time" (Romans 8:22, NIV). Think about what was going on at the time. For example, slavery was a common and widely accepted practice throughout the ancient world. By the time Jesus was born, one out of three people in the heart of the Roman Empire was a slave. One-third! One of every five people elsewhere on the globe was enslaved. In fact, the Roman economy (among others) was based on slave labor. Some Bible scholars and other historians suggest that the world was nearing a tipping point, that when the enslaved population is greater than the free, civilization becomes unsustainable. But God looked down and shook the planet. "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly" (Romans 5:6, NIV). He came to set us free, from the most profound slavery, the perfect illustration of God's compassion for us.
So this December, 252 Basics will revolve around Jesus' birth as a perfect example of God's compassion, which is caring enough to do something about someone else's need. Specifically:

Week 1: God saw our need. You have to SEE a need before you can DO anything about it. Compassion requires us to look and see, too. God saw our greatest need. Whose needs do you see?
Week 2: God sent His Son, even though it would cost Him. Compassion costs us something, too. God gave us the greatest gift. What will you give?
Week 3: God gave us hope when He sent us a Savior. Compassion is contagious; it spreads hope. God gave us great news. Who will you tell?
Week 4: God laid bare His great love for us when He gave us Jesus. Compassion demonstrates God's love when we show it for others. God showed the world His love. How will you show the world?

When we work together to show compassion, we can make a difference in this world. So shake it up!

By Melanie Williams. © 2009 The reThink Group * www.rethinkgroup.org * All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Network - 1st-5th Grade Giving Project

This month with 1^st-5^th graders we are talking about cooperation: working together to do more than you can do alone. Your child is taking home a wrist band today that will remind him of our Big Idea for the month of November and our ministry project – Bed Nets for Life. When we heard about the project Covenant Work Relief is doing to protect children from malaria in the Congo, we knew we wanted to be involved! No one person can supply mosquito nets to all the children in the world who need them – it’s an undoable task! So this month we are going to work together with children and churches all over the country to raise money to purchase as many nets as we can for children. The cost is $10 a net. For more information go to www.covchurch.org/cwr

We are asking you to help your children come up with ideas about how they can raise money to be a part of giving back to others. Maybe you can brainstorm ways the entire family can help. Anything you come up with together will make an impression on your child and can help him or her understand that God wants us to work together – because sometime He wants to do something big and miraculous through all of us.

Our goal as a group is to raise $800 over the next 6 weeks. This will purchase 80 nets for Covenant World Relief to distribute to child in mosquito-infested areas of the Congo where malaria is rampant.

We appreciate all of your support! Please contact us if you have any questions.

Cooperation – 1st-5th Grade Big Idea for November

Net Work

"It had taken fifty-two days. When all our enemies heard the news and all the surrounding nations saw it, our enemies totally lost their nerve. They knew that God was behind this work" (Nehemiah 6:15, THE MESSAGE).

Doing the undoable takes more than me.

"But Moses' hands got tired. So they got a stone and set it under him. He sat on it and Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on each side. So his hands remained steady until the sun went down. Joshua defeated Amalek and its army in battle" (Exodus 17:12-13, THE MESSAGE).

Look for ways to help somebody succeed.

"When they couldn't find a way in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof, removed some tiles, and let him down in the middle of everyone, right in front of Jesus" (Luke 5:19, THE MESSAGE).

Friends who trust God work together to change lives.

"The Israelites completed all the work, just as God had commanded. Moses saw that they had done all the work and done it exactly as God had commanded" (Exodus 39:42-43, THE MESSAGE).

Work together to get God's work done.

A government worker turned builder and a pitiful collection of refugees. A couple of "right-hand men" ... and a pitiful collection of refugees. Some guys who just wanted to help a friend. And, a pitiful collection of refugees. These are the people we're going to be talking about in November as we focus on cooperation: Nehemiah, Aaron and Hur, some friends of a paralyzed man, and a ragtag bunch called the Israelites. They were your average Joes, really, beset by everyday kinds of problems, but they all tackled some God-given task that other people might have considered a little crazy, they did everything they could think of to make it a success, they leaned on God throughout the process and trusted Him with the results, and they did it together. As a result, they were able to do more than they could've done on their own.

Which is what we have in mind by suggesting the ministry project that we have for November and December: raising funds to purchase mosquito nets for children living in mosquito-infested areas of the world. Wouldn't it be great if we could all work together to help end malaria? What a way for kids to see God at work, making the undoable possible, and letting them take part! But, whatever "net work" you choose and whatever "network" you're a part of, the important thing is to do what God's given you to do and to let kids have a hand in it. 

 

By Melanie Williams. © 2009 The reThink Group * www.rethinkgroup.org * All rights reserved. Used by permission.

1st Grade Bible Presentation – November 22

On Sunday, November 22, we will be presenting 1^st graders with new Bibles during the 9:00 am service in the main sanctuary. We are able to do this every year through a memorial fund established by the Tom and Margaret Melander family to remember their son, Michael. I am thrilled to be a part of this wonderful way to bless children and families. God expresses in Deuteronomy 6:19 how important it is for families to be teaching children how to live life His way and they are to do this using His Word. I value and cherish the time my own children have studied God’s Word with their own Bibles. As a parent, you will be able to use this Bible to help lead your child’s spiritual development; and, partnered with the wonderful volunteer leaders in the children’s ministry programs at Arvada Covenant Church, children will grow up to know they can trust God, no matter what. His Word will show them how to make wise choices – God’s choices.

John Mullis,

Children’s Ministry Director                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

We’ll be sending more information to parents of 1st graders within the next week.

Love and Logic Parent Solutions 10.24 at Arvada Covenant Church

From the brochure:

Who should attend:

• Parents with kids of all ages
• anyone who works with kids or…adults who act like kids

What you will learn:

• How to handle defiance and backtalk
• How to increase your child’s motivation to do well in school
• How to handle misbehavior in public
• And much, much more!

Presenters: Jim Fay and Dr. Charles Fay

Location: Arvada Covenant Church

Date: Saturday, October 24, 2009

Times: Morning: 9:00 am – 12:00pm, Creating Respectful and Responsible Kids

Afternoon Session: 1:00pm-4:00pm, Parenting Toddler and Preschoolers

Cost: $30/person/session 

Parenting Session Details

While this seminar is not officially hosted by Arvada Covenant Church, we do approve of what the Love and Logic guys teach. If you want to learn more about being an effective parent, this seminar could be very helpful to you.

Individuality – 1st-5th Grade Big Idea for October

Body Building

Geeks. Jocks. Brainiacs. Skaters. The Pretty Committee. Were you a member of one of these crowds? Maybe you carried a membership in THE group, the one that everyone wanted to join. Interesting, isn't it, that no matter how old we are when we join a "club," whether we give it a name or not, that group of people eventually helps us discover who we are or aren't? We discover our likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses, how we are similar and how we stand out, whether we belong to that group or need to move on.
But being an individual is more than just discovering how we are like someone else or different from others - at least for believers it is. Being an individual is also about how our heavenly Father designed us to make a difference in this world. God, the master Architect, has a master plan in which He is weaving together all our character traits and experiences in order to shape and mold us into the people He wants us to become, and He's doing this with each of us, twining our lives together in ways that are intricate, beautiful, and mind-boggling.
So in October we'll be talking about individuality, discovering who you are meant to be so you can make a difference. We'll introduce kids to some not-so-well-known individuals, each of whom made a difference in the lives of people around them:

Week 1: THE Onesimus because when you belong to God, you can make a difference.
Week 2: THE Epaphroditus because when you take care of others, you can make a difference.
Week 3: THE Dorcas because when you use what you have to help others, you can make a difference.

And we'll wrap up the month with a look at some verses in 1 Corinthians about how we're one body with many parts: when you do your part, you can make a difference.

Check the weekly Refrigerator Door Cards and GodTime Cards for more information on the content of each weekly lesson.

Wisdom - 1st-5th Grade Big Idea for September

What's more precious than jewels but available to all who seek it? Screams to get your attention but eludes you if you ignore it? Has a definite starting point but knows no end? Here's a hint:

YES! It's wisdom, which is finding out what you should do and doing it. God says if you accept His words and store up His commands inside you, tune your ear to wisdom and apply your heart to understanding, call out for insight and search for it as you would for hidden treasure, then you will find out how to know Him. He is the one who gives wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, the one who stores up success for His followers, the one who shields them from harm, guards their paths, and leads them in the right direction. (See Proverbs 2:1-11. In fact, see all of Proverbs for a whole trove of the treasures of wisdom.) Put that way, who in his right mind wouldn't dig wisdom? Dig for wisdom? Dig and dig for wisdom?
So in September, we'll be on the hunt for gems of wisdom, helping kids understand that God wants to give you wisdom. Wisdom is worth searching for. If you want to be wise, hang out with wise people. And wisdom is knowing AND doing.
So get your shovel out and let's go dig for wisdom. It's worth it.

Check the weekly Refrigerator Door Cards and GodTime Cards for more information on the content of each weekly  lesson.

Love - 1st-5th Grade Big Idea for August

Do You Feel the Luuuv?
How does that Beatles' song go? "All you need is love ..." When you think about it, just about everything we do with or for others boils down to love. Which, of course, doesn't come as a surprise to God-followers, the Creator of love. He IS love, after all (1 John 4:16), and the reason we can love at all: because He loved us first (1 John 4:19). Jesus said THE most important commandment is to love God and to love Him with all we've got. When we do that, we'll love others--the second most important commandment. The second most important, yes, but so closely aligned with the first that it's impossible to split the two. John put it this way: "If anyone says, 'I love God,' yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen ... Whoever loves God must also love his brother" (1 John 4:20-21, NIV). And so on that one "peg" (love God/love others) hang ALL the commandments--the 10 Commandments, the Mosaic Law, and the 600 or so laws the Pharisees added to it.
So in August, Launch!1st-5th grade will focus on love, which is choosing to give someone your time and friendship no matter what. We'll begin with the time the Pharisees got their heads together in an attempt to trick Jesus and His reply (which also happens to be our memory verse for the month, Matthew 22:37-39). When you love God, you'll love others.
The second week of August will be all about what takes "first place" and the fact that when you love others, you give them your time, as Jesus pointed out when He visited Mary and Martha (Luke 10).
In week 3, everything will revolve around Jesus' parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15): When you love others, you're quick to forgive.
Week 4 we'll focus on what Jesus told Peter after His resurrection (John 21). When you love Jesus, you'll treat others the way He does.
In week 5, we'll depart from the norm and examine a "faith skill," the faith skill of prayer (dialoguing with God, both public and private). Jesus modeled all kinds of principles about prayer for us. But ultimately, He showed us that talking to God changes things.

Serving Spots - opportunities to connect at ACC

Forgiveness - 1st-5th Grade Virtue for July

Letting Go
Buckets are a fantastic invention. Simple genius, really. There's almost no end to what you can put in a bucket: big or little things, a lot or a few things, good or bad things. There's no doubt buckets are useful. But what goes IN the bucket is key. We put things in buckets that we need to carry around with us. Soapy water and tools are two things I think of right away.

Emotionally speaking, sometimes we put things that we don't want to let go of, burdensome things, as often as not, like pain, hurt, disappointment, and disillusionment. And we tend to accumulate those things, adding them to the bucket until we need a bigger bucket or multiple buckets. We may even dedicate our buckets, labeling them with people's names, especially if they keep on doing us wrong. Eventually we are trapped, weighed down emotionally by buckets we can't seem to let go of. We can't move on, enjoying relationships to their fullest and participating with both hands in enjoyable and worthwhile activities, till we let go of the bucket, till we forgive. Forgiveness is all about letting go of the bucket. It may have to be done on a gradual basis, even intentionally done every day. But when you let go of your bucket, you are then free to jump in with both hands and feet and live as God intended!

So this month, we are focusing on forgiveness, which is deciding that someone who has wronged you doesn't have to pay.

We started off with Jesus' parable of the unmerciful servant (Matthew 18): since God forgives you, you should forgive others.
Week 2 was 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.

Forgiveness is important! Teach your children to love back, not pay back.  That's Jesus' way.

Summertime Update - age-level promotion and more

On Sunday, June 7 we start our Launch! summer ministry season. All children, birth-5th grade, will continue to have relevant and creative Bible teaching throughout the summer.

During both services, the 1st & 2nd graders will meet in room 110/111 and 3rd-5th graders will meet together in the Launch Pad.

Promotion to the next grade level will begin June 28, the Sunday after Kids’ Camp.

· 5th graders moving up to 6th grade will move over to Student Ministries June 28.

· Kindergarteners will move to 1st grade June 28.

· Until the 28th, children will be with the same grade level they were for the ‘08-’09 school year.

· Preschool age children will promote to the next age-level rooms in September.

All of our 30 or so every-week, fully committed, school-year volunteers will be taking the summer off to refresh and recharge. Please tell them “thank you” for their dedicated and extraordinary service.

Arvada Covenant Church Health Reminder

We often teach children to treat others the way they want to be treated, or, to love your neighbor as yourself. With that in mind, spread the love but do your part to stop the spread of cold and flu. If your child is sick, please keep them at home.

As always, if your child has a fever, diarrhea, vomiting, discharge around the eyes, green or yellow runny nose, excessive coughing or any communicable disease, please keep them at home.

These are important guidelines to which we will adhere for the health and safety of everyone.

Thanks for your help. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact John Mullis, Children’s Ministry Director, at 303-422-1235.

Kid's Camp 2009 - Wildwood Forest

Kids' Camp runs from June 22-26; 9 am - Noon for children 5 years old through 5th grade. The cost is $25 per child.

For complete information on Kids' Camp 2009, registration dates and forms, visit the Arvada Covenant Church website.

Obedience - 1st-5th Grade Virtue for May

Street Smart
Stop! Have you given much thought to the fact that obedience, which is trusting those who lead you by doing what you're asked to do, is one of those "different" virtues? God is God; He is the ultimate Authority. No one outranks Him. So He doesn't obey anyone, right? However, Jesus obeyed His Father (John 9:4), and it's certainly a proper response from us toward God. In fact, "this is love for God: to obey his commands" (1 John 5:3, NIV). What a premium God places on obedience! He would rather have our obedience than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22).
But, oh my, what a difficult time we have obeying. And that difficulty is not limited to childhood. (How many traffic laws have YOU broken, for instance, in your driving career?) So of course the Bible is full of examples of people obeying (and disobeying) God and the consequences thereof. Remember Jonah? Could there be many more vivid examples of what happens when we obey God? Or the fact that there are consequences when we don't? It's a good thing God is patient and forgiving and the God of second chances.
So this month we're focusing on the who and the why and the how of obedience. Not because God is waiting to zap us when we cross the line (like a traffic cop lying in wait with his radar gun), but because He cares for us. He wants a relationship with us and for us to have a part in His big plan, so He wants to help us avoid breakdowns, dead ends, and even the minor potholes along the way. So here's the lineup for the month:

Week 1: It's always better to do what God says the first time.  (The story of Jonah; Jonah 1-3) 
Week 2: How I obey my parents shows what I think about God.  (Children, obey your parents; Ephesians 6:1-3) 
Week 3: Obeying your leaders can help you know God. (The Lord calls Samuel; 1 Samuel 3:1-19) 
Week 4: It's right to listen to God because He is GOD. (Adam and Eve disobey; Genesis 3:1-24)
Week 5: 5th Week Special Edition: How can you know what to do if you don't know what God says? (the wise and foolish builders; Matthew 7:24-29)

Covenant Heights Summer Camps

Located at 9000 feet in the heart of the Rocky Mountains and at the foot of majestic Longs Peak, Covenant Heights Camp and Retreat Center is just minutes from Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park, Colorado and is a ministry of the Evangelical Covenant Church.

Many kids from Arvada Covenant Church spend a week up at Covenant Heights during the summer enjoying all that the camp experience has to offer and many of them come back changed forever in the best ways possible. Click here for the Summer Brochure and complete information on all of the summer opportunities available. Contact ACC's Children's Ministry Director, John Mullis, for more information.

John Mullis will be the camp speaker July 12-17.

Easter Sunday Service Times at Arvada Covenant Church - April 12

6:00 Sunrise Service

7:00-8:30 Pancake Breakfast

8:00 Worship Service - Blended music styles - no children's programming

9:30 Worship Service - Blended music styles - full children's programming

11:00 Worship Service - Contemporary music - full children's programming

Who will help you? Preschool teaching in March

Who will help you?

In our preschool rooms in March the Bottom Line for our teaching all month will be “Jesus will help me” and we’ll be focusing on the Basic Truth that “Jesus wants to be my friend forever.”

The Bible says in 1Peter 5:7: "He cares for you," (CEV). Jesus proves this over and over again throughout the gospels by performing healing miracles for those who need His help. He cares for us so much that He is preparing a place for us to be with Him for eternity. How amazing is His love for us!

March 1 We need Jesus to help us. Healing the Blind Man - John 9:1-7

March 8 Jesus wants to help everyone. Healing the Lepers - Luke 17:11-19

March 15 Jesus can help the people I care about. The Four Friends - Mark 2:1-12

March 22 Jesus can do anything! Healing the Deaf Man - Mark 7:32-37

March 29 Jesus wants to help us live with Him forever! A Place for Us - John 14:1-14

Hope - March's 1st-5th Grade virtue

Puzzled

H-O-P-E. We toss that little word around kind of carelessly, as if it merely meant "wish" or "want" or "dream." I hope you had a good day. I hope I get that for my birthday. I hope we get to do ____ next year. But it's actually a much bigger and consequential word than that. At least it is for people who put their hope in God. And it needs to be. Because let's face it: life can be hard. As the kids in your ministry grow, they're going to face all sorts of challenges and heartaches. Whether it's as life-altering as the loss of a parent or something on a smaller scale, like not making the team, tragedy can take many forms in a child's life. When it seems like everything is going wrong, that's when it's critical to have hope--believing that something good can come out of something bad. That's when we need to understand that H-O-P-E, in its most significant sense and when it's based on God, is really a synonym for firm belief, absolute trust, and in-my-gut knowing:
* "Our Hope is certain. It is something for the soul to hold on to. It is strong and secure."
(Hebrews 6:19, NIrV)
* "I will find my rest in God alone. He is the One who gives me hope."
(Psalm 62:5, NIrV)
* "'I know the Plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
(Jeremiah 29:11, NIV)
* "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have Eternal life."
(1 John 5:13, NIV)
Our hope may be certain when it's placed in the all-powerful God of the universe, who makes good plans for us, not the least of which is eternal life with Him. But no one ever said hope is easy. So, when we're puzzled by life, pained by it, frustrated by it, angry at it, or can't see how in the world our situation could possibly fit in God's big plan (His giant jigsaw puzzle) we have a couple of choices: we can choose to get and stay mad about the puzzle pieces we're holding, or we can choose to trust God and let Him put the pieces in place. To trust that He not only has the big picture in mind, but that He's up to something bigger than just our few little pieces of the puzzle. Realizing that we can't see the big picture but that He can and He's in charge gives us hope. So in March, we'll start focusing on the Easter story through the lens of hope:

Week 1: Whatever happens, remember God has a plan.
(Paul is shipwrecked - Acts 27; 28)
Week 2: Whatever happens, remember how powerful God is.
(Lazarus is raised from the dead - John 11)
Week 3: Whatever happens, remember what Jesus did for you.
(Jesus' last supper with the disciples - Luke 22; John 13)
Week 4: Whatever happens, remember what Jesus promised.
(Jesus promises heaven - John 14)
Week 5: 5th Week Special Edition: Who is Jesus?
(Peter says Jesus is the Christ - Matthew 16)

We hope you have a great time helping your children learn this virtue in March.

Christmas Eve family service videos

Kids are great.  The videos featured at the Christmas Eve Family Service of children telling what they know about the Christmas Story are  posted on the Arvada Covenant Church website.    Christmas Story videos

Now what exactly happened to the frankincense?

Kids' Camp 2009 - save the dates!

Fairness - February's 1st-5th grade virtue

Virtue video – select video #2 on the media player at www.252basics.org

Fair Grounds

"That's not fair!" Who among us has never put his hands on his hips and cried those words? Most of us have built-in fairness radar--at least when it comes to how we're treated. But of course fairness is a two-way street. More on that in a minute.
Let's get something else out of the way first: the words SAME and EQUAL. Sometimes SAME = EQUAL. Sometimes it does not--which is how we're approaching the virtue of fairness. Think about it this way: fairness is NOT about treating people THE SAME. Because God created us in His image (Genesis 1:27), we are alike in some ways, but different in others. Apart from obvious physical differences, we have different personalities, skills and talents, likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses. Because we're different, we have different NEEDS. And because we have different needs, we don't all necessarily need to be treated the same. (Example: I bet you and your siblings are not all the same. You are different in some ways. Which means your parents needed to do some things differently for each of you in order to parent you in the way you needed. Right?) So, fairness is not about treating people the same. Instead, fairness IS about treating people EQUALLY. Because God created us, He loves each of us--dearly and without favoritism. So much so that He sent His one and only Son to die for us (John 3:16), regardless of our sex, age, race, ethnicity, or nationality. As Peter said, "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right" (Acts 10:34-35, NIV). Thank goodness God is fair!

Back to that two-way street thing: As dearly loved children of God, He wants us to be imitators of Him (Ephesians 5:1). "As believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism" (James 2:1, NIV). In other words, don't unfairly favor one person OR unfairly "disfavor" another. So this month, we'll be going to the "Fair Grounds," where everyone is treated with respect.

• Week 1: Treat everyone fairly because everyone's important to God.
  (The principle of fairness, James 2)
• Week 2: Treat everyone fairly--even those who are different.
  (The parable of the good Samaritan, Luke 10)
• Week 3: Treat everyone fairly--even your enemies.
  (Saul and Ananias, Acts 9)
• Week 4: Show God's love to everyone because He wants everyone to know Him.
  (Jesus' last orders to the disciples, Matthew 28; Acts 1)

God bless you as you teach your child.

Children's Ministry Annual Report

The Arvada Covenant Church Annual Meeting takes place Sunday, January 25 after the morning services.  This is the annual report from the Children's Ministry Commission.

Launch! Children’s Ministry

The Children’s Ministry team partners with parents to reach, teach and touch children from birth through fifth grade with the love of our great God. Our ministry’s name, “Launch! The adventure starts here,” describes our awareness of the tremendous privilege we share with parents to introduce a child to a meaningful, lifelong relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

We continued to develop our team based approach to ministry in order to use the God-given talents of our staff, commission members, Sunday and Wednesday leaders, behind-the-scenes prep team and our many special event volunteers for the best results. We thank God for each and every person involved in Launch! We continue to pray for even more people to join us in serving the children and families of our church and community. Highlights of the past year include:

Weekend Worship and Spiritual Growth. We believe that children’s spiritual growth, like most adults’, happens best in the context of relationships with others and with God. Our newly re-designed, kid-friendly spaces, (a major part of the church’s remodel project) gave us greater flexibility to give our best work and efforts to minister to kids with this goal in mind.

Children gather each Sunday morning at 9 and 10:45 a.m. in small, age-based groups where they build community and friendships. Their leaders introduce the lesson in fun, imaginative ways. Later, they join with other small groups for large-group creative Bible teaching and worship. Finally, they return to their small group for activities, sharing and prayer, facilitated by their adult leaders. As kids head home with their parents, we send along ideas for parent-led discussions and activities to reinforce the concepts presented on Sunday.

Wednesday Night Oasis As the name suggests, Wednesday nights is designed to be a mid-week highlight for kids where they enjoy games, Bible stories and skits, and spending time with friends. In 2008, we added a kid-friendly Bible memory program, Verse Worx, for elementary students, which highlights important Biblical themes and verses.

Kids’ Camp was our fun, high energy, summertime week of evangelism, worship and spiritual growth with 550 of our ACC kids and their friends and neighbors. We simply couldn’t have pulled it off without the help of over 150 dedicated volunteer leaders!

Community Fall Festival. This annual event gave us the opportunity to introduce our church and ministry to over 400 church friends and neighbors in a fun, family-targeted environment.

At our Family Advent Night - "Jingle Jam", families and children worshiped and laughed together as they learned about the peace that we have through Jesus Christ.

Our interactive Christmas Eve Family Service told the Christmas Story to a packed house in a creative, memorable, age-appropriate manner for young children and their families.

Resources to Help You Lead Your Child

We believe that no one has more influence on the spiritual development of a child than the child's parents.  So each week we give these resources to parents when they pick up their child from Launch.  These pieces are designed to help parents know what to say and what to do to be the spiritual leader in their home and to help them lead their child into a growing understanding of Jesus Christ.

Small Talk Cards are an useful tool for parents of preschool age children.  The card lets parents know the Bible story reference, Bottom Line and Key Question. It also has a Teachable Moment.  Use these throughout the week with young children to start small talk about God and Jesus Christ.  The cards focus on the three main points that are repeated throughout the year: 1. Jesus wants to be my forever friend. 2. God made me. and 3. God loves me.

'Fridge Door Cards are for the parents of a 1st-5th grader so they will know what their child learned in Launch! at ACC on Sunday.  We want parents to be able to talk with their children about the things that matter most.  God things.  The 'Fridge Door Card includes the monthly virtue definition, memory verse, weekly Bottom Line, Bible story references and a few discussion questions.  Parents use the information on this card to start a conversation with their child and to reinforce the learning.  It works great in the car, bedtime or at meal time.

God Time cards are for 1st-5th grade children.  Each set has 4 short and sweet devotionals that are directly related to the lesson the children learned in Launch! at ACC on Sunday.  Parents can really help their child  learn and develop the habit of Bible study by doing these with them.

Remember, 100 years from now all that will matter is what we believe about Jesus Christ.  These tools will help parents lead their children into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  Nothing is more important than that.

Blessings.

Covenant Heights Winter Camp

Winter Trailblazer

February 6-8, 2009

Covenant Heights Camp & Retreat Center

Are you in grades 3-6 or do you know someone who is? If so, we would love to have you at our Winter Trailblazer Camp! Sign up today and spend a weekend here at Covenant Heights learning what it means to be a Servant in God's Kingdom! You'll have tons of fun with all your friends - Tubing, Snowshoeing, Broomball, Crafts and More!

Cost: $100

For more information and a registration form, go to www.CovenantHeights.org.

Resourcefulness - January's 1st-5th grade Virtue

Taking Care of Business
To say God is resourceful is something of an understatement. After all, God not only owns all resources, He made them----from nothing. In the beginning God created everything, and then God did something else incredible: He made humanity in His own image (Genesis 1:27). As humans created in God's likeness, we've been given certain God-like characteristics, like resourcefulness. But not just for the sake of being resourceful. Resourcefulness has a purpose: to work, to get the job done. Look up "work" in the Bible, and you'll find God has much to say about work. We have a lot to say about work too, phrases that are sprinkled throughout our vocabulary: Work ethic, worker bee, and work force. Workaholic and work stoppage. Work on, work off, work out, work over. Our vocabulary shows our ambivalence about work.

• And yet God made us to work: "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Ephesians 2:10, NIV).
• Commanded us, even, to work: "Six days do your work ..." (Exodus 23:12, NIV).
• With diligence, according to Jesus: "As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me" (John 9:4, NIV).
• And all our work is for Him, ultimately: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men" (Colossians 3:23, NIV).

Essentially, resourcefulness boils down to the why and how of our work: The fact that God gives us work, so we need to work like we're working for Him, even when no one's watching, doing our best, and trusting that God will do His part and that He will give us what we need to get the job done. So this month we're "taking care of business"----using what we have to get the job done.
Week 1:
Bottom Line: Work like you're working for God.
Bible Context: A principle of work, Colossians 3
Week 2:
Work hard even when no one's watching.
(Bible Context: The ant and the sluggard, Proverbs 6
Week 3:
Do your best, and trust God to do His part.
Bible Context: Hezekiah and the wall, 2 Kings 18; 2 Chronicles 32
Week 4:
God gives you what you need to get the job done.
Bible Context: God does miraculous things through Moses, Exodus 4