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

Staff Bio - Becky Navarro, Administrative Assistant

My title at ACC is Administrative Assistant. Part of my job description is to support Children’s Ministry. I really enjoy this part of my job and the variety of tasks it involves.

I was born in Denver and grew up in Salida, Colorado. I attended the University of Northern Colorado and Metropolitan State College, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Criminology. I was a cadet and 911 Operator with Denver Police Department before becoming a police officer in Boulder. During my 5 ½ years as a police officer I was a school resource officer for two of those years. I have always enjoyed working with kids in a wide variety of settings.

I have two children; P.J. and Delaney, 2 ½ and 8 months. They are such blessings in my life and teach and inspire me every day. I also have three nephews and one niece in the Denver metro area.

During my free time (what’s that?) I enjoy spending time with my friends and family, serving as a co-coordinator for MOPS, reading, going to movies and shopping. My son looks forward to coming to church each week, which is a true testament to the dedication of the Children’s Ministry staff at ACC. I am proud to be a part of this team!

Staff Bio - Sami Bookout, Children's Ministry Assistant Director

Who is Sami Bookout?  Sami is the Assistant Director of the Children’s Ministry at Arvada Covenant Church, which means she wears many different hats.  She is in charge of loving and taking care of volunteers, as well as scheduling Small Group leaders and Large Group teachers. She does behind the scenes work in Children’s Ministry, as well as teaching right in the spot light, as Sami teaches preschool age up to elementary.  You can find Sami coordinating any special event that involves Children’s Ministry. From Kids’ Camp to Community Fall Festival, Sami is right there making it happen.

Sami was born and raised in Denver, living much of her childhood in Arvada. Sami has a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and excited to start the Masters of Education program in the spring ’09.

But who is Sami….really? I love movies, my husband and I go on date nights, which means we go to dinner and a movie. Funny, neither one of us ever tire of that. I have two daughters, Delaney and Kaylie. They are my center. They keep my head straight and remind me how much our Father loves us.

I’m a bit feisty, enjoy Muay Thai kickboxing, running marathons, and dancing to eighties music…just to embarrass my girls. My favorite band is U2, my favorite album has to be Joshua Tree, and one of my favorite person is Bono. He’s an inspiration.

This is an ongoing theme because one of my favorite countries to visit is Ireland. My husband, Shawn, and I love to travel too, it’s just a little expensive to do for every date night.

We have two dogs, a Rat Terrier and a Dachshund (wiener dog), who just ran in the Long Dog Derby. She placed 2^nd last but we consider it another crazy adventure in the life of the wiener dog.

I aspire to be like Mother Theresa, totally living my life for Christ, walking in love, and living as an advocate for children. Understanding that our journey leads us to where we are now, and trust that God will help me through the next bend in the road.

Staff Bio - John Mullis, Children's Ministry Director

Here is some random information about John:

John has been the Children’s Ministry Director at Arvada Covenant Church since 2006.  He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance from the University of Northern Colorado in 1990 and a Post-Bachelor Certification in Music Education in 1992.  While teaching instrumental music to 5^th and 6^th graders for 10 years in Chandler, Arizona he earned a Master’s Degree in Education emphasizing elementary curriculum and instruction.

Currently he is responsible for providing vision and leadership for the entire birth-5^th grade children’s ministry at Arvada Covenant Church.  Over the past 10 years, John has run children’s ministries at churches in size from 150-4000.

He and his wife Laura have been married for 18 years and have 4 kids from 11-16 years old.

His music degree was in trombone performance.  He taught 5^th and 6^th grade band. He was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

He’s lived in New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona.

Favorite book of the Bible right now is Colossians.   Thinks Gideon was cool even though he wasn’t a great leader to start out.  Favorite authors are John Piper, Brennan Manning and Henri Nouwen.

Has read about 10 books on Ernest Shackleton and is fascinated by story of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition.

Has to repeat Proverbs 3:5-8 to himself often.

He is an avid road cyclist and mountain biker and has been since he was 12.

He likes cats and hopes you’re okay with that.

Staff Bio - Beatrice Shoemaker, Children's Ministry Assistant

My name is Beatrice.  I work part time in the Children’s Ministry and just LOVE it! I enter children’s attendance numbers into our system, print rosters, prepare all the stuff that is needed for Sunday school and check and make sure that our classrooms have all that is needed. So if something is missing in the classroom, or the supplies for teaching Sunday school to our kids were not complete, let me know!  It is great to have a chance to influence kids in a positive way and let them know that God is our best friend that can be trusted, no matter what!

I grew up in Sweden in a town called Örebro with my mom, dad and 4 years older sister. Traveling runs in the family with my grandmother leading in traveling to the most exotic places (visiting head hunting tribes in Borneo for instance), my dad the most frequent (traveling to Germany about every month for a couple years), my sister the highest altitude (Himalaya), and me the lowest altitude (Amsterdam, which is below sea level!) So I thought marrying an American that was traveling around the globe would be a fabulous idea. So here I am, married to Kenny who grew up here in Arvada but happened to be in Amsterdam when I was there. I’m so happy God is such a great matchmaker and allowed our paths to cross. We got married in Sweden 16 years ago (-92) and have lived in the US since 1995. We have two children who are 10 and 7 years old. They love traveling too, especially to Sweden.

When I don’t run around church preparing for all the fun activities we have planned for each Sunday, I’m home enjoying my own family. I also recently took up painting which definitely is an adventure in it’s self, but it’s a great way to switch gears and slow down the pace. I read a lot whenever I can. I especially like books that teach me about living my life better, serving our Lord more effectively, and loving Him deeper.