Parent Resources

This week both of these blogs that I follow posted articles regarding raising our children in a culture that has everything within a click away.  I wanted to pass both these articles along.  I appreciate the honesty and the resources offered from both articles.  The two blogs are The Gospel Coalition and We are that Family.

Article: Raising Kids in our culture

Article: Tween to Teen Boys: Books for You and Them

Upcoming Events March & April

The Scoop was handed out  at church today with a  ton of upcoming activities.  I hope you are able to join us for them!!  

Check out the following link if you did not get a copy today: 

 March/April Newsletter - The Scoop

2 Upcoming Events where we are taking RSVPs

1)  Parenting Discussion 

Parenting Discussion: Sunday, March 16^th.   Join us for a Parenting Discussion on Saturday, March 16^th from 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM.  Topics will be discussed during three - 40 minute sessions.  The topics are:  Family Life Issues And Faith With Our Kids, Book discussion using: How And When To Talk To Your Kids About Sex by Stanton and Brenna Jones (Using topics from this book but no need to have read prior to discussion), and Technology And Your Children: Guiding Them Within The Virtual World.  Please rsvp to   julie@gcpres.org if you plan on attending the parenting discussion and if childcare is needed.

If you are interested in the book How and When to Talk to your kids about sex you can check out the bookstore on our website at the following link.   http://gcpres.org/wordpress/bookstore/  Then click on the For Parents category (the book will be found on the 3rd page)  In addition to this book there are 4 complimentary books according to the ages of your children which you may be interested in checking out found on the same page. 

2) Egg Hunt - Please go to the following link for details and to sign up if interested:  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094DAFAE28A20-easter

Grace Kids Update

Lenten Tree - Highly recommend!!  As a family we have been reading the children's devotions each night.  Our kids are very excited about coloring the ornaments each night for the Lenten Tree and learning about the new symbols.  Life is so busy and hectic at times but it has been a great time in our home to slow down and spend time together in God's Word. Copies are available at church along with symbol ornament handouts or you can go to the following link to purchase a copy: Lenten Tree

Sunday Community time

Explorers class: Ten Commandment Introduction - They made a traffic sign: 

Stop - Listen to God's rules

Be Slow to anger and never cruel

Go with God and He will go with you.

A fun link to share with the children about the Ten Commandments is on Youtube from the 

Go Fish Guys:  Ten Commandment Boogie

Sprouts - Continuing to work on memorizing Psalm 23

This week they made these puppets (this set colored by my little guy) to go along with the Finger Puppet Skit (From the workbook The Lord is My Shepherd  by David and Helen Haidle: )

Lamb:  "Mama, I'm scared.  It's dark in the valley."

Ewe: "Don't worry. Our shepherd is with us."

Lamb: "Oh, LOOK! I see a wolf hiding on the hillside."

Ewe: "Shh. Be brave. The shepherd is with us."

Lamb: "But it's so dark. I can't see where I'm going."

Ewe: "Don't be afraid. Our shepherd knows the way."

Shepherd: "Little lamb, I promise to take care of you. Don't be afraid . I'll stay with you through it all."

Lamb whispers: "Can we trust him, Mama?"

Ewe: "Oh, yes. I've been through the dark valley several times. He's always kept me safe."

Lamb: "Okay. Mama. Let's go. I'll trust him, too."

Upcoming Events:

Sunday, February 24th - All Sunday Community classes will share their memory verses with the teachers this week.  You can check out the following link for the verses for February:  The Scoop

Loving our missions partners:  This week will be the last Sunday where mission prayer cards are handed out.  Please make sure and pick up a colorful half sheet of card stock with the prayer requests listed and share with your children throughout the week.  I encourage you to think of ways to incorporate praying for our mission partners as part of your family routine. The children's worship class sponsors a child, Abdias,  through Compassion International - I know the children can continually be lifting him up in prayer.  

Found this a fitting article in light of praying for others - I am so guilty of desiring contentment and life to be easy.  If only I would take more time to see all my blessings!

www.incourage.me

Check out the following link from SignUp Genius for details about the Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday, March 24th from 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

GCPC Annual Easter Egg Hunt

Grace Kids

Check out one of our youngest group of kids (Sprouts - Preschoolers) as they are working on memorizing all of Psalm 23.  They have a few verses memorized and are doing a FABULOUS job!

Way to go kids!

Tomorrow we will be having a Lenten Service of Worship and Communion as it is the beginning of Lent.  An excellent resource we have available this year is called The Lenten Tree: Devotions for Children and Adults to Prepare for Christ's Death and His Resurrection by Dean Meador Smith.  I just purchased more copies of the book and they will be available for $14 at the Resource Table.  If you purchase a book please also take a packet of symbol ornaments that correspond with the book.  

I found this video today on the ministry to children website that I thought did a good job of sharing the Easter story for children:  Easter video

Parenting Article & Lenten Tree Ideas

Good article to check out - it is worth a minute or two of your time :)  This article is from: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/

Advice for Parenting Young Kids by Pastor Steve McCoy

On a separate note....

This is an example of my simple Lenten Tree - I was so excited when I found this branch - simple things!!!  I decided to add a couple ornaments ahead of time to share with you how our family was going to display the ornaments.  I will begin the Lenten Tree Devotional Book with my family next week on Ash Wednesday.  If you choose to do the Lenten Tree Devotions and Ornaments please pass along how you displayed the ornaments.  I am always looking for new ideas.  

Thanks to Sarah for sharing the following idea for the Lenten Tree Ornaments: 

She cut them out and colored coded them with construction paper according to the book's categories on pg 10 (Using purple for "who Christ is", green for "His ministry on earth", red for "foretelling of his blood sacrifice", and yellow for" the events leading to His death and resurrection"). Then she wrote each day's description under each (according to the headings on pg 5 like "Jesus in the wilderness" for #2) and laminated them. Their plan is to attach the ornaments to a brown cross on the wall and use them year after year.  Love this idea!

Memory Verses

 Memory Verses for February

The Critters class will continue working on the same verse as last month:

Proverbs 17:17 “A friend loves at all times”

Such a sweet class!!

Sprouts (Preschool)

 Psalm 23 – Review verses 1 -3

* Continue with verse 3 and 4 “He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

Don't forget to check out the Hand Motions:  Psalm 23 Hand Motions

Explorers (Kindergarten - 1st Grade) This past week the children worked together with their teachers to determine hand motions to help with learning the verse. 

Proverbs 30:5 “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those 

who take refuge in him.

Seekers (2nd and 3rd Graders)

Matthew 4:10 “Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.”

Adventurers (4th - 6th Grade)

Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”