New Year's Time Capsule Activity!!

Hard to believe we are getting ready to move into 2016!  A suggestion that I am going to try at home this year with my family is to create a Time Capsule.  There are many suggestions online for fill in the blank sheets for children and for suggestions of creating a time capsule. We will each fill out a sheet on December 31st and place in a shoe box that we will then duct  tape.  My kids LOVE duct tape!!!!  We will keep the box sealed until sealed until December 31st, 2016.  

Such a busy time of year but I think it's worth taking the time to each jot down some highlights from 2015. Below are some suggestions of printable sheets you could use to have children complete themselves or for younger children to record their responses.

Time Capsule Printable Fill in the Blank Sheet

Time Capsule Printable Sheet Suggestion

Time for New Year's Resolutions - I enjoyed this spin on some uncommon goals:

Three Uncommon Goals

Slugs and Bugs: Shepherd Dad

Here is a good video to show your kids!

Slugs and Bugs: Shepherd Dad

Advent

A couple Advent Videos to share together with your family:

Advent Conspiracy

&

The Digital Story of the Nativity

ADVENT IDEAS

 Advent Begins:  Sunday November 29, 2015 & Ends:  Thursday December 24, 2015

#1  Advent Wreath:  One of the ways GCPC will celebrate Advent this year is with an Advent wreath.  There are candles lit during the 4 Sundays leading up to Christmas.  The first is the prophecy candle or the candle of hope; the second is the Bethlehem candle or candle of preparation; the third is the Shepherd candle or the candle of joy, the fourth is the love candle or the candle of peace; and the center white candle is the Christ candle, lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day symbolizing the birth of Jesus.  See additional handout included further explaining each candle during Advent Season.

Suggested Resource to supplement the Advent Wreath 

(Available for $7 on the Resource Table):

·      Prepare Him Room – Celebrating the birth of Jesus – Family Devotional  by Marty Machowski

#2  Jesse Tree:  In addition to the Advent wreath another way to prepare for Christmas is using the Jesse Tree devotional.  The Jesse Tree will encourage us as we look through scriptures from the Old Testament creation through Jesus’ birth.  The tree is named Jesse (King David’s father) a key figure in the genealogy of Jesus.

Suggested Resources

·      The Advent Jesse Tree:  Devotions for Children and Adults to prepare for the coming of the Christ Child at Christmas by Dean Meador Lambert. ($10 - Grace Kids Resource Table)

·      Jesus Storybook Bible Advent Reading Plan:  Reading Plan bookmarks will be available on the Grace Kids Table.

·     

Mark your calendars: Tubing Event & Slugs and Bugs Concert!!

ANYONE WANT TO GO TUBING?
The Grace Kids Team is planning a Wintergreen Tubing Trip on Friday, January 29th.  This is a half day for Henrico and Hanover County Schools.  Details about the trip can be found here Wintergreen Tubing Fun!  
If you are interested in going please sign up for planning purposes by January 3rd. 


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Slugs and Bugs:  slugsandbugs.com

You can check out a video here:  "God Made Me" Video - Slugs and Bugs

Concert Details: 

Friday, February 26th, 6:30pm

West End Presbyterian Church

9008 Quioccasin Rd,

Tickets $5 each, or $20/family (Tickets will go on sale in January)

Slugs & Bugs LIVE is an unforgettable concert for families. Specifically, it is a joyful, gospel-filled, life celebrating, interactive musical experience featuring animated videos, energetic vocals, and tasty piano, guitar and mandolin solos!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving - Here is a great song to share with your kids:  Don't be a turkey song!

Thank you Grace Kids for sharing all the many things you are thankful for this Thanksgiving!

If you did not receive your 12  Symbols of Christmas booklet this past Sunday please look for your copy on the Grace Kids Table as you enter church.  

Advent begins this Sunday, November 29th.  

Join us for a fun day of tubing at Wintergreen on Friday, January 29th.  Due to the half day for the kids let's all caravan to Wintergreen for a fun evening of tubing together!!

You can find all the details here: Wintergreen Tubing - Interest Sign Up

Movie Night Friday!

Family Flapjacks and Friday Flick:

 Little Rascals Save the Day!

Sign up for the fun event here:  Movie Night Sign Up Here

Join us for dinner, movie, or both on Friday, November 20th!!                                                                                         

Dinner will begin at 6:00 PM followed by the movie at 6:30 PM.
*** Little Rascals Saves the Day ***
Kiddos may want to bring a bean bag, pillow, sleeping bag etc. for more comfortable seating.  RSVPs appreciated by Wednesday, November 18th.
Invite your friends!! 

Location: Ashcreek Clubhouse: 10854 Linderwood Dr, Mechanicsville, VA 23116

Optional donations will be collected to support the Syria Refugee Crisis.                            GCPC is participating in a campaign to raise funds for World Relief in Syria.

Please note this is definitely an optional donation. Here is a link sharing more about World Relief: http://refugeecrisis.worldrelief.org                                                                       Checks can be made to GCPC with World Relief in the memo. Thank you!

GCPC #wewelcomerefugees

GCPC #wewelcomerefugees 

October 25th - November 29th 

• Prayer Guide:  http://wewelcomerefugees.com/pray  
• Suggestion:  Brainstorm together as a family something you could sacrificially give up for the month.  Money saved could support the Syria Refugee Crisis.  
• Matthew 25:31-40 
• More information about World Relief:  http://refugeecrisis.worldrelief.org 
• Discuss and define Refugee to help the children understand- a person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution or natural disaster.  
• Some children’s book to help explain this difficult material.    
• How Many Days to America by Eve Bunting
•  My Two Blankets by Irena Kobald and Freya Blackwood
• Four Feet, Two Sandals by Karen Lynn Williams and Khadra Mohammed
• Throughout the month if you would like to support the GCPC #wewelcomerefugees campaign, then place  a check in the offering made out to GCPC with World Relief in the memo. 

New Resource Available on Grace Kids Table

I am including an article in this post related to protecting children from sexual abuse. This article references a new book called:  God Made All Of Me:  A Book for Helping Children Protect Their Bodies.  I will have copies of this book available to purchase at the Grace Kids Resource table beginning this Sunday for $10.  

***

9 Ways to Protect Your Children from Sexual Abuse

Unit 2 Memory Verses
Preschool and Kindergarten/1st Grade: Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved - you and your household.” - Acts 16:31 NIV

2nd and 3rd Grade:  Numbers 6:24-26, NIV The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.
4th and 5th Grade:  “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”  - Matthew 7:7-8, NIV

Don't forget to remind your child:  Pie in the face Motivation:  

• If children can say all 5 verses from each unit this year they can select someone to throw a pie in the face!!!!!   

Flapjacks and Family Flick

Join us for dinner, movie, or both!! 

Friday, November 20th

Join us for a pancake dinner and movie.  Dinner will begin at 6:00 PM followed by the movie at 6:30 PM.
*** Little Rascals Saves the Day ***
Kiddos may want to bring a bean bag, pillow, sleeping bag etc. for more comfortable seating.  RSVPs appreciated by Wednesday, November 18th.

Donations will be collected to support the Syria Refugee Crisis.  Grace Community Presbyterian Church will be participaing in a campaign to raise funds for World Relief in Syria from Oct. 25th - Nov. 29th.  Families are encouraged to brainstorm together something they could sacrificially give up for the month. The funds saved could go to World Relief.  

Please note this is defniitely an optional actiivty/donation. Here is a link sharing more about World Relief.  If you make a donation, then checks can be made to GCPC with World Relief in the memo. Thank you!

Prayer Cards will be handed out at church to help focus our prayer around this difficult situation:  http://wewelcomerefugees.com/pray

4th and 5th Grade Memory Verse Unit 1!

Way to go kids and teachers!!  Here is a video with the kids saying their verse

Psalm 51:10 - 12, NIV

Blown Away!

A huge shout out to the teachers in both Children's Worship and Sunday Communities!  In the past month they have done so many fun acitivies with the children.  They have gone above and beyond to create meaningful and engaging lessons for their classes.  We are blessed to have volunteers who pour out so much of their time to invest in the children at GCPC!  

We have one more week with the Unit 1 Memory Verses.  This year we are doing the following approach with memory verses:

• Children will work on the verses at church (in both Children’s worship and Sunday communities) throughout the 6 week units in order to memorize the scripture.  We will not be checking individually if they know the verses at the end of each unit.  We will continue to have them work as a group and share as a group.  Our aim is to have them memorize and remember the scripture.  
• Pie in the face Motivation:  We are going let the children know if they can say all 5 verses from each unit during Sunday Communities this year they can select someone to throw a pie in the pace (this will just be redi whip in a pie plate).  
•  I am hopeful for willing participants (including myself) to be one of the unfortunate people to get Redi whip all over the face.  We will let the children who attain this challenge list out 3 folks and then see if one of them would be willing to receive the pie.  This challenge will take work on the part of the children to learn the verses and retain them.  Children will be given a chance to say the 5 verses from the year on May 8th and May 15th.  Then the pie in the face would occur on 5/22 and/or 6/5.     
• Memory Verses by grade for the year  

Here is a short clip of some pictures taken last month.  Thank you teachers for passing them along to me!

Grace Kids September!!

Sunday Communities and Children's Worship

Preschool Class having fun with shaving cream!!

Activity:  Finger Paint Faces - The children were making happy and sad faces with the shaving cream. They discussed how it makes God sad when we disobey and then they wiped away the sad faces.  They discussed how when we feel sad for doing wrong things, God is pleased.  The truth and reminder they heard:  

God will always love us and forgive us!

Here are the memory verses for the first Unit.  We will begin Unit 2 on November 1st

Please note that each unit is divided into 6 lessons. 

October 25th = Memory Verse Recitation

Preschool

Unit 1: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.  His love endures forever. - Psalm 136:1, NIV

Kindergarten & 1st Grade

Unit 1: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.  His love endures forever. - Psalm 136:1, NIV

2nd & 3rd Grade  

Unit 1:  Genesis 9:12-13, NIV And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come:  I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.”

4th & 5th Grade

Unit 1:  Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. - Psalm 51: 10-12, NIV

New Resource Available

I am including an article in this post related to protecting children from sexual abuse. This article references a new book called:  God Made All Of Me:  A Book for Helping Children Protect Their Bodies.  I will have copies of this book available to purchase at the Grace Kids Resource table beginning this Sunday for $10.  

9 Ways to Protect Your Children from Sexual Abuse

Movie Night

Back to School Ice cream Sundae and Outdoor Movie Night

Friday, September 4th

Brad and Julie Best's home

Make your own ice cream sundaes and then outdoor movie.

7:30 - Ice cream Sundaes

8:00 Outdoor Movie:  Please bring a lawn chair or blanket.  

We will be watching: Yogi Bear - Life's a pic-a-nic

RSVP to Julie Best at julie@gcpres.org - Feel free to invite your friends!

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Sunday Communities start SOON!!! 

 Sunday Communities and Grace Kids Worship begin on September 13th.

Children will move into their new classes.  

Based on age/grade children will move classes.

1)  Moving from Nursery to Children's Worship (Children who will be 4 by summer 2016)

2)  Children's Worship classes will be change based on school grade. 

(4 year olds - Preschool, Kindergarten and 1st, 2nd and 3rd)

3)  Moving from Children's Worship to Sermon Study. (4th and 5th Graders)

4)  Moving from Grace Kids to Youth! (6th grade)

Big Day!!

Perspective

I have recently had an opportunity to be part of a service trip to Granada with my 10 year old son.  Throughout the week the word that continually came to mind for me was perspective.   So much of my day can be focused on how to please my kids and find fun opportunities for them.  I love my children and want to plan and do fun things with them but almost to a fault as the result ends frequently with:  it is never enough.  The following article from the blog:  We are that family shares more on perspective.  I love the reminder in the post below that it is not about us.  

Psalm 115:1

Not to us, O Lord, not to us,

but to your name goes all the glory

for your unfailing love and faithfulness.

Article from: We are that family

Tubing and Upcoming Movie Night

Fun Day Tubing at James River Reeling & Rafting!!

Beautiful weather and a fun way to spend 4 and 1/2 hours.

Mark your calendars for a Back to School Ice cream Sundae and Outdoor Movie Night

Friday, September 4th

Brad and Julie Best's home

Make your own ice cream sundaes and then outdoor movie.

7:30 - Ice cream Sundaes

8:00 Outdoor Movie:  Please bring a lawn chair or blanket.  

We will be watching: Yogi Bear - Life's a pic-a-nic

RSVP to Julie Best at julie@gcpres.org - Feel free to invite your friends!

FeedMore Tour: Party with a Purpose

Party with a Purpose: Slideshow!!

Today a group of 30 kids brought in 277 pounds of canned goods and $78.67 for FeedMore.  

Here are a couple facts we learned today during our FeedMore Tour:

$1 will make 5 meals

They make 3,000 meals daily at FeedMore.  

Thank you to FeedMore for giving us a tour of the facility!!

Thank you to all the families who participated in our "Can"rival and Party with a Purpose!!

Summer Activities Coming Up SOON!!

The Grace Kids Team has planned for 2 fun events happening this summer!  

Don't miss out on the fun. RSVPs are needed for both events.  

If you are interested in attending either (or both) please rsvp soon for planning purposes.  Pass along to your friends!

1)  Party with a Purpose on Friday July 31st beginning at 10:30 at the Kings Charter Playground.  This will be a great service activities for kids and will end with a trip to the FeedMore facility for those who can join us.   

Here is a Sign Up Genius link with ALL the details. www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10C094DAFAE28A20-party/

This is a long sign up genius but that is only because we have it jam packed with all kinds of fun details about this event. 

2) Tubing!!  We would love to have you join us for this fun activity too.  This will be on Saturday, August 8th. 

All the details can be found here: 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094DAFAE28A20-summer

RSVPs and Payment required by July 19th. 

Thanks!

Kids Give Back 2015

We have had a fun few days!!  Tonight will be our final night of Kids Give Back - Here is a slideshow recap:
Kids Give Back 2015 Slideshow!!!
  

Thank you for all the generous donations toward the GCPC Granada, Spain Missions trip!
Kids Give Back Songs

Don't forget about Sweet Frog today.

Kids Give Back - Go Deeper With God - Begins this Sunday!!!

It's not too late to join us if you are interested!  We are looking forward to Sunday to kickoff our 2015 Kids Give Back!!!  Attached is a letter with all the details:  

Kids Give Back Parent Letter

4G Video & Party with a Purpose!!

I wanted to begin with sharing a video created by Michelle, Becky, Jennifer, Darlene and the 4G boys for a special purpose!!  

Here's a link to the video. It's 11 minutes long but worth every second!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0hc5HJaoTs&feature=youtu.be

Party with a Purpose Details - An evite to rsvp will be sent out soon!!

Who: Families with Preschoolers through Rising 6th graders...You are invited to our Party! 

What: Not just any ol' party... This is a PARTY with a PURPOSE!  It's a "Can"-ival with games, prizes, food and gifts to teach our kids that you are never too small to serve others!  We will be helping out our own Central Virginia Food Bank. 

When: July 31st at 10:30 a.m. followed by a tour of the FeedMore facility at 1:30 (for anyone interested)

Where: Kings Charter Clubhouse and playground for the party followed by the FeedMore tour at 1415 Rhoadmiller St; Richmond, VA

Why: Because God asks all of us - including children- to serve others in His name

For those interested, here are some more details:

GIFTS: We'd like to ask you to bring a party gift...and we know exactly what we want! FOOD DONATIONS for FeedMore. (Specifically requested food items: Peanut butter, canned tuna & chicken, low sodium veggies, fruits packed in juice, spaghetti sauce (no glass), canned or dry beans, hot and cold cereal, whole grain snacks)

Note to Parents:  We would love for you to encourage your children to do some work, earn some money and use that to help purchase the canned food donations.  In addition, if you are willing to donate some coins that could be used as prizes for some of our can carnival games, please let us know.  The kids will earn coins for participating in the games that they will then be able to take with us and donate to Feedmore during our tour. This is a very tangible way for the kids to serve others in need. Use this as a teaching tool with your kids this summer!

LUNCH : A Pizza lunch will be provided including lemonade, but if you would like to help with sides and desserts, we will send out a sign-up list as the date gets closer.

TOUR: At the conclusion of our party, we'd like to invite you to do something very special. Something that we believe will help our children embrace the reason for our party. We'd like to invite you to join us on a 30 minute tour of FeedMore. We'll take all of our food donations to FeedMore and have them weighed. We'll also give our monetary donations at this time. Then, we'll be able to tour the facility and see how meals are prepared and hunger is helped. (Parents will need to provide transportation to/from the tour and no sandals or open toed shoes allowed on the tour)

Directions to FeedMore:  1415 Rhoadmiller St, Richmond, VA 23220

Grace Kids Newsletter

You can go to the following link for view the May Newsletter for Grace Kids Ministry.

http://eepurl.com/bnAEB1

Sunday Community Teachers

First a huge thank you to the teachers who have volunteered this year!!! They have gone above and beyond with their planning.  

If you are interested in being part of the Sunday Community team for 2015-16 we have a need for a teacher in  the 2nd/3rd grade.  Please let me know if you would like to teach.  Here are more specific details:

•  Available spot in 2nd & 3rd grade.  
• Sunday Communities begin at 11:00 AM with the start of Grace Kids Worship.  
• Sunday Community teachers will sign in their students at the start of Grace Kids Worship and then dismiss with their class at the conclusion of Grace Kids Worship (around 11:15 AM).  
• Teaching time is from 11:15 AM - 12:00 PM.  You will be on a team with 3 other teachers. 
• You will have a partner teacher and take turns with preparing/leading the lesson.  
• Format is 2 weeks with one pair of teachers and 2 weeks with the other pair 
• (Therefore once a month where one person has to lead and the other time assist, then off for 2 weeks). 
•  We do not have Sunday Communities on the following days:
• Sunday following Thanksgiving, 2 weeks at Christmas, a week at Easter, and Memorial Day Weekend.  
• Please let Julie Best know ASAP if you are interested in helping with the Preschool or  2nd/3rd Grade class (julie@gcpres.org).  
• One last thing…
• They are  a great group of kids and the new curriculum provides many fun and engaging activities to do with the children!!!!

Video of GCPC Olympics

Always a fun time!! 

 Perfect weather for the picnic and games:

7th Annual GCPC Olympics

The 4 teams: