10-23-20 This Week in Faith
/Children’s Church and Nursery- SUNDAYS [during the 8:30 service]
We have begun to offer Children’s church and baby nursery during the 8:30 service! Kids will leave after the children’s sermon.
This is a video of how the process works.
And this is a link to sign up to help.
October Memory for Kids
We have been choosing our memory verses from different CD’s produced by Seeds Family Worship. The music is a great way for kids [and parents] to get Scripture stuck in their heads. Getting God’s Word into the heads and hearts of our kids is one of the most valuable things we can do for them. This year, we are using their CD I Believe. They are also producing an online family devotional for these verses that you can find HERE. If you don’t already do family devotions, this might be a great place to start.
CD’s are in! If you would like an I Believe CD, or a code to download the album for FREE, find me or Stephanie Atkinson this Sunday at church. We’d love to give your family one!
Scripture Memory- Ephesians 2:4-5
New City Catechism- Question 25 and Question 26
STUDENT MINISTRY SCHEDULE
Student Fall Fest- October 30-31, 2020
This weekend will be a mixture of lessons and small group time from the Rush conference this past summer and fun activities. (Similar to Summer Sprint if your student was able to attend that). All activities will be held outside.
Friday Night: Drop off at church at 6PM, and pick up at Washington Farms by 10PM or earlier. Please complete this mandatory sign up sheet for your student ($5 fee); we are required to have a number in advance for Washington Farms. Students can bring additional money for snacks at the farm if they would like. Schedule:
Session/small groups (6pm-7:15pm @ the church)
Travel to Washington Farms (Rides provided) (7:15-7:30)
Washington Farms (7:30-10pm)
Saturday: Drop off at the Brooks' house [1321 Colliers Creek Road, Watkinsville GA 30677] by 9AM, and pick up by 3:30PM. Lunch will be provided. Schedule:
Session/small groups (9am-10am)
Fall activities/games (10am-11am)
Session/small groups (11am-12pm)
UGA game and lunch (12pm-3:30pm)
Student Ministry Small Groups
Right now we are studying the book of Exodus in small groups.
Middle School- Wednesdays from 6:00-7:30PM at Faith [in the Plaza]
High School- Sundays from 6:00-7:30 at Faith [in the Plaza]
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Teens Did Surprisingly Well in Quarantine
This article has some surprising, and not so surprising, things to report about our kids during the pandemic. This author has done a lot of great research on the next generation and technology. The surprising part of her research is that teenagers fared better than expected during the pandemic, in terms of mental health. Their findings are that two factors in particular made a huge difference- more sleep and more quality time with their families. This is encouraging because it reminds us that some of the most powerful things that can affect our kids, are also some of the most simple. As life gets more normal this fall, we are fighting not to lose these important factors in our house- more sleep [here’s another thing more sleep affects] and more quality family time. It’s really hard! Especially as our kids get older and more independent. But for all of the things we say we do for our kids because we want them to have the best chance for success, encouraging them to get more sleep and eating dinner together are worthy things to move to the top of the list.
Click here to read the article by Jean Twenge.
How Can I Handle School Anxiety This Fall?
This is a [hopefully] encouraging word directed to teachers who are facing a lot of added burdens to their job this year. I know I have felt this in student ministry and I am sure, as a teacher, you have felt it even more. But I think this is a good word about how to respond to our anxieties for parents, parents who have become teachers also this year, and for all of us.
Click here to read tea article by Ed Welch.
Three Tips to Help Families Engage Fantasy for God’s Glory
This is an excerpt from a book I am reading right now and really enjoying. The authors talk about the importance of engaging with the worlds our kids are interested in- whether it’s in books they’re reading, music their listening to, or stuff they are watching. It gives us common ground to be able to talk about the important things we want our kids to learn. And they provide some great questions [which are in this article] to help start those gospel conversations through pop culture. I have been reading some of the books my kids have enjoyed and recommended, as well as TV shows and movies. It really has provided some great opportunities for conversation and I can always tell that it means a lot to them when I am interested enough in what they love to share it with them.
Click here to read the article by E. Stephen Burnett.
VIDEO: Raising Great Kids
This is the introductory video of an interesting series on the personalities of kids. They do an overview of different personality categories- the characteristics of kids in them and how it should affect our responses to them. If it’s helpful, the rest of the series is a whole video dedicated to understanding each of the personality groups more fully.
