Announcements & Updates for the Week of 3/28/2011

Happy Monday everyone!

"'Hosanna to the Son of David!' Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" ~ Matthew 21:9 (Memory Verse for the Week)

Great things are happening in our City Kids program! As we gear up for the Easter season at the end of April kids will be learning about why we celebrate Easter and the story leading up to it. This first week leading up to it we will be learning about Passover, sharing a passover meal together and learning about the meaning of a traditional passover. We will be snacking on unleavened bread, apples, walnuts, grape juice and "...looking at Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. This fulfills the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9, "Your King comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt" (NIV).

After that, Jesus and his disciples had a Passover dinner together. Jesus washed their feet and gave the first communion. We will be talking about what communion means so children will know what Jesus did for them and they will want to know God better. The Passover is celebrated in the spring of the year. It represents a time of birth, life coming from what is dead. The Scriptures prescribe that a lamb be selected on the tenth day of the first month. After being placed on public observation for four days, if the lamb is without fault, it can then be selected for use in the Passover Feast. Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday was the tenth day of the month. He taught in the synagogue during the next four days. The spotless Lamb of God on public observation before His trial and crucifixion" (God's Path Curriculum for 4/3/2011). You can read more in Exodus chapter 12. The whole purpose of the Passover is to remember the bitterness of slavery and God's deliverance.

Announcements for the Week of 3/ 21

Happy Spring break! I hope you all are enjoying the tell-tale signs that spring is coming! Crocuses are blooming, the tulips are breaking through the ground and the quince outside my window is opening up it's budded leaves. Spring is here!

Last week was a crafty day with City Kids as paper was cut, glued and colored to make all sorts of wonderful treasures.

On Sunday:
This week we are continuing our creative Sundays through the Old Testament...nursery kiddos will be making be learning how God made the world (Genesis 1:1-31) and will create fun paper creatures to remind them of God's creation.

Elementary kids will begin a series related to Easter as we build up to the celebration in five weeks. This week we will be talking about "the greatest gift" looking at how Mary gave her most precious gift to God in Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9.

Middle Schoolers will be going through a series that navigates the big picture of the Bible over 12 weeks. This week will focus on 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

Have a great week and see you Sunday!

Announcements & Updates for the Week of 3/ 14/ 2011

Last Sunday we celebrated the two year anniversary of City Church at McMenamins and had a great time! This Sunday we are back on schedule at the usual time and kids will be doing some great things! In our creative arts series:

On Sunday:
Nursery kiddos will be making paper bag costumes, so if you have any paper grocery bags at home, please bring a few to Sunday school!

Elementary Kids will be continuing our walk through the Old Testament stories looking at the story of Jacob and Esau and how God wants us to trust Him instead of taking things into our own hands to make something happen. We will be doing some acting this week, and kids will get to act out the story!

Middle Schoolers will begin a new 12 week curriculum that will include mentoring and activities around Bible stories and how the story impacts our lives.

FREE CHILDREN'S EVENTS IN BEND:

Did you know that Kiddoz of Bend offers free craft time on Tuesday mornings at 9:30. Get more info at  www.kiddozplaycenter.com 

Get more information on great family events from Central Oregon Family News.

Have a great week everyone!
- Sarah

The Week of 3/6/2011 Announcements/ Update

Last week in City Kids, the little ones in the nursery had fun with finger paint while the elementary and middle schoolers got a chance to talk with Sylivia, our visiting missionary from India about the differences and similarities between our countries and what she does in India. We had a great time! We also are continuing our journey through Old Testament stories, and looked at Genesis 24, seeing Abraham petition God to know His will for his son Issac. We talked about petitions as making a request to God, and then we petitioned God for Sylvia and the people of India to know God's will for their lives and our own.

The memory verse for this week is: Phillipians 4:6-7 which says:

⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

City Kids is starting a new reward system for kids of all ages...they earn points during Sunday school for good behavior, memorizing the weekly verse and for bringing a friend.

REMINDER: There is no Sunday school on March 13th at McMenamin's, but there will be a children's coloing corner. Kids can recite the memory verse to Pastor Sarah this weekend, and can earn a point for bringing a friend to this extra special breakfast gathering!