Family Check In Sunday April 20, 2025

Elementary Ministry April 6, 2025

April 2025 by Brianna Renshaw

First Lights Family Check In Sunday March 30, 2025

 
Mission: To partner with parents to lead children to become fully devoted followers of Christ.
Vision: To connect the light of the church with the heart of the family to ignite the faith of the next generation.
 
Upcoming Events:
March 26 - 6pm-7pm Kidmin on Wen
March 30 - Reminder - 5th Sunday. No Sunday School.
Donation Luncheon following the 10am service.
April 2 - 6pm-7pm Communion Class for Parents and Children
April 13 - 9am and 11am Palm Sunday Processional
April 16 - 6pm-7:30pm Candyland Lane Easter Outreach Event
April 23 - 6pm-7pm - Mission Commission - Connecting leaders of ministries with children/families to inspire working together for God.
FIRST LIGHTS GOOGLE CALENDAR
 
Parent and Child Communion Class April 2, 2025 6pm-7pm
 
Every parent wants to be present for the significant moments in their child’s life; ESPECIALLY the eternally significant moments! A child’s dedication, baptism, first communion and more are significant firsts in a child’s life, and we want to help equip families as we celebrate with parents along the faith journey. This class will facilitate interactive discussion between parents and children. Bring your Bibles!
 
Preschool Play Day!

It finally happened! After a rough February of changes, we got together to play on Saturday and had a 'ball'!

Thank you to all the families that joined us for our Preschool Play Day! 

 

Sunday's Bible story was about how respecting our bodies is one way we can honor God. 

This week make the lesson stick: Fill a bag with a toothbrush, hairbrush, soap, shirt, and apple. Tell your chid to pull an item out of the bag. Ask, "How can you use a [item] to respect yourself?" Talk about how we use each item to care for our bodies that God made.

 

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First Lights Family Check In Sunday March 23, 2025

Mission: To partner with parents to lead children to become fully devoted followers of Christ.
Vision: To connect the light of the church with the heart of the family to ignite the faith of the next generation.

Upcoming Events:
March 19 - 6pm-7pm Kidmin on Wen
March 22 - 10am-11:30am Preschool Play Day
March 30 - Reminder - 5th Sunday. No Sunday School.
Donation Luncheon following the 10am service.
April 2 - 6pm-7pm Communion Class for Parents and Children
April 16 - 6pm-7:30pm Candyland Lane Easter Outreach Event
April 23 - 6pm-7pm - Mission Commission - Connecting leaders of ministries with children/families to inspire working together for God.

 
Meet Ms. Michelle! She is a SGL in the Sparks classroom with Ms. Terri and Mr. Dave and Ms. Sue!
 
Michelle and her daughter Savannah (3) have attended FUMC since 2022 courtesy of an invitation from Ms. Terri Stevens. 
 
Michelle is a kindergarten teacher at Hamilton Heights Elementary. We are so grateful that she is willing to share her gift of teaching with us. But more than anything, we are blessed to have her as a regular presence and influence in the life of our children on Sundays!
 
I do admit to being swept away by Savannah's sweetness and charm. Watching her walk through the lobby and greet all of her admirers is something I look forward to getting to watch on a Sunday morning.
 
While we are fortunate to have so many engaged teachers, in our ministry, not everyone who serves needs to be a teacher.
 
The only qualification to serve in Children's Ministry is to care about the faith of the youngest generation and I am grateful for Michelle and all the SGLs and servants who demonstrate this care faithfully on a regular basis.
 

SERVE WITH US!

We are asking you to consider and pray about being part of a team which shares Jesus' love with kids during the Sunday School Hour or for an hour on Wednesday nights.

Do you feel a nudge from God, but hear doubts and criticisms from the Enemy? Don't listen to the doubts!

Let's have a conversation and discover what God can show and teach you about your purpose in the Kingdom as part of our team.

Sunday's Bible story teaches us that we are so important to God, He sent Jesus into the world so we can be with Him forever. 

This week make the lesson stick: Go on a nature treasure hunt with your child. Give them a container to put all of their important treasures in. Ask your child to tell you why each item is special. Talk about how we are very, very important to God. That makes us His treasures! 

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SGL Update March 27, 2025

Kidmin Check-in

PRAISES/ MINISTRY WINS

PRAYERS/MINISTRY CHALLENGES

EVENTS

Celebrating being part of the Haitian Worship Service on Sunday.
 
Pastor Genner introduced me to their congregation in Haitian Creole as the Children's Pastor. 
 
He also pointed out the women in his congregation that I could go to instead of him! One of them is the older lady who started bringing the kids - I thought she was Sakinah's grandma.
 
I feel like this was just a first baby step but I am thrilled to take that step finally!
 

I am still dealing with email and Google issues with the previous account. I apologize if that affected your access to documents and the above-linked survey.
 
Safety - I would like to schedule an emergency 'drill' to take place during the Sunday School hour. Can this be something that is planned for August or early September to include adults? In the meantime, could we have times of playing 'Follow the Leader' around the church with Little Lights holding onto the rope rings? At least that gives us some practice with the littles holding on and following directions. 

Please take a moment and complete the Leaders Survey - Fun, Quick and Easy! Thank you to Anne and Michelle W. for completing the form.

Training and Resources for SGLs

 

Find helpful tips for parents and congregations seeking to raise faithful children in the Christian tradition. Sponsored by 1517 Media.

 

Ministry Matters™ is a community of resources for church leaders. Whether your church has ten pews or a thousand seats, a praise band or a pipe organ, one-room-Sunday school or a network of small groups, a huge staff or just you. Free subscribers can search and share thousands of articles and...

 

MinistryMatters™ free Christian bible teaching ministry resources and training tools to teach God's Word to adults, children, and youth in Sunday School, small groups, vacation Bible school, or other church education programs. Learn more!

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First Lights Family Check In Sunday March 16, 2025

Mission: To partner with parents to lead children to become fully devoted followers of Christ.
Vision: To connect the light of the church with the heart of the family to ignite the faith of the next generation.

Upcoming Events:
March 12 - 6pm-7pm Kidmin on Wen: Prayer Pretzels - mark your calendars to join us for making pretzels during Lent.
March 30 - Reminder - 5th Sunday. No Sunday School. Donation Luncheon following the 10am service.
April 2 - 6pm-7pm Communion Class for Parents and Children
April 16 - 6pm-7:30pm Candyland Lane Easter Outreach Event
April 23 - 6pm-7pm - Mission Commission - Connecting leaders of ministries with children/families to inspire working together for God.

 
Meet Ms. Tammy our 2nd and 3rd Grade SGL!
 
47 - That is how many years Tammy Shuster has been serving in Children's Ministry!
 
She is retired from Letterkenny and travels to Collegeville, PA during the week to babysit her 5 year-old grandson and 8 year-old granddaughter. 
 
She seems to be Nathan's preferred SGL as he always goes to her Small group!
 
I asked Tammy if she would recommend serving in Children's Ministry. After 47 years, I was hopeful.
 
She replied:
 “Yes I would! You will be greatly rewarded by learning more about God, Jesus, & the Holy Spirit through the eyes of the children! As Matthew 18:3 states, ‘And he said … unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.’”

HIDE AND SEEK!

We are SEEKING a few good people to help kids HIDE God's Word in their hearts!

If you are interested in serving in children's ministry, we want to help you find out how best you can communicate God's Word to children.

Let's have a conversation! Email: kidmin@firstonsecond.org

Sunday's Bible story was about how we are smart, creative, and helpful like God because He made us in His image.

This week make the lesson stick by playing with puzzles. Affirm your child with words like, "You are so smart!" as they work. When you're done, ask them to put the puzzle away. As they do, affirm with words like, "You are so helpful! God made you smart and helpful, just like Him." 

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