Northwood Parents

This week, preschoolers are talking about the sixth day of creation when God created people.  He made his most precious creation on Day 6.  We’re specifically going to explain to preschoolers that God made all of us very special and unique.  Not one of us is alike.  We’ll talk about how we look different, talk different, even speak different languages, yet God created us all.  Sometime after Sunday, spend some time as a family looking at baby and toddler pictures.  Line up several pictures of each member of your family.  Talk about the features that you have in common and the features that are different.  For younger preschoolers, have them point to different features, such as ears, hair, and mouth on each picture.  Take some time this week to thank God for creating each of us as unique and special creatures.

Elementary kids are continuing their month long discussion of gratitude - letting others know you see how they’ve helped you.  This week, we’ll be in Matthew 20: 1 - 15.  Make sure you take some time to read that story for yourself so you can discuss it at home this week.  It makes no sense to us that the man who was hired last received the same wages as the man hired first.  Is that not unfair?  We’ll talk about how each man hired should have been grateful for what he received instead of being jealous of another - it’s a principle that’s sometimes hard for even us adults to live out in our daily lives.  We want kids to understand that having the wrong attitude can spoil our gratitude.  On the ride home Sunday, talk about ways we can change our bad attitude to gratitude.  Use a teachable moment this week when your child has a bad attitude, to explain that we should be thankful for what we do have instead of concentrating on what we don’t have.

Thanks again for sharing your child with us each week here at Northwood!  It is a great honor to serve you and your child.  See you soon!

It’s on it’s way again…Sunday!  Here’s what’s going on…

Preschoolers are talking about this sixth day of creation this week.  They are learning that God made all the animals of the earth on the sixth day.  We want the kids to understand how incredible it is that God made every, single animal in just one day!  Sometime this week, read a non-fiction book about animals to your preschooler.  Spend some time sitting with your preschooler looking at the book and discussing the different kids of animals.  Take some time to thank God for the amazing animals He made.

Elementary kids will continue their month of learning about gratitude on Sunday.  This week kids will learn that they need to take time to remember how others have helped them.  They’ll have the opportunity to think of people in their lives that are there to help them.  On the ride home Sunday, talk with your child about some people who’ve helped him recently.  Talk about ways he can show thanks to them this week.  Then, really encourage him to show thanks by doing something special.

We are also collecting canned goods this month for Greer Community Ministries.  This week, elementary kids need to bring canned fruits and vegetables.  There is a competition going on between small groups.  The small group that collects the most cans at the end of the month wins breakfast from their favorite fast food place.  Encourage your child to participate!

I will see you Sunday!

It’s all about giving thanks in our children’s ministry this month!  On Sundays, elementary kids are hearing about gratitude and all kids are hearing about it on Wednesday nights!  Tonight, I will be challenging the kids to say thanks!  Say thanks when your parents spend their time taking care of you, say thanks when your teacher gives you a special surprise, say thanks when your friends invite you over!  I will be asking kids to have their parents email me with opportunities they have taken to say thanks!  I’ll be sharing these, without using their names, with them on Wednesday nights this month!  I also have a special gift just for them when I hear their stories.  So, email your stories throughout the month!

You can email me your stories at david@rightdirections.orgor by clicking the “Comments” section of this blog!

I will see you tonight!

Just want to give you a quick reminder about Sweet Treat Alley tomorrow night from 6:30 - 7:30.  I’m working on some last minute preparations today!  It’s one of our biggest outreach events of the year!  You won’t want to miss it!  Dress up, bring the kids, get a free hot dog, and have a great time!

I’ll see you then!

Here’s what we’re talking about this Sunday, November 2…

This Sunday, preschoolers are talking about the fifth day of creation when God made the creatures of the sea and the birds of the sky.  For the past month, preschoolers have heard every week about a different day of creation.  We’ll continue to talk about each day of creation throughout this month too.  Sometime next week, take your preschooler to the pet store and look at the displays of fish.  Talk about the different colors of fish and what makes one different from another.  On another day, make a simple bird feeder.  String circular oat cereal on a piece of yarn to make a cereal necklace.  Hang the necklace on a tree branch and watch the birds come to eat.  Take a moment to pray with your child and thank God for making the birds and fish.  I know these seem like trivial activities, but they are so important!  We need you to re-emphasize what we teach each week!

Elementary kids are beginning a new virtue of gratitude - letting others know you see how they’ve helped you.  This week kids will hear about a time when Jesus healed people who had a disease called leprosy.  Very few of the ones healed came back though to thank Him.  Your child will hear how many came back to say thanks and be reminded that it’s important for us to take time to say thank you.  On the ride home Sunday, ask your child about someone he knows who’s really good at remembering to say thank you.  Talk about some ways you and your child can be better at telling others thanks!

I will see you tomorrow night at Sweet Treat Alley!

Here’s what’s going on this week at Northwood…

Preschoolers will continue their month long study on the creation of the world by looking at Genesis 1:14-19.  Preschoolers will learn about the lights that God made to light up the earth this week.  God gave us the sun, the moon, and the stars!  This month, we have taught your child about the incredible, well-planned creation that God has given to us.  Sometime next week, on a sunny day, have your preschooler gather four small household items with a very distinct shape.  Take these items and a dark piece of construction paper outside.  Lay the paper down in the sun and place the items on the paper.  Leave the project in the sun for several hours.  Have your preschooler remove the items and see what is left behind.  Explain to your preschooler that God made the sun to give us a strong light during the day and a lighter light for the nighttime.

Elementary kids are finishing up their month long focus on determination, by learning that we should keep doing what you should do so you don’t miss something really good.  We want kids to understand that God’s rules and laws are there to lead us to a better life, not to harm us!  We have to keep doing the right thing, so that we can get the very best — God’s best!  On the ride home Sunday, talk to your child about a time in your life when you missed out on something really good because you chose not to do what you knew you should do.  Help your child think of a time in his life when he missed out on something good because He didn’t do the right thing.

I hope you have a great weekend!  Next week, we’ll talk about Sweet Treat Alley coming to Northwood in one week!  See you Sunday!

Today, I’ve been writing my November newsletter to kids and wrote about the following subject.  I want to expound on it a little bit and hope it’ll be helpful to you!

Here at Northwood, we believe that it’s important for kids to see their parents worship, to experience the sights and sounds of an adult worship experience, and learn from the Pastor.  These are values that we see as necessary for kids to gain, even at an early age.  From time to time, parents are curious as to why we don’t have a children’s church for elementary kids.  Here’s why…

~ Kids need opportunities to see their parents actively involved in worship with other believers.  Worship together is the only way!

~ Our Pastor’s preaching style relates to people of all ages, from the very youngest to the very oldest.

~ Children need to learn, at an early age, that it’s important to attend worship.  They need to learn how we interact with each other during worship experiences.

~ Church must be “family friendly.”  The only way families can grow together is to be together.  Even if it’s only one hour a week, we want kids and parents to spend time learning from the Word.

So… here’s the next question I’m usually asked…. How can me and my child both get the most out of Morning Worship.  Here’s some advice for you…

~ Talk about church throughout the entire week.  Explain to your child that church is a place for us to go to worship God and hear truth that we can apply.  We can only worship and apply truth when we listen to the Pastor and participate in worship

~ Take your child to the bathroom before worship.  This eliminates the “bathroom excuse” to get up during worship.

~ On the ride home from church, talk about the morning’s message and worship.  Ask questions and provide small rewards for correct answers.

~ Pick up a Worship Fun Pack at the Welcome Center or from your child’s Bible Fellowship class.  We’ve designed these packs specifically to relate to what your child learns in Bible Fellowship.

~ Encourage your child to use the Pastor’s sermon notes and complete them.  Give rewards when they do so.  You’ll be surprised at what kids pick up from the message.

~ Lead by example.  Make sure you are worshipping and listening closely to the sermon.  Your child will mimic what he sees from you.

~ Make it a habit for your child to sit with you during worship, rather than with friends.  It’s important that worship be a time for kids to see their parents worship and worship themselves, not socialize with friends.  This time that you have with your child is incredibly important to their view of church later in life.

I hope this helps you see where we’re coming from with our “no children’s church policy” for elementary kids.  This Sunday, enjoy worship with your child…don’t dread it!

Preschoolers are continuing a month of learning about God’s creation.  This week, preschoolers will learn that, on the third day of creation, God separated land and sea and made plants.  Find some time this week to do a little gardening with your preschooler.  You could prepare beds for fall, plant bulbs, or repot an inside plant — it doesn’t matter what you do — just do something!  Let your preschooler feel the dirt in his hands and run his hands under the water noticing the difference between land and water.  Explain to your preschooler that God created everything, including plants and water, perfectly!

Elementary kids are focusing this week on how we need to keep doing what God says because He is God.  Our virtue of determination will be expanded by learning that there are certain commands given to us by God.  Those commands are not optional.  We need to follow them because God gave them to us.  Sometime after Sunday, along with your child, think of three good outcomes that come from doing what God says.  Think about times in your life when you did what God says and it produced good results.  Share those experiences with your child this week!  Our goal is to help kids understand that God’s commands are not just rules to follow, they are rules that, when followed, produce what’s best for us!

Thanks again for trusting this church to minister to your child!  I pray that it’s making a difference!  Have a great weekend!

It’s almost here … another Sunday.  Here’s what’s going on…

Preschoolers are continuing to learn about this incredible world God made!  This week, they will learn that God separated the waters and gave us the sky on the second day of His creation.  Every activity, song, and craft this week will focus on the fact that God created the sky and water from absolutely nothing!  God is amazing!  Sometime this week, on a warm afternoon, take a blanket outside, spread it on the ground, and lay down with your child to look at the clouds.  Discuss with her that the clouds are made of water.  Look a the different shapes of the clouds and see if your child can describe what the cloud looks like.  On the next rainy day, have your child look out the window at the clouds and see the water coming out of them.  Use moments throughout his upcoming week, to talk to your child about God’s amazing creation!  You may choose to have your child look at the clouds on the way to school this week.  It is through the everyday teachable moments that you have with your child that really impact her view of God and who He is!  Seize those opportunities this week!

Elementary kids are continuing to look at the virtue of determination - deciding it’s worth it to finish what you’ve started.  This week, kids will have the opportunity to hear about Noah and the ark that he built.  Kids will hear how everyone thought he was crazy for building a huge boat in preparation of a flood, when no one had ever seen it rain before!  We will help children understand that they should keep doing what God says even if others don’t.  Look for opportunities this upcoming week when your child doesn’t want to do the right thing because “no one else has to do the right thing!”  Use these opportunities to remind your child that we, just like Noah, have to keep doing the right thing, even if we’re the only ones!  You may want to read the story of Noah for yourself in Genesis 6:6 - 7:7.  After Sunday, talk to your child about a time in your life when you had to choose to do the right thing, even when others didn’t!

I look forward to seeing you Sunday!  I really hope you, the parents and we, the church are making a great difference in your family!  Thank you so much for your encouraging comments that you post to this blog and for the emails you send me directly.  I love sharing some of those with the children’s ministry team!  They really help us to see the difference we are making!  Thanks for allowing us to teach your children!

This Sunday, preschoolers begin a month of learning about God’s creation!  Preschoolers will be learning that God made the world.  We are explaining to preschoolers how incredible it is to know that God created all that we see from absolutely nothing!  The first thing He made was light and He separated it from darkness.  One night this week at bedtime bring a flashlight in and hide under the covers with your child.  Talk to him about how dark it is under the covers.  It’s so hard to see!  Now turn on the flashlight.  Isn’t it awesome that God gave us light!  Take some time to pray with your child thanking God for making the world and giving us light.

Elementary kids are beginning the new virtue of determination - deciding it’s worth it to finish what you’ve started.  This week, we’ll be specifically focusing on the hard things that we have to do sometimes.  We’ll explain to kids that we need to keep doing what we should do even when it is hard!  Sometime after Sunday, tell your child about a time in your life when something was hard for you to accomplish.  Talk about how you felt once you accomplished that task!

I want to encourage you again to take what we talk about here at church and talk about it some more at home — it really will make a difference!