Hey team, we just wanted to say thank you for the way you’re sharing your life with kids. You’re making a huge difference.
Our 5th Grade small group is already having amazing discussions – making connections in Scripture that are spiritually insightful in ways that show true maturity! Have you ever seen a connection between jealousy … coveting… and murder? One of our 5th graders saw this – Think about it: King David coveted for Bathsheba – it led to murder. Cain’s jealousy led to murdering Abel. When we look at the Ten Commandments, we often just see a list of things to keep track of – what if they are all connected to each other, more like a net? This insight shows that these commandments are more interconnected than we often realize! Thanks Isaac for this amazing insight!
THE PLAYBOOK
BIRTHDAY BAG PROJECT
We are now accepting donations for our Birthday Bag project, which will happen at Christmastime.
- Donations of birthday bag items are welcome in the Kids Lobby. Donation lists are available in the Kids Lobby.
- Cash/coin donations are welcome at the Kids Greeter Desk in the Lobby – or there will be a Birthday Bag available in each Large Group room. Please let kids know that they can bring their offering and drop it in any location to exchange for a prize.
- Birthday Bag Kits are also available if you’d like to make one or three – talk to Barb anytime.
KIDS’ BIRTHDAYS.
To help you as small group and classroom leaders connect with the kids in your group for their birthdays~
Check on/near your clipboards for small envelopes for kids in your small groups. I send birthday postcards every Monday – I will now be prepping a small envelope for every birthday kid that you can give to them when you see them next! This will give you a reminder to say Happy Birthday and ask them how their birthday was! If the envelope isn’t picked up after 4 weeks, it will be recycled back into my supplies. Please leave them: Elementary – in the tray on the shelves in your room. Preschool – on your clipboard.
THE ESSENTIALS
After watching Trevor Noah’s What Now? podcast this morning, I was struck with a thought for Westwood Kids. The discussion started with the famous phrase “A man cannot step into the same river twice” – and spun from there to a couple of key points that I think we can apply to Westwood Kids.
Trevor talked about how his mother has read her Bible so many, many times – and yet still sees the Scripture as relevant each time she reads a familiar passage. She knows her Bible – the words, the passages, the stories – but every time she reads it, because she has lived more life, she ends up gleaning new insights from the text; she’s in a new stage of life. Many people do that same thing with movies they watch over and over again – they see new things at each rewatching, even though they know the script by heart.
The conversation then shifted to how stand up comedy has become a thing – that an audience pays money to experience what the comedian has to offer in that moment. Watching a recording of it later will not be the same – no matter how good the recording, no matter how good the comedian. It’s truly just one moment in time. Comedians interact with their audience to create that special moment; and afterward people say “You just had to be there.” We need to realize that though the proximate reason for comedy is to laugh and have fun, the ultimate reason is to connect with others. The comedian creates an event that could only be happening in that venue, in that moment.
What can we learn from this to apply to Westwood Kids?
- Just like Trevor’s mom gains new insights from familiar passages of Scripture – so too can we. And, so too can the kids in our ministry. Let’s challenge ourselves to continue reading and studying Scripture regularly – even when we think we know it. We are in a different place in our life today than when we last studied this passage. God will reveal something new to us. Let’s help our kids to know that Scripture lives and breathes ands grows alongside them as they mature into the next phase of their lives – each time they read a familiar Bible story, God will reveal something new to them too.
- Westwood Kids ought to be the kind of place that kids talk about in the same way adults do with stand up comedians – “You just had to be there!” This creates a drive for kids to come back, a reason for kids to invite their friends. Together, let’s create a space that is fun and exciting, that is one moment in time, that creates connection with others and connection with God in a way that only Westwood Kids can.
It may be true that you cannot step into the same river twice – so let’s help our kids step into the same river over and over and over again. Each time experiencing connection with each other, connection with a trusted adult, and ultimately connection with a loving God.
THE CALENDAR
UPCOMING EVENTS TO WATCH FOR
Full details will be given near the date of each event.
OCT. 24: PICK YOUR PATH – Family Just for Fun Event – This is a site-based event – if you are interested in hosting a site or volunteering in any other way, please contact Barb right away.
VOLUNTEER OF THE WEEK
SENECA RADKE
Seneca is one of our newest Small Group Leaders in the Elementary area – I want to thank Seneca for joining us and highlight a couple of things that I love about having her on our team!
First – I love seeing Seneca arrive super early – she gets to the Blue Room at least 20 minutes before her ministry time starts. This gives her the time she needs to make sure all her supplies are ready for small group time. She quite often offers her services for anything else that may still need doing. Seneca is able to greet every kid as they enter the room, focused on them rather than on last minute prep. Thanks Seneca!!
Second – I love knowing that if I ask Seneca for a last minute need, she has the freedom to say NO. I desire for all the volunteers on my team to attend service, to replenish their own spirits in community worship. That may mean saying no when I ask for a last minute volunteer. I’m so glad that Seneca knows what her own spirit needs and is willing to stand up for that!
I hope you all get a chance to work with her at some point – Seneca has been a great addition to our team!
THE LESSON PLAN
ARE WE THERE YET?
A 5-Week Series from Genesis on ISRAEL & THE WILDERNESS
OVERVIEW Can you imagine needing to walk through the desert? You’d be surrounded by cacti, sand, snakes, and more sand. With the heat of the sun, we’d wind up so thirsty and wondering “Are we there yet?” That’s probably how the Israelites felt as they wandered around the desert, waiting to enter the Promised Land. But no matter how tired our feet get, we can focus on what’s happening in our lives right now rather than just on where we’re going. In this five-week series based on stories from Exodus, we’ll explore how we can choose to be thankful, love God and others, turn to God when we’re lost, go to God when we need rest, and remember God’s promises.
Are We There Yet? – Volunteer Devotional
ELEMENTARY LINKS –
PRESCHOOL LINKS –
5TH GRADE FOUNDATIONS
Foundations worksheet – Week 3
Feel free to share your questions and feedback with Westwood Kids anytime! Email barb.filiatrault@westwoodstcloud.org.