Hello Parents!

We believe you (parents) are the most significant influence in your kids' lives and are in the best position to help your kids know God. We also believe that we can uniquely equip and partner with you along the way as a kid’s ministry. With this in mind, this newsletter will highlight resources, events, and opportunities for us to partner together in raising the next generation. 

August Series Description: Let’s get busy building! During “Busy Bible Builders,” preschool kids will look high and low for the colored building blocks around the room. Each block contains a picture from the Bible story. As the blocks stack up, so does the story. When the stacking stops, the preschoolers will have discovered how God has made them and given them a family to love.

Monthly Memory Verse:

• “God saw everything He has made. And it was very good.” Genesis 1:31
• “As for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

Weekly Bible Story and Ideas: 

Find the weekly videos and parent guides on our Preschool Resources Page.

August Series Description:

Zoom in close! Well, not too close — you’ll go cross-eyed! During the “Zoom” series, kids will zoom in close (really close) to a mystery picture. As the picture zooms out, they’ll race to identify it. When each mystery picture becomes clear, so will God’s word. Every week we’ll zoom in close to one of the first 5 books of the Bible — Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. We’ll take a close look at some of the key stories in each book. But we’ll also zoom out to see what each book, as a whole, shows us about the character of God.

Key passages, verses, and questions for this month: Read the passages together as a family and ask the following questions. Also, take the time to watch the weekly lesson video (around 10 minutes) together as a family.

August 2nd: Book of James: Listen and Do What is Right

• Big Idea: God calls us to listen to His word and do what it tells us.
• Bible Basis: James 1:19-27; 2 Kings 22
• Key Verse: “Don’t just listen to the word. You fool yourselves if you do that. You must do what it says.”James 1:22
• Discussion Questions for Younger Kids:
  • What was your favorite part of this story?
  • Why do you think the people of Israel stopped doing what God’s word said?
• Discussion Questions for Older Kids: 
  • What does this story teach you about God?
  • Why do you think the people of Israel stopped doing what God’s word said?

August 9th: The Book of Genesis

• Big Idea: Jesus defeated sin, so we can have a friendship with God.
• Bible Basis: Genesis
• Key Verse: “Nothing at all can separate us from God’s love.” Romans 8:39
• Discussion Questions for Younger Kids:
  • What was your favorite part of the Book of Genesis?
  • What did you learn about God from the Book of Genesis?
• Discussion Questions for Older Kids: 
  • What do you think the Book of Genesis shows us about God?
  • After people sinned, God didn’t just give up on them. Why do you think that is?

Watch the weekly lesson video together as a family.

August 16th: The Book of Exodus

• Big Idea: God is our provider, so we can trust that He will give us all we need.
• Bible Basis: Exodus
• Key Verse: “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
• Discussion Questions for Younger Kids:
  • What was your favorite part of the Book of Exodus?
  • What did you learn about God from the Book of Exodus?
• Discussion Questions for Older Kids: 
  • What do you think the Book of Exodus shows us about God?
  • Why do you think the Israelites complained even though God provided them with everything they needed?

Watch the weekly lesson video together as a family.

August 23rd: The Book of Leviticus

• Big Idea: Jesus is the ultimate atonement, so we can put our faith in Him.
• Bible Basis: Leviticus
• Key Verse: “Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:2
• Discussion Questions for Younger Kids:
  • What was your favorite part of the Book of Leviticus?
  • What did you learn about God from the Book of Leviticus?
• Discussion Questions for Older Kids: 
  • What do you think the Book of Leviticus shows us about God?
  • How does the Day of Atonement remind you of what Jesus did for us?

Watch the weekly lesson video together as a family.

August 30th: The Book of Numbers

• Big Idea: God takes sin seriously, so we should love our life His way.
• Bible Basis: Numbers
• Key Verse: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
• Discussion Questions for Younger Kids:
  • What was your favorite part of the Book of Numbers?
  • What did you learn about God from the Book of Numbers?
• Discussion Questions for Older Kids: 
  • What do you think the Book of Numbers shows us about God?
  • What were some of the consequences to the Israelites’ sin?

Watch the weekly lesson video together as a family.Find the weekly videos and parent guides on our Elementary Resources Page

August Series Description:

Key passages, verses, and questions for this month: Read the passages together as a family and ask the following questions. 

August 2nd: Celebration Sunday

• We will take the time to celebrate this past year and spend time in prayer over our rising 6th graders. There will be an open mic time for preteens to share what they learned over the past year/summer.

August 9th: Rise Sunday

• Students will rise to their new grades/area. We will take the time to go over expectations and spend time playing games to get to know one another.

Please see your preteen’s weekly family guide for further activities and questions.

August 16th

• Big Idea:
• Bible Basis: 
• Key Verse: 

Please see your preteen’s weekly family guide for further activities and questions.

August 23rd: 

• Big Idea: 
• Bible Basis:
• Key Verse: 

Please see your preteen’s weekly family guide for further activities and questions.

August 30th: 

• Big Idea: 
• Bible Basis:
• Key Verse: 

Please see your preteen’s weekly family guide for further activities and questions.

August Series Theme: I Can Help Others
August Monthly Verse:

“The Heavens decare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.” Psalm 19:1

August 2nd:

• Big Idea: God Created the Universe
• Bible Basis: Genesis 1:1-19

August 9th:

• Big Idea: God Created Animals
• Bible Basis: Genesis 1:20-25

August 16th

• Big Idea: God Created the People
• Bible Basis: Genesis 1:26-31: Genesis 2

August 23rd:

• Big Idea: The Fall- Temptation and Sin
• Bible Basis: Genesis 3:1-7

August 30th

• Big Idea: The Fall- Consequences of Sin
• Bible Basis: Genesis 3:8-24

FG Kids Summer Serve: Sign up to serve with Kids Ministry for a Sunday or two this summer! Join us this summer to connect with amazing kids, be a positive influence, and serve the many families that will visit us throughout the summer. Registration opens on May 10th to sign up for a Sunday in the summer.  

We are in need of leaders for Thrive 9 & 11 AM; Preschool Lower (18-24m and 2 years old) 9 & 11 AM; Preschool Upper 9 AM & 11 AM; K-3rd 11 AM; Preteen 9 AM & 11 AM.

K Rise Adams Mill - Friday, August 7th from 6-8pm: This high-energy, fun-packed evening is designed for children entering into Kindergarten in the fall and their parents as an introduction to the transitions they will face and experience. We believe that K Rise is a vital launching point for this new adventure to help both parents and kindergarteners understand the transition from embracing their child's physical needs to engaging their interests. Kids and parents will meet the small group leaders, get a taste of the new programming and worship, and have a chance to walk through the classrooms that the Kindergarteners will be moving to.

K Rise Hwy 14 - Saturday, August 8th from 9-12pm: This high-energy, fun-packed morning is designed for children entering into Kindergarten in the fall and their parents as an introduction to the transitions they will face and experience. We believe that K Rise is a vital launching point for this new adventure to help both parents and kindergarteners understand the transition from embracing their child's physical needs to engaging their interests. Kids and parents will meet the small group leaders, get a taste of the new programming and worship, and have a chance to walk through the classrooms that the Kindergarteners will be moving to.

Rise Sunday - Sunday August 9th: Your child is moving up to their next grade level or area! We are excited to begin a new school year, packed with small groups, events, and more experiences with Jesus! Be sure to follow the signs, so you know where to go! 

IMPORTANT: If your child has just entered Kindergarten, 4th grade, or 6th grade, they will move to a different area of our building for Sunday morning programming.

• The Kindergarten area is located in our K-3rd space, which is located on the first floor of the Student Building.
• 4th grade is located in our 4th & 5th Grade Preteen space, located next to Auditorium 1 and the elevator.
• All elementary and preteen students will be dropped off and picked up from their area’s large group room. Small group will be assigned on September 13.

You will receive an email with more details closer to Rise Sunday. Please let us know if your child's grade is not correct on your family's profile as your child's grade will change to the next grade in our system on August 9.

Back-to-school season can bring excitement, but also stress and business, as families adjust from the freedom of summer to the routines of a new school year. Parents juggle busy schedules while kids navigate new teachers, classrooms, and friendships. Yet the very structure that can feel demanding also offers an opportunity. The consistent rhythms of the school year provide a foundation for establishing rhythms of grace in your home. Can the structure your family may be protesting actually offer the structure needed for good spiritual habits to thrive? Could even something as ordinary as the weekday morning alarm become a reminder to begin each day by seeking the Lord?

It can be challenging to feel ready and capable to model realistic workable rhythms of walking with the Lord daily when we often struggle to do that on our own. If that is you, how can you approach that joy and responsibility in a way that does not paralyze? Maybe by shifting how we consider teaching our kids. No one can teach what they do not know, or give what they do not have. However, your routine does not have to be perfected before you present it with a bow to your kids for you to be positively impacting them. Your child seeing you seek the Lord is valuable. So, maybe ask yourself how can I grow in faith and obedience and invite my children on that journey with me?

Below are a few ideas to keep in mind. Hopefully they help you to consider the spaces and intentional habits in your own life that can point your student to Christ. Be encouraged that there is more than one right way to structure time with the Lord. Rhythms are not meant to be one more thing to add to the checklists, but rather familiar means of approaching the throne of grace for consistent renewal that flow through even the crazy mornings or long nights of daily life.

1. Practice Personal Prayer: Corporate prayer should be the overflow of a vibrant personal prayer life. Praying aloud with others can feel awkward for some, especially since many of us struggle to truly delight in our private prayer lives. So, teaching your child to love and enjoy the Lord in dependence through prayer can feel daunting, especially if we feel that our private prayers do not live up to that standard, even without the stress of modeling it with our kids. If that sounds like you, you are not alone. As sinners, our instincts do not turn us toward faith and prayer, but God is gracious to us. If prayer feels awkward, keep doing it. Imagine the difference between the conversation of a young couple on a first date and the strong communication of a healthy couple with decades of marriage behind them. Practice prayer until it is a familiar joy rather than a foreign language. If finding the words is hard, use the gift of God’s word, and pray Scripture back to God. The book of Psalms is a place to start, but we know that all scripture is is useful to the believer (2nd Timothy 3:16-17). Even when it is easy to feel like prayer is just another thing on the “Be a Good Christian” checklist, take comfort in the fact that prayer is so much more than that. Prayer is one of the ways we exercise our faith. Have you ever heard another believer pray and felt the warmth of an active personal prayer life? Ask them about their prayer journey. Seek wisdom, find the rhythms that personally help you, and share that journey with your children. 
2. Pray With Your Children: Pray frequently, intentionally, and out loud with your child throughout the day. Maybe that looks like using some of your wait in the car line to pray together about the day. Encourage your child to participate in whatever way they are able. Remember that prayer is not just telling God about our lives or needs; it is sitting in His presence. See Psalm 73:28, "But as for me, God's presence is my good. I have made the Lord God my refuge, so I can tell about all you do." God’s presence is good for ourselves and our children.
3. Time with God’s Word: Engaging with Scripture is a skill that your child will hopefully continue growing in throughout their lives, but you can help build those foundational skills now. Do your kids sit down for breakfast before school or do you eat dinner together? Consider using that time to model and discuss a daily devotional or practice a memory verse. The only way for your children to be able to spot the lies of the world is for them to know the truth of scripture.
4. Space for Questions: Kids ask many, many, many, many questions, about anything and at any time. Sometimes we have no way to predict what they will want to know and are unprepared to answer; that will happen on spiritual topics as well. It is okay to not have every answer, it can be incredibly beneficial to model searching for answers. How can you encourage your child to ask big questions and create the space you need to respond well? Can you write down questions and look up answers or read relevant chapters of the Bible later that day? There are lots of ways to be intentional about questions, but the best ones are whatever works for your family!
5. Showing Your Child Where to Place Their Identity: A new school year can bring in a crop of fresh questions, such as who is going to sit with me for lunch, or will I get picked last for games at recess, which can worry your child. So many places in the world will tell your child they need to be or do something in order to belong with them. But, while we were made for belonging, we were not made to belong with. We were made to belong to. Your child belongs to God, and when they enter His family they also belong to His gift of the Church. What might it look like in your family to practice the idea that belonging is not based on anything your child does, says, or is, but wholly on the Fathers love?