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. 

November Series Description: That mischievous little gopher has done it again! Topher the Gopher has burrowed his way into our room while we weren’t looking. He got his paws on the story pictures from the true Bible story and hid them around the room. But the story must go on! It’s up to the kids to find the hidden pictures so the story can be told. During the silly search, kids will learn that God takes care of them and His way is the best way.

Monthly Memory Verse: 1 Peter 5:7, Psalm 18:30

Weekly Bible Story and Ideas: 

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

November Series Description: Did you ever think it was possible to have a room full of quiet kids? It is! And it’ll be happening during the incredible “Hip Hip Charade” series! (For a brief moment, anyway.) During this series, we’ll be walking through the fabulous life of King David and learning about some reasons we can yell “Hooray” to God, but we’ll be doing it by playing a power-packed version of charades. Get ready for some God-filled and fun-soaked silent action!

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.

November 2nd: The Judges: Samuel

Big Idea: God hears our prayers, so we can call out to Him with our whole heart.

Bible Basis: 1 Samuel 7

Key Verse: “When I was in trouble, I called out to the LORD. I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice. My cry for help reached his ears.” Psalm 18:6 

Discussion Questions for Younger Kids: What was your favorite part of this story? Why do you think the Israelites called out to God for help instead of trying to beat the Philistines on their own?

Discussion Questions for Older Kids: What do you think this story teaches us about God? Why do you think the Israelites finally turned back to God? 

Watch the weekly lesson video together as a family.

November 9th: David is Anointed King

Big Idea: God sees what’s in our heart, so we should seek to be beautiful on the inside.

Bible Basis: 1 Samuel 16:1-13

Key Verse: “People look at the outside of a person. But the LORD looks at what is in the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

Discussion Questions for Younger Kids: What was your favorite part of this story? Why do you think God chose David to be king instead of one of his bigger and stronger brothers? 

Discussion Questions for Older Kids: What does this story teach you about God? What do you think it means that God looks at the heart instead of the outward appearance?

Watch the weekly lesson video together as a family.

November 16th: David Fights Goliath

Big Idea: God is with us and gives us strength, so we can stand up to our fears.

Bible Basis: 1 Samuel 17

Key Verse: “So do not be afraid. I am with you. Do not be terrified. I am your God. I will make you strong and help you. I will hold you safe in my hands.” Isaiah 41:10

Discussion Questions for Younger Kids: What was your favorite part of this story? If you had seen Goliath, would you have reacted like the Israelite army or like David? Why?

Discussion Questions for Older Kids: What does this story teach you about God? Why do you think David wasn’t afraid of Goliath even though the other Israelites were?

Watch the weekly lesson video together as a family.

November 23rd: David Spares Saul’s Life

Big Idea: God is just, so we can refrain from taking revenge on others.

Bible Basis: 1 Samuel 23-24, 26, 31

Key Verse: “Make sure that no one pays back one wrong act with another. Instead, always try to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.” 1 Thessalonians 5:15

Discussion Questions for Younger Kids: What was your favorite part of this story? Why do you think David didn’t take revenge on Saul?

Discussion Questions for Older Kids: What does this story teach you about God? If you were David, would you have taken revenge on Saul?

Watch the weekly lesson video together as a family.

November 30th: David Sins (No Elementary Service! Enjoy the Holidays!)

Big Idea: God is merciful, so we can go to Him for forgiveness.

Bible Basis: 2 Samuel 11

Key Verse: “Even though your sins are bright red, they will be as white as snow. Even though they are deep red, they will be white like wool.” Isaiah 1:18

Discussion Questions for Younger Kids: What was your favorite part of this story? Do you think God could forgive you for doing something as bad as David did? Why or why not?

Discussion Questions for Older Kids: What does this story teach you about God? Do you think God could forgive you for doing something as bad as David did? Why or why not? 

Find the weekly videos and parent guides on our Elementary Resources Page

November Series Description: Often we are taught to take Old Testament stories and apply them directly to our lives. We picture ourselves in the shoes of Biblical men and women that we think of as "heroes". For example: we are taught that we can beat our Goliath like David, overcome our trials like Job, be willing to sacrifice anything like Abraham with his son, Issac, forgive those who betray us like Joseph. All this is true! You can and should strive to do those things, but in this series we will focus on the big idea that although the Bible applies to us, encourages us, and challenges us it isn't actually about us. These individual stories we are so familiar with are actually all a part of a bigger story, pointing to someone different. Each book and each story work together to tell God’s big story of redemption. The Bible points to one true and better hero above all: Jesus!

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

November 2nd: Jesus is the True and Better Daniel

Big Idea: Jesus is the true and better Daniel, who remained faithful to God under immense worldly pressure, even though He knew it would cost him his life

Bible Basis: Daniel 6, Psalm 9:10

Key Verse: “Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.” Psalms 9:10

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

November 9th: Jesus is the True and Better Jonah

Big Idea: Jesus is the true and better Jonah who faithfully followed God’s command to love his enemies.

Bible Basis: Jonah 1-4, Matthew 12:39-40

Key Verse: “For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.” Matthew 12:40

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

November 16th: Jesus is the True and Better Passover Lamb

Big Idea: Jesus is the true and better passover lamb who was completely innocent and spotless; slain so that the angel of death will pass over us.

Key Passages: Exodus 12, Exodus 12:13, 1 Peter 1:18-19

Key Verse: “For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.” 1 Peter 1:18-19

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

November 23rd: The Grateful Samaritan 

Big Idea: We are called to respond to God’s provisions with thanks and praise.

Bible Basis: Luke 17:11-19

Key Verse: “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name.” Psalm 100:4

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

November 30th:(No Preteen Service! Enjoy the Holidays!)

November Series Theme: Choosing God's Way

November Monthly Verse: Galatians 6:9

November 2nd:

Big Idea: Jonah and the Big Fish

Bible Basis: Jonah 1-4

November 9th: 

Big Idea: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

Bible Basis: Daniel 1-3

November 16th:

Big Idea: Daniel and the Lions’ Den

Bible Basis: Daniel 1-6

November 23rd:

Big Idea: Queen Esther

Bible Basis: Esther 1-9

November 30th:

Big Idea: Haggai and the Temple

Bible Basis: Haggai 1-2

FG Kids Serving Need: Sign up to serve with Kids Ministry for a Sunday service! Join us to connect with amazing kids, be a positive influence, and serve the many families that will visit us throughout the summer. Register here 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. If you are interested in serving, please fill out the Serve Form. 

Stage-Of-Life Groups for Moms - AM2PM (Affirming and Mentoring Preschool Moms) & MWSK (Moms With School-Age Kids): meet weekly around Bible teaching and in community and explore how Scripture speaks into the everyday realities of motherhood, equipping women to thrive in every season. Registration opens on July 1st. If you have any questions, please contact Mary Beth Williams at mbwilliams@fellowshipgreenville.org 

Hymns of the Holiday - Starting on November 16th: FG Kids will be passing out our Hymns of the Holiday Cards. These are for families to learn and be intentional about the coming days into the holiday season. The holidays can be full of joy—and full of noise. In the midst of planning, preparing, and doing for everyone else, what if you had space to slow down and reflect on the truths that anchor your soul? Each week, we’ll explore a different hymn tied to themes like gratitude, faithfulness, hope, and celebration.

Parent Night Out - December 5th: This event is offered for our Single Parents, Thrive and Foster families. While you enjoy a little time to yourself, your children will get to participate in Christmas themed games, crafts, and cookie decorating. If your children are too young for that much fun, we will also have volunteers on hand who thrive on cuddling infants and entertaining toddlers. Register Here! If you have any questions, please contact Lisa at lromines@fellowshipgreenville.org 

The month of November is fun for so many reasons! There's lots of yummy food, lots of football, lots of time with family, and lots of fall festivities. There's so much joy and so much to be thankful for. No wonder we call this the season of giving thanks. As you enjoy the many good and sweet blessings that this month brings, don't forget to pause and give thanks to the Giver of those blessings.

However, we live in a world that preaches the opposite - pride over humility, entitlement over gratitude. How do we disciple and raise the next generation to not take advantage of God's grace, provision, and blessings? How do we encourage them (and ourselves) to live in a constant "season of giving thanks"?

We cultivate and practice a heart of gratitude.

Gratitude and remembrance should be a regular rhythm. Build times of identifying and celebrating blessing into your small moments, your daily tasks, your weekly rhythms, and your yearly reflections. May it open up your eyes to see and celebrate God’s goodness. Through such upward praise and outward appreciation, may we fully embrace and live out what it looks like to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. 

So in the spirit of the season of giving thanks, we wanted to provide you with some simple prompts that can encourage conversations with your kiddos to think beyond the common "What are you thankful for?" Ask these questions at the dinner table. Talk about them in the car. Discuss them while you take a walk. 

What a privilege it is for us to taste the joy of giving thanks, and what a privilege it is to share this joy with our children.

Gratitude Prompts: 

• What is one way you can help others this week? 
• Who is one of your best friends? 
• What is something that makes you feel safe? 
• What is your favorite food? 
• Who is someone you love?
• What is something that makes you smile? 
• What is something in your house that you are thankful for? 
• What is something special that you get to do today? 
• What is something that makes you laugh? 
• What is a special skill you have? 
• Who are people that bring you joy? 
• What’s a beautiful sound? 
• What is your favorite thing about fall? 

You can also check out Focus on the Family's Activity Page for some more fun way to celebrate this Thanksgiving with gratitude.

So carve out time this month to cultivate gratitude by looking at and tasting the grace of God in Christ and the thousands of gifts (big and small) that flow to us through Christ every single day. And let the feast of Thanksgiving mainly be a feasting on thanksgiving.

DID YOU KNOW?

As parents, you are trusting us with your greatest treasures—your children—and we do not take that responsibility lightly. At FG Kids, our heart is to walk alongside you in the journey of parenthood by offering love, encouragement, and support. We are committed to providing resources that equip you to steward and disciple your children with confidence. As our ministry continues to grow and welcome new families, we want to ensure you know about these resources and how they can serve you. Please take a few moments to complete the Parent Resource Questionnaire so our team can better support and partner with you.

Parent Resource Questionnaire