Welcome to the Family!

WELCOME to a new year at First Church!  We hope that you will want to be a part of all that we have planned for kids and families and that you will invite your friends to come with you.  We are excited about our schedule of activities and events, from Sunday School and weekday programs to special events throughout the year. A great bunch of volunteers have signed on to make things fun for all. 

CHILDREN'S SUNDAY SCHOOL PROGRAM

8:15 AM
  Nursery care for Infants through 4 year olds in Room 155

9:30 AM
Nursery care and Sunday School for children through 5th grade

11:00 AM
Nursery care for babies, toddlers, and 2 year olds in Room 155. Children 3 years old (as of Dec. 1, 2007)  through 3rd grade begin in worship, then go to classes following the children's moment.  3s, 4s, and Kindergartners are grouped together and 1st-3rd graders are grouped together.  4th and 5th graders meet in the Children's Center for God's Kids Youth Group

12:30 PM - begins September 23
Nursery care and children through Kindergarten are in Room 155.  Older children worship with parents.

5:00 PM
Nursery for Infants through Two year olds in Room 155
3 and 4 year olds (by Dec. 1, 2006) through 3rd graders begin in worship, then go to classes following the children's moment.

How do we become wise? 
FaithWeaver Lesson for September 30

The wisest man in the Old Testament was a man named Solomon.  He was the son of the great King David and followed his father as king of Israel.  Before David died, he gave some good advice to Solomon.  He told Solomon to always obey God and do what God told him to do.   Solomon was given the chance to ask God for anything he wanted. King Solomon asked God for wisdom.  Wisdom is always knowing the right thing to do.  God was happy with Solomon’s request, and gave Solomon what he asked for, plus a lot more--riches, honor, and a promise to live a long life as long as he followed God’s ways.  God will give us wisdom, too, just as he gave it to Solomon.  We can gain wisdom from God’s book, the Bible.  We can gain wisdom from listening to our parents and teachers. And we can pray to God to help us make right decisions. 

   
      Get involved!

Watch for notices about upcoming activities.  The Sunday newsletter, KidLink, appears on the church website as well.  Steeple Notes and flyers are other ways to find out what’s going on.  If you’re not already part of a choir, now is a good time to start!  Choirs for kids meet Thursday afternoons, plus you can stay for Kidz Club and even have dinner at PJs Diner.  We have Bible clubs for kids on Tuesday nights. And be sure to make Sunday School a regular part of your week, at either 9:30, 11:00 or 5:00 pm!  And bring your friends, too!

               

children’s ministry super stars 
For the next few weeks we will be highlighting
different people who work and volunteer in Children’s Ministry
our Child care teams

SUNDAYs- Betsy Haymond, Chris Hughes (8:15), Jane Sigers (12:30)
Monday Parents day out-Mary Feldmaier, Vi Breedlove, Karen Guilbert, Janet Hucke, Lucy Parsons, Jane Sigers
Monday afternoons-Janet Hucke, Karen Guilbert
Tuesday mornings -Janet Hucke, Jane Sigers, Karen Guilbert, Mallory Kollins
Tuesday evenings-Janet Hucke, Charlie Wilshire, Marilyn Wallas
Wednesday mornings-Janet Hucke, Vi Breedlove, Vicki Lang, Jane Sigers,
Mallory Kollins, Jan Kollins
Thursday mornings-Janet Hucke, Mallory Kollins, Marilyn Wallas, Vicki Lang,
Chris Hughes
Thursday evenings-Janet Hucke, Charlie Wilshire, Cassie Mills, Caitlin Cummings, Ben Cummings, Mallory Kollins, Kenny VanMaanen
Friday Parents day out-Mary Feldmaier, Cary Crook, Karen Guilbert, Janet Hucke, Lucy Parsons, Jane Sigers

WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND?

A new addition to Kidlink 

Do you have a question about church you’d like to ask?  An idea you’d like to share?  An article,  story, joke or riddle you think other kids would enjoy?  We’re thinking about having a kids’ column for the newsletter and we need your help to make it happen.  Submit your item in writing to Susan Ives.  You can drop it off in the Children’s Ministry office, in the main Church office, or send it by email to sives@fumcbirmingham.org.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Thursday, October 4 - Kidz Club at 5 pm for K-5th graders, PJs Diner at 6 pm -- call 3124 to make a reservation for dinner.

  Sunday, October 7 -  CROP Walk for Hunger - Meet at 2:00 p.m. at the church.  Sign up to walk to raise money for hunger

 Sunday, October 14 - 9:30 a.m. - Bible Sunday for 3rd Graders - New Bibles will be presented to third graders during the worship service.  Contact the Children’s Ministry office at ext. 3124 for information.

Sunday, October 21 - 9:30 a.m. - Big Chapel for 3 year olds through 5th graders. Be sure to check our first Big Chapel of the new year!

Other Notes

Don’t forget to check the CLC schedule for classes!  There are activities for all ages, from yoga to basketball! Call extension 3155 for information.

 Choirs for all ages are organized by the Music Department.  Call extension 3125 for information.

            SAFETY FIRST...

The Sneed Children’s Park provides many hours of fun for our children.  We would ask that all users of the playground follow basic safety guidelines when playing on the equipment. 

1) Parents or care-givers should supervise children at all times from inside the fenced area.

2) No pets should be brought within the fenced area.

3) The equipment is specifically designed for children 5-11.  Younger children should be closely monitored and children over the age of 11 should not be on it at all.

4) No climbing UP the slide -- use the stairs.

5) No climbing ,sitting, or standing on top of the curly slide structure or the tube.

6) The Preschool and Enrichment programs have exclusive use of the playground Monday through Friday at specific times.  For the safety of all of our children, please do not visit the playground when the preschool and enrichment classes are playing on the playground.

NO NUTS and NO ANIMALS, PLEASE!!!

Please be aware that First Church has been declared a nut-free environment.  No nuts of any kind should be brought to the church.  A number of people in our congregation have life-threatening allergies to peanuts and other kinds of nuts. Please check the ingredients of any food product you bring into the church. Also there are people who are highly allergic to animals, so please leave your pets at home.  Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!

THERE'S ALWAYS A PLACE FOR VOLUNTEERS
IN CHILDREN'S MINISTRY!

Volunteers must complete a Volunteer application and submit to a Michigan State Police Criminal Record Search.

IN CASE YOU’RE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE IN CHILDREN’S MINISTRY…
During the week you can usually find a staff person in church:
Monday—9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tuesday—9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Wednesday—9 a.m. to 4p.m.
Thursday—9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Fridays are days off — Please try to contact us about Sundays before Friday morning