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.

WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY

Today is World Communion Sunday, when Christian  churches all over the world celebrate Holy Communion (sometimes called The Lord’s Supper) on the same day.  Churches serve Communion in different ways. Sometimes we pull pieces from a loaf of bread and sometimes we take a little wafer from a tray. Some churches use grape juice and others use wine.  You might drink from a tiny individual cup or everyone might drink from one cup. Sometimes we dip our bread into the juice or wine.  The way we celebrate Communion isn’t as important as why we do it. Communion is a time to remember Jesus.  It is a time to tell God we’re sorry for the wrong things we’ve done and to promise to live the way Jesus taught us to live.  Holy Communion is a ceremony that reminds us that our God is a loving and forgiving God.

Rules for Life
FaithWeavers Lesson for October 7

King Solomon was a  king of Israel.  When he became king he asked God to give him wisdom -- the ability to know right from wrong.  God gave Solomon wisdom.  He became so famous for being wise that people came from all over the world to ask his advice and to listen to his wisdom.  Solomon wrote 3,000 wise sayings to help people know how to tell right from wrong.  These sayings are found in the Bible in the book called Proverbs.  So we don’t have to travel back in time to hear Solomon’s wise thoughts.  We can open the Bible and read them for ourselves.  Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”  The verse tells us that the better we get to know God, the wiser we will become.  We can get to know God by reading the Bible, through prayer, and by listening to people who know about God.

TODAY is the CROP Walk for Hunger - The CROP Walk begins today at 2:00 p.m.  The money raised by walkers goes to support Hunger projects both locally and around the world.  Our church has a goal of over $30,000.  Help someone in need by supporting the Crop Walk!

     
This week’s
children’s ministry super stars 
Highlighting those who work in Children’s Ministry

Crib and nursery volunteers

For 9:30 am - Sarah Zimmerman, Kelly Willian, Shelli Adams, Kathy Judge, Linnea Watkinson, Cyndi Cummings, Jeanne Wharton, Mike Petterson, Jill Binder, Diane Barrett, Kathy Dalton, Diane Gasper, Val Cole, Natalie Fitch, Jill and Jeff Richardson, Suzanne Boland, Diana Matthews, Sandi Carter, Carrie Sofikitis, Carol Pochodylo, Kelly Globe

For 11:00 am -Connie Pelton, Joan Benner, Chaundra Burkett, Diana Abbott, Taylor Abbott, Jennifer and Kevin Heckman, Sarabeth Perry, Rebecca Brown, Laura Mason, Kim Bowyer, Jon Adams, Jeanne Marie Beatty, Mary Beatty, Kelly Knox, Mallory Hinz, Christine Belton, Shelley and Tyler Davis, Emily Smith, Kelly Zazeckis, Megan Bildstein, Julia Harris, Melissa Peirce, Andrew Peirce, Jennifer and Jane Allen, Luke and Brooke Wharton

For 12:30 pm - Sara Burnside

For 5:00 pm - Megan Stephens, Robin and Steve Wooldridge, Christy Wells, Sara Hardig, Sophie and Anna Hardig, Jaci Rokicki, Linda White, Ben and Anna Kileen, Jamie Hinz, Kim and Rob Stoner, Alexa Porter, Ted Brown, Christine Belton, Kerry and Scott Charnesky, Heather Schueler, Marilyn Wallas

UPCOMING EVENTS 

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. For the very latest information about church activities, check the Interactive Church Calendar on the church’s website at www.fumcbirmingham.org.  Remember, It’s never too late to get involved. New people are welcomed at any time!

 Thursday, October 11 - Kidz Club at 5 pm for K-5th graders, PJs Diner at 6 pm -- call 3124 to make a reservation for dinner.

 NEXT 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 14 through Friday, October 19 is United Methodist Women’s Fall Rummage Sale.  You can bring stuff for the sale from Sunday at 4 pm through Tuesday.  The sale opens Wednesday evening.  Be sure to stop by and shop! You can buy just about anything--jewelry, toys, books, clothes, furniture, and sports equipment.   Money from the Rummage Sale supports mission projects all over the world.

 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!

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.

 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