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.  THIS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, CHILDREN ARE INVITED TO GO DIRECTLY TO THE MARTIN ROOM FOR KIDS ALIVE.  SUNDAY NIGHT ALIVE IS HAVING A PRAYER AND HEALING SERVICE IN THE SANCTUARY.

BIBLE SUNDAY TODAY!
October 14 is Bible Sunday for third graders. More than fifty children will receive a brand new Bible as a gift from our church.  This year’s Bible is the New Revised Standard Version and has Noah’s Ark on the front cover.  We hope that the nice shiny Bibles the children receive won’t stay new-looking but will be read over and over again by the children who receive them!  Bibles are supposed to be handled and read, not tucked away on shelves where they’re never used.

Trick-or-treat for UNICEF
Pick up an orange box in the Children’s Ministry office if you’d like to collect for UNICEF on Halloween.   

Solomon makes a wrong decision
FaithWeavers Lesson for October 14

King Solomon had a wise heart and he loved God.  In most things he listened to God and followed God’s directions. One of the things God told Solomon was that he should not marry a woman who worshipped other gods and didn’t worship the one, true God.  But Solomon didn’t listen to God this time.  He married someone who didn’t worship Israel’s God, and Solomon’s heart turned away from God.    Solomon forgot one of his own wise sayings that said “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5). He stopped asking God for wisdom and direction, and things started going wrong in his life.  When we have choices and decisions to make, let’s remember to ask God for help.  When we forget about God, things don’t work out right for us, either.  But the good news is that when we turn back to God, he’s always there waiting for us. We make God sad when we forget about him but he never leaves us. 

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

9:30 a.m. Toddlers through Kindergarten volunteers

Rachel and Art Henry, Laura and Anne Sabourin, Karen Bailey, Jill Lohr, Kelly Kirkman, Amy Scott, Becky Manter, Cathy Hilfinger, Margaret Buck, Leslie Carter, Patsy Clark, Jim Moore, Sally McRitchie, Rob Fazio, Margaret Maddux, Janis and Karl Melin, Becky and Terry Rader, Jenni and Doug Clark, Kelsey Mrkonic, Luanne Grabiel, Diana Brown, Matt Manter, Laura Beachum, Beth Cooper, Jim and Anne Van Dyke, Heather Hubert, Dawn Jenkins, Tracey McClure, Clarey Collins, Madison Sanders, Meg Gordy, Christa Shilling, Wendy Meyer, Pamela Harris, Julie Childs, Laura Keziah, Beth Ralston, Kim Zeigler, Jamie Wells, Tricia Albery, Zeno Windley, Shawn and Scott Ciemniecki, Kristen Siver, Karen Roskiewicz, Sydney Sanders, Susan Acciaioli, Cathy Johnson, Kelly Montgomery, Katie Beechler, Stephanie Fisher, Val Brennecke, Laura and Ken Planet, Lani Moore, Katie Kirkpatrick, Nicole Corum, Liza and Michael Panley, Mackenzie Kreitz, Martha Peters, Noelle and Kurt Cassel, Seth Shilling, Alice Schmieg, Brad Meloche, Heather Laughman, Katie Prokop, Jeanne Weaver, Todd Albery

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!

    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.

DON’T FORGET:  During the week of Rummage Sale, most children’s programs are cancelled except for the children’s choirs on Thursday, October 18. There is no Kidz Club for K-5th and no PJs Diner. See you next week, October 25 at PJs Spooky Diner.

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

The whole family is invited to PJS PUMPKIN PARTY on Thursday, October 25 from 6:30-7:30 pm after PJ’s Spooky Diner.  Come in your Halloween costume and make a craft, tour the Fun House, and trick -or-treat throughout the church.  Cost is $5 per family with the proceeds going to UNICEF.

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