Dear Parents,

I am very excited about our children’s small groups this year. As you know, we are committed to helping our children to know God’s word and to grow into mature followers of Christ. We are always looking to improve what we do, which is why I am happy to share with you a couple of changes that have come our way.

First, we are beginning a new curriculum called The Gospel Project. Last week it went very well and the children seemed excited about learning the big plan of the Bible. I am glad to see God use this in our church to help families study together.

To help families grow together, as part of our new curriculum, each week there will be a family card that is sent home with each child. The card will remind you of a baseball trading card. I encourage you to use this with your child throughout the week as a review. The cards have a picture of the story on the front and a big picture question and answer on the back. If you collect all the cards, you will be able to line them up and have pictures of the bible stories in order. These will help your child see where a story fits into God’s plan. If your child misses a week, the following week we will give them both cards.

Second, I am hoping to put in place a schedule that will better help our children to grow into mature worshipers. Our old schedule had Children’s Worship meeting at 9:00 with Children’s Small Group meeting at 10:30. Many parents expressed a desire for their child to attend worship service with them, allowing them to worship as a family. Our old schedule limited this to only families whose small groups were at 10:30, and offered little by way of gradual transition—either kids went to children’s church or were in the worship center, but there was no in-between option.

What we want to accomplish is to make it possible for children and parents to worship together as much as possible while being sensitive to the different needs of different age groups. The bible presents parents as the primary example and leader for their children. I want children’s ministry to come alongside and help parents to fulfill this role. I have spent time praying and reading God’s Word seeking the best solution for our church and our children.
What we are going to try is to have all kids who are in 1st grade and above join their parents for the opening 25 minutes of our worship service (the time of worship in song through the offering). After the offering time children 1st through 3rd grades (whose parents wish to send them) will be dismissed to Hiz Kidz – Growing in Worship. This will be a time of worship that will help our kids to learn how to worship.

For those attending the 9:00 worship service, if your child takes advantage of Hiz Kidz - Growing in Worship, we will take your child to his or her small group room downstairs for their 10:30 small group. Parents whose children remain with them in the worship center will need to walk their kids to the kids’ small group rooms.

For all parents attending the 10:30 service, you will need to drop your kids off in their small group rooms at 9:00 and then pick them up from their small group rooms at 10:15 before bringing them with you into the worship center. For those children who take advantage of Hiz Kidz - Growing in Worship during the 10:30 service, you will pick your child up after worship in room 208 (next to the cry room).

This new schedule will allow small groups to be available for children (1st - 5th grade)during the 9:00 and 10:30 services. Your child will attend small group during the hour you are in small group and will attend worship with you during the hour you attend.
We also understand that many parents will want to keep their 1st through 3rd graders with them in the worship center for the entire time. We think this is great too. In order to be helpful to parents whose kids stay with them through the sermon time, we will provide a children’s bulletin which will be located on the table just outside the worship center. This bulletin will feature activities for children that relate to the sermon or small group lesson. It will also have a place for them to write on the back side. You can use this as a tool to teach your children to write the Scripture down and take notes or draw pictures of key concepts they hear during the sermon.

I truly believe that these changes, both our curriculum and our practice of having children join us for at least part of the adult worship service, will be great for our kids and families. Please let me know how I can help you and your family as we work through these new ideas. I am eager to answer your questions and help you in any way that I can. Give me a call, stop by my office, talk to me in the hall, or do whatever works for you to let me know how you and your family are doing and how I can better serve you. I really want to hear from you and to know you better.

Joyfully Serving Him,

Jenny Auld

jauld@fbccolumbia.com

618-281-5605 (office)
636-248-4203 (Cell)