NEWSLETTER OF THE CHILDREN’S MINISTRY OF THE LAKEWAY CHURCH • LAKEWAY, TEXAS • JULY 2009 • Volume 3, Issue 7
Summer Faith-Building Ideas
NAME
B’DAY
Maddie Brimmer
7/1
Sydney Staff
7/6
Michael Sawyer
7/11
Heath McRee
7/12
Caleb Reece
7/13
Caroline Scrafford
7/14
Lauren Benton
7/15
Davis Sones
7/16
Morgan Moulckers
7/19
Austyn Staff
7/19
London Buddin
7/21
Lauren Frie
7/23
David Dolliver
7/24
Olivia Stone
7/27
Keelie Wise
7/27
Bryce Bewley
7/31
The summer months provide a muchneeded break from many day-to-day
routines. Unfortunately, it can be
tempting to take a break from God
and church, too. Thankfully, God
never takes a vacation from us, which
is an important concept to share with
your children.
Most churches provide fun summer
faith events such as vacation Bible
school, camps, outdoor worship,
service projects, and more. But
summer also comes with many builtin opportunities to discuss God with
your family.
On trips and adventures, share how
God is our guide and road map. While
exploring the outdoors, talk about
God’s amazing creation. And fill
summer’s long, carefree days with
some fun faith-building activities.
Here are a few ideas to get you
started:
Go on a “quiet hike.” Listen for how
many sounds you can hear. Then talk
about the variety of ways we can
praise God. (Psalm 150)
Tie the Bible into water fun. At a
swimming pool, play a game of Tag
with the Big Fish chasing Jonah. Have
a family fishing derby and talk about
how Jesus calls us to fish for people.
(Mark 1:17)
Enjoy a family picnic. Fill a picnic
basket together and then find a
relaxing spot to eat. During your
meal, talk about how your family
works as a team. Discuss the variety
of talents in your family and church.
Wrap up the picnic by talking about
the work
ethic of
ants.
(Proverbs
6:6-8)
Fun + Faith
WE ARE ENCOURAGING
THE KIDS IN THE
FOLLOWING WAYS:
Summer evenings with your children can’t be beat. Why not combine the fun
with some faith-building? Try these ideas from Children’s Ministry Magazine:
Memorize weekly Bible
verse
Bring an offering
Memorize books of the
Bible
1. Night-Sky Insight—Camp out in your back yard under the stars and talk
about Abraham’s descendants (Genesis 22:17) and how God wants us to
shine like stars (Philippians 2:15).
Share the lesson with their
Bring their Bible
Bring a friend
Sing out loud!
Participate in small group
activities
Tell others about Jesus!
2. Green-Thumb Visit—Spend a cool evening at a community garden and
marvel at the variety of plants, vegetables, and flowers. Discuss how God
cares for plants—and us (Matthew 6:28-34).
3. Meet and Greet—Together, hand out ice water or ice cream treats to people
at a local park and invite them to a special event at your church.
The Importance of Parents
A recent Barna Group study revealed that while 85% of parents believe they have the primary responsibility
for their children’s moral and spiritual development, 66% admit to handing off that responsibility to their
churches.
Most respondents to a recent Children’s Ministry Magazine poll agreed that parents have the biggest
influence on their children’s faith development—and that parents need to “own” that. But they also said
churches must help empower parents to impact their kids spiritually. Talk to your pastor or children’s
ministry director for more help with fulfilling that important role.
“[Jesus] said, ‘I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little
children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.’”
Matthew 18:3
Jesus tells his followers to strive for a childlike faith—one that’s pure, trusting, and
real.
When telling your children about God, simpler is usually better. For example, try these
easy, no-prop summer games:
Teachable Moments
1. Bible Charades—Act out
Bible people and events.
Examples include animals
entering Noah’s Ark, Daniel in
the Lions’ Den, any of Jesus’
miracles, etc. After guessing
each one, share what it
means for us today.
2. Follow the Leader—Take
turns leading one another
around outside. Then talk
about what it’s like to follow
God and trust him
completely. (Isaiah 42:16)
3. Seek and
Find—Go
on a scavenger hunt in your
neighborhood or in a park.
Afterward, gather to discuss how
God searches for—and
celebrates—us. (Luke 15)
Family Experience: Creation Stations
Celebrate summer—and faith—with these crafts and Bible connections. Then cool down with
some sweet treats.
♦
One-of-a-Kind Kids—Using kid-friendly tie-dye kits (available from craft and hobby stores), let each
family member design a special T-shirt. Then talk about how God made each one of you unique. (Psalm
139:13-14)
♦
He’s Our Rock—As you go on adventures during the summer, have children collect interesting-looking
rocks and pebbles. Then set up some nontoxic acrylic paints, glue, and markers so
everyone can decorate rock creatures. Save your paperweights as reminders of Jesus,
our Rock. (1 Corinthians 10:4)
♦
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Scream for Ice Cream—Have a blast creating Bible-based ice cream “Sundays.”
For example, make a Red Sea Split, complete with a banana trough and strawberry
syrup. Use rainbow sherbet to make Joseph’s Cone of Many Colors. Stack several
ice cream flavors and add sprinkles to make a colorful Tower of Babel. For Noah’s
Ark, surround ice cream with a “flood” of chocolate syrup and top it with animal
crackers. Make Samson by covering a giant scoop of ice cream with coconut “hair.”
Encourage kids to get creative and come up with their own Bible-based recipes!
LAKEWAY KIDS JULY 2009
For K through 5th graders
A summertime fun event with a Sunday morning focus.
When: Wednesdays from 10am-12pm
July 1, July 8, July 15, July 22, July 29, Aug 5
Parents, prepare your child for a messy, wet, fun time in learning the Bible.
Please be ready for crafts, slime time and water wars! FREE!
For more information, contact Sean Reece at 261-6331 ext 18 or [email protected].
LAKEWAY KIDS JULY 2009
3
VACATION BIBLE
Wow!!! Did we have a fantastic time at VBS or what? We had
229 children throughout the week and a wonderful team of 60
volunteers! A special thanks again for all who had a part in
making this year’s VBS another success.
I would like to ask our church family to continue to pray for all
those children who attended, that the message that was
planted will take root and grow.
And for those of you who missed out on a tremendous blessing
of volunteering, you can sign up now for VBS 2010!. Why wait
until the last minute and the spot you wanted is filled. Sign up
now by seeing Sean Reece!
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LAKEWAY KIDS JULY 2009
LAKEWAY KIDS JULY 2009
5
The church has chosen the well-established firm of OLAN MILLS to create a new PICTORIAL
DIRECTORY to be released in December or January. Believe it or not, it has been three years since the
last one! The first photo sessions will be held:
Wednesday/Thursday/Friday
July 29/30/31
3:30 to 9:30 pm
Saturday
August 1
10 am to 5 pm
TWO WAYS TO SIGN UP:
♦
At the signup table outside the Narthex after all three services on July 5, 12 and 19
♦
On-line at https://signup.olanmills.com/familyinfo.aspx?chcontract=43583. On-line signups are
available NOW. (After July 19, you will only be able to sign up on-line.)
We would love to have ALL our church families in this new directory! There will be more photo sessions in
the fall, but we encourage you not to postpone scheduling your family’s photo session,
particularly those families with kids home from college for the summer, teachers off for the
summer, etc.
Every family in the directory will receive a FREE 8x10 color portrait, as well as having the opportunity to
purchase other copies . . . in time for Christmas! For more information, contact Nancy Keetch in the
church office, 261-6331 ext 25 or [email protected].
Ask God:
1. To help you be proactive about nurturing your children’s faith.
2. To protect your children physically and spiritually this summer.
3. To help your family openly discuss God and faith issues
Culture & Trends
What’s happening right now that may affect
your children and family:
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♦
In an effort to help their children build strong
friendship networks, parents in Australia have
begun buying kids their own business cards.
♦
New parents no longer have to rely on mass emails to keep family and friends in the loop. A
hot trend for 2008 is personalized Web sites for
babies, complete with updated photos and
even blogs.
LAKEWAY KIDS JULY 2009
MOVIE REVIEW—Imagine That
MPAA Rating:
for some mild
language and brief questionable
behavior.
Reviewed by: Raphael Vera
“What if your daughter’s
imagination… Was the secret to
your success?”
“Imagine That” is the story of a
week in the life of Evan Danielson,
played to a comedic tee by Eddie
Murphy, as a very successful
financial advisor who has been
separated from his wife Trish
(Nicole Ari Parker) and only plays
part time Dad to his 7-year-old
daughter Olivia (Yara Shahidi).
A joke is made as to whether or not
it would be legal to stab an
associate. This subject is brought
up again when the assistant returns
with a report that the legal
department says it would be
unlawful.
A remark is made as to one person
figuratively scalping another. Most
disturbing was a scene where
scissors are held in a somewhat
threatening manner. This made the
other character who is witness to
this, as well as the audience, freeze
in shock.
A 10-year old child is given multiple
cans of an energy drink in order to
coax insight from him without
Trish, Evan’s wife, needs him to
regards as to the possible health
watch Olivia for the week. While
this couldn’t have come at a worse perils associated with the high
intake of caffeine and sugar on
time, little does he suspect that
Olivia and her imaginary friends are children.
going to turn his life upside down.
Lessons
Offensive Content
This film offers a great teaching
opportunity for parents in several
The Lord’s name is taken in vain
twice in succession (OMG) and then areas:
while Evan ridicules Whitefeather
On the issue of imaginary friends it
with an exasperated prayer (Lord,
was brought up in a very realistic
Lord…). These are tame by
light. At first, seeing Olivia having
Hollywood standards but they
conversations by herself seems
added nothing to the narrative.
strange but studies have shown
that imaginary friends are a more
Another father plays dress and
common part of many kid’s lives
make-up with his daughter when
and are not harmful to their
the Mom was downstairs. This
psyche.
blurring of gender roles begs the
question why the Mom couldn’t
have been in his place?
Showing poor behavior, a
colleague of Danielson is a
good example of not being able to
accept criticism. Proverbs 15:12
does teach that “A mocker resents
correction; he will not consult the
wise.”
Regarding proper parental role
playing one could consider
Deuteronomy 22:5, “A woman
must not wear men’s clothing, nor
a man wear woman’s clothing…”
don’t recognize. Evan Danielson’s
life was rich but hollow. His success
had not brought him the happiness
he had supposed and it was only
when he focused on ‘the good
thing’, his daughter, that his life
took on meaning. Jesus speaks to
this problem all of us go through
when we focus on the wrong things
and find life meaningless. Most
importantly he gives us an answer
in Matthew 6:33 when he says,
“But seek first his kingdom and his
righteousness, and all these things
will be given to you as well.”
Overall, I recommend “Imagine
That” as an entertaining and fun
family movie with some issues that
can be used to spark family
discussion.
So if you are looking for a
heartwarming story about a
daughter seeking to be the center
of her Dad’s universe, and a grown
man who, in coming to terms with
what is really important in life,
becomes a real father, then this is
for you.
Violence: Mild / Profanity: Mild /
Sex/Nudity: None
Perhaps the biggest lesson is the
one that most mainstream family
movies inherently understand but
LAKEWAY KIDS JULY 2009
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The American Revolution was a beginning, not a consummation. ~Woodrow Wilson
This, then, is the state of the union: free and restless, growing and full of hope.
So it was in the beginning. So it shall always be, while God is willing,
and we are strong enough to keep the faith. ~Lyndon B. Johnson
We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it. ~William Faulkner
How often we fail to realize our good fortune in living in a country where happiness
is more than a lack of tragedy. ~Paul Sweeney
There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured
by what is right with America. ~William J. Clinton
LAKEWAY KIDS is a publication of the Children’s Ministry of The Lakeway Church, Lakeway, Texas.
For further information, please contact Sean Reece, Director of Children’s Ministries,
512-261-6331-18 or [email protected] or visit our website:
http://www.lakewaychurch.net/children's_home_page.htm.
The Lakeway Church
2203 Lakeway Blvd.
Lakeway, TX 78734