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) ♦ 2 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! 4 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: 6 ♦ 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 7 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
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