Hello Chapel Hill Families!

I hope your new year’s resolutions and goals are off to a great start! Setting goals is not one of my strengths, however, I feel my goal to celebrate CH Kids birthdays is going well so far! I love having another reason to connect with families and it is fun to learn about the kids too.

I have also had so much fun recording kids each week for the Sunday School videos. If your child would like to be featured in one of these videos, please let me know! I have an opening for the January 31st episode which we will try to record the 25th or 26th. I can be flexible with days and times so let me know what works best for your family.

Don’t forget to check our Chapel Hill Kids Facebook Group regularly for the most up to date information. If you haven’t checked your child’s information on the birthday post from December 29th, please make sure you do so as soon as possible. I have marked it as an announcement so you can easily find it.  If you have moved in the last year, please contact the office so that we have your correct address on file so they can receive some birthday mail. The office number is (316) 684-1117.

Blessings to you and your children,

Allison

Celebrate Wonder is a Sunday school curriculum that engages children’s natural sense of curiosity to help them understand God’s love. It creates a safe environment for kids to ask big questions — helping them explore the Bible in ways that feed their imagination and encourages creativity. Through carefully-selected Bible stories, songs, videos, and hands-on activities, Celebrate Wonder gives children the tools to explore their faith while incorporating it into their daily lives.

Since we are not able to meet in person, I have been mailing Sunday School Kits to families each month with printed lesson plans, activity sheets and craft supplies. If you would like to be added to our mailing list for February, please sign up by clicking the button below. I will also continue to attach digital copies of the material to our weekly e- news for you to print at home if you prefer that option.

Each month, our weekly stories will align with a Faith Word. The Faith Word for the month of January is, “Include”.

This story is an invitation to choose discipleship of acceptance and inclusion. We often consider Jesus’ calling of the disciples as a command rather than a question. However, the end of the Scripture actually says, “Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.” The men were called, but they had a choice to answer and accept that calling. They chose to leave what they knew and to became followers of Jesus.

The story also says that Jesus fishes for people. To fish for people is Jesus calling each of us to truly follow him. This is a calling for everyone. When we accept this calling, we are invited to be disciples and to share this message with the world. The United Methodist mission statement says: “The mission of the church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” Followers of Christ help others discover and come to know God through the example of Jesus. Everyone is invited to be part of this message and to share this invitation with others.

Everyone is called. Regardless of status, race, gender, or any other identity, we all can be followers of Jesus Christ. However, we must choose and accept the life of discipleship. When we choose to be a disciple, we get to help build a community in which everyone is included, bringing all of God’s children together.

Have you ever felt called to do something, but you didn’t feel equipped or qualified? What did you do? How did you respond? It’s a choice to answer a calling, and it can be hard. This week find a rock or a stone. Hold it tight and consider where you are being called. Say the following prayer: “God, who calls us all, it can be hard to follow you. Help me remember I can choose to be included in your vision to share your love with the whole world. Amen.”

Check out the Melcher girls in last week’s video, Session 6- “Jesus’ Baptism” (Matthew 3:13-17)