Hello Chapel Hill Families!

I don’t know about you, but I am so thankful to see temperatures above freezing this week! Just a final reminder that this is the last week for members and currently enrolled KDIC and Preschool families to enroll before we open enrollment to the public on March 1st. If you have young children you would like to be enrolled in either of these programs, please do not delay! Enrollment links were e-mailed several weeks ago. I can send them to you if you didn’t receive them.  Additionally, if you have friends or family who are new to KDIC and Preschool, please help us spread the word that the enrollment links will be available on our website on Monday! Click these links for more information:  Preschool & KDIC

I hope you are enjoying the Sunday School videos each week. If you take any pictures or videos of your children worshipping or doing the crafts, please share them with our Facebook group, or e-mail them to me at aroth@chwichita.org. I always love seeing the kids participating in Sunday School activities!

I am enjoying filming a new family 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 can be flexible with days and times so let me know what works best for your family. I am now in search of children to assist with the February lessons:

• March 7th – “Jesus Washes Feet” (John 13:1-17)
• March 14th – “The Last Supper” (Luke 22:14-20)
• March 21st – “Praying in the Garden” (Luke 22:39-46)
• March 28th – “Jesus Enters Jerusalem” (Matthew 21:1-11)

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 March, 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, or missed the deadline.

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

Zacchaeus—and before you start singing the song about a wee little man, let’s think about this story from the perspective of the crowd. There was a man, Zacchaeus, a tax collector. No one liked tax collectors, especially because Zacchaeus was known to steal and cheat people out of their money. Suddenly, this man was having dinner with Jesus and changing his ways. Was this possible?

It would be frustrating to be in this situation. Why did Jesus choose to have a meal with someone people called a sinner? Zacchaeus wanted to change his ways, and he asked to be forgiven. Zacchaeus had to have been pretty desperate. If you consider this story in today’s context, Zacchaeus was like a man on Wall Street. Imagine him wearing a suit and tie, climbing a tree, begging to be noticed. It seems like he really wanted to change.

How do we handle someone who has done wrong and is trying to make things right? How do we participate in forgiveness? Maybe the first step is accepting that people can change—and with the help and guidance of Jesus, we all can learn there is opportunity for second chances. We often get wrapped up in a story about a short man in a tree, but this story shares an important message of inclusion and forgiveness.

This week take time to focus on forgiveness. Is there someone in your life against whom you are holding a grudge or anger? Can this person be forgiven? If so, consider what is necessary for you to forgive. Even if you can’t do it right away, begin the process of healing yourself by trying to find forgiveness in your heart.

Check out Lindley Mullins in last week’s video, Session 12- “Mary and Martha” (Luke 10:38-42)