Hello Chapel Hill Families!

This past Sunday, we heard the story of Tabitha and Peter. We talked about people who help others like Tabitha did: moms, teachers, police men, firefighters, ambulance drivers, doctors and veterinarians were a few mentioned. It was so fun hearing them talk about nice things they see people doing for others. Children’s perspective is always so unbelievably insightful! Our faith word for the month of May is “Love”. After listening to Pastor Jeff’s sermon, I really regret not writing down the kids’ definition of love. So many good answers! I think many of the volunteers can attest to the cuteness going on during whole group worship!

This Sunday, Pastor Lisa will be back with us for the first time since we have reopened. I am looking forward to our first Godly Play and to see how our 3rd graders will get to assist her! 3rd Grade Bible Class this year was much different than years past, but I think the kids learned a lot and I was grateful for time with them in smaller groups than usual each month. If you have a 3rd, 4th or 5th grader that has a Deep Blue Bible, please help them remember to bring it with them to sunday school each week! We don’t have many extras at the church and they will be looking up and reading scripture every time they come to church from now on.

If you plan on attending in May, please sign your child up for Sunday School (9:30 ONLY) by clicking HERE. Nursery will be available at BOTH 9:30 and 11:00 services. If you need to change your sign-up, just click the same link to edit, or contact me.

VBS UPDATE

I am still in need of at least 31 more VBS leaders. My goal this week is to nail down our t-shirts so I can open up child registration to our volunteers. Once we have more leaders, I will open up child registration to the public. If you are only available part of the week, we still need you! Grandparents or older siblings are also welcome to help out. Find a friend to partner up with and register to volunteer today! 

KDIC & PRESCHOOL ENROLLMENT NOW OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Please share these links with your friends and family with little ones at home in need of a safe, loving place to care for them while they get a little break!

• 2021-2022 KDIC Fall Enrollment Link
• Preschool Enrollment Link
• Lunch Bunch Enrollment Link

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

Join us for “Discovery on Adventure Island” VBS at Chapel Hill! We are so excited to gather together for this event this year. Child spaces will be limited to 200 and we will make some other adjustments due to the pandemic, but it is sure to be another great year of FUN learning and worshipping together! We have purchased materials that can be easily used in an online format if numbers show that it is not wise to meet in person. Children of volunteers will be the first to register. If you would like to join our team, please click on the image below to sign-up!

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 were 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. Since we will return to Sunday School in May, I will NOT be mailing these packets unless a request is sent to Abigail Deiter. We are happy to accommodate those who are still not able to join us in person.

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

This week’s story takes place after Saul’s (Paul’s) conversion. The text says that Paul tries to join the other disciples when he arrives in Jerusalem, but they are afraid of him. They doubt Paul’s desire to become a disciple of Jesus. Up until Paul’s blinding experience on the road to Damascus, he was an enemy of Christianity and a persecutor of those who practiced the faith.

The disciples see Paul as a persecutor, not a believer. They do not trust that Paul has changed. Barnabas brings Paul to the apostles and serves as a witness to Paul’s conversion story. After this, Paul is accepted in Jerusalem and begins to preach in the name of the Lord.

It’s hard to trust that people who have hurt us can change. How can we trust their intentions when we have been harmed? This was the struggle of Jesus’ followers in the story. However, Paul proved his faith and was supported by a witness, Barnabas. There are times when it is not right to trust someone again, but there are also times when we can witness change. In these moments of conversion, we can see God at work and can be a witness for those who need our love.

After Paul’s conversion, the church grew and people came to know the God of transformation through the Spirit. We can trust in God that people can change and that we can find ways to be part of God’s transformative love.

This week reflect on the different ways to show love. Journal about the ways you love people in your life. Are there other ways you are called to love? Is there someone you need to stand up for, like Barnabas did? Is there someone like Paul you are called to protect? Is there someone you need to share God’s love with, as Paul shared God’s love through speaking? Challenge yourself to love in different situations.