Hello Chapel Hill Families!

Pentecost marks the end of the 50 day Easter season, and is this Sunday! In honor of the arrival of the Holy Spirit, please wear RED to church this week. 

We had a much smaller group last weekend, but still packed in lots of fun as we finished up our “Proclaim” unit. Pastor Lisa did Godly Play for the last time before taking a break to work in the church garden for the summer.  I will do my best to do Godly Play in her absence, but she is the master! If you would like to help in the garden, there is always lots to do! Stay tuned to our Facebook group and newsletters for more opportunities to serve in this area. There will be a table of vegetables and herbs each Sunday, and you are always welcome to go directly to the garden to harvest for your self.

This Sunday we will begin our Summer Curriculum. Our June Faith Word is “SPIRIT”, and our memory verse is from Galatians 5:22-23. Bible stories this month include:

• “Pentecost” (Acts 2:1-41) WEAR RED!
• “Phillip and the Ethiopian” (Acts 8:26-40)
• “Spiritual Gifts” (1 Corinthians 12:1-11) FATHER’S DAY
• “Fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-23) VBS KIDS SING IN CHURCH

 A couple of reminders for our new kindergarten families:

• Our volunteers are supposed to arrive by 9:00, but life happens and sometimes they are running late. Please try to drop off kids between 9:15 and 9:30 AM to avoid waiting on them to arrive.
• Please walk your children back to their classrooms at drop off. We want our volunteers to see who goes with which kid to help speed up our pick up time.
• Don’t forget your pick-up ticket. You will show this to get back to the children’s wing and again to their teacher to pick them up.
• Remember that kids are now promoted to their next grade level so check that their name tags show they are in the right group. Please let Ryan know if it is incorrect.

VBS Child Registration is now CLOSED. We reached 250 kids early last week. It is going to be a fun group of kids! VBS Work Nights have begun. Come join us in the children’s wing from 5:30-7:30 PM to prep supplies and craft decorations every Wednesday with great company 😉

We sponsor cousins, Neema & Kikwete, who live in the Angel House Orphanage in Tanzania, Africa. We have pledged to give $90/month in order to provide food, clothing and schooling to these children at Angel House. Each Sunday, kids have the opportunity to bring money to put into our offering for Neema and Kikwete. Would you help us meet our goal by sending your child with $1.00 each week? Our former Director of Children’s Ministries, Raegan Brane, has visited Angel House in the past. You can find out more information about the Grassroots Organization and Angel House by clicking HERE.

REMINDER:

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 of that particular version at the church and they will be looking up and reading scripture every time they come to church from now on.

VBS CHILD REGISTRATION IS FULL: 250/250 REGISTERED

We will be doing “Knights of North Castle” LIVE for VBS 2022 at Chapel Hill. We did this VBS virtually during 2020, but are excited to deck out the church with snow, Christmas trees, and castle décor this Summer. Child registration is now closed. We are excited for this year’s group of kids!

If you would like to help plan and prep for VBS this year, please contact me. If you would like to volunteer during the week, click here! Not available during the week, but would like to help prepare decorations and materials? See our work night schedule below:

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, 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.

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

As Christians we celebrate Pentecost as the “birthday of the church.” Pentecost originated as a Jewish festival. Pentecost was one of three pilgrimage feasts when Jews gathered in Jerusalem. Jesus had told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the gift of the Holy Spirit. It was a time of uncertainty for Jesus’ followers. It is likely they were anxious and scared. During this time of waiting in Jerusalem, the disciples and other followers of Jesus were celebrating Pentecost. While they were celebrating, the Spirit arrived. The Spirit arrived sounding like a violent wind and appearing like small flames of fire. Jesus promised to send the disciples a helper and now it had arrived.

The excitement surrounding the arrival of the Holy Spirit attracted a crowd. Not everyone in the crowd was immediately convinced of the Spirit’s presence. Some joked they were witnessing the effects of strong wine. Spirit-filled Peter responds to this accusation and begins to preach. About three thousand believers were baptized that day.

The Spirit did not just come to the disciples, but to each person gathered there. The Spirit empowered God’s people and gave them courage to continue to spread the good news about Jesus. We may not hear rushing wind or see flames of fire descending on one another, but God’s Spirit continues to empower us and give us the courage to do God’s work.

The concept of the Holy Spirit is sometimes a difficult one for children and adults to understand. It is okay to admit to your children that you don’t have all the answers. Mystery is a part of faith.

Find a quiet place to sit. Place your feet on the ground and place your palms down on your knees. Take a deep breath in and let it go. This time as you breathe in, think, “Spirit, guide me.” Exhale and think, “All my days.” Repeat several times.