Hello Chapel Hill Families!

What a week we had for VBS last week. It was so much fun, and I’m still riding the high of singing, dancing, and worshipping with the kids for five days straight! This week I’m in Gore, OK with the middle school mission trip. If you need anything, I will be checking e-mail periodically.

Our July Faith Word is “PRAISE”, and our memory verse is from Psalm 150:6. Bible stories this month include:

• 7/3/22- “David Dances” (2 Samuel 6:12-19)
• 7/10/22- “Shout with Joy” (Psalm 100)
• 7/17/22- “Praise the Lord” (Psalm 150)
• 7/24/22- “Mary’s Song” (Luke 1:46-55)
• 7/31/22- “Salt & Light” (Matthew 5:13-16)

 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.

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.

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”.

Upon first reading, the sixth chapter of 2 Samuel appears to be a joyous celebration of God, with dancing and instruments and food! This is true, but there is more significance to this Scripture passage then simply an encouragement to celebrate God with dancing.

The chapter centers around the movement of the sacred chest of God–the chest that is called by the name of the Lord of heavenly forces, who sits enthroned on the winged creatures. Sometimes referred to as the ark of the covenant, the chest contained the stone tablets given to Moses on Mt. Sinai. The Israelites viewed the chest as a symbol of God’s presence. The chest had not been lost, but it had been neglected. Not any more–the chest was now being transported to Jerusalem.

King David was personally involved with the movement of the sacred chest. He did not simply order some of his men to transport the chest, which he presumably could have, but rather was present and a part of the procession as the chest was moved. It could be said, and it was probably true, that David participated in the ceremony because of an intense, personal connection and relationship to God.

But it was also true that the movement of the chest to Jerusalem was a smart and savvy political move on David’s part. Bringing the chest to Jerusalem served to identify the city as a religious center in addition to being the royal capital. This brought the political and religious centers together in one place. Doing so publicly proclaimed that David ruled in alliance with God. Even considering all that, there is joyful dancing, instrument playing and eating! God is worthy of celebration! Enjoy celebrating God with your children this week.

Find some time to praise God through dancing! Put on your favorite song and cut loose.