Hello Chapel Hill Families!

CH kids had fun celebrating Christmas in July with “Mary’s Song” (Luke 1:46-55) . We also continued practicing our memory verse Psalm 150:6. Join us this Sunday for “Salt & Light” (Matthew 5:13-16). We have learned how we can PRAISE God by dancing, singing, playing instruments, and writing poetry. This Sunday, kids will talk about how to use their uniqueness to praise God as we wrap up this unit.

 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 July is, “PRAISE”.

This week’s Scripture comes from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5–7. These chapters are some of Jesus’ core teachings and have been studied by many scholars trying to understand better what a life following Jesus should look like.

Jesus begins his teachings on the mount with what has come to be known as the Beatitudes. Right after these verses comes today’s passage often referred to as “Salt and Light.” Matthew 5:13-16 can be broken into two parts—5:13 and 5:14-16. Verse 5:13 is about salt and verses 5:14-16 are about light.

Salt is a chemical compound of sodium and chloride, and is an extremely stable compound. That means it’s very hard to break down and salt cannot lose its flavor. The only way something can lose its saltiness is by being mixed with so many other things that its saltiness is hidden. Salt can only be salt. If salt has be compromised so much that it is no longer salty, it is no longer salt. Jesus is trying to remind his followers that we are to live a life of authenticity and to not lose what makes us unique.

Light helps us see. We don’t really see light, we see what light shows us. Jesus is encouraging the followers to live a life that shows others his love. Jesus encourages the followers to shine bright for all to see.

Find some time to praise God through writing. Here is a writing prompt:

What makes you who you are?

What about you is unique?