Hello Chapel Hill Families!

CH kids had fun hearing some “Wise Writings” from the book of Proverbs last Sunday. This Sunday, we will continue to focus on our August Faith Word, SCRIPTURE, with “Everything Has a Season” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). Songs this month include “The B-I-B-L-E” and “Thy Word”. Thanks to Rebekah Miller for teaching these to the kids last week. We will continue singing these songs throughout August. Future lessons include:

• August 21st- “Paul Writes to the Corinthians” (1 Corinthians 12:12-31)
• August 28th- “Paul Writes to the Philippians” (Philippians 4:8-9, 13)

It is time to sign up for 3rd Grade Bible Class! Last day to sign up is August 28th so that we can be sure to have enough Bibles to present to the kids. Bible Presentation will be during the beginning of the 11:00 service on September 11th. To receive a Bible and participate in this class, please click HERE.

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 August is “SCRIPTURE”.

The Book of Ecclesiastes is part of the Wisdom writings in the Old Testament. Unlike Proverbs and Job, the writer of Ecclesiastes has a cynical perspective on life. The writer is wrestling with the hard realities of life and wondering what makes life worth living. We don’t know who the writer is, but some scholars attribute the book to the wise king, Solomon. We do know that the writer is hoping to impart wisdom to the reader.

The passage of Ecclesiastes that we will read is the most quoted part of this book. The poetry of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 has inspired readers (and songwriters) for a long time. These verses remind the reader that we are not in control of much, but we can trust that God is knitting together the seasons of our lives. There will be times of joy, times of grief, times of boredom, times of success, and times for moving on. In all of these moments, God is with us.

This month, we will try out the spiritual practice called lectio divina. It’s a practice of reading Scripture out loud to hear what God might be saying to you through the passage. Read Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. What stands out to you from these verses? Read Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 again. What might God be telling you? Take time to write down what you are hearing from God in these verses.