Hello Chapel Hill Families!

This Sunday marks the beginning of our new unit on the Faith Word: CALL– “to know we are each chosen by God to do God’s work in the world”. Our memory verse is “Speak. Your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:10b). This month, we will sing “Deep Cries Out” and “I Just Want to be a Sheep“.

Here are the lessons for this month:

• September 11th – “God Calls Samuel” (1 Samuel 3:1-21)
• September 18th – “Samuel Anoints Saul” (1 Samuel 7-8, 10:17-24)
• September 25th – “Samuel Anoints David” (1 Samuel 16:1-13)

Bibles have been ordered! Bible Presentation will be at the beginning of the 11:00 service on September 11th. Please come to Sunday school at 9:30 as usual and then stay until the Bibles have been presented.

Join us for a night of fellowship roasting marshmallows and singing your favorite campfire songs in the prayer garden. Please bring a chair or blanket to sit upon. Water and S’mores provided. All ages welcome!

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 September is “CALL”.

Samuel began serving God at an early age when Hannah, his mother, brought him to the temple to live with and help Eli, the priest. After growing up as a helper to Eli, Samuel was called by God to be a prophet and speak God’s word to others. As the story goes, God had to call Samuel’s name four times before Samuel recognized it was God speaking. Yet God did not give up. Not only does God choose us; God is persistent in calling us.

When Samuel first heard God calling his name, he thought it was Eli calling him. It was Eli that finally realized the voice Samuel heard was God’s. This story can be an example of God using other people in our lives to help us recognize and respond to God’s calling.

Samuel was still a boy when God spoke to him. According to Jewish tradition, Samuel was twelve years old. Yet God chose him for a very important job, to deliver a message from God to Eli. God can use people of all ages to do God’s work.

The story of Samuel is an empowering one for children because it illustrates how God does not call adults only. God chooses people of all ages, including children, to do God’s work and to make a difference in God’s world. Encourage your children to listen for God’s voice in their lives and to discover how they can live out their calling as children of God.

Before you go to bed this week, take time to say the Bible verse, “Speak. Your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:10b. As you pray, try to listen for what God wants and needs of you this week. Consider finding one new way to serve God in your life.