Hello Chapel Hill Families!

CH Kids will be singing in church this Sunday, October 16th. I have a couple of soloists that will sing the verses, then all the kids will sing the chorus to “Thy Word”. If you would like to practice with your child at home, you can use this link. We would like for kids to sing at both services so if you are able to stay for the beginning of second service, we would appreciate it!

FAREWELL MR. ZAC!

It is with great sadness, that I share our beloved, Zac Morris, is moving to Overland Park in two short weeks. This Sunday, October 16th will be his last Sunday as my Children’s ministry assistant. Zac has been my side-kick for several years, but has been helping with children’s ministry longer than I have held this position. We are so thankful for the time we have had Zac with us. He is so loved by the kids, preps all the rooms and supplies each Sunday, helps Ryan with check-in/greeting, is ready to fill in when we need a sub, and of course, is the BEST “Space Bar Man” there ever was! (iykyk!). If your child would like to make a card to give him, please bring those on Sunday. I would love to send him off feeling loved and appreciated!

SUNDAY SCHOOL

This month, our Faith Word is SEEKING, which means to look and discover faith in God. Our memory verse is, “The Lord sees into the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7b)

Here are the lessons for October:

• October 2nd – “David Plays Music” (1 Samuel 16:14-23)
• October 9th – “David and Goliath” (1 Samuel 17:1-51)
• October 16th – “David and Jonathan” (1 Samuel 18:1-5; 20:1-42)
• October 23rd – “Solomon Prays for Wisdom” (1 Kings 2:1-4; 3:1-15)
• October 30th – “Solomon Builds the Temple” (1 Kings 6:1-8:66)

If you would like to decorate a trunk for Trunk or Treat, please click the button below:

Information for our new 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 October is “SEEKING”.

As friendships go, the relationship between David and Jonathan was particularly complex. Jonathan is the son of Saul, the current king of Israel. As Saul’s son, Jonathan is the potential heir of the throne. However, David, the shepherd boy, has been anointed by Samuel as the next king of Israel. This could have been a cause of rivalry between David and Jonathan, but instead they became friends. At one point, Jonathan gives David his robe, his military clothes, his sword, his bows and arrows, and his belt. This gesture symbolizes a personal commitment to David but can also be interpreted as Jonathan’s acknowledgment that David will be the future king.

The Bible tells us David and Jonathan were the best of friends. Depending on which version of the Bible you are reading, we are told in 1 Samuel 18:1 that “the soul of Jonathan was bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul” (NRSV), or “Jonathan cared about David as much as he cared about himself” (CEB), or “Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself” (NIV).

When King Saul first meets David, he is impressed with him and brings him to live in his own house. Later, Saul becomes jealous of David’s support and popularity. Saul is enraged to the point of wanting to have David killed. Jonathan’s loyalty to David is so strong he goes against his father and helps David run away.

David and Jonathan seek friendship when they could have been enemies. Children today know the ups and downs of friends. Children can also feel the tension and division in our world today. This story could teach us ways to be friends instead of enemies. That we can seek out ways to work together to do God’s work. This might look like giving, delighting, and protecting, so that loyalty looks more like love, rather than lines drawn. When we seek to see God’s commonality in one another we are seeking and seeing God.

Who is your best friend? Consider the best friends of your children. What makes a good friend? Do your friendships model good friendship qualities? This week, check in with a friend you might be missing or a friend you have not connected with in a while. Find time to chat, have coffee, or write a special note.