Hello Chapel Hill Families!

We wrapped up our “VOICE” unit where we learned how different prophets used their voices to teach people about God with a special Advent Godly Play with Pastor Lisa. We lit the first Advent candle for “Hope”, made HOPE Christmas Ornaments, and paper chains to countdown the days until Christmas. I have Advent activities we handed out available on the check-in counter. You can come by the church during office hours this week, or pick them up on Sunday if you missed this week.

KIDS SING IN CHURCH THIS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4TH!

The kids have done an amazing job practicing “This Little Light of Mine” for our performance on December 4th.  Here is the piano music that will accompany us if you would like to practice at home. The lyrics are listed below. If you are able to stay to perform at both services it would be greatly appreciated!

This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine

This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine

This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine

Let it shine, All the time, Let it shine

Everywhere I go, I’m going to let it shine

Everywhere I go I’m going to let it shine

Everywhere I go, I’m going to let it shine

Let it shine, All the time, Let it shine

The NEW Faith Word for the month of December is, “HOPE”. Our memory verse is, “Look! I bring good news to you—wonderful, joyous news for all people.” (Luke 2:10) . Lessons include:

• 12/4 – “An Angel Visits Mary” (Luke 1:26-38)
• 12/11 – “An Angel Visits Joseph” (Matthew 1:18-24)
• 12/18 – “Jesus is Born” (Luke 2:1-7) & “Angels Visit the Shepherds” (Luke 2:8-20)
• 12/25 & 1/1 – NO SUNDAY SCHOOL – ONE Family Friendly Service at 11:00AM ONLY

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 December is “HOPE”.

Mary certainly didn’t expect to be visited by an angel. She was a young girl, around the age of thirteen years old. She was not a queen or a princess, but simply a young girl engaged to be married. Mary lived in a small town, Nazareth in Galilee, that is never mentioned in the Old Testament. She was an ordinary girl in an insignificant town, until the angel’s visit.

The angel told Mary that she had found favor with God. In those days, many assumed those who are blessed by God would enjoy wealth and good health. Mary’s blessing, however, was that she was to have a child out of wedlock. Mary’s response of “How can this be?” seemed very appropriate. The angel assured her it was true, and the baby was God’s Son. God was at work among ordinary people, choosing to send Jesus as a message of God’s love in an unexpected and unconventional way.

The Bible story may be familiar, and you may feel ordinary, but this story reminds us that God is always doing miraculous and extraordinary things. As you celebrate Advent and Christmas with children, be open to the unexpected. Enjoy celebrating God’s unconventional message of love as you hear and teach this familiar story.

This month we will explore the familiar stories of Advent. Take some time to find a nativity scene. Each week, add a figure to the nativity. When you place a figure, such as Mary, thank God for the hope she or the other nativity figures bring. We would not have the hope of Jesus without all the people in the story, including you!