Created for a Purpose...Interested in helping?

Ladies interested in helping with Created for a Purpose:

Created for a Purpose will be held June 17 – 21, 2013.  This creative arts camp is a week long camp for girls, rising 3^rd – 8^th grades.  Camp hours are 9:00 – 3:00.

There are 210 spots for this summer.  Registration will begin January 9^th.  We expect that most grades will be full on January 9.  Registration forms will be available on the Covenant Pres website and the createdforapurpose.org website in late December.

There are limited numbers for each of these leader spots. There is childcare available for other children.  All helpers must be at CFAP at 8:30 and plan to clean up and prepare for the next day each day.

Compensation is as follows:

In charge of a project for an area – all daughters/granddaughters are fully covered

Leading a group for 5 days – all daughters/granddaughters will be $50.00 each

Leading a group for 3 days – all daughters/granddaughters will be $75.00 each

Full price for CFAP is $185.00

If you can come for a day or two days we would love to have you but we cannot offer any compensation or a secured spot for your daughter.

If you are interested in helping with CFAP please review the information below and return to me at ilink@covpres.com or place in my box in the church office by Monday, January 7!

Name: ________________________________________________________

Email: ________________________________________________________

Cell Phone: __________________________________________________  Do you text _____________

I am willing to head up one of the following projects, usually involves coming up with 3 different projects (1 for 3^rd and 4^th, 1 for 5^th and 6^th and 1 for 7^th and 8^th):

Sewing                   Cooking                 Paper                       Sculpture                                Painting

Or

I am willing to lead a project for 5 days

I am willing to lead a project for 3 days

I am interested in leading:   Sewing            Cooking        Paper              Sculpture              Painting

There are limited numbers for each of these spots.  I understand that by agreeing to this my child will have a secured spot.   If my plans change my child may have to give up her spot for another worker’s child.  Initial __________

Thank you so much for prayerfully considering this opportunity to serve the body of Christ in this way.  Please call me at 871-7002 if you have any questions.

In Christ,

Ingram

Tis' the Season...Advent Ideas

Tis' the Season to Celebrate! We celebrate the birth of our Savior! We celebrate the Gospel!
We celebrate with friends and family with the exchanging of gifts with the enjoyment of fellowship!

The Children's Ministry team is so very thankful for the opportunity to spend time with your children celebrating the birth of the Savior. What a special time to teach our children about the love of Jesus Christ!

Here are a couple of ideas for making the Advent season not only special, but a time to draw near to the manger.

Using the Jesus Storybook Bible as an Advent devotional for you and your children. This link provides a list of stories that have paragraphs that specifically talk about the expected birth of Jesus. As you read each story you will get closer and closer to the birth of Jesus! Click here to check it out!

Ann Voskamp uses a daily devotional with coordinating ornaments to build a Jesse Tree. Each day you read the devotional and then you hang one of the provided ornaments on your tree. Click here to check it out!

Noel Piper has a story for the 25 days leading up to Christmas that allows children to build the stable scene until finally adding Jesus. Each day you read the story building on the day before and each day you add another animal/person etc... Click here to check it out! (Scroll down to get the all the info).

Our pre-school ministry is building a tree out of ornaments that have the names of Jesus on them. They will talk about the names of Jesus and write them on ornaments. Then place the ornaments on a cupcake stand creating a tree....Ask your children at Sunday lunch about the names of Jesus!

At home you could also do this for the 25 days leading up to Christmas. Or you could make ornaments with your kiddos and write the names of Jesus on them. (There are lots of cute ideas out there on Pinterest). Then each day you could read from the Jesus Storybook Bible and let the kiddos hang one of the Christmas ornaments they made on the tree.

The possibilities are endless...our hope is that as family you will draw near to the Savior!

Covenant Christmas Camp 2012

Join us in SonShine Valley for

Covenant Christmas Camp 2012

Monday, Wednesday & Friday

December 17th, 19th & 21st

9am-1pm

For ages infant-5K

$60 per child for three days of fun!

Covenant Christmas Campers will enjoy 3 exciting days of Christmas crafts, snacks and activities! 

Each day’s activities will be centered around a classic Christmas carol celebrating the birth of Jesus.

Space is limited so register today!

To register, email the names and birthdates of your children to Marilyn Lindsey at mlindsey@covpres.com 

Registration emails will be confirmed in the order they are received!

Enrollment is for three days of Christmas Fun!

(No discounts given for partial attendance)

Share in the Joy of Giving...

Every year our church collects money in order to provide a Christmas Bonus for the wonderful women who care for our children in the Church Nursery.  Most weeks, the church provides childcare five to six days a week for various church-related events.  The careful and diligent care provided by our Nursery staff allows many of us to participate in these events with the assurance that our precious children are feeling safe and loved.

These ladies are such a blessing to us at Covenant and giving to the Nursery Staff Christmas Bonus Fund is a wonderful opportunity for US to bless THEM!  Please prayerfully consider giving to these women who give so much to Covenant. 

There are several ways to give: 

·      Drop your gift in the offering plate

·      Take it to the Nursery Welcome Desk or to the Church Office

·      Put it in the donation envelope in your Sunday School class 

Please make checks payable to Covenant Presbyterian Church and be sure to note in the memo section it’s for the Nursery Bonus Fund.  Kindly submit your gifts by December 14^th so that the funds may be distributed to the Nursery staff in time for Christmas.

Thank you in advance for your generosity and may God bless your family during this wonderful time of the year!

Faithfully,

Marilyn Lindsey                                                Jami Bennett

Director of Nursery Ministries                        Director of Mother’s Day Out

Upcoming Events...

There will be NO Wednesday night activities today October 31, so your family can enjoy fellowship within your communities. This is a good night to be intentional about building friendships with your neighbors!

MDO Holiday Bazaar this Friday, November 2 from 9:00 - 1:00 in the Fellowship Hall! Awesome way to start Christmas shopping or buy some goodies for yourself!

Covenant's Day School and Mother's Day Out programs are amazing ministries to children and families. They both give such a strong Biblical foundation to so many children. Please tell your friends and neighbors to place their children on the Day School and Mother's Day Out waiting list. For more information visit the CDS/MDO web page. You can download a registration form from the web page.

Christmas in the City is a great way to teach your children the joy of giving! We have 57 children left to  show the love of Christ to through gifts! Stop by the foyer of the sanctuary to pick your child to sponsor or contact Karen Yendle at kyendle@covpres.com or 871-7002 x 139.

Movie Nights... Friday, November 9 from 6-8 pm for 1st - 3rd grades & Friday, November 16 from 6-8 pm for 4th-6th grades. $2 per child for drinks, candy, & popcorn!

Communicant's Class is going great! Lessons are available on the blog if you have missed a Sunday - click here.

Fall Festival & Holiday Bazaar

Covenant Day School's Fall Festival is this Friday, October 26 from 11:00 -1:00! It will be a fun time for kids and parents...with games, prizes, and an AMAZING silent auction. Armbands for all the fun you can have are $10 and meal tickets are $4. The festival will take place in the parking area by the Day School. For more information contact Casey Worrell at cworrell@att.net.

Mother's Day Out Holiday Bazaar will take place Friday, November 2 from 9:00 -1:00 in the fellowship hall. Dory's Cafe will open at 11:00. This is a fabulous way to support our Mother's Day Out ministry and make some fabulous purchases for gifts or for yourself! There will be everything from pottery to children's clothing. For information on participating in the Holiday Bazaar, please contact Jami Bennett at 205-871-7004 or jbennett@covpres.com.

*** Speaking of the Day School and Mother's Day Out....we are very blessed to have such amazing childcare at Covenant, so if you or a friend are interested in attending one of these programs have them go to www.covpres.com/dayschool to download a wait list form...the earlier the better...registration begins in January. For more information please contact Brooke Stewart (Day School) at 871-8470 or bstewart@covpres.com or Jami Bennett (MDO) at 871-7004 or jbennett@covpres.com***

Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing by Sally Lloyd Jones

Sally Lloyd Jones has a new book out called Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing. Here is a little video from her website that gives you a glimpse into the book.

Dr. Timothy Keller says, "Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing may be the best, first introduction for children to have their own time with God." You can read more about the book and Sally Lloyd Jones by clicking here. 

Here is a description of the book from Amazon.com:
From Jago and Sally Lloyd-Jones, the creators of the bestselling Jesus Storybook Bible, comes this gorgeous and innovative collection of 101 simple-yet- profound thoughts on faith. Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing shares profound spiritual truths from the Bible told in a conversational tone---drawing insights from creation, history, science, the writings of great thinkers and preachers and writers, and more---to turn the reader's eyes toward the God who loves them with a Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love. Perfect for family devotions, bedtime, story time, or even as a companion to The Jesus Storybook Bible, this accessible yet theologically rich book reveals biblical truth in word and image-all working together and designed to do one thing: to make the reader's heart sing.

What I learned today...(Curriculum Overview)

When I was younger my dad always asked my brother and me, "What did you learn today?" Unfortunately I think we often frustrated him when our answer was, "Nothing." He always followed up with a mini lecture on its important to learn something everyday. You can never stop learning!

We want to help you engage your children in the "what did you learn today" conversation by giving you a heads up on what they were taught in Sunday School, Children's Church, and KidzClub! We hope conversations about how much God loves them continue in the car, at the dinner table, and during bedtime stories.

So here is a little overview of what our Pre-School age children are being taught during Sunday School, Children's Worship, & KidzClub. (Don't worry 1st - 6th grades...we'll have your overview up next!)

KidzClub Curriculum for October
"I Praise God" Children will learn to praise God in song & prayer through Bible stories, making instruments to enjoy while singing and enjoying a special snack that helps them think about praising God.

Sunday School Curriculum
3's have just learned that God creates everything. Now they will be learning that God keeps His promises and cares for His people. They are seeing God's sovereignty in caring for Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, & Joseph.

4's & 5's are walking though Exodus to see how God prepares, protects and provides for His people.

Children's Church Curriculum
3's, 4's, & 5's are going through Genesis for the entire year. Mrs. Katie tells the Bible story and they enjoy singing hymns together. So far, we have sung "This is My Father's World" and "For the Beauty of the Earth".

We hope this helps you start conversations with your little ones about what they are learning. Maybe you'll get a better answer than "Nothing" like I gave my dad!

A word of encouragement....
Deuteronomy 11:18-19 says, “You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."

Thanks for letting us teach your children weekly! It is a joy and privilege to see their knowledge of our Great God grow!

Couple of Important Reminders

This has started off to be such a fabulous year. We are so excited to see plans unfold and see what the Lord is going to do in the lives of our Children! Thank you parents for coming along side us to volunteer and make everything possible!

Couple of things to note regarding Children's Ministry activities:

• This Sunday, September 23 1st-5th grades will engage in Praise & Worship starting 9:30 a.m. in C316. Then will move to large group gathering for teaching by grade at 9:45 a.m. Look for signs pointing you in the right direction. There will be a transition time at 9:15 a.m. in C316 too. 
• The 6th graders will start the Communicant's Class on Sunday, September 30 during the Sunday School hour. This is earlier in the year than previous years. For more information on the Communicant's Class click here. 
• Kidz Club has been great! Please REGISTER them if you have not! Click here for registration form and here for release form.  Just send it with them Wednesday...or pick one up on the 2nd floor Welcome Desk. Your children have been learning the Word of God through a lot of great hands on activities! Thanks for sharing them with us!
• 3K Children's Worship VOLUNTEERS...still needed for Children's Worship at 10:45 a.m... Katie Flores has everything ready for you...just need willing people! She has lots of different ways to serve... once a month or even a month at a time...we can work with your schedule! Thank you for volunteering! Contact Katie Flores at kflores@covpres.com or 205-243-4279.

Please feel free to contact the Children's Ministry Team at anytime! We take joy in serving with you to point your children to Christ! Contact Laura Tucker at ltucker@covpres.com or 871-7002 x 141, if you need assistance.

Familiar Face...New Position

The Children's Ministry is so very excited to announce that Katie Flores is now the Pre-School Director! Many of you know Katie and have had the joy of working with her while she has served Covenant for over 10 years.

Please help us welcome her to the Children's Ministry team. You and your children have much to look forward to on Sundays and Wednesdays with Katie. She cannot wait to serve you and your families!

Great Start

It was a great first Sunday of the fall semester!! THANK YOU to all the fabulous teachers and volunteers who made Sunday School and Children’s Worship possible.

What glory and joy it brings to the Lord to see His house filled with those He calls to Him and loves so deeply. He takes such delight in them learning about Him and drawing near to Him!

We hope they continue to draw near to Him throughout the week. We will update you on what your children are learning in Sunday School and Children’s Worship, so you can continue the conversation in the car, in the kitchen, and at bedtime. (Check back for some curriculum details…coming soon!)

Announcement for 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd graders…We would love for your children to experience the gathered Worship Service with you at 8:00 or 10:45 and then be dismissed from the service to experience Children’s Worship with us! So please pick your 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd graders up from Sunday School and take them to the Worship service. Then they will leave with a Children’s Ministry Staff member who will escort them to Children’s Worship in room C316. You can pick your child up in room C316 on the 3rd floor- Glory Mountain- after Worship. 

Starting September 23, we will be offering a new time of praise & worship in room C316 at 9:15 a.m. for 1^st-5^th graders. They will then head to their classrooms for Sunday School.

We are so glad you and your family worshipped with us! We sure do love hearing your children’s voices singing and laughing and their little feet walking running down the halls! 

*** Also anytime you see a C in front of a room number that means Children's building...we hope this helps you navigate through the building ***

Sunday Mornings...New Schedule & New Format!

New schedule and new classes begin on September 9! So make note that Worship services are 8:00 a.m. & 10:45 a.m. and Sunday School starts at 9:30 a.m.

We are so excited about your child being part of the Children's Ministry at Covenant! You will receive a postcard in the mail this week with your child's classroom assignment. On Sunday September 9, when you check your child in at the Welcome Desk, his new name tag will also reflect his new classroom.

Below is a brief overview of what happens during the Sunday School and Children's Worship hours! Scroll/read down to find your child's grade/age group for specific details. 

Pre-School Ministry

Sunday School will begin at 9:30 a.m. Children's Worship will take place during both 8:00 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Worship Services. For ages 3k-5k, we will transition your child from his Sunday School classroom to his Children's Worship classroom. (You do not need to come get your child after Sunday School unless you are taking them to Worship with you.)

• 3 Year Old-  If your child is 3 by September 1, 2012...WELCOME to Covenant's pre-school ministry!  We are so glad that you are joining us on the 2nd floor - Merry Midlands! Your child will be assigned to either room C222 or C223. They will spend the Sunday School hour being taught from the Great Commission Publications curriculum, which tells the story of what God has done for us through Christ. Your children will see God's story of redeeming love for us unfold through familiar Bible stories of Creation, Adam & Eve, Noah, Abraham, Issac, Jacob, and Joseph. These stories we hope will help reinforce a strong foundation for our children to build trust in our God! It is amazing to watch their little eyes open to the Gospel!
• 4 Year Old- If your child is 4 by September 1, 2012.... WELCOME back to Covenant's pre-schoool ministry! Your child will be assigned to either room C224 or C225. We are so glad to see you on the 2nd floor - Merry Midlands again this year! Your  child will continue to build on the foundation she has started by continuing to study the redemptive story that God has planned for us through Christ. Using the Great Commission Publications curriculum, we will continue to study familiar stories that will help reinforce your child's knowledge of a Great Big God!
• 5 Year Old- If your child is 5 by September 1, 2012...WELCOME back to Covenant's pre-school ministry!  Your child will be assigned to either room C226 or C227.We are so glad that your child will be with us again this year learning about God's love for us and the redemptive story that begins in the Old Testament and points us to Christ our Savior! We look forward to your child building on the foundation of Bible Stories that help build trust in God!
• Children's Worship-  During Children's Worship, children will hear God's Word, sing praises to the Lord, create a craft that reiterates the Bible story, and play. The 3 Year Old classes will remain in room C222, and the 4 Year Old & 5 Year Old classes will be in room C221. (There is a "transition time" for approximately 15 minutes in between Sunday School & Worship. Your child will be escorted to the appropriate classroom, so you do not need to come and get them unless he is attending Worship with you.)

Elementary Ministry

On September 9 Sunday School will begin at 9:30 a.m., and children should go to their new classroom. (Be on the lookout for a postcard in the mail or be sure to check your child's name tag when he checks in at the Welcome Desk on the 2nd floor- Merry Midlands.) Children's Worship starts after children are dismissed from the Worship Service.  

Starting September 23, your child (1st - 5th grade) will check-in at the Welcome Desk at 9:30 a.m. and make his way to room C316 for Assembly. It will be a time of singing and teaching. After Assembly, children will make their way downstairs to their large group gathering before splitting into their breakout groups! By 9:45 a.m. all children will be in their assigned Sunday School classrooms. 

We are excited about this new format for our elementary age children, and hope to see the Lord do great things in their lives as they hear His Word in a variety of ways throughout Sunday morning! 

• 1st Grade will now engage in a large group gathering for a time of Biblical teaching in room C231 on the 2nd floor - Merry Midlands. Then will break-out into two small groups for a time of organized activities and discussion to support the Biblical lessons learned. The breakout groups will meet in room C231 & C229. 
• 2nd Grade will also engage in a large group gathering for a time of Biblical teaching in room C230 on the 2nd floor - Merry Midlands. Then will break-out into two small groups for a time of organized activities and discussion to support the Biblical lessons learned. The breakout groups will meet in room C228 & C230
• 3rd Grade will also engage in a large group gathering for a time of Biblical teaching in room C323 on the 3rd floor - Glory Mountain. Then will break-out into two small groups for a time of organized activities and discussion to support the Biblical lessons learned. The breakout groups will meet in room C323 (Boys) & C322 (Girls). 
• Children's Worship takes place in room C316 on the 3rd floor- Glory Mountain for ages 1st-3rd grade. Your child will be dismissed from the Worship Service and escorted to room C316 by Children's Ministry Staff member or volunteer. During Children's Worship, your child will hear the teaching of God's Word. 
• 4th & 5th Grade will engage in a large group gathering in room C316 located on the 3rd floor- Glory Mountain. They will then break out into small groups of 4th grade boys (C327), 4th grade girls (C326), 5th grade boys (C324), 5th grade girls (C325).
• 6th Grade will meet in room C321 on the 3rd floor- Glory Mountain. 

***Please encourage your children to always check-in at a Welcome Desk or a Check-in Station, we want to make sure each child is accounted for and in the right spot!***

If you have questions regarding Children's Ministry at Covenant, please feel free to contact us! We are here to serve and help you and your family. We consider it a privilege and joy to love your children and point them to Christ. Please email or call Laura Tucker at ltucker@covpres.com or 205-871-7002 x 141- she can help you find the answers to your questions!

KidzClub...

On Wednesday, August 29 mid-week activities return to Covenant and that means KidzClub & Music Clubs!

The Children's Ministry is excited about the opportunity to share Christ with your children during KidzClub, which meets from 6:30-7:30 for ages 3K-6th grade! Please register your child by visiting the registration table during Wednesday night dinner. We'll be located right outside the fellowship hall and look forward to seeing you!

Signs are located throughout the church with the room numbers for KidzClub.

Just to give you a little insight into KidzClub...it is an evening of hearing God's Word through age appropriate Bible Study, crafts, games, and little praise & worship too!  (PS if you want to join the fun...email Karen Yendle at  kyendle@covpres.com or Laura Tucker ltucker@covpres.com, we would be happy for you to help with one of our fabulous classes!)

Music Clubs kick-off at 5:00 p.m. for ages 4K-6th grade. Children will enjoy singing to Lord together as they prepare for the Christmas musical "Mission Possible". Classes meet in rooms S100, S101, & S104. Registrations forms are available at the church or email Blenda Given at bgiven@covpres.com for more information.

On a separate note, it is almost time for Promotion Sunday! Sunday, September 9 your children will move to new classrooms for Sunday morning activities! You will receive a postcard in the mail prior to Promotion Sunday with your children's new classrooms, and your children's name tags will reflect their new classrooms. Please be sure to always check your child in at one of our Welcome desk. We still a need a few more teachers...so please consider signing up! You'll be amazed how rewarding it can be! Contact Laura Tucker at 205-871-7002 x 141 or ltucker@covpres.com, she'll be happy to help you sign up!

The Children's Ministry considers it a joy to see your children weekly at Covenant! We are so glad that we get to partner with you in pointing your children to our Savior! Please let us know how we can serve you and your family in this common goal! 

Looking forward to all the Lord will do through each of us for His glory!

It feels like fall y'all!

As the seasons start to change, or it could just be a tease with temps in the 80's. School has started back, and the Covenant Day School and Mother's Day Out are busy preparing to start on September 5.  Football season is on the horizon as well as leaves changing, blue jeans, and cooler days. It makes me excited to think about all God has in store for the children's ministry at Covenant this fall!

KidzClub kicks off on August 29 at 6:30 pm along with Wednesday Night Interactive. We hope your children ages 3k-6th grade will join us  for a time of hearing God's Word, engaging in crafts and play, as well as building friendships! For more information contact Karen Yendle at kyendle@covpres.com or Laura Tucker at ltucker@covpres.com.

Music Clubs - Music with a Mission- is also a great mid-week activity that kicks off on August 29 at 5:00 pm. It is a fun time of singing together with friends as well as a time of preparation for the Music Club's Christmas performance, which will be "Mission Possible". Kids ages 4k-6th grade can participate. Also if you would like to help with Music Clubs, they would love it! For more information email bgiven@covpres.com.

Sunday School classes will promote on Sunday, September 9 as we start the new Sunday schedule (Worship Services at 8:00 & 10:45; Sunday School 9:30). Be on the look out for your child's new Sunday School classroom. Their new classroom will print on their check-in tag. So be sure to help them locate their new room. If you are new to Covenant and want more information on promotion Sunday or Sundays in our Children's Ministry, feel free to contact Laura Tucker at ltucker@covpres.com or 205-871-7002 x 141 and she'll point you in the right direction.

We are still looking for volunteers to help make everything possible! So please see where your gifts, talents, and resources are best suited to serve and sign-up! Please feel free to contact Jocelyn Martin jmartin@covpres.com or Laura Tucker ltucker@covpres.com or call 205-871-7002 x 141 for more information on serving!

Our hope is that the Children's Ministry at Covenant uses every every opportunity to help your children grow in their knowledge and understanding of our Savior! We look forward to seeing all God has planned for this season at Covenant for His glory!

Get your child excited about missions....

Many of you know about the two teams heading to New England for mission trips. How awesome that our church is part of ongoing relationships in these areas and are a part of reaching people with the Gospel!

Sometimes it is not possible for us to pack up and go on a mission trip, but we can still be a part of the mission trip by PRAYING! What better way to get your children excited about missions than making prayer for missions a regular part of your day.

Below are a couple of ideas for making praying for our New England Mission teams engaging for your family and also a list of things to pray for the missions team... Let me give a disclaimer...I am sure I have seen some of these ideas in some sort of way on Pinterest, but am giving them a twist for our mission trips!

1. Take a jar and fill with beans. Purchase a package of jumbo craft sticks. Write down on each craft stick a member of the missions team or a specific prayer request. Stick the craft sticks into the jar of beans. Each day have someone in your family choose a stick. Then pray for what is written on the stick.

2. Take a muffin tin. Then write down on small slips of paper prayer request or names of mission team members. Fold the slips of paper and place in each hole of the muffin tin. Then take pieces of tissue paper and cover the hole. Each day let your children punch open the tissue paper and pull out the piece of paper. Then pray for what is written on the piece of paper.

3. Insert prayer requests written on slips of paper into balloons. Blow up the balloons and then let a child pop the balloon to get the prayer request out.

4. Write prayer requests on mirrors around the house in magic marker. You could change them each morning or leave them up, so as family members are using the mirrors they are reminded of prayer requests

5. Check out the missions blog www.missionmaine.blogspot.com to get updates! What is more exciting than watching the team actually at work spreading the Gospel!

Hopefully these are some fun ways to get your younger children fired up about praying for our missions team! And sometimes getting our children excited can also re-ignite our fire too!

Here are some prayer requests, but check the www.missionmaine.blogspot.com for more prayer requests!

Prayer Requests for Manchester:
Team (12 total): Lois Callen, Dan/Leslie Edwards (Kolya, Christina), Burney Johnson (Roger), Carter/Monica Stewart (Elson, Bradford, Frances).  Pray for spiritual renewal in each of our lives as we serve as a witness to what God has done for us through Christ.
Pray that our team might have unity of spirit, joy in serving, love abounding for the children.
Pray for families as they prepare to travel north.
Church: Church of the Redeemer established 8 years ago.  60-70 in attendance.  Pray that they will prosper.
Pray for Team travel beginning July 5 - 7.  Return July 14.
Expecting 40-50 campers.  Pray that the camp will be effective in its witness.
Pray for our High Schoolers (as counselors) as they make close relationships with campers.
Pray for Monica, Carter, Burney & Dan as they teach Bible lessons each day.
Camp is held in a City Park that has strict use restrictions.  Pray for no problems here.
Pray daily, Camp is held from 10am until 2pm.  Dates: July 9-13 (Mon - Friday)
First year in Manchester, pray for children/families to be reached.
Thursday night is family night, pray for good connections & outreach to families.
Friday night the team will host an outing with church members.  Pray that we will be an encouragement to them.
Sean/Susan/Bailey Doyle arriving Wednesday.  They will arrive at the end of the Manchester camp & transition to the camp in Portland.
Pray for cool, dry weather.
Pray for Lois Callen for strength & stamina. She is working both camps.

Prayer Requests for Portland:
Team (31 total): Rebecca Acken (Colley, Allie, Marshall), Lois Callen, Sean/Susan Doyle (Bailey), Dan/Leslie Edwards (Jake, Kolya, Christina), Sissy Flynn, Phyllis Hamm, Ingram Link (Hank), Joe/Emily Lassiter (Mary Jane), Catherine Luke, Amelia Megginson, Michael Megginson, Ashley Mince (Emily, Sarah), Susan Ragland (Kate, Elizabeth), Simon Yendle (Hayden).  Like Manchester, pray for spiritual renewal in each of our lives as we serve as a witness to what God has done for us through Christ.
Pray that our team might have unity of spirit, joy in serving, love abounding for the children.
Pray for families as they prepare to travel north.
Pray for travel mercies, most of team travels on Saturday, July 14.
Church: Christ the Redeemer establish 11 years ago & is the largest PCA church in New England.  This is our third year in Portland, so pray for continued joint efforts in spreading the gospel.  Pray that CTR will continue to be a bright light to the Portland area.
We are expecting 120 campers.  We are incorporating a new schedule to accommodate the big numbers.  Pray for a smooth running camp and effectiveness in its witness.
Pray for our High Schoolers (as counselors) as they make close relationships with campers.
Pray for Created for a Purpose that older girls will be challenged.
Pray for Built for a Purpose that older boys will be challenged.
Pray for Ingram, Simon, Sean & Dan as they teach Bible lessons each day.
Camp is held at Lyseth Elementary School in a neighborhood targeted by the church.  Pray for effective work in that neighborhood.
Pray daily, camp is held from 9am - 4pm, July 16-20 (Mon - Fri).
Thursday night is family night, pray for good connections & outreach to families.
Pray for cool, dry weather.
Church is hosting us for a lobsterbake on Tuesday night.  That has always been a celebration as Covenant joins them in ministry. Pray for the church in Portland that they will be overwhelmed as God uses us to encourage them.

Bonus Days

Our 5th & 6th grade students enjoyed an awesome Bonus Days week! They started the week with a lock-in and finished the week on an overnight adventure that included ropes course and white water rafting. There were many fun meals, water park, and service project in between. The students had a great experience learning about Worship and building relationships!

Rising 4th graders get excited for your turn next summer!!!

THANK YOU so much to all the parents who helped make the week a success by driving and chaperoning! We truly appreciate all you do!

Special thanks to Chris Freeman for snapping some great pictures of all the action!

What I learned from VBS

One, the Word of God does not return void! I looked at the hundreds of children walking or running the halls, singing, laughing, etc…and I thought to myself each of these children heard the Gospel in a variety of different ways this week. How exciting it is to imagine all the Lord and His Word will accomplish through the children that attended VBS.

As a parent this reminded me how important it is to daily share the Word of God with my children. To be hopeful for the purposes and plans He has for them and desiring to be a part of pointing them to Jesus. VBS was an intentional week of doing that, and I want to intentionally continue to point them to the Word, so it can accomplish much in them for God’s glory!

The other thing that stood out to me during VBS is that a lot of planning, work, decorating, meetings, etc…go into each an every event that takes place at a church. But what really makes the week great is again that the Word of God does not return void. That all our efforts and our works do not accomplish anything apart from the Holy Spirit. That even our greatest accomplishments, events, efforts, ideas are nothing in comparison to what the Lord has planned!

The Lord is gracious to use us. He is gracious to give us talents. He is gracious to give us ideas and plans. But He does GREAT works apart from and in spite of me!

So as summer rolls on, I hope I can slow down long enough to point my children to the Word of God. I hope I can rest in the fact that Jesus is enough! That sometimes my days activities, attitudes, and emotions will get in the way of pointing my children to Christ! But I know that His power is made perfect in my weakness and that His Word will not return void in their lives.