FAMILY PLUS Preschool - April 29

Hi Parents and Grandparents,

I can't get over how quickly the year is going by. In a couple of days we will be in May. Summer will be here before you know it. Then Christmas, okay okay I know that's pushing it a little. The New Generation team has already planned some great events for the Summer. I have put some events that you and your family will not want to miss at the end of this email. I hope you look at the dates and save them to your calendars.

Looking forward to seeing you this Sunday.

Every now and then the Bible stories are different for each age. This weeks stories are different. I have simplified them for you.

Sunday, April 29, 2012, your preschooler will hear this story -

Kindergarten and Wee Worship
Peter Told About Jesus (Matthew 28:16-20; Acts 2:1-2,6-11,14,22,37-41)
Bible story brief -
• While on a mountain in Galilee, Jesus told the disciples to go and teach others. He told them to baptize them. He also said to remember to do everything He had said.
• Peter and the other disciples went to Jerusalem for a special celebration called Pentecost. Many families came to Jerusalem for this special time. People came from many countries and spoke many languages.They could not understand each other.
• The disciples and other believers had gathered together. They heard a loud noise like a loud wind. Suddenly everyone could hear in their own languages what the disciples and other believers were saying.
• Peter and the other disciples knew it was time to tell the people about Jesus.They stood in front of the crowd of people. In a loud voice, Peter called, “Listen, my friends! Let me tell you about Jesus. God sent His Son, Jesus, because He loves you. Jesus did wonderful things. He made sick people well. He helped blind people see. Jesus died on a cross. God made Him alive again. Jesus is alive! Jesus is God’s Son.”
• The people listened to Peter and felt sad. They had not understood that Jesus was God’s Son. They asked Peter and the other disciples, “What should we do?”
• Peter answered, “Talk to God; tell Him you are sorry for doing wrong things. Tell God that you do not want to do wrong things anymore. Thank Him for sending Jesus.”
• Peter talked for a long time. The people were able to understand what Peter said about Jesus. That day, about 3,000 people decided to believe that Jesus is God’s Son.

Bible Truth - People told about Jesus and what He did.
Bible Verse - Tell people everywhere about Jesus. Matthew 28:19-20
Life Application -  I can tell people about Jesus.

Your parent challenge this week - Provide art materials so you and your child can make a picture of Jesus. Write the Bible verse on the picture. Display it on your child’s door. When your child has a friend over to play, suggest your child show the picture of Jesus.

3's - Pre-K
Jesus Helped a Woman (Luke 13:10-13,17)
Bible Story Brief -
• The Bible tells us that Jesus often taught at church. Many people would come to hear Jesus tell about God.
• One day when Jesus was teaching people at church, He saw a woman there. She was bent over. The woman could not stand tall and straight. For a long time, this woman had not been able to straighten her back. How sad she must have been.
• Jesus called for the woman to come to Him. When the woman got to where Jesus stood, He told her that she was well. Then Jesus touched the woman with His hands, and immediately she could stand up straight! Jesus had made her back well!
• The woman was so happy! She had been bent over. Now she could straighten her back and stand up tall. The woman thanked Jesus for making her well. Many people at church were happy about what Jesus had done.

Bible Truth - Jesus cared about people.
Life Application - I will hear that Jesus cared about people He met.
Bible Verse - Jesus cared about people. Mark 6:34

Your parent challenge this week - Ask your child to tell you a favorite song about Jesus. Sing it together. Point to the Bible verse on the weekly take home page. Pray together, thanking God for sending Jesus, who cared about people.


Reminders:
* Summer Nights For Families June 10
* Summer Jam June 11-15
* Summer Nights For Families July 8
* Preschool Day Camp July 9 - 13

Send me those schedules. I would love to show up at your child's event.

If there is something that I can help you pray about with you or your family please let me know.          
                                 
Thank you for allowing us to partner with you in guiding your child spiritually.

Bridget :)

FAMILY PLUS Preschool - April 19

Hi Parents and Grandparents,

This morning I had the opportunity to visit some sweet friends in the hospital. They delivered their second child. I found myself just staring at her. I was thinking, "how precious she is to her parents and how so very precious she is to Jesus".  I look forward to serving her (and all our preschoolers). I can't wait to start teaching her that Jesus will be her friend and that Jesus loves her. Luke 18:15-17 says “Let the little children come to Me, and don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." I love that verse.

I left the hospital and stopped by the park where The Glade Playgroup were meeting today. It was such a gorgeous day to be at the park. I am very grateful for this group. If you don't know about this group, you should try to hook up with them sometime. The group is for preschoolers and their parents. They try to meet once a month and plan activities for your little ones. It's a great way for you to fellowship with young parents and their little ones. They have a facebook group called The Glade Playgroup. Today they met at the park. I hope you look them up. I hope to see you at their next event.

This Sunday, April 22, 2012, your preschooler will hear this story -

Jesus Helped His Disciples (John 21:1-17)
Bible story brief -
• “I’m going fishing,” Peter said to some of Jesus’ disciples.Thomas and Nathanael were there. So were James and John.The men were near the Sea of Galilee.
• “We’ll go fishing with you,” the men said.They took a boat out into the water. They fished all night, but they did not catch any fish.
• Early the next morning, the men saw someone standing on the shore.They could not tell who the man was.The man called,“Friends, don’t you have any fish?”
• “No,” the disciples answered. • “Throw the net on the right side of the boat,” He said. “You’ll find fish there.” • When the men threw out their net, they could not pull the net into the boat.
There were too many fish in it. • John said to Peter, “That man is Jesus!” As soon as Peter heard that, he put on his
coat and jumped into the water. • The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish. When they
reached the shore, they saw a fire.There were some fish cooking.There was also bread. Jesus said, “Bring some of the fish you have caught.” Peter climbed into the boat and dragged the net to the shore.The disciples counted 153 large fish.
• Jesus said to the disciples,“Come and eat breakfast.”When Jesus and the disciples finished eating, Jesus talked to Peter. Jesus gave Peter a special job to do. Jesus told Peter to tell people about Him.

Bible Truth - Jesus loved and helped His disciples.
Life Application - I can learn Jesus loved and helped His disciples.
Bible Verse - Jesus gave His disciples food to eat. John 21:13

Your parent challenge this week - Plan a meal that includes fish and bread. Say: “This meal reminds me of your Bible story this week. ” Guide your child to review the story with you. Read the story from the weekly take home page the night before you plan this meal. Enjoy your time together teaching your child.


Reminders:
* Kids Night Out April 27th Deadline April 18
* Summer Nights For Families June 10
* Summer Jam June 11-15

Send me those schedules. I would love to show up at your childs event.

If there is something that I can help you pray about with you or your family please let me know.          
                                 
Thank you for allowing us to partner with you in guiding your child spiritually.

Bridget :)

FAMILY PLUS Preschool - April 12

Dear Parents and Grandparents,

 I love this weeks Bible Story (I love them all of course, this one is one of my favorites.) I can't even imagine walking down the road as the two men in the story and not recognize Jesus. I can, however,  imagine the excitement when they finally figured out they had been walking and sitting at the table with Jesus. That excitement should show up in our every day lives. "Jesus is ALIVE!!!!"

This Sunday, April 15, 2012, your preschooler will hear this story -

Two Men saw Jesus (Luke 24:13-35)
Bible Story Brief -

• Two men were walking on the road to a village near Jerusalem called Emmaus (eh MAY uhs). They were talking and arguing about what had happened to Jesus during the past week.
• As they walked, Jesus joined them, but they did not recognize Him. Jesus asked the men why they were arguing. One of them, Cleopas (KLEE oh puhs), said, “You must be the only one who doesn’t know what has been happening in Jerusalem. ”The two men began to tell Jesus about the events of the last few days.
• “Jesus was performing miracles and telling people about God,” they said. “The government leaders decided He should die. He died on a cross. Three days later some women went to the tomb. It was empty. An angel said that He was alive! Some of the people with us went to the tomb and did not see Him.”
• Jesus began telling the two men all that was written in the Bible about Himself. As they came near Emmaus, the men invited Him to stay with them. They still did not recognize Jesus. As the three men sat at the table, Jesus took the bread, prayed over it, and tore a piece for each one. Then the men recognized Him. It was Jesus sitting at their table! Suddenly, Jesus was gone.
• The men returned to Jerusalem that night to find the disciples. They said they had walked with Jesus but did not recognize Him. But when He blessed the bread and broke it, they knew who He was.They had seen Jesus—alive!
  

Bible Truth -  People told that Jesus was alive.
Life Application - I can learn people told that Jesus was alive.
Bible Verse - The men told people about Jesus. Acts 11:20

This weeks challenge - Take a walk around your neighborhood. Lead your child to find things that are alive and things that are not alive. Stop and find a place to sit for a moment. Tell this week’s Bible story. You can use the weekly take home page. Say a prayer thanking God that Jesus is alive.


Reminders:
* Kids Night Out April 27th Deadline April 18
* Summer Nights For Families June 10
* Summer Jam June 11-15

Send me those schedules. I would love to show up at your childs event.

If there is something that I can help you pray about with you or your family please let me know.          
                                 
Thank you for allowing us to partner with you in guiding your child spiritually.

Bridget :)

FAMILY PLUS Preschool - April 5

Hey Parents and Grandparents,

I hope you are enjoying the beautiful weather we have been having. I know I am. Sometime this week talk with your preschooler about this week’s Bible story. Help your preschooler find the word Jesus in the Bible story passage. If possible, allow your child to use a highlighter to highlight Jesus in a Bible. Use conversation to help your child understand that Jesus is alive. Most importantly enjoy your time together teaching about "Jesus Is Alive!"
I look forward to seeing you at one of the three services that we are having this weekend. Saturday, April 7 at 7 pm. Sunday, April 8th 9:15 am and 10:45 am.

This Sunday, April 8, 2012, your preschooler will hear this story -

Jesus Is Alive! (John 20:1-18)
Bible Story Brief -

• Early in the morning, Mary Magdalene walked toward a hill outside Jerusalem. She was sad. Jesus had died on the cross and had been buried for three days. She was walking to the garden to see the tomb where Jesus was buried.
• When she got to the tomb, she saw that it was open. The big, heavy stone had been rolled away from the opening.The tomb was empty!
• Mary ran to find Peter and John, two of Jesus’ disciples. “They have taken Jesus from the tomb,” Mary said. “I don’t know where they have put Him!”
• Peter and John ran to the tomb.They looked inside. They saw pieces of cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ body. Jesus was gone! 
• Peter and John went home, but Mary Magdalene stood near the tomb. She was crying. Mary bent over to look inside the tomb again. She saw two angels sitting where Jesus’ body had been. “Why are you crying?” the angels asked. “Someone took Jesus away. I don’t know where He is,” Mary Magdalene said.
• Mary turned around and saw a man nearby.“Why are you crying?” He asked. Mary thought the man was the gardener. She said, “If you’ve taken Jesus away, please tell me where He is.”
• “Mary,” the man said. Mary Magdalene knew the man’s voice. He was Jesus. Jesus said,“Go and tell My disciples that you have seen Me.”
• Mary ran and found the disciples. She said, “I have seen Jesus! He is alive!”

Bible Verse -  Jesus is alive! Matthew 28:7
Bible Truth - Jesus died on the cross and is alive.
Life Application - I will discover Jesus died on the cross and is alive.

Your parent challenge this week - Make a special effort to keep the emphasis of Easter on Jesus. Use conversation to help your child understand that we celebrate Easter because Jesus is alive. Look together in the Bible at pictures of Jesus. Lead your child to pick her favorite picture of Jesus. Celebrate at a meal that Jesus is alive!

Reminders:

* Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, April 7th 10a.m. don't forget your bucket
* Kids Night Out April 27th 

Send me those schedules. I would love to show up at your childs event. 

If there is something that I can help you pray about with you or your family please let me know.           
                                   
Thank you for allowing us to partner with you in guiding your child spiritually.

Bridget :)