FAMILY PLUS Preschool - December 28

Hi Parents and Grandparents! 

It is very hard for me to believe that a year has passed. 2013 is just days away. I hope that 2013 brings you great joy. My prayer for your children is the same for my own, that they grow even closer to the Lord every day. That their relationship with our Lord and Savior is stronger with each new day. Happy New Year and God bless you all.

Start off the new year helping your children do just that by coming to the Family Plus Event on January 2, 2013.
Join us for some great chili, a 70's theme party for adults, and learn about what New Generations has in store for 2013! The cost is $5 per family.6:00 pm: Dinner for the family.
Chef Chris is cooking up his delicious chili recipes! It will be on the table and ready to eat at 6:00 pm - Sharp!
6:30 pm: Break time.
Kids/students will go to their regular activities.
6:45 pm - 7:30 pm: 70's Theme Party for Adults.
Adults are invited to join us upstairs for a party (follow the signs) where we will be serving dessert! We will also be sharing information about families at the Glade Church in 2013! Hopefully we will see you there.
For more information contact New Generations at newgenerations@thegladechurch.org

This Sunday, December 30, 2012, your preschooler will hear this story -

The Wise Men Visited Jesus Matthew 2:1-12
Bible Story Brief -
• Far from Bethlehem, wise men watched the stars in the nighttime sky. One night they saw a new star shining brightly.They knew the star meant a special child had been born.They wanted to see Him and give Him gifts.
• The wise men traveled across the desert sand to Jerusalem.There they asked King Herod, “Where is the special child? We saw a bright star in the sky and knew He had been born.We want to worship Him.”
• King Herod was not happy to hear about Jesus. He called the priests and teachers together and asked them where the baby was to be born.They answered,“In Bethlehem.That’s what the Bible scroll says.”
• Then King Herod told the wise men to go to Bethlehem. He said, “Go! Look for the boy.When you find Him, tell me so I can go and worship Him, too.”
• After leaving King Herod, the wise men saw the bright star again and followed it until it stopped over the house where Jesus was.They were very glad! They entered the house and saw Jesus with His mother, Mary. The wise men bowed down to worship Jesus.Then they gave their gifts to Jesus.
• Mary and her little boy, Jesus, looked at the sparkling gold. They smelled the sweet perfumes of frankincense and myrrh.
• When it was time for the wise men to leave, God told them in a dream not to go back to King Herod. So they traveled home on a different road.

Bible Verse - The wise men worshiped Jesus. Matthew 2:11

Life Application - I can learn that people recognized that Jesus was special and worshiped Him.

Bible Truth - People knew Jesus was special.

Weekly Parent Challenge - Take the wise men from a nativity set and hide them where your child will discover them. Challenge your child to find the wise men and bring them to Jesus so they can worship Him. Use your own words to tell the Bible story. Help children understand that Jesus was a very young child when the wise men came to Him.

Save these dates:
* Wednesday, January 2, 2013 Family Plus Event 6pm

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 :)

Christmas - December 21

Dear Parents and Grandparents,

This Sunday, December 23, 2012 we will have a different kind of service. At 10:30 we will have a birthday party for Jesus. click here for more information on this service. We will have one morning service with no groups or childcare. Also we will have two services at 6:00pm and 7:30pm that will be different from the morning service. Childcare will be available for the night services, birth - Kindergarten. You will not want to miss these services. I hope to see you there.

The month of December I have been sharing Christmas traditions with you. I asked several of you and a few of my friends to tell me stories of their childhood Christmas traditions. Not having a 9:15 Sunday School time, I saved this one for this week. You can start or add this tradition this Christmas Eve. Please enjoy my friends story in his own words. He is one of three sons.

My Childhood Christmas tradition...

My greatest memories of Christmas revolved around Family. Every Christmas Eve, after the hustle and bustle of the day, Dad would build a fire in our wood burning fire place. Now a days a wood burning fire place is a rarity with the convenience of gas and propane. But there is just something about the crackling of the wood and unexpected color changes of the fire that you just can't replace.

After the fire had been built, we all sat down to eat a meal together. After we shared a meal it was time for hot chocolate or apple cider, my favorite was hot chocolate. With beverage in hand, we all sat down for what had become a tradition with our family. Christmas just wouldn't be the same without dad/mom reading Christmas stories to us.

Sitting by the fire the first story began..."twas the night before Christmas and all through the house." After we finished this holiday classic, we turned our attention to the a another story of Christmas. Luke 2:1-20 The story of Immanuel, God with Us. The King of Glory came in flesh, born of a virgin, lived among us was the finale of the night. Now with three boys, reading through two stories seemed like eternity and there were probably a few yawns, and thoughts of tearing into my gifts the next morning distracted me, but I will never forget the priority my parents placed on Christ at Christmas.

I am thankful for the Christmas tradition that my parents created. A tradition that focused on the true meaning of Christmas. A tradition that will never be forgotten, in fact, to be continued.

Parents, create your traditions, but while you create ask yourself a question, "What traditions are we creating that points to Immanuel?"

I hope you and your family have a very merry Christmas!

Let me know if there is anything I can help you pray about.

Bridget :)

FAMILY PLUS Preschool - December 14

Hi Parents and Grandparents!

I have enjoyed reading about your family traditions this month that you have sent me. If you do not have one, I hope you can start one or more of the great traditions that I have reported to you so far.

Here is another one for you;

You can find a charitable organization that needs volunteer help either for Christmas Eve Or in preparation for Christmas Day activities.

Shelia Weathers made me aware of an event that she is helping put together for The Bridge Ministry called "The Bridge To Christmas". It is at Municipal Auditorium on December 22nd and the guests of honor are the homeless/poor. You can buy a toy, wrap it, mark on a tag if for boy or girl, for what age, one word what toy is and get it to Shelia. You and your family can also be the hands and feet of Jesus that day. Contact Shelia at 426-5758 to sign up or for more info.

Remember it is not the gifts they will remember, its the experience of being together and the bonding time that your family has together. Your family traditions can be passed on to generations after generations.

This Sunday, December 16, 2012, your preschooler will hear this story -

Bible Story Brief -
Jesus Was Born Luke 2:1-20
• Caesar Augustus made a law. He wanted to count all the people in the country. Joseph and Mary had to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem to be counted. It was almost time for Mary’s baby to be born.
• In Bethlehem, Mary and Joseph needed a place to sleep. The inn, where travelers stayed, was full. So they stayed elsewhere. During the night, Mary’s baby was born! Mary wrapped her tiny baby boy in soft cloths. Gently, she laid Him in a manger.
• In the fields nearby, shepherds were taking care of their sheep. Suddenly they saw an angel.A bright light shone around them.They were frightened.
• The angel told the shepherds, “Do not be afraid. I have good news for everyone. Today in Bethlehem a baby has been born.The baby is Jesus, God’s Son. You will find Him wrapped in soft cloths and lying in a manger. ”Then many more angels gathered, and they praised God.
• After the angels left, the shepherds said, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see the baby!” They hurried to Bethlehem where they found Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus. Jesus was lying in the manger, just as the angel had said.
• On the way home, the shepherds thanked God.They told everyone the good news that Baby Jesus—God’s Son—had been born. People were amazed at what the shepherds said. Mary remembered all the things that happened on this special night, and she thought about them over and over.

Bible Verse - Good news! Jesus was born. Luke 2:10-11

Life Application - I can learn that Jesus was born just as God planned.

Bible Truth - Jesus was born as God planned.

Save these dates:
* Wednesday, January 2, 2013 Family Plus Event 6pm

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 - December 7

Hi Parents and Grandparents!

I have more Christmas traditions for you this week. I wish I would have done some of these things when my children were small. I will however start some with my grandchildren.
Here is a tradition that I know that children will remember forever. From my own experience its not the gifts that they will remember. They will remember the special time together as a family around the season.
Twenty five days before Christmas buy books, wrap them and put them under the tree. At bed time every night have your child open one book. Read the book to your preschooler at bed time.
This is a great idea. I know books could be costly. They do not have to be expensive books or you could have just a few books for every weekend til Christmas Eve. Here are a few of my favorite Christmas time books: The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado, The Legend of the Three Trees by Catherine McCafferty, What God Wants for Christmas by Amy Bradford and my new favorite, Humprhrey's First Christmas by Carol Heyer. Every book does not have to be about Christmas.

This Sunday, December 9, 2012, your preschooler will hear this story -

Mary and Joseph Heard Good News Luke 1:26-56; Matthew 1:18-25
Bible Story Brief -
• Mary lived in the town of Nazareth. One day God sent the angel Gabriel to talk to Mary. “Mary,” Gabriel said, “God is pleased with you. He has chosen you.” Mary was afraid.
• “Do not be afraid, Mary,” the angel said. “You will give birth to a son and call Him Jesus. He will grow up to be great.” Mary still did not understand.
• Gabriel explained,“The baby will be God’s Son. Elizabeth, your relative, is going to have a baby, too, even though she is old. God can do things that people think are impossible to do!”
• Mary said,“I will do whatever God wants. ”Then the angel left her.
• Mary packed her things and hurried over the hills to visit Elizabeth. When Mary arrived, Elizabeth said, “Mary, your baby is God’s Son!” How happy Mary and Elizabeth were! Mary sang a song to thank God.
• Joseph also lived in Nazareth. Joseph was a kind man who obeyed God and didwhat was right. He was going to marry Mary.
• One night while Joseph was sleeping, God sent an angel to Joseph in a dream. The angel said, “Joseph, do not be afraid to marry Mary. She is going to have ababy. The baby is God’s Son. You will name Him Jesus. He will help all people.”
• When Joseph awoke, he did what God told him to do. Joseph and Mary weremarried. They became a family and waited for the day when Jesus would be born.

Bible Verse - You will give birth to a son and call Him Jesus. Luke 1:31
Life Application - I can learn that God chose Mary and Joseph to be Baby Jesus’ family.
Bible Truth - God planned for Baby Jesus to have a family.

 

Your parent challenge this week - Make sure a family picture is on display somewhere in your home. Move it to a new location. Challenge your child to find the family picture. As you look at the picture together, identify each family member. Comment: “God planned for us to be a family. God planned for Jesus to have a family, too. Mary and Joseph were Jesus’ family.”


Save these dates:
* Wednesday, January 2, 2013 Family Plus Event 6pm


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 :)