Sunday, December 14th

Teaching Staff:

Preschool: 9:30 Karen Hoffman 11:15 Jen Turner

Lower Elementary: 9:30 Janie Schwab 11:15 Jen McKinnon

Upper Elementary: 11:15 Dan Carrel

Monthly Worship Songs: Do You Hear what I hear? Away in a manger, Joy to the World

This week In Preschool & Lower Elementary...

CNX Kids learned: “Jesus is God’s Son!”

On Sunday, preschoolers and lower elementary students learned the second part of the true story of Christmas. Joseph and Mary had looked and looked but couldn’t find a place to stay anywhere, and Baby Jesus was about to be born! Finally, someone let them stay in their stable with the animals, and that is where Jesus was born.

Together, we shared in the joy of this wonderful news as we practiced our special worship songs and then created a stable craft to remember our Bible story.

This week in upper elementary…

CNX Kids learned: Wise people seek Jesus every day.

This Sunday, Upper Elementary kids heard the story of the wise men and saw how they processed what God was doing through the Bethlehem star.

Here’s the thing. Anyone could have followed that star, but not everyone did. Most people missed out. As far as we know, no one else even noticed the star. If they did, they didn’t know what it meant or have the courage to do anything about it.

CNX Kids learned that wise people seek Jesus every day. It was true 2,000 years ago. It’s still true today.

This week God may not hang a new star right over your houses to get your attention, but He will try to get your attention in other ways. It may be through a Bible verse or a song. It may be through a thought that pops into your head while you’re praying. It may be through something someone says to you or just through something that happens to you in your day.

However God speaks into their lives this week, CNX Kids are ready!

Hey Parents,

Want to explore this week’s lesson with your child at home?

Here’s how!!

Preschool & Lower elementary School:

Review the weekly Bible story by reading it together

Luke 2:1-7

Jesus, God’s only son, is born in a stable.

Help your children live out this week’s Bible verse by finding examples of it in their own lives and yours.

“God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son.” John 3:16

Try out the following activity:

Name one specific Christmas decoration before you begin to drive. It can be anything! A Christmas tree, snowman, lights…whatever you want it to be. Every time you see that decoration, point it out and together say, “Happy Birthday, Jesus!” After all, Christmas is all about Jesus’ birthday! Without Jesus there would be no Christmas. He’s that special! Why is Jesus special? Jesus is God’s Son.

Set aside time throughout the week to pray together:

“Dear God, thank You for loving us so much that You would give us all of our friends and family. Thank You for (name of loved one) and for … (repeat with each loved one). But more than anything, thank You for loving us so much that You gave us Your only Son, Jesus, to be our friend forever. We love You, God. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

upper elementary School:

Encourage your child to explain to you how they have learned ways that: Wise people seek Jesus every day.

Review the weekly Bible story by reading it together:

The wise men worship Jesus (Matthew 2)

Help your children live out this week’s Bible verse by finding examples of it in their own lives and yours.

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. — Jeremiah 29:13

Try out the following activity:

This week your kids learned that the wise men recognized the activity of God in their lives, processed it, and put what God showed them into action by seeking out Jesus. Make a game of finding Jesus this week with your kids. Take a baby Jesus figure from a nativity set or cut out a picture of Jesus from a Christmas card if you don’t have a nativity set. Hide the figure or the picture in plain sight somewhere new every morning. See who can be the first person to find Jesus each day. Let whoever finds him hide Jesus the next day.

Have a Dinnertime Discussion!

At dinnertime this week, ask one of these questions to get your family talking.

• How hard was it to find Jesus today? 

• Who do you think is going to find him first tomorrow? 

• What are some ways we can look for the real Jesus every day? 

• How can we put what Jesus tells us into action? 


Use these questions to help kids develop the habit of looking for God’s activity in their every day circumstances, processing it with family and spiritual friends, and acting on what God tells them to do.

Set aside time throughout the week to pray together:

God, thank You that You love us and that You want to us to find Jesus every day. Thanks for showing up in our lives in really cool ways. Help us to pay attention and look for You with all of our hearts this week.

Amen.

Sunday, December 7th

Teaching Staff:

Preschool: 9:30 Nicole Humphrey 11:15 Tomra Bazer

Lower Elementary: 9:30 Ant Abraham 11:15 Nicole Humphrey

Upper Elementary: 11:15 Steve Hand

Monthly Worship Songs: Do You Hear what I hear? Away in a manger, Joy to the World

This week In Preschool & Lower Elementary...

CNX Kids learned: “Jesus is God’s Son!”

On Sunday, preschoolers and lower elementary students learned how the angel Gabriel brought Mary the greatest news ever—that she was going to give birth to God’s son and name him Jesus!

Together, we shared in the joy of this wonderful news as we practiced our special worship songs and then created an angel craft to remember our Bible story.

This week in upper elementary…

CNX Kids learned: We can share what God tells us with others.

This Sunday, Upper Elementary kids continued to talk about how really great news just can’t be contained!  They learned that the shepherds couldn’t keep the news of Jesus’ birth to themselves. The Bible says that, after they had seen Jesus, they told everyone about what had happened and everything the angels had said about this child. He was here! He was finally here! The Savior had come at last!

CNX Kids learned that the same is true for all of us! Just like the shepherds, you can share God’s good news with everyone you meet. Not just at Christmas but at any time. The biggest, greatest news you could ever share is that on that first Christmas many years ago, God’s Son came to earth to invite all us to be friends with God no matter who we are or what we’ve done. That’s really good news!

Hey Parents,

Want to explore this week’s lesson with your child at home?

Here’s how!!

Preschool & Lower elementary School:

Review the weekly Bible story by reading it together

The angel told Mary she would have a special baby.

The Angel and Mary • Luke 1:26-33, 38, 46

Help your children live out this week’s Bible verse by finding examples of it in their own lives and yours.

“God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son.” John 3:16

Try out the following activity:

While sitting with the family, play a little game of messenger. Tell your child he will be the messenger and it’s his job to deliver the messages you give him. Whisper a message in his ear and tell him which family member to deliver it to. It can be anything encouraging such as, “I like your shirt,” “You are super smart!” or “You have a great smile!” Remind your child about how God sent an angel to deliver a special message to Mary. What was the message? She was going to have baby Jesus.

Set aside time throughout the week to pray together:

“Dear God, this is such a special time of year. We are so thankful You loved us enough to give us Jesus to be our friend forever. Thank You for giving (name of child) Jesus to be his friend. And thank You for giving me Jesus to be my friend. Knowing You love us and that Jesus is our friend forever is the bestest news ever! We love You, God. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

upper elementary School:

Encourage your child to explain to you how they have learned ways that: We can share what God tells us with others.

Review the weekly Bible story by reading it together:

Jesus sends out the disciples (Luke 10:1-10)

Help your children live out this week’s Bible verse by finding examples of it in their own lives and yours.

When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child. — Luke 2:17

Try out the following activity:

This week your kids learned about how the angels shared the good news of Jesus with the shepherds, who then shared it with others. They also talked about how they could share Jesus with the People of Peace in their lives – those who are open to receiving whatever God wants to say through you to them about Jesus.

For this week’s challenge, place any Christmas cards you’ve received in a bowl. Let one of your children close his or her eyes and draw out a card before dinner or bedtime each night. Take some time to pray for whoever’s card they choose. Give thanks for people in your lives who have helped you follow Jesus and pray for God to connect you with People of Peace to share Jesus with this Christmas as well.

Have a Dinnertime Discussion!

At dinnertime this week, ask one of these questions to get your family talking.

• Who are some of your favorite people to spend time with? 

• Who are some new friends that God has brought into our lives this year? 
• Who are some of the People of Peace that God has brought into our lives? 

• How can we serve and share with these People of Peace this week? 


Use these questions to help kids learn to identify the People of Peace in their lives and to share Jesus when God supernaturally opens a door.

Set aside time throughout the week to pray together:

God, thank You for sending Jesus so we can be Your kids. Thank You for sending the angels to tell the shepherds about Him, and thanks for sending the shepherds to tell all the other people too. Please show us some People of Peace this week whom we can love and talk to about the real story of Christmas. Amen.

Two weeks of Gratitude...and some early Christmas cheer!

11-23 Teaching Staff:

Preschool: 9:30 Karen Hoffman 11:15 Jen Turner

Lower Elementary: 9:30 Pam Myers 11:15 Lisa + Wade Shelden

Upper Elementary: 11:15 Chad Humphrey

11-30 Teaching Staff:

Preschool: 9:30 Chad Humphrey 11:15 Nicole Humphrey

Lower Elementary: 9:30 Joe Kinnarney 11:15 Jen McKinnon

Upper Elementary: 11:15 Dan Carrel

Monthly Worship Song: You’re Worthy of My Praise

In preschool & lower elementary…

CNX Kids learned: ” Thank You, God, for everything!”

This month our young friends are learning to say, “Thank You, God.”
Thank You, God, for the trees outside. Thank You, God, for the food I eat. Thank You, God, for my toes and my feet. They’re learning that they can thank God for everything.

When is the last time you said “Thank You” to God? Yesterday at the dinner table? Or was it last night before bed? Did your toddler hear you thanking Him? Does she know you are thankful, too?

Model a thankful heart this month and watch your child join in the fun while growing in gratitude. You could even start a “Thankful Tree” on the kitchen wall where you draw or write something you’re thankful for on a colorful leaf. When you add it to the wall, you say “Thank You, God” in front of your whole family.

in upper elementary…

CNX Kids learned: I can do anything God wants me to do + I can choose to follow God no matter what.

Every kid wants to have the biggest, best Christmas ever. Kids in Upper Elementary have begun to discover that having the biggest Christmas isn’t about the number of gifts they receive, the cookies they eat, or the decorations on their trees. The biggest, best Christmas is a Christmas where kids learn
to recognize God’s activity in their everyday lives and make the decision to do something about it.

Christmas reminds us that God loves to break into the world
of ordinary people just like us. From Mary and Joseph to the shepherds to the wise men, this series looks at the major players of the Christmas story and how they responded when God showed up in some surprising ways.

Hey Parents,

Want to explore this week’s lesson with your child at home?

Here’s how!!

Preschool & Lower elementary School:

Review the weekly Bible stories by reading them together

1. I am thankful God made the sky and sun and moon and stars.

Sky • Genesis 1:14-19

2. I am thankful God made people.

Adam and Eve • Genesis 1:26-27, 2:7, 20-23

Help your children live out this month’s Bible verse by finding examples of it in their own lives and yours.

“I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart.” Psalm 111:1, ESV

Try out the following activity:

Grab a dry erase marker and stand in front of a mirror with your child.  Look at your faces. Now take the marker and add a fancy moustache or a beard to your reflection by drawing on the mirror. What about some long eyelashes or big red lips? Have fun with this! Each time you want to start over just wipe away your drawings from the mirror and begin again. It’s fun to see what you would look like with purple hair! Talk about how God made every person different and special and He loves us all!

Set aside time throughout the week to pray together:

“Dear God, thank You for making such an amazing sky filled with a sun to give us light and keep us warm and a beautiful moon at night. You have given us so many special people to love and who love us back. We can’t thank You enough. You are so good, God, and we love You. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

upper elementary School:

Encourage your child to explain to you how they have learned ways that: I can do anything God wants me to do + I can choose to follow God no matter what.

Review the weekly Bible stories by reading them together:

1. An angel visits Zechariah and Mary (Luke 1:1-38)

2. The life of Joseph the carpenter (Matthew 1-2)

Help your children live out these Bible verses by finding examples of them in their own lives and yours.

1.  For nothing is impossible with God – Luke 1:37

2. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
— Romans 8:28

Try out the following activity:

Get online this week and Google “world records” and talk to your kids about some of the things that people did that seemed impossible. Then talk about how some things are truly impossible without God no matter how much we try. Discuss challenges your family is facing right now and how you can trust God to help you to do hard things.

Have a Dinnertime Discussion!

At dinnertime this week, ask one of these questions to get your family talking.

• What’s your favorite thing about Christmas? 

• What is the biggest Christmas surprise you can remember? 

• Before the first Christmas, how did Mary react to God’s surprising news from the angel? How did Zechariah react? 

• Is there anything in our lives right now that seems too big for God to handle? 


Use these questions to help kids develop faith in God to do whatever He says He will do and to help them to walk through difficult situations.

Set aside time throughout the week to pray together:

God, we know that nothing is impossible for You. We know that we can do whatever you want us to do, even if it seems tough or scary. Please teach us to be like Mary and have big faith in you our big God.

Amen.