Sunday, August 10th

Teaching Staff:

Preschool: 9:30 Karen Hoffman 11:15 Lauren Kirkman + Randi Baumgartner

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

Upper Elementary: 11:15 Steve Hand

Monthly Worship Song: ”Our God”

This week In Preschool & Lower Elementary...

CNX Kids learned: ” The Bible is better than gold!”

On Sunday, preschoolers and lower elementary students studied John 3:16 and learned that Jesus is our friend who loves us with all his heart!  To begin, we played a game of musical chairs and then talked about how while it was fun, it wasn’t fun when it was time for a friend to leave. Our Bible story taught that Jesus is a friend that will never leave.  He wants to be our friend forever!

To remember that Jesus is the sweetest friend we will ever have, preschoolers and lower elementary students created bracelets and necklaces made of Fruit Loops! All morning long, kids marveled at the sweet smell that came from their work.  It was near impossible to keep them from eating what they had made!

Finally, for our small group time, we talked about forgiveness.  We discussed that God loves us so much that He sent His Son Jesus to give us the gift of forgiveness. When we accept this forgiveness, God erases our sin.  We practiced asking for forgiveness in our prayer journals.

This week in upper elementary…

CNX Kids learned: God wants us to ask for forgiveness and to forgive those who hurt us. 

This Sunday, kids in upper elementary learned that we all make mistakes in life, but the fact is that
all our mistakes aren’t accidents. Sometimes we intentionally do what’s wrong. We do things our
way instead of God’s way. The Bible calls that sin. Sin is when we choose to do the wrong thing or when we refuse to do the right thing. It’s missing the bulls- eye on the perfect life God made us to live.  The good news, though, is when it comes to the wrong things we’ve done, God has given us a free pass.  This is a free pass for us, but it is expensive to God. God sent His Son Jesus to die on a cross to buy our free pass for sin. And now, God erases our sin when we accept Jesus’ gift of forgiveness.

Hey Parents,

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

Here’s how!!

Preschool + Lower Elementary:

Review the weekly Bible story by reading it together

John 3:16

The Bible is better than gold and it teaches us that Jesus wants to be my friend forever.

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

“Your teachings are worth more to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.” Psalm 119:72, NCV

Try out the following activity:

As you bathe your child, or help him get ready for bed, ask him to tell you who his favorite friends are. Talk about the things that make them special as your child names them. Maybe they’re really nice or silly or good at sports. Tell your child: “There is a very special Someone who wants to be your friend forever. JESUS! What makes Jesus special? He’s God’s Son, and He loves us very much!”

Set aside time throughout the week to pray together:

“God, You are our King, and so we want what you want. We know in your kingdom people forgive each other. But sometimes that’s hard... Help us to be kind like our forever friend Jesus and forgive others even though they hurt us.
Amen

Upper Elementary School:

Encourage your child to explain to you how they have learned ways that: God wants us to ask for forgiveness and to forgive those who hurt us.

Review the weekly Bible story by reading it together:

Jesus forgives Peter (John 21:15-17); The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13)

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

Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. — Matthew 6:12

Try out the following activity:

Use construction paper, crayons or any art supplies you have in the house to make several Free Pass cards for your family. Each card should say something like: “I’m giving you a free pass, just like God did for me!” Put the cards in a bowl on your dining room table and practice giving them
to each other this week when you need to forgive someone in your house. Help kids understand what it means to extend grace to one another instead of holding a grudge or trying to get revenge. Model a forgiving heart for your kids.

Have a Dinnertime Discussion!

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

• Have you ever had a friend disappoint you or hurt your feelings?  How did that make you feel?
• Were you tempted to get revenge or hold a grudge?
• What makes it so hard to forgive others?
• Is there anyone you need to forgive this week or anyone you need to ask to forgive you?

Pray with kids, asking God to help them to forgive those who have wronged them or to ask for forgiveness for themselves.

Continue to work on memorizing and praying the Lord’s prayer from Matthew 6 as a family.

Set aside time throughout the week to pray together:

God, You are our King, and so we want what you want. We know in your kingdom people forgive each other. But sometimes that’s hard. We need your help to forgive people even though they hurt us.

Amen

Sunday, August 3rd

Teaching Staff:

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

Lower Elementary: 9:30 Mickey Schroeder 11:15 Jen McKinnon

Upper Elementary: 11:15 Chad Humphrey

Monthly Worship Song: ”Our God”

This week In Preschool & Lower Elementary...

CNX Kids learned: ” The Bible is better than gold!”

On Sunday, preschoolers and lower elementary students studied Acts 2:45 and learned that the Bible teaches us that we should share our stuff.  During class, everything we did was about sharing.  To begin, we worked on an icebreaker in which kids shared building materials to create the strongest, tallest structure that they could!

To remember this lesson, preschoolers and lower elementary students created crafts to share with loved ones.  Children were encouraged to use their creativity to make anything they wanted with the materials that were available.  The only rule—sharing was a must!

Finally, kids wrote in their prayer journals, talking to God about ways they could share—their possessions, their gifts, and themselves!

This week in upper elementary…

CNX Kids learned: God is our dad in Heaven, and we can talk to Him about anything.

“Give us this day our daily bread”

This Sunday, kids in upper elementary continued to learn about the Lord’s Prayer.  We focused on the difference between our “wants” versus our “needs”.  Jesus teaches us to pray for what we need and not just for what we want.  The kids identified that our provisions of food, water, clothing, shelter are far different than our wants of candy, Iphones, and even a 50 bird aviary! J  In addition to learning about our daily physical needs, the upper elementary kids talked about what our most important daily provision is; Jesus.  They learned that starting each day with looking at Jesus as our daily provision gives a good start to the day.

Hey Parents,

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

Here’s how!!

Preschool + Lower Elementary:

Review the weekly Bible story by reading it together

The Bible tells me to share my stuff.

I can share my stuff. • Acts 2:45

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

“Your teachings are worth more to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.” Psalm 119:72, NCV

Try out the following activity:

Ask your child what song he wants to listen to when you get in the car. Right before you start the song, ask your child: “Who is always listening to us. God is always listening! * Talk about the people you see as you run errands. Grocery store clerk, librarian, doctor, etc. Jesus wants to be their friend forever too! * Each time you buckle your child’s seatbelt, encourage him to say, “God loves me!” The Bible truly is better than gold and it teaches us so many wonderful things!

Set aside time throughout the week to pray together:

God, thank You for bringing your kingdom to earth. Help us to want what you want. Use us to bring that good stuff into other people’s lives too. We love you. Amen.

Upper Elementary School:

Encourage your child to explain to you how they have learned ways that: God wants us to ask Him for our daily needs.

Review the weekly Bible story by reading it together:

The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13)

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

Give us today our daily bread. — Matthew 6:11

Try out the following activity:

Play a game called “Survival Pack.” Get a pad of paper and some pens or crayons and a backpack. Tell the kids you’re going to pretend you’re packing a survival pack of supplies that you would need to survive for one day on a desert island. Everyone should take turns either writing or drawing things they would take with them, and then put those papers in the backpack. Talk to kids afterward about how essential or non-essential the items were.  Now empty the backpack and make another survival pack of things your family needs to survive at work, home, or school each day. These may be physical needs such as food and clothing, emotional needs like encouragement and friendship, or spiritual needs like courage or peace. Take time and ask God to provide this daily bread for your family.

Have a Dinnertime Discussion!

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

• What was something God provided today that you needed?
• Did God surprise you by giving something fun today that was more of a want than a need?
• What is something that you need God to provide for you for tomorrow?

Use these questions to help kids understand that God will meet their needs one day at a time. Take time this week to continue memorizing and praying the Lord’s Prayer from Matthew 6 as a family.

Set aside time throughout the week to pray together:

God, thank You for loving us so much that you want us to ask for the things that we need.  Please help us this week to see the difference between wants and needs and help us to be thankful for your provision.  In Jesus name, Amen

Sunday, June 27th

Teaching Staff:

Preschool: 9:30 Nicole Humphrey 11:15 Jessica Coudriet

Lower Elementary: 9:30 Janie Schwab 11:15 Lisa + Wade Shelden

Upper Elementary: 11:15 Steve Hand

Monthly Worship Song: Sing, Sing, Sing!

This week In Preschool & Lower Elementary...

CNX Kids learned: ” The Bible is better than gold!”

On Sunday, preschoolers and lower elementary students read Luke 11: 1-13 and learned how Jesus taught the disciples to pray. The Jesus Storybook Bible gave beautiful language to this prayer for our kids:

“Hello Daddy!

We want to know you.

And be close to you.

Please show us how.

Make everything in the world right again.

And in our hearts, too.

Do what is best -- just like you do in heaven,

And please do it down here, too.

Please give us everything we need today.

Forgive us for doing wrong, for hurting you.

Forgive us just as we forgive other people when they hurt us.

Rescue us! We need you.

We don't want to keep running away and hiding from you.

Keep us safe from our enemies.

You're strong, God.

You can do whatever you want.

You are in charge.

Now and forever and for always!

We think you're great!

Amen!

Yes we do!”

To apply this lesson, preschoolers and lower elementary students began prayer journals that they will contribute to in upcoming lessons.  They also created a cell phone craft to remember that we can call God anytime!

This week in upper elementary…

CNX Kids learned: God is our dad in Heaven, and we can talk to Him about anything.

Today 4^th and 5^th graders read Luke 11:1-4 and learned how Jesus taught the disciples to pray.  Like the younger students, they also began prayer journals to record their weekly conversations with God. 

As their group discussion, kids talked about God’s kingdom and identified the things that would be different than the world in which we currently live.  Students had the opportunity to draw a picture of what it would like if God’s Kingdom came to earth. 

Hey Parents,

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

Here’s how!!

Preschool + Lower Elementary:

Review the weekly Bible story by reading it together

The Bible tells me I can talk to God anytime. I can pray to God. • Jeremiah 29:12 + Luke 11:1-13

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

“Your teachings are worth more to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.” Psalm 119:72, NCV

Try out the following activity:

Play the “Do These Three” game with your child. Call out three things you want your child to do. For example: “Do these three! Touch your nose, run and knock on the door and them come back and sit down.” Tell your child he has to always be listening so he’ll know what to do. When you’re done playing, remind your child that God is always listening to us too!

Set aside time throughout the week to pray together:

God, thank You for bringing your kingdom to earth. Help us to want what you want. Use us to bring that good stuff into other people’s lives too. We love you. Amen.

Upper Elementary School:

Encourage your child to explain to you how they have learned ways that: God is our Dad in heaven, and we can talk to Him about anything.

Review the weekly Bible story by reading it together:

Jesus teaches the disciples to pray (Luke 11:1-4), The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13)

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

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
— Matthew 6:9-10

Try out the following activity:

Have a communication scavenger hunt. Take 15 minutes as a family to go around the house and make a list of how many things you can find that your family uses to communicate — cell phones, computers, Post-It notes, etc. To make it really fun, make it a competition between parents and kids. Afterward, talk about how much people love to communicate with each other because we’re made in the image of a God who loves to talk with us too.

Take time to read through the Lord’s Prayer and begin memorizing it as a family to remind your family of the types of things Jesus taught us to pray about — the Father’s character, kingdom, provision, forgiveness, guidance, and protection.

Have a Dinnertime Discussion!

At dinnertime this week, ask some of the following questions to get your family talking.

• Who did you spend the most time talking to today? What did you talk about?
• What kinds of things can we talk to God about? Anything
• What kinds of things did Jesus talk to God about when He prayed?
• Which of the things in Jesus’ prayer do you need to talk to God about most this week?

Set aside time throughout the week to pray together:

God, thank You for bringing your kingdom to earth. Help us to want what you want. Use us to bring that good stuff into other people’s lives too. We love you.

Amen.