Arvada Covenant Church Launch!

Family Christmas Eve Service

2010-12-21T15:04:00.002-07:00

"Christ the Savior is Born!" Celebrate with us at the Family Christmas Eve Service. Bring the entire family and celebrate Christmas Eve at this unique interactive service. Children of every age are invited to join in the program by dressing up as either an angel, wise (person) or shepherd. The 45 minute program wil...l conclude with a "child friendly" candlelight service.

Family Advent Dinner: Wednesday, Dec. 1 @ 6pm.

2010-11-18T12:03:00.003-07:00

The Family Advent Dinner is a fun tradition for families to start the advent season spending time together thinking about the meaning of the season. This year we welcome back "Kidologist" Karl Bastian. Karl will feature a fun show that will include illusions, puppets, humor and more. Cost is $4 per person (3 and under free). We hope to see you there.

INITIATIVE – October BIG Idea for 1st-5th Grade

2010-09-30T14:32:00.001-06:00

CSI

Nope, this doesn't stand for crime scene investigators, although they certainly have it. It doesn't stand for College of Southern Idaho, although students there (like anywhere) need it. Nor does it stand for Chi Sigma Iota, though surely an honor society that promotes academic and professional excellence in counseling would value it.
What is "it"? The ability to act on your own. The enterprising spirit needed to take that first step. The ingenuity to imagine how to solve a problem. SEEING what needs to be done and DOING it. In short, initiative.
Now, when you think of God's myriad virtues, does initiative come to mind? It should! What but a God-sized initiative could have seen the potential of a universe then created it? Who but someone God-sized is ingenious enough to craft each and every one of us by hand and make us each unique? Could someone other than God care enough to lean into our lives, see what needs to be done, and do it--for each one of us, at the same time, on an ongoing basis?
No doubt about it, God has God-sized initiative, and He wants to work initiative into us as well. It's a key ingredient for becoming the kind of people He wants us to be and for taking part in His big plan. Nehemiah's life story is a good example.
Here're some things we think kids need to understand and start putting into practice when it comes to initiative, and each one of these is modeled in Nehemiah's life:

When there's a job to be done, first you have to see it. Nehemiah recognized there was a problem in Jerusalem (Nehemiah 1).
When there's a job to be done, don't wait for someone else to do it. Nehemiah stepped up to the plate, even though it wasn't his "job" (Nehemiah 2).
When there are people in need, don't wait for someone else to help them. Nehemiah did something about other people's problems (Nehemiah 5).
When you've done what YOU can do, trust God to do what He can do. Nehemiah consistently did everything he knew to do and relied on God to do the rest (Nehemiah 6; 8).

So that's what CSI stands for: can see it. You can see it; you can do it. Can See It + Can Do It.

For more ideas about putting initiative into action, check out our brand new resource called CUE Box. CUE Box is filled with activities to help parents and kids interact with each other as they continue to learn about the month's virtue at home. To find out more or to order CUE Box, go to http://www.studio252.tv.

Oh, and there's a fifth week in October (when we'll be talking about initiative). We'll switch gears on that fifth week and talk about a "faith skill": how to talk about your faith.

Community Fall Festival ’10 @ Arvada Covenant Church

2010-09-22T11:19:00.001-06:00

Dress up and join us October 31^st, 2:30-5:00 pm, at Arvada Covenant Church for our 2010 Community Fall Festival. Come experience a safe and fun alternative this Halloween. Trick or treat down Treat Street. Enjoy carnival style games in a family friendly environment along with many other surprises! We are throwing a huge party and we want you to come and have fun with us. Admission is free.

We are creating an exciting event for you to invite your neighbors, friends and co-workers to experience the fun of ACC. You can be involved and make this a huge success! First, invite your friends! Think of the people you see in your neighborhood with whom you want to be able to start talking about your relationship with God. Think of kids at your child’s school. How about the cashier at the grocery store, the woman who cuts your hair or the person that makes your fav. coffee drink each week? Invite them to be a part. Our vision is that you will have a great time with your family and with the families you bring that will lead to a moment, an open door, for you to talk about the most important relationship you have in life and the hope you have in life. All through a great time at a fun place.

There are several ways in which you, your family and friends can serve as we show God’s love to the world around us. We need people to run the 20+ carnival games we are organizing, people to greet and provide security, people to set up, and many people to help clean the building after the festival. You’ll have a blast serving with other people from ACC and seeing the joy on the faces of the kids and families!

2nd Annual Game Booth Decorating Contest – decorate the space around a game and win! Help add to the fun and festive environment of the Fall Festival.

Check out this list of ways to help and contact us today to let us know how you can be involved. Leave a comment and let us know how you can help or email seggers@arvadacovenant.org

Run a game booth – Need 30+ people A ton of fun!

Greeter/Security - Need 8 people per shift (two shifts) Create a welcoming and safe environment

Set-up and décor - Need 10 people Saturday 10/30

Clean-up – 10-12 people

Face Painting – need 2 to assist painter

Go-fer – 5 people “Go fer this, go fer that.” People that will help where needed.

Photo booth – 4 people Taking pictures and running digital picture set-up

Volunteer break room people to make sure the room stays somewhat clean and stocked w/food.

We hope to see you involved with the Community Fall Festival to create a wonderful time at Arvada Covenant Church!

Parenting with Love and Logic - Seminar

2010-08-23T16:52:00.001-06:00

PARENTING WITH LOVE AND LOGIC^®
Jim Fay and Dr. Charles Fay
Saturday, October 23, 2010

Join America's parenting experts^®, Jim Fay and Dr. Charles Fay, for an entertaining day and learn easy-to-use techniques for parenting kids of all ages.
Location:
Arvada Covenant Church*
5555 Ward Road
Arvada, CO 80002
*This seminar is not an official activity of the Arvada Covenant Church.
Time:
Morning Session 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Afternoon Session 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Cost:
Only $30.00 per person per session

Putting the Fun Back Into Parenting
Morning Session 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Avoid un-winnable arguments and power-struggles
Get your kids to do chores and other tasks without going to battle
Help them learn from their poor decisions…so that they don't repeat them
Get them ready for success in today’s complex world
Stay sane in the process.

Love and Logic^® for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Afternoon Session 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Put an end to bedtime battles
Deal with whining, begging, tantrums and full-fledged melt-downs
Help your tots learn from small mistakes so they don’t have to make life-threatening ones as teenagers
How to discipline them without losing their love and respect.

Attend one session or both!

Preschooler Promotion

2010-08-22T09:59:00.001-06:00

Preschool age children promote to their new rooms September 12th, 2010. We promote the preschool kids that are downstairs once a year in September. Be sure to track with the birthdates listed on each room to find out which room is right for each child. We promote the children in each room together so that the room leaders and children have as much consistency as possible. Children don’t automatically change rooms when they have their birthday because we don’t have rooms for specific ages i.e. a 2 year old room, a 3 year room, etc. The kids that are in each room stay together, play together, learn together and move together.

Let us know if you have any questions or specific needs for your child.

Beginning September 12^th:

Children born between October 1, 2007 and September 30, 2008 – Sunbeams Room C102

Children born between October 1, 2006 and September 30, 2007 – Bumblebees Room C103

Children born between October 1, 2005 and September 30 2006 – Giraffes Room C104

Feel free to contact John Mullis, Children’s Ministry Director, with any questions. 303.422.1235

Become a FAN on facebook

2010-07-12T15:26:00.001-06:00

Are you a fan?

Become a fan of the Launch! Children’s Ministry on the Launch! facebook page. It’s a good way to stay in touch and get the latest and most real-time updates on what is going on in Launch!

Promotions in Launch! Kids moving up in 2010

2010-07-12T14:17:00.001-06:00

Preschool age children promote to their new rooms September 12th, 2010. We promote the preschool kids that are downstairs once a year in September. Be sure to track with the birthdates listed on each room to find out which room is right for each child. We promote the children in each room together so that the room leaders and children have as much consistency as possible. Children don’t automatically change rooms when they have their birthday because we don’t have rooms for specific ages i.e. a 2 year old room, a 3 year room, etc. The kids that are in each room stay together, play together, learn together and move together. Let us know if you have any questions.

Current room assignments for preschoolers:

Nursery (upstairs) Children born after February 1, 2008. *Children born between 2/2 and 10/1, 2008 will move to the Sunbeams (C102) September 12, 2010

Sunbeams (C102) Children born between October 1, 2006 and February 1, 2008

Bumblebees (C103) Children born between October 1, 2005 and September 30, 2006

Giraffes (C104) Children born between October 1, 2004 and September 30, 2005 (this includes children that will be in Kindergarten this Fall.

Kindergarten - 5th graders promote to their new grade levels the Sunday after Kids' Camp each year (June 27, 2010). Kindergarteners are now 1st graders, 1st now 2nd, etc. 5th graders have moved up to Junior High Ministries (check out their FB page Arvada Covenant Junior High) During the summer, until September, the kids going into 5th grade are welcome to come to Launch, especially during the 10:45 service. Let us know if you have any Qs.

Summertime rooms for elementary children:

C110/111 Children that will be in 1st and 2nd grade during the 2010/2011 school year

Launch! Pad Children that will be in 3rd-5th grade during the 2010/2011 school year.

Simple Service + Serious Cause = Summer Serve!

2010-05-20T16:46:00.001-06:00

Children’s Ministry volunteers at Arvada Covenant Church are the some of best volunteers in the world, and they have been giving their best to kids for 9 months. We love them and want to give them a rest so when they come back in the fall they’ll be refreshed and ready to love and teach kids for another year.

While our core team is resting during the summer, we still must to be able to teach the hundreds of children that show up each weekend. We can’t afford to take time off. For us to be able to continue teaching children about Jesus Christ, we need people to help by serving on the children’s team during the summer. We call it Summer Serve. You sign up and show up and make a huge difference with simple service for a serious cause. We’ll teach with you in a fun way this summer.

A Summer Serve leader:

· Studies a lesson provided in advance

· Shows up 25 minutes before the service.

· Greets children, sits with their group during a large group Bible and worship lesson, leads their group through some fun activities to make the lesson stick with the kids.

Summer Serve is a great experience and you can be a part of it! It’s all about loving kids through serving and making a difference in their lives.

We make Summer Serve EASY and FUN!

How? Anyone can do it during a weekend service June 6 – August 29. We’d like you to pick two pairs of back to back weekends or a whole month. Serve on your own, serve with your family, or serve with your small group. Just sign up, sit back and wait for a phone call from the children’s ministry team. It’s that easy. And it’s so important.

We have over 200 spots to fill for this summer so there is room for YOU.

You can sign up for Summer Serve by email or phone.

Email: seggers@arvadacovenant.org Phone: 303-422-1235 ext. 212

You can also sign up at the Children’s Info desk downstairs.

Simple Service + Serious Cause = Summer Serve!

Thanks for your support of children at Arvada Covenant Church.

The Children’s Ministry Team

May Preschool Bottom Line – God Made Me!

2010-04-29T19:08:00.001-06:00

What is the most AMAZING thing that God has ever made? ME! And YOU! The Bible says in Psalm 139:14, "I am wonderfully made," (NIV). Each and every one of us, and each and every one of our preschoolers, was wonderfully made. By God! How awesome is that!
We will spend the month of May equipping our preschoolers with the knowledge that God made them. Because He made them, they are special. They are special not because they can jump the farthest or run the fastest. They are special because God made them and loves them.

God made our bodies. God made us to do many things. God made us with a purpose. God even made us to praise Him. Our God is an AMAZING God who makes wonderful things. And, since God made us just the way we are, He loves EVERYTHING about us. Everything! He loves our messy hair. He loves our crooked noses. He loves our loud singing voices. He even loves our silly faces. God made us, and He loves us. Awesome thought, isn't it? It's almost overwhelming. God made ME! Wow. What a strong foundation to give our preschoolers. God made them, and that makes them special.
By Kathy Hill. © 2010 The reThink Group * www.rethinkgroup.org * All rights reserved. Used by permission.

May 2: I am special to God Psalm 139:13-15, Jeremiah 1:5

May 9: God made my body Genesis 1:26-27

May 16: God made me to do many things Psalm 41:1, 86:11

May 23: God made me with a purpose Jeremiah 29:11, Ephesians 2:10

May 30: God made me to praise Him. Psalm 1-2, 34:1

Patience – 1st-5th Grade BIG Idea for May

2010-04-29T18:50:00.001-06:00

Chill Out

Depending on when you read this, you're probably either still bundled up against the winter chill or you've shed your winter woolies for cool cottons, bracing yourself against the bite of the wind or basking in the bright, warm sunshine of late spring. Come May, snow days will have become a thing of the past, but many kids (and parents) will still be paying for the pleasure of a day off with an extended school year. Kids and families (and we church volunteers!) will have to dig down deep, grin, and bear it in order to hang in there till summer vacation. What better time to talk about patience?
So that's what 252 Basics is all about in May:

Patience, which is waiting until later for what you want now.

Here's the lineup:

If you don't wait, it could cost you. Remember what Esau traded away for a bowl of soup because he let his stomach go to his head? (Genesis 25)
Don't get tired of doing the right thing. If only the Israelites had kept on following God instead of the crowd! (Exodus 19; 32)
Don't miss out because you think you can't wait. Have you ever thought about what Joshua and the Israelites would've missed if they hadn't followed God's marching orders? (Joshua 3; 6)
If you don't wait, it could hurt others. There are "gasoline girls" and there are "water boys." Which one are you? (Proverbs 15:18)

And for the fifth week, we'll depart from the norm and focus on a "faith skill," that of prayer:

Take prayer out of the box. Are you in or out of the box when it comes to prayer? (James 5:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Romans 8:26)

Find Us On Facebook

2010-04-22T11:06:00.001-06:00

Look for us on Facebook. The page is called Arvada Covenant Launch Children’s Ministry.

Kid’s Camp 2010 – Cosmic City

2010-04-15T16:35:00.001-06:00

Can children actually encounter God is a personal way and discover the richness of who he is? We answer with a resounding yes!

Few places inspire the awe and wonder of God more naturally than the heavens he created. So we’re launching our Voyagers in to space, where they’ll experience that awe and wonder for themselves. We’re creating a fun and fanciful floating space city where they can delight in discovering who God is and what he’s done for us.

Voyagers launch from Alpha Base and will visit the exciting Theater of the Galaxies, Asteroid Alley Games, Deeper Space Music, the Shooting Star Drive-in for snacks and make out of this world crafts in the Super Nova Super Mart.

Kids’ Camp blasts off June 21-25 from 9a.m.‘til Noon and is for children that are 5 years old through finishing 5th grade. The cost is $25 per child.

Registration begins mid-May. Stay tuned for details.

Honesty – 1st-5th Grade BIG Idea for March

2010-03-11T14:48:00.001-07:00

The Web

Have you ever seen the TV show Lie to Me? The Lightman Group (clever name, isn't it, since light = truth, biblically speaking), made up of psychologists, researchers, and investigators, assist law enforcement and other government agencies in criminal investigations by detecting signs of deception in people's voices, faces, and body language.
The premise behind it is simple and ordinary; the science complex and intriguing. Rather like honesty itself.
On the one hand, honesty is simple.
It always involves a choice.
We choose to tell the truth or to lie.
Honesty is ordinary, too.
Because every one of us,
from Adam and Eve to you and I,
chooses to be honest or dishonest on a daily basis.

On the other hand, honesty (and therefore
dishonesty) is complex and intriguing.
You can be honest (or dishonest) in your words, actions, and attitudes.
You can be honest (or dishonest) in what you don't say or do, as well.
You can set out to lie, and
you can go along with someone else's lie.
And then there are the multitudes of motives for
two-faced, duplicitous, and deceptive dealings.

So simple, honesty, but not always easy! Else no one would weave him- or herself into a tangled web in the first place.
Which is why, come March, we'll be talking about honesty and some of the very practical reasons God teaches and guides us to be honest:

When you're not truthful, you hurt the people you should care about most. Joseph's brothers practiced so many forms of deceit in that whole sell-your-brother-as-a-slave episode you'll weave quite a web recounting them all. (Genesis 37; 45)
Lying to hurt someone else really hurts YOU. Haman's perfidious plot backfired on him. (Esther 3-5; 7)
Truthfulness builds friendships; dishonesty tears them down. Jesus gave even wee, little, fraudulent Zacchaeus a do-over. (Luke 19)
You can lie so much you forget what matters. Treacherous Judas forgot, or deceived himself, about what matters most. (Matthew 26; 27) Note that this week begins the Easter season and the Easter "story" in 252 Basics.

Honesty creates a safety net.
Honest thoughts, words, and actions weave together to
strengthen trusting, happy relationships with others and God.

Dishonesty creates a web.
Lies and deception weave a web that ensnares us,
tearing at the fabric of our relationships with others and God.

So, help kids be careful about what they weave.

Honor – 1st-5th Grade BIG IDEA for February

2010-02-01T13:08:00.001-07:00

A Code of Honor

When was the last time you used the word honor in an everyday conversation with a regular Joe? Does it strike you as outmoded, a little archaic perhaps? For instance, when did you last slay a dragon from the back of your trusty white steed, lay your cloak over a puddle for a lady, bow in deference to others at court, or swear undying fealty to your king? (More on that later.) After all, that stuff was around in the Middle Ages.

On the other hand, that stuff has been around since the Middle Ages. What student hasn’t read of King Arthur (first written about in the 1130’s) or Don Quixote (published in 1605 and 1615)? Who among us hasn’t seen a Robin Hood movie (the first of which came out in the early 1920’s) or Shrek? If you’ve visited a museum and seen a suit of armor, haven’t you marveled at how small those guys were?

But, with all due respect, it wasn’t Geoffrey of Monmouth or Cervantes who invented honor. Nay, honor is older than, well, dirt. Noooo, it was God who created honor. Check out what David says about honor in Psalm 8:1–5 (NIV):

“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise … When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.”

Can you read that and not be awestruck that the King of kings and Lord of lords, who deserves glory over all others, would esteem us, even a little? Yet He does. David’s life, in fact, is chock-full of honor-related examples and principles. Think back to what you know about David, like:

… his encounter with Goliath. God said, “Those who honor me I will honor” (1 Samuel 2:30, NIV). David honored God, and God honored David, even though he was the little brother, a mere boy, and overlooked at every turn. Honor those who are overlooked.

… his friendship with Jonathan. God says, “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10, NIrV). David honored Jonathan, certainly; but think how remarkable it was that Jonathan (the heir apparent to the throne) should honor David (who would eventually become king) more than himself. Honor others more than yourself.

… his turbulent and tragic relationship with his son Absalom. God says, “‘Honor your father and mother’—which is the first commandment with a promise—‘that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth’” (Ephesians 6:2-3, NIV). What a contrast Absalom is to Jonathan! Honor those who are over you.

… his unself-conscious worship of God: “I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this” (2 Samuel 6:21–22, NIV). Honor God out LOUD.

So come February, we’re going to camp here, with David, Goliath, Jonathan, Absalom, and Michal, and examine some things God says about honor and what it looks like to live in honorable ways.

Now back to dragons and puddles. You may not have slain a dragon from the back of your trusty charger, but have you cheered the underdog or said thank you to the teenager taking your order at the drive-thru? You probably haven’t spread your cloak over a puddle for a lady, but have you held the door for one? You may not have bowed in deference to others at court or sworn loyalty to a king, but have you obeyed your parents without rolling your eyes or stood in heartfelt praise to honor THE King?

See, honor doesn’t live just in legends! Therefore, prithee don thine armour and thy cloak and henceforth seek to impart the ways of honour to thy probies thusly. Thy labour shalt not be for naught.

Watch the HONOR video on the video player at www.252basics.org

Covenant Heights Winter Trailblazer Camp

2010-01-18T17:09:00.001-07:00

February 19-21, 2010

GET Hooked

Matthew 4:19

Take a bunch of your Arvada Covenant Launch! friends to a weekend at Covenant Heights and get hooked on God’s word! You and your friends will have a boat load of fun with tubing, snow-shoeing, beach parties, broomball and more!

Winter Trailblazer is for students in 3rd-6th grade

Camp cost is $100

For more information and a printable registration form with all the information you need, go to http://www.covenantheights.org/Events/Winter_Trailblazer.htm

Kids’ Camp 2010 – Save the Date!

2010-01-18T16:44:00.001-07:00

Registration will begin in May. Enter your email address and subscribe to blog updates for the latest information.

Discipline – 1st-5th Grade Big Idea for January

2009-12-30T15:53:00.001-07:00

Step It Up

Less is more. We're fond of saying that around here. And much of the time, we're more effective living by it. But sometimes MORE is more. Want a voluminous vocabulary? Read more. Want to nail the lines for your part in a sketch? Rehearse more. Want to master the "Cha Cha Slide" (like for January's large group, grades 4-5)? Practice more. You get the drift. And just like you need to lift more if you want bigger biceps, you need to do some things more if you want to know God better, like:

Read His Book. Can you think of a more foundational, first-step way to get to know Him? Plus, "God has breathed life into all of Scripture. It is useful for teaching us what is true. It is useful for correcting our mistakes. It is useful for making our lives whole again. It is useful for training us to do what is right" (2 Timothy 3:16, NIrV). What better example of the importance of engaging in God's Word than Jesus as a 12-year-old in the temple? (Which happens to be the Bible story for week 1.)
Remember His words. "By using Scripture, a man of God can be completely prepared to do every good thing" (2 Timothy 3:17, NIrV). Jesus showed us (particularly that time He was tempted in the wilderness) we not only need to (Step 1) read God's Word, we need to (Step 2) memorize it, internalize it, and take it to heart so that we'll be ready for whatever comes our way.
Talk to Him. "Don't worry about anything. Instead, tell God about everything. Ask and pray. Give thanks to him" (Philippians 4:6, NIrV). To get to know someone and to strengthen your relationship with that person, you have to talk him or her, right? It's the same way with God. You gotta talk to Him. This week (week 3) will help kids better understand Jesus' answer when one of the disciples asked Him how to pray.
Talk about Him with your friends. "I pray that you will be active in sharing what you believe. Then you will completely understand every good thing we have in Christ" (Philemon 1:6, NIrV). Saying what you believe out loud helps solidify your beliefs. Could this be one reason Jesus asked the disciples, "But who do YOU say I am?" (The story for week 4.)
Make Him more important than anything. "Worship the Lord your God. He is the only one you should serve" (Deuteronomy 6:13a, NIrV). This week (week 5) we'll be taking a look at what Jesus said about "the widow's mite" and how it helps us to worship the only one we should serve.

These are all priorities and habits -- disciplines -- that can help us (A) get to know God better and (B) grow stronger. Kids need to understand that they don't have to wait till they're older to get to know God; God wants them to start now. He's ready to help them, every step of the way, NOW. So this January, 252 Basics is designed to help kids see how discipline, which is doing what you need to do now so you can grow stronger, can help strengthen their relationship with God.
But that's not all. Because SOMETIMES more IS more. So in addition to helping kids understand and experience discipline as a godly virtue, each week in January will also offer practical experiences in the 5 Faith Skills we think every kid should master:

1. Navigate the Bible (survey and locate)
2. Personalize Scripture (memorize and apply)
3. Dialogue with God (public and private)
4. Articulate faith (share and defend)
5. Worship with your life (praise and give)

So get your shoes on, lace up, and let's step it up.

2009-12-14T16:04:00.001-07:00

Compassion – 1st-5th Grade Big Idea for December

2009-12-08T11:30:00.001-07:00

Shake This Planet

What kid can resist it? A fist-sized glass orb filled with water and white particles, enclosing a miniature scene of a favorite vacation spot, Mickey Mouse®, or Christmas. Some play music, some stick to your fridge, others are inflatable yard decorations, but whatever their size or shape, snow globes are fascinating. Maybe it's the appeal of an enclosed world protected from outside danger, or maybe it's the power to really shake things up.
Which is what happened when God sent Jesus to this planet. What is that verse about the world groaning? "We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time" (Romans 8:22, NIV). Think about what was going on at the time. For example, slavery was a common and widely accepted practice throughout the ancient world. By the time Jesus was born, one out of three people in the heart of the Roman Empire was a slave. One-third! One of every five people elsewhere on the globe was enslaved. In fact, the Roman economy (among others) was based on slave labor. Some Bible scholars and other historians suggest that the world was nearing a tipping point, that when the enslaved population is greater than the free, civilization becomes unsustainable. But God looked down and shook the planet. "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly" (Romans 5:6, NIV). He came to set us free, from the most profound slavery, the perfect illustration of God's compassion for us.
So this December, 252 Basics will revolve around Jesus' birth as a perfect example of God's compassion, which is caring enough to do something about someone else's need. Specifically:

Week 1: God saw our need. You have to SEE a need before you can DO anything about it. Compassion requires us to look and see, too. God saw our greatest need. Whose needs do you see?
Week 2: God sent His Son, even though it would cost Him. Compassion costs us something, too. God gave us the greatest gift. What will you give?
Week 3: God gave us hope when He sent us a Savior. Compassion is contagious; it spreads hope. God gave us great news. Who will you tell?
Week 4: God laid bare His great love for us when He gave us Jesus. Compassion demonstrates God's love when we show it for others. God showed the world His love. How will you show the world?

When we work together to show compassion, we can make a difference in this world. So shake it up!

Network - 1st-5th Grade Giving Project

2009-11-03T15:59:00.001-07:00

This month with 1^st-5^th graders we are talking about cooperation: working together to do more than you can do alone. Your child is taking home a wrist band today that will remind him of our Big Idea for the month of November and our ministry project – Bed Nets for Life. When we heard about the project Covenant Work Relief is doing to protect children from malaria in the Congo, we knew we wanted to be involved! No one person can supply mosquito nets to all the children in the world who need them – it’s an undoable task! So this month we are going to work together with children and churches all over the country to raise money to purchase as many nets as we can for children. The cost is $10 a net. For more information go to www.covchurch.org/cwr

We are asking you to help your children come up with ideas about how they can raise money to be a part of giving back to others. Maybe you can brainstorm ways the entire family can help. Anything you come up with together will make an impression on your child and can help him or her understand that God wants us to work together – because sometime He wants to do something big and miraculous through all of us.

Our goal as a group is to raise $800 over the next 6 weeks. This will purchase 80 nets for Covenant World Relief to distribute to child in mosquito-infested areas of the Congo where malaria is rampant.

We appreciate all of your support! Please contact us if you have any questions.

Cooperation – 1st-5th Grade Big Idea for November

2009-11-02T15:18:00.001-07:00

Net Work

"It had taken fifty-two days. When all our enemies heard the news and all the surrounding nations saw it, our enemies totally lost their nerve. They knew that God was behind this work" (Nehemiah 6:15, THE MESSAGE).

Doing the undoable takes more than me.

"But Moses' hands got tired. So they got a stone and set it under him. He sat on it and Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on each side. So his hands remained steady until the sun went down. Joshua defeated Amalek and its army in battle" (Exodus 17:12-13, THE MESSAGE).

Look for ways to help somebody succeed.

"When they couldn't find a way in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof, removed some tiles, and let him down in the middle of everyone, right in front of Jesus" (Luke 5:19, THE MESSAGE).

Friends who trust God work together to change lives.

"The Israelites completed all the work, just as God had commanded. Moses saw that they had done all the work and done it exactly as God had commanded" (Exodus 39:42-43, THE MESSAGE).

Work together to get God's work done.

A government worker turned builder and a pitiful collection of refugees. A couple of "right-hand men" ... and a pitiful collection of refugees. Some guys who just wanted to help a friend. And, a pitiful collection of refugees. These are the people we're going to be talking about in November as we focus on cooperation: Nehemiah, Aaron and Hur, some friends of a paralyzed man, and a ragtag bunch called the Israelites. They were your average Joes, really, beset by everyday kinds of problems, but they all tackled some God-given task that other people might have considered a little crazy, they did everything they could think of to make it a success, they leaned on God throughout the process and trusted Him with the results, and they did it together. As a result, they were able to do more than they could've done on their own.

Which is what we have in mind by suggesting the ministry project that we have for November and December: raising funds to purchase mosquito nets for children living in mosquito-infested areas of the world. Wouldn't it be great if we could all work together to help end malaria? What a way for kids to see God at work, making the undoable possible, and letting them take part! But, whatever "net work" you choose and whatever "network" you're a part of, the important thing is to do what God's given you to do and to let kids have a hand in it.

1st Grade Bible Presentation – November 22

2009-10-22T14:49:00.001-06:00

On Sunday, November 22, we will be presenting 1^st graders with new Bibles during the 9:00 am service in the main sanctuary. We are able to do this every year through a memorial fund established by the Tom and Margaret Melander family to remember their son, Michael. I am thrilled to be a part of this wonderful way to bless children and families. God expresses in Deuteronomy 6:19 how important it is for families to be teaching children how to live life His way and they are to do this using His Word. I value and cherish the time my own children have studied God’s Word with their own Bibles. As a parent, you will be able to use this Bible to help lead your child’s spiritual development; and, partnered with the wonderful volunteer leaders in the children’s ministry programs at Arvada Covenant Church, children will grow up to know they can trust God, no matter what. His Word will show them how to make wise choices – God’s choices.

John Mullis,

Children’s Ministry Director

We’ll be sending more information to parents of 1st graders within the next week.

Love and Logic Parent Solutions 10.24 at Arvada Covenant Church

2009-10-01T10:09:00.001-06:00

From the brochure:

Who should attend:

Parents with kids of all ages
anyone who works with kids or…adults who act like kids

What you will learn:

How to handle defiance and backtalk
How to increase your child’s motivation to do well in school
How to handle misbehavior in public
And much, much more!

Presenters: Jim Fay and Dr. Charles Fay

Location: Arvada Covenant Church

Date: Saturday, October 24, 2009

Times: Morning: 9:00 am – 12:00pm, Creating Respectful and Responsible Kids

Afternoon Session: 1:00pm-4:00pm, Parenting Toddler and Preschoolers

Cost: $30/person/session

Parenting Session Details

While this seminar is not officially hosted by Arvada Covenant Church, we do approve of what the Love and Logic guys teach. If you want to learn more about being an effective parent, this seminar could be very helpful to you.

Individuality – 1st-5th Grade Big Idea for October

2009-09-29T17:32:00.002-06:00

Body Building

Geeks. Jocks. Brainiacs. Skaters. The Pretty Committee. Were you a member of one of these crowds? Maybe you carried a membership in THE group, the one that everyone wanted to join. Interesting, isn't it, that no matter how old we are when we join a "club," whether we give it a name or not, that group of people eventually helps us discover who we are or aren't? We discover our likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses, how we are similar and how we stand out, whether we belong to that group or need to move on.
But being an individual is more than just discovering how we are like someone else or different from others - at least for believers it is. Being an individual is also about how our heavenly Father designed us to make a difference in this world. God, the master Architect, has a master plan in which He is weaving together all our character traits and experiences in order to shape and mold us into the people He wants us to become, and He's doing this with each of us, twining our lives together in ways that are intricate, beautiful, and mind-boggling.
So in October we'll be talking about individuality, discovering who you are meant to be so you can make a difference. We'll introduce kids to some not-so-well-known individuals, each of whom made a difference in the lives of people around them:

Week 1: THE Onesimus because when you belong to God, you can make a difference.
Week 2: THE Epaphroditus because when you take care of others, you can make a difference.
Week 3: THE Dorcas because when you use what you have to help others, you can make a difference.

And we'll wrap up the month with a look at some verses in 1 Corinthians about how we're one body with many parts: when you do your part, you can make a difference.

Check the weekly Refrigerator Door Cards and GodTime Cards for more information on the content of each weekly lesson.