Promotion Sunday and Ministry Transition

Sunday, June 4th is Promotion Sunday

We are in June and school summer breaks have started or are starting very soon.

Our EKIDZ practice is to move kids up to the next age group the FIRST Sunday in June.

We also recognize that some children might need a little more of an adjustment period. 

Please feel free to use these next two Sundays (June 4 & 11) to help your child adjust to this transition, if you want to.

It is our desire for this transition to go well for you and your child.   

If that takes a few weeks, that’s ok.

If you have any questions, please be sure to contact Diane Smith or Pastor Dave.

Here are a couple of important reminders about EKIDZ:

• 4^th and 5^th graders are usually in the 10:30 service with their families.  There are some special occasions when we have a 10:30 meeting for these students.
• 1^st - 3^rd graders are in the music portion of the service with their class and then return to their room for their own lesson.  A great Sunday dinner conversation might be to  connect one of the songs sung in the service with a Biblical truth
• Also, 2 or 3 times a quarter the 1^st through 3^rd graders are in the service with their family.  This is a great opportunity for you to help train your child to listen to sermons, pray and sing.
• Occasionally it is necessary to combine classes.  When this happens the 2 & 3 years old class meet together and the Pre-K & Kindergarten class meet together.  If this happens, notes will be posted on the classroom doors.

We want to help parents disciple their children.   

Two very specific ways you can do this are:

TAKING TIME AT HOME to talk about this week’s lesson and connect Biblical truths to life. 

SERVING AT CHURCH in your child’s class or another class.  This helps you better understand what your child is learning about and it also helps EBC serve the children and families God gives us to minister to.

Over the next month, there are going to be a number of transitions at Emmanuel Baptist Church.  As I (Pastor Dave) close out my ministry at the end of June I want to let you know a couple of things.

• It has been a great pleasure serving as the pastor of children and family ministry at EBC.  My prayer is that parents, grandparents and those who spiritual mentor children will understand that we have great opportunities to teach and serve children AND there are so many more opportunities we have outside of the church building.
• I have greatly appreciated those of you who have faithfully served and made disciples over the years.  Continue serving God and discipling children and families for God's glory.
• During transition times there are often many things that need to be learned.  I know that you will show Pastor Andy the patience and grace that you have shown me.  
• On a practical side of things, online resources will be transferred from this website to our church blog.  ekidzministry.com will still get you to the resources.  You will see this change gradually through the month of June.
• You can also keep up with what is going on in our lives and what God is teaching me at drodgerjr.blogspot.com

Sonshine Theme Verse!

Sonshine is a an amazing time for fun and games.

It is also a great time to remind
kids who attend EBc
kids in our community 
and others
the most important truth.  
The Gospel.
We want to show kids and families that
everyone needs to trust in the Lord.

Please 
Pray that those serving in Sonshine 
will clearly present the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Pray that those attending Sonshine 
will have open ears and open hearts.


This year's theme verse is Proverbs 3:5, 6.

Here is Lantern Light's song Straight Paths.

Sonshine Gospel Presentation

He Came—John 1:14

He Died—1 Corinthians 15:3

He Arose—1 Corinthians 15:4 

He Ascended—Mark 16:19

He’s Coming Back— 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

Sonshine Teaching Plan

Today's post is an overview of the daily Bible lessons.
Tomorrow's post is an overview of the Gospel presentation we use during Sonshine.

Here are the Bible Lessons for each of the nights.
One thing you can do on Sunday is share a very brief overview of each of these stories.

Sunday:

Wrangler quality:  COURAGE

Bible Story:  David & Goliath

Passage:  1 Samuel 17
God has won the victory for us!

Monday:

Wrangler quality:  COMPASSION

Bible Story:  The Good Samaritan

Passage:  Luke 10:25-37
God loves us so we should love others!

Tuesday:

Wrangler quality:  COOPERATION
Bible Story:  Nehemiah & Rebuilding Wall

Passage:  Nehemiah 4:7-21

God has a great plan to protect His people!

Wednesday:

Wrangler Quality:  CHARACTER

Bible Story:  The Story of Achan

Passage:  Joshua 7 & Psalm 86:5-6, 11
We cannot hide our sin from God!

Thursday:

Wrangler Quality:  CONFIDENCE

Bible Story:  Abraham Sacrifices Isaac

Passage:  Genesis 22:1-14
God is a faithful God and we need to trust Him!

Share Your Faith - Sonshine!!

The five stories each night of Sonshine will be posted on Monday, May 22.

Here is the BIG IDEA for this Sunday!

We have GREAT NEWS to share
not only during Sonshine
but all the time.

Here are some things we want to do this Sunday encourage the kids and adults to
  pray for Sonshine
  invite kids to Sonshine
  be actively involved each night at Sunday.

Throughout this week there will be various posts to help you think about and prepare for this Sunday's lesson.

This post has some tips and helps for
Be actively involved each night at Sunday

• How should you act during the opening time?
• Greet friends and visitors
• Have fun
• Listen to those who are speaking
• 
  
• How should you act during the storytime?
• Listen to the teacher
• Help others hear the Gospel
• answer questions that are asked

• How should you act during the game time?
• Have fun
• Play the games according to the roles
• Be friendly

• How should you act during the craft time?
• Follow directions
• Help others

Review Using this Week's Memory Verse

More information will be put on here throughout the week to help teach the lesson.
If you have additional tips or helps, leave a comment or email children @ emmanuelbaptist.com 
Ther are some devotional resources at the end of this post to help you focus your mind and heart on the passage.

Here is a possible review lesson for this Sunday using Luke 12:32-34.

32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.  

33 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.  

34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Remember:
"Since God has freely given them all the glorious riches of His kingdom, how much more willingly will He give them what they need to serve Him in that kingdom?"  Luke:  The MacArthur New Testament Commentary.

Here is the Kid version of this quote...
As we think about and are thankful for our food, home and other things, we need to to remember that the biggest thing we have to be thankful for is JESUS who gives us a right relationship with GOD!!
You can look back to Matthew 6:19-21.

Here is a really basic treasure question from each Spring Lesson: 

• From March 5th lesson, what did Solomon want?  Where was his treasure? (1 Kings 2:1-4, 3:1-15) - Family Devotional 98

• From March 12th lesson,    - Family Devotional 102

• From March 19 lesson, what did Solomon want?  Where was his treasure? (1 Kings 11) - Family Devotional 106

• From March 26 lesson, what did Jeroboam want?  Where was his treasure? (1 Kings 12:1-33; 14:1-18) - Family Devotional  - Family Devotional 110

• From April 23 lesson, what did Elijah want?  Where was his treasure? (1 Kings 16:29-17:1; 18:1-2, 17-46) - Family Devotional 114

• From April 30 lesson, what did God want?  Where was his treasure? (2 Kings 18:1-19, 37) - Family Devotional 118

• From May 7 lesson, what did God want?  Where was his treasure? (2 Kings 21:1-18; 24:1-25; 30) - Family Devotional 122

• From May 14 lesson, what did Jonah want?  Where was his treasure? (Jonah) - Family Devotional 126

• From the Easter lessons, what should we want?  Where should our treasure be?  - Family Devotional 182

Some Fighter Verse devotionals

http://fighterverses.com/blog-post/investing-for-huge-dividends/

http://fighterverses.com/blog-post/eternal-authority-on-behalf-of-his-flock/

http://fighterverses.com/blog-post/the-fathers-good-pleasure/

God shows mercy to Jonah and Nineveh

Jonah 1:11 - 4:11

Kindergarten and under:  Luke 12:34 - For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

1st - 5th grade:  Luke 12:32-33

2015-11-15 CM Preview from Faith Church on Vimeo.

God punishes Judah!

2015-11-08 CM Preview from Faith Church on Vimeo.


This story is a hard story to read, especially the part of a king sacrificing his son to as an offering to idols.
This story also contains the harsh reality of the consequences of sin.