Early Childhood Gps

Dear Early Childhood Families, Welcome to KiDSCOR! We celebrate your family and are so grateful you are partnering with us to help care for and guide your child in his or her growth with God. As parents and primary caregivers, you are the most influential people in the spiritual development of your child. At The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, the KiDSCOR staff takes our partnership with you very seriously. We are here to support and equip you as we join together in guiding your children to a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Approximately once each month you will receive one of these GPS (grow, pray and study) guides. In them you will find Scripture passages, family activities, worship ideas, and mission opportunities surrounding the theme your child will be exploring in his or her classroom. We encourage you to have fun by sharing together in these activities and focusing on the faith development of your child and family. Please feel free to contact us when we can be of any help or support to you. Blessings,

Amy Fulton [email protected]

Lori Trupp [email protected]

Lisa Holliday [email protected]

Denise Mersmann [email protected]

Family Faith in Action FAITHWORKS The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection offers many great opportunities for our families to put our faith in action and serve God together. There is no need to preregister, just show up in the narthex at 9:00 on the set Faithworks days. You can choose from several projects available each time, both onsite and in the community. More information about Faithworks, including upcoming scheduled projects, is available in the Mission section of the church website at www.cor.org. Upcoming Faithworks dates are: September 5th September 19th

PRAYER As a member of God’s family of believers one of the most effective ways for us to put our faith in action is through prayer. Our prayers do not need to be polished or perfect, but sincere and from our hearts. There are a number of ways that your family can pray for others including: Siren prayer—When you hear a siren, pray for those who might be hurt and those who are going to help them. Pull out prayer—Put the names of family and friends on small slips of paper in a jar. Each day pull out one name and pray for that person. Encourage each member of the family to actively pray for others. Try to set aside a little time on a regular basis to pray together as a family. The more your family prays together the more natural it becomes.

Grow It FAMILY FAITH JOURNAL As a gift for your children and yourselves, you are encouraged to create a family faith journal. This family faith journal will be a place for you to keep track of special pictures, drawings, activities, faith milestones, discussions, bulletins and these family GPS guides. Your children will cherish this and you will be able to see and celebrate the spiritual growth of your family through the years. As a family, begin by choosing a fairly thick notebook or binder with pockets on the inside. Decorate the front and back covers using photos, drawings, Scripture verses, sequins and cut-outs. You will also want to design a cover page for the inside complete with family names, birthdates and the date you created your journal. Keep your journal available for your family and others to look at and add to. Review your journal on an annual or semi-annual basis. Celebrate God’s goodness and presence in the life of your family. Thank God for one another, for your church family and for God’s family around the world. Check out the table in the KiDSCOR entry for our staff member’s family faith journals for fun ideas to get your creative juices flowing.

FAMILY NATURE WALK Worship God in creation while enjoying a family nature walk. Collect a basket of nature items, being careful and respectful of God’s world. Look for something older than your child, younger than your child, something living, something not living, something that smells good, etc. As you walk, thank God for creating you, your family, your church, and the world. Bring your nature items home and use it as a centerpiece for your table. Each mealtime, allow it to remind you to thank God for you, your family and the beautiful world God created. Sing this song with your child to the tune of “This Old Man.” God made you; God made me. God made each of us differently, We are all part of one great big family. Thank you God for making me. After your family has taken your family nature walk, go to the KiDSCOR blog at http://kidscor.blogspot.com and tell us what you found!

Know It August 23rd

God Created Nature

Creation Story Part 1: Genesis 1 Beginner’s Bible pages 9-15 Beginner’s Bible for Toddlers pages 7-13 • • •

What are your favorite parts of God’s creation? What was it like when God created the world? How can we let God know we are thankful for this beautiful world?

August 30th

God Created You

Creation Story Part 2: Genesis 2 Preschool’s Bible pages 20-23 Toddler’s Bible pages 16-19 • • •

Who made you and me? What is special about you? What is special about each person in our family?

Know It September 13th

God Loves You and Your Family

Baby Moses: Exodus 2:1-10 Beginner’s Bible pages 92-97 Toddler’s Bible pages 80-83 • • •

Who is in our family? How do you show love to one another? How does it feel to know God loves you?

September 20th

God Loves Your Church Family

God Parts the Red Sea: Exodus 14:5-31 Beginner’s Bible pages 116-119 Toddler’s Bible pages 100-103 • • •

What do you enjoy most about going to church? What did you learn and do at church? How can you show your love to God?

Know It September 27th

God Loves Your World Family

The Ten Commandments: Exodus 20:1-21 Beginner’s Bible for Toddlers pages 44-49 • • •

How big is God’s love? Who does God love? How can we show God’s love to people who live far away?

Show It BLESS YOUR FRIENDS Families come in all shapes, colors, sizes and make-up and God loves them all! Think of the many families in your church, your school, your neighborhood and throughout the world. What family do you know who needs some help or encouragement right now? Could you bake some cookies, create some cards, offer to do some housework or spend some time listening to their stories? Pray with and for the family, giving thanks for their lives and praying God’s blessings upon them. Use this space to write down or draw a picture of something that your family did to bless others.

SHARE YOUR BLESSINGS We are all part of God’s big family. God wants us to love and care for each other. Ask your parents if your family can donate some old clothes or toys that you no longer use to other kids who might need them. You could also share your favorite food with kids who don’t have enough to eat. The next time you go to the grocery store with your parent purchase a package of something that you like to eat and donate it. You can bring the toys, clothes or food in the missions area of the church narthex when you come to worship. As you leave your house to bring your donated items to the church take time as a family to pray for the people who will receive your gifts. Ask God to bless and encourage them. You will be even more blessed then they are!