12.09.2009

Upcoming Weeks

Sunday, Dec 13th - Mosaic @ the Majestic - TEAM 3
Sunday, Dec 20th - Mosaic @ the Majestic - TEAM 4
Sunday, Dec 27th - NO GATHERING

Sunday, Jan 3rd - Mosaic @ the Majestic - TEAM 1
Sunday, Jan 10th - Mosaic Evening Gathering Starts! TEAM 2
Sunday, Jan 17th - Mosaic @ the Majestic - TEAM 3
Sunday, Jan 24th - BEAUTIFY
Sunday, Jan 31st - Mosaic @ the Majestic - TEAM 1

Not sure what team you're on??? Find out here.
January teams will be posted very soon!

12.02.2009

Advent Celebrations!

We are celebrating and learning about Advent together with your children at Mosaic.

If you are looking for ways to celebrate Advent with your family at home this year, Here are a few ideas:

One of my favorites is The Jesse Tree which I posted about last year.

I also came across a great family devotional here. It has references included so that you can use it with The Jesus Storybook Bible. Our favorite!

Also, Misha has posted tons of links and ideas here. So check them out!

And, you can watch this video together, straight out of the Jesus Storybook Bible.


Enjoy!

11.24.2009

A fantastic way to give

I read a post today over here that I think is a FABULOUS idea families can use to give on the go. They make "sock lunches" to keep in their car and hand out to the homeless when they are out together as a family. What a great opportunity to share with your kids the importance of beautifying others and living a sent life!

Go check it out!

The Big Picture Story Bible


I have an item for your Christmas list to Grandma!

In January, we will be starting a lovely new series at Mosaic kids.

We're going to go through this book:

which I highly recommend for every household.

We're also taking some of the ideas from the lessons from here.
Thank you to Tony Kummer for posting these, they've been very helpful!

This series is super fun and we're looking forward to all the things we will learn about God's Story!

Pick up a copy so you can follow along at home!

Mexico Shoeboxes


Dear Mosaic Families-

Sunday we talked about giving with your kids! We have been learning about what it means to be the Church: The People of God. So far, we have discussed that God’s people BLESS, believe, meet, and obey. Today’s topic was: God’s people give, share and encourage. We also revisited this idea from last year.

I thought it would be helpful for our kids to have a practical way to participate in this aspect of being God’s people: Giving.

My good friend, Erin Blinn, is a Mission’s Pastor in Texas and has started a program which provides shoes for needy children in Reynosa, Mexico.

Mosaic Kids has signed up for two shoeboxes this year! We will be filling shoeboxes for a 7 year old boy and a 3 year old girl, who are siblings.

Your kids are encouraged to bring a little allowance money to help cover the cost of the shoes (which Mosaic will purchase), OR to go to the dollar store and pick out goodies for the child. We encourage you to pick out crayons, toothbrush and toothpaste, stickers, matchbox cars or anything else you can think of that would fit in a shoebox! Please bring these items back with you next Sunday, November 29th! We will ship them off to Mexico with Erin and her team to two children in Mexico.

After the trip, Erin and her team will have pictures and information for us about the children we were able to help!

We are very excited to partner in this program.

Here's a note from Erin:

Thank you for your willingness to help with our shoebox program! The little guy in the photo attached this note is Bryan. Last year when we met up with him to give him his shoes, the excited little guy marveled at the Spiderman shoes in his box. Whoever packed the box added some other 4-year-old appropriate goodies.

Bryan unpacked them with delight. Upon discovering a box of crayons in his shoebox, Bryan set the box down, took the crayons out and started dancing in the dusty dirt street shouting, "Colores, colores!" My team and I blinked back tears. Here's a little boy dancing over a box of crayons that you can buy at Wal-mart for $.20 during back-to-school.

This will be the fifth year Grace Vineyard, the church I work at, has participated in bringing shoes to the children of Vamos Tamaulipas, a low-income community in Reynosa, Mexico just south of McAllen, TX. Bryan's story perfectly captures why we take shoes: we believe God's love is practical and that sharing can be as simple as a box of shoes for a little one who might otherwise go without. The community's 520 kids will receive shoes this year, and Grace has committed to providing 300 pairs through our attendees and friends. Which is where you come in. :)

Here's how it works. In September, volunteers traced the feet of each child in the program and sent them to us. We then take the footprints and buy a pair of closed-toed shoes (athletic shoes are best) based on the tracing. The shoes are packed in a Rubbermaid shoebox, and the shoebox is stuffed with age-appropriate goodies (socks, toothbrush, toothpaste, matchbox cars, crayons, stickers, etc).

A team from Grace Vineyard then delivers the shoes door to door December 16-20.

It's pretty simple. It brings a lot of joy. I'd love for you to share in that joy.

And thanks for participating. After the trip I'll send you an update with photos so you can see how your gift affected a community. It's been incredible!!!

Thanks,

Erin

The 12 Disciples - UPDATE


We are still working on the names of the 12 disciples!

This past Sunday was a time crunch Sunday, so we ran out of time to hear everyone recite the 12 names. Some of your kids knew them and were so eager to share and they did a great job! Prizes and celebrations will be had this coming Sunday, November 29th!

Continue to work on them with your kids. It might even be worth a $.99 investment on itunes for a song that will help. Just type in "the 12 disciples", there are several options.

There's always the good old fashioned way of using Matthew Chapter 10 as well.

Good Luck!

11.18.2009

The Jesus Storybook Bible -Videos!



Check this out! There are videos available, with animations and dramatized readings of The Jesus Storybook Bible, on Sally Lloyd-Jones' blog. This has long been a favorite Story Bible at Mosaic Kids, and now you can listen and watch the stories together. There are only a few on there for now, but go check them out here.

11.10.2009

Mosaic in the evening???



If you haven't noticed, we have had a very full room on Sunday mornings! We are moving toward adding an evening Gathering in the near future, which you will be hearing about over the coming Sundays. This Gathering will also have a focus toward a church plant in the future. Exciting stuff! Our very own Aaron Walters is here in Bellingham as a church planter and is looking forward to getting to know some Mosaic folks who may have a heart to join him.

This brings with it some changes! We will be adding a kids program with the same ages and content to our evening Gathering. So, you will have your choice of when to attend, depending on what works for your family.

If you are currently a Mosaic Kids Volunteer, be thinking about when you would prefer to serve: Morning or evening? We will be dividing teams up accordingly.

Please be in prayer for us as we move toward this exciting new change.

Upcoming Weeks!

Sunday, Nov 15th - BEAUTIFY SUNDAY - Majestic, 10am
Sunday, Nov 22nd - THANKSGIVING BASKETS @ the Majestic - TEAM 4
Sunday, Nov 29th - Mosaic @ the Majestic - TEAM 1

Sunday, Dec 6th - Mosaic @ the Majestic - TEAM 2
Sunday, Dec 13th - Mosaic @ the Majestic - TEAM 3
Sunday, Dec 20th - BEAUTIFY SUNDAY - Majestic, 10am

Not sure what team you're on??? Find out here.

Who are the 12 Disciples??




We were talking this past Sunday about the disciples... how many were there? What were their names? I decided it would be fun to have our kids learn a bit more about them, so I issued a little challenge:

Learn the names of the 12 disciples and the next time we meet you will get a little surprise!

My goal is that we ALL learn them, so I will have Bibles out and work with your kids on the assigned Sunday (November 22nd)... so that everyone gets a special prize and some Biblical literacy too!

So, here's where you come in. Take some time over the next 2 weeks to learn the disciples names and learn what you can about who they were together with your kids. (Hint: Try Matthew 10)


image from here

10.14.2009

Looking for a weekday volunteer for next week - Oct 19-22


I am looking for someone who has a couple of hours during the day next week. We need to spend a little time sorting and inventorying our craft supplies in the closet at the Majestic. If you are available next week (any day), and would like to help organize, please contact me and we'll make a plan! Thanks!

Carla

mosaickids@gmail.com

image from here

Upcoming Weeks

Sunday, Oct 18th - Mosaic @ the Majestic - TEAM 1
SATURDAY, Oct 24th - Make a Difference Day!

Sunday, Nov 1st - Mosaic @ the Majestic - TEAM 2
Sunday, Nov 8th - Mosaic @ the Majestic - TEAM 3
Sunday, Nov 15th - BEAUTIFY SUNDAY - Majestic, 10am
Sunday, Nov 22nd - Mosaic @ the Majestic - TEAM 4
Sunday, Nov 29th - Mosaic @ the Majestic - TEAM 1

Sunday, Dec 6th- Mosaic @ the Majestic - TEAM 2

Not sure what team you're on??? Find out here.

10.13.2009

NEW Fall 2009 Kids teams

Team 1:

grades K-4
Megan F - set up
Joanne S - set up
David G
Matt & Elinor M - clean up
Jamie M

Preschool (3s-young 5s)
Kelli G
Laura A
Mady S - set up

Babies, 1s & 2s
Lauren R - set up
Erin H - clean up

Team 2:
grades K-4
Betty S - set up
Maren
Andrea
Ethan L
Jaime C
Kevin C

Preschool (3s-young 5s)
Beth P
Jim P
Carla S

Babies, 1s & 2s
Sam & Heidi

Team 3:
grades K-4
Julie H - clean up
Jacky S - set up
Brad S - set up
Emily S - clean up
Demi B

Preschool (3s-young 5s)
Shannon M
Becca T
Kate S

Babies, 1s & 2s
Annie O
Sarah S

Team 4:
grades K-4
Delia B - clean up
Molly M
Ian M
Arlena M
Rachel R

Preschool (3s-young 5s)
Marilu M
Shara P - clean up
Jason H - clean up


Babies, 1s & 2s
Krysta H - clean up
Kate W -set up

10.12.2009

Memory Work!

Your kids are doing a fantastic job memorizing Acts 2:42-43. We did an activity together yesterday to help them learn it and they were amazing! Most of them could quote it by the end of the morning. I encourage you to keep working on it with them this week.

Here are the verses from the NIrV:

“The believers STUDIED what the apostles taught. They SHARED LIFE together. They broke bread and ATE together. And they PRAYED. Everyone felt that God was near...”

So far, in our series on what it means to be the Church, your kids have learned that:

God's people BLESS
God's people BELIEVE, and
God's people MEET

Talk about this with them!

I love having these conversations and learning moments with your kids. They are awesome!

Have a fantastic Fall week, everyone.

10.07.2009

THANK YOU!



Sunday morning I arrived at Mosaic needing 16 people to complete the Fall rotation for the kids ministry. And 16 people signed up. Thank you to each and every one of you who made that possible!!!

Acts Bible Memory


We are learning about what it means to be the church at Mosaic Kids!

So far, we have reviewed our BLESS rhythms and talked about how at Mosaic, there are 5 ways that we try to live our lives in order to be the church: we beautify the lives of others, listen to God, eat together and make friends, study the Bible and send others to live the same way!

The kids made some framed posters with the word "BLESS" on them to take home as a reminder.

Then, this last Sunday, we learned that God's people BELIEVE. Your kids came up with an amazing list of things that we believe about God:

He is near
He died on the Cross and rose again
He came to earth
He is good
He loves people
He made everything

and on it went. I loved it!

As we continue through this series the next couple of months, your kids will be learning a couple of verses. We sent home the first half this week. Hopefully you can learn it together as a family!

It is Acts 2:42 & 43 in the NIrV:
“The believers STUDIED what the apostles taught. They SHARED LIFE together. They broke bread and ATE together. And they PRAYED. Everyone felt that God was near...”

In the coming weeks, we will add verses 45 and 46:
“They sold what they owned. They GAVE each other everything they needed. Every day the MET TOGETHER in the temple yard. In their homes they broke bread and ATE together. Their hearts were glad and honest and true.”

I love it and look forward to having this be a part of the DNA we build into our kids of what it means to be God's people!

We also revised a familiar rhyme:

"Here is a building
there is no steeple
but open the doors!
The church is the people!"

9.23.2009

Volunteers Needed!




We are currently in need of 15 people to keep our kids program running! If you are interested in helping with the kids from now through the end of 2009 (about 3 Sundays), e-mail Carla at mosaickids@gmail.com

9.03.2009

Quote of the day

"What would happen if we saw our mission… our purpose… rather than to teach kids about God but to help children find their place in the Body of Christ and to help the adult members of the Body to nurture and mentor and include children in the mission God sent His entire Church on in this world?"
- Henry Zonio, posted here

This is totally how I want to view the ministry to our children at Mosaic. They are a part of the body along with us, and it's our job to mentor them and include them as much as possible!

8.26.2009

Upcoming Weeks!!!

Sunday, August 30th - MOSAIC 3RD ANNIVERSARY - Zuanich Park, 5:30 pm.
5 "bouncers" needed to man the bouncy house. E-mail me if you can help!

Sunday, Sept 6th - Home parties & Surf Trip
Sunday, Sept 13th - Mosaic @ the Majestic - TEAM 1
Sunday, Sept 20th - Mosaic @ the Majestic - Babies and Preschool only
Sunday, Sept 27th - Mosaic @ the Majestic - TEAM 2

Sunday, Oct 4th - Mosaic @ the Majestic - TEAM 3
Sunday, Oct 11th - Mosaic @ the Majestic - TEAM 4
Sunday, Oct 18th - Mosaic @ the Majestic - TEAM 1
SATURDAY, Oct 24th - Make a Difference Day!

not sure what team you're on? check over there! to your right! at the top of the page. there's a list.

7.23.2009

Upcoming Weeks!

July 26th - Beautify Sunday & Middle School - no kids teams

August 2nd - Team 2
August 9th - Team 3
August 16th - Beautify Sunday - no kids teams
August 23rd - team 4
August 30th - 3 Year Anniversary Party at Zuanich!

Sept 6th - No Mosaic
Sept 13th - Team 1

not sure what team you're on? check over there! to your right! at the top of the page. there's a list.

7.10.2009

This Week - July 12th - Team 4



Team 4:

Grades K-4
Molly M
Ian M
Arlena M

Preschool (3s-young 5s)
Meghan V - set up
Jason H - clean up

Babies, 1s & 2s
Krysta H - clean
Maren! - set up

Sunday, July 19th - TEAM 1



grades K-4
Joanne S - set up
David G
Matt & Elinor M - clean up
Delia

Preschool (3s-young 5s)
Kelli G
Laura A

Babies, 1s & 2s
Lauren R - set up
team members needed

image from here

6.24.2009

Volunteers needed to cuddle Mosaic Babies!


We are looking for people to hang out with our babies in July:

1 person is needed on July 12th
1 person is needed on July 19th

We also need 2 people on August 2nd

Thank you so much! Please e-mail me if you are interested.

6.23.2009

Video fun: God is...



silly. but happy. and true.

a little above where our kids are thinking, but I think good for us to think about.

what do you think?

thanks to henry zonio for posting.

6.11.2009

The Big Picture Story Bible

We've begun a lovely new series at Mosaic kids.

We're going through this book:

which I highly recommend for every household.

We're also taking some of the ideas from the lessons from here.
Thank you to Tony Kummer for posting these, they've been very helpful!

So far, we've learned the following:

WEEK 1: THE VERY GOOD BEGINNING:
God made everything simply by speaking words.
God's people were in God's place with God's good rules to obey.
God made us in his image - as beings who are made in God's image we are responsible for making the world a better place. To symbolize this role, they made a flower and wrote on it one thing that they could do to make the world better.

WEEK 2: A VERY SAD DAY
We learned about choices!
and that... Even when I make bad choices, God will rescue me
along with these three questions:
  1. What was the choice? The people had to choose between obeying God or listening to Satan.
  2. Why did God have to punish Adam & Eve? God punished them because they disobeyed his Word, which was meant to rule over his place and his people.
  3. What was the promise? The promise was that one day someone would come and crush Satan’s power over people.
The kids also had a fun time acting the story out and making snake bracelets!

This series is super fun and we're looking forward to the other things we will learn about God's Story!

Our Kids!

Just having fun downstairs on a Sunday:




Mosaic Kids needs your help!




We have lost a few volunteers recently due to the schedule changes that come with summer. We are currently seeking about 10 people to help with the kids on Sundays. If you would like to beautify the lives of some of the children in our community, please e-mail me. You will help 5 or 6 times, starting in July, & ending at the end of the year.

We are also open to summer only helpers!

Help is needed in each class. You may choose your preference of babies, preschoolers, or Kindergarten through 4th grade.

Thank you so much!

2009 Kids Teams - Summer and Fall

Team 1:

grades K-4
Megan F
Joanne S - set up
David G
Matt & Elinor M - clean up

Preschool (3s-young 5s)
Kelli G
Laura A

Babies, 1s & 2s
Lauren R - set up
team member needed

Team 2:
grades K-4
Betty S - set up
Maren
Andrea
team members needed

Preschool (3s-young 5s)
Brett B
Katie B
Madison S

Babies, 1s & 2s
Sam & Heidi

Team 3:
grades K-4
Julie H - clean up
Jacky S - set up
Brad S - set up
Emily S - clean up

Preschool (3s-young 5s)
Amia F - clean up
Rose S - set up
team members needed

Babies, 1s & 2s
Lael & Drew - clean up
team members needed

Team 4:
grades K-4
Delia B
Molly M
Ian M
Arlena M

Preschool (3s-young 5s)
Meghan V - set up
Jason H - clean up
team member needed

Babies, 1s & 2s
Krysta H - clean
team member needed

6.10.2009

Oh the questions kids have...




I found this on Scot Mcknight's blog and it made me laugh! I have had conversations like this one. Kids have very serious questions about God, and it's my job to answer them as well as I can! Sometimes that's a challenge.

6.03.2009

Upcoming Weeks

June 14th - Beautify Sunday - no kids teams
June 21st - Father's Day - no kids teams
June 28th - Team 3

July 5th - Home Parties! - no kids teams
July 12th - Team 4
July 19th - Team 1

not sure what team you're on? check over there! to your right! at the top of the page. there's a button that says, "what team am I on?" Click on 2009 TEAM LIST

Team 2 - This Week - June 7th


Grades K-4
Betty
Lorien
Charissa
Brenna

Ages 3-4
Brett, Mady and Katie

Babies, 1s & 2s
Sam & Heidi

Set up team - please arrive at 9:15

See you Sunday!


image from: http://www.metro.co.uk

5.01.2009

A happy quote about kids

"A child can always teach an adult three things: to be happy for no reason, to always be busy with something, and to know how to demand with all his might that which he desires."

— Paulo Coelho, The Fifth Mountain

found here

4.30.2009

Volunteers needed this week - May 3rd

We are mixing things up a little bit with the kids this Sunday and I am looking for 3 people to help.

I am looking for someone who would like to join me and the 3-9 year olds for a movie (fun!)

I also need two people who would like to hang out with our babies (who are also very fun!)

If you are interested, please e-mail me: carla@mosaicnw.com

Thanks!

4.29.2009

Jelly Telly for Children's Ministry

Phil Vischer has done it again. If you don't recognize his name, he is the brain behind Veggie Tales.

He's been up to something new, called Jelly Telly. And today, I found out that Jelly Telly now has videos available for download to use in kids ministry. I'm excited to check out their introductions to the books of the Bible and use them with our kids this summer! I plan to take them back through the Bible - God's Big Story, so these should be fantastic at helping them grasp the stories of the different books of the Bible and where they fit in the grand scheme of things.

Here's a little sampling for you:



can anyone say, Flight of the Conchords?

What can you do?

This is a fun video about helping others. It's from the Jelly Telly series called "Kids like you." "Kids like you" is a series of videos where kids talk about how they can serve others. So, gather the kids up again and you can have a great conversation with them about why we do BEAUTIFY projects at Mosaic and what we can do on a daily basis to help others. Check it out!



More at jellytelly.com

4.23.2009

Preschool Crafty Craziness

I ran across this blog today and thought it was worth sharing. She has TONS of ideas for fun crafty and entertaining things to do at home (cheaply!) with young children. Many of these would be great for summer.

I love the under-bed-storage-sand box

and the shower curtain liner TOWN

Like I said, tons of cool ideas. It's called Filth Wizardry, and you can find it here.

4.22.2009

This Week - April 26th - Team 3


Grades K-4
Julie - clean up
Jacky - set up
Emily - clean up
Brad - set up

Ages 3-4
Amia - clean up
Meg M - set up

Babies, 1s & 2s
Drew & Lael - clean up

Set up team - please arrive at 9:15

See you Sunday!


image from: http://www.metro.co.uk

4.17.2009

Shout out to Jude!

As you may have heard, we have been doing some Bible memory around Mosaic Kids this quarter. The kids have learned 4 songs, which contain a total of 9 verses! The songs we learned together are from the fine folks at Seeds Family Worship, and I encourage everyone to pick up their albums for your kids! Each song is a verse, or series of verses, taken directly from the NIV text.

As we were talking about Scripture memory and its purpose, Jude volunteered a story. He said that when he's feeling nervous or upset at school, he repeats a verse to himself. It goes a little something like this, "I can do all things through Jesus Christ who gives me strength!" I was so pleased to hear that he has captured the purpose of scripture memory: comfort and strength through the truth of the words of God.

So, Jude, this video is for you. Everyone - gather your kids around and enjoy this fun song:


4.15.2009

TEAM 2 - Kids Party Chaperones!

This week we are partying with our elementary kids and also watching babies and preschoolers while parents BEAUTIFY!!

Grades K-4
Maluhia - set up
Betty
Charissa & Brenna - set up
Lorien

Babies, 1s & 2s, Ages 3-4
Brett - set up
Katie - set up
Madison -

Set up team - please arrive at 9:15

See you then

PARTY!!!!!!!


This week is our culmination party in celebration of the kids’ hard work on their memory verse songs and all they’ve learned about the Sermon on the Mount! Please bring your kids if you are available – they’ve been promised this party for the last 3 months and are very excited!



This week is a Beautify week! BUT – the elementary aged kids will be partying downstairs!

We will be celebrating with ice cream and fruit! If your children have any allergies, please bring ice cream that they can consume. We will provide the good old fashioned vanilla and chocolate varieties.

For those of you who have preschoolers and little ones, we will also have a room open for them, allowing you to go and bring some beauty. There will be several projects nearby.

Sound good? Sounds like a party to me!

See you Sunday.


image from here.

4.03.2009

What is Church?

Happy Quote:

"Church isn't where you meet... church is the human outworking of the person of Jesus Christ. Let's not go to church, let's be the church." Bridget Willard

Found here.

4.02.2009

Seasons of the Soul

Enjoying Matt's thoughts here

and my good friend, Erin's, here

Read and enjoy!

This Week - April 5th - Team 4


Grades K-4
Delia B - set up
Molly M - set up
Ian & Arlena

Preschool
Amia F - clean up - (subbing for Meghan)
Lauren R - set up

Babies, 1s & 2s
Krysta H - clean up - SUB NEEDED
Allison L - set up

Set up team - please arrive at 9:15

See you Sunday!

3.25.2009

Big Picture Story Bible

I've recommended this Story Bible before, but felt it was worth mentioning again!

It's the Big Picture Story Bible by David Helm (Author), Gail Schoonmaker (Illustrator).


It is awesome and I highly recommend it - for kids of all ages!

from Amazon.com:

Product Description Rather than simply retelling the most familiar short scenes from the Bible, this book presents the big picture the unified story running through the Old and New Testaments. This delightful book will help children learn the Bible's whole story and begin to appreciate the fulfillment of God's promise to his people. The Big Picture Bible Story Book is perfect for parents to read to their children, and eventually, for children to read on their own. It is an excellent way to introduce them to a book that will guide them through all of life.


The themes it traces are simple, and super encouraging to me as well! They are as follows:

God has always wanted a place for his people. And He wants to be their King.

But:
We consistently doubt God's goodness
We choose to disobey God's words
We don't let God be our King - instead, we rule the world in evil ways

The book follows these themes throughout the big picture of scripture to reveal how God makes it right again.

So, pick this one up for your family. You can buy it locally at the Christian book store in town, or order it online from the link above.

And, if you haven't purchased the Jesus Storybook Bible, you can buy them together on amazon.com for $27.18. Not a bad price for some good theology for your little ones.

images from amazon.com

Communion Questions


As I mentioned earlier, I found some questions here to use when leading children in Communion. I thought this was a super idea and would be very useful in helping the children to understand more about what Communion is all about and why we practice it together. I adapted the questions I found and came up with the following four:

Q Why do we remember Jesus?
A Because he was sent from God and he gave up his life for us on the cross. God raised
him from the dead so that we might see that death is not the end, but the beginning of a new life, the life Jesus showed us how to live.

Q Why do we use bread?
A Because Jesus took bread at the Last Supper. It is a sign of Jesus body that was given up to die for us.

Q Why do we use wine?
A Because this wine is a sign of Jesus' saving love, through his blood, poured out for us when he died on the cross.

Q Why do we come to his table for Communion?
A He invites us because he accepts us. We are his people and we share in his
heavenly life.


We used three of these on Sunday and it went very well! I chose three children to read the questions aloud. The child would read the question, and then I would respond with the answer. After all three questions were read and responded to, I lead us in a prayer for our time of Communion. Then we headed upstairs! It was great, and I look forward to using these again.

April/May Team Schedule


March 29th - Team 3

April 5th - Team 4
April 12th - Easter - Team 1 for shortened story time
April 19th - Team 2 - beautify Sunday and Kids' PARTY downstairs
April 26th - Team 3

May 3rd - Home Parties
May 10th - Team 4
May 17th - Team 1
May 24th - Ski to Sea Sunday!
May 31st - Team 2

image from idahostudios on flickr.

3.24.2009

This Week - March 29th - Team 3


Grades K-4
Julie - clean up
Jacky - set up
Emily - clean up
Brad - set up

Ages 3-4
Amia - clean up
Meg M - set up

Babies, 1s & 2s
Drew & Lael - clean up

Set up team - please arrive at 9:15

See you Sunday!


image from: http://www.metro.co.uk

3.16.2009

Eucharistic Prayers


I found a helpful list of questions to ask before giving the blessing prayer as we head to Communion. I thought these would be super helpful in getting the kids prepared to join their parents for Communion. I plan to adapt them, and come up with a few of my own, and begin using them in the coming weeks!


Preambles before the Eucharistic Prayer

This might be a set of biddings or reasons for giving thanks, spoken by children or others, before the opening dialogue. Jewish-style questions and answers such as the following might be compiled, perhaps to echo the theme of the service. A child might ask the questions, which the president or deacon might answer, and not all questions need be attempted every time.

Q Why do we give thanks and praise to God?
A Because he has created all that is, and he has given us life. He is Lord of all, and yet loves each of us.

Q Why do we remember Jesus?
A Because he was sent from God and he gave up his life for us on the cross. God raised
him from the dead so that we might see that death is not the end, but the beginning of a new life, the life Jesus showed us how to live.

Q Why do we use bread?
A Because Jesus took bread at the Last Supper. It is a sign of Jesus feeding us as we hare with others around his table.

Q Why do we use wine?
A Because this wine is a sign of Jesus' saving love, poured out for us when he died on the cross.

(or)

Q Who are we remembering and who is here with us?
A Jesus Christ the Lord who lives today.

Q Why do we take this bread?
A To show that his body was given up to death for us.

Q Why do we take this wine?
A To show that Jesus shed his blood for our sins.

Q Why is there one loaf and one cup?
A Because we are one family; we belong to each other like the parts of a body.

Q Why do we come to his table?
A He invites us because he accepts us. We are his people and we share in his
heavenly life.

Q For how long will Christians celebrate like this?
A Until Jesus comes to take us to be with God in heaven.

Whatever happens, the actions, style and approach of the president, while being accessible to children, should make clear that the Eucharistic Prayer which follows is addressed to God, in whose presence it is right to be filled with awe. The sense of mystery should not lose out to a chatty educational or instructional approach.


I really like these! I'm thinking that as the kids line up downstairs, I will choose two children to each read a question, which I will answer. I will follow this up with a prayer of blessing for Communion before we head up!

source: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/worship/liturgy/commonworship/texts/newpatterns/notes/children.html

image from here

3.09.2009

Children and Lying

A helpful post and link list for parents dealing with lying habits in their children. Click here!

Middle School Gathering - This Sunday - March 15th


Middle School Meeting

this Sunday!

Stay tuned for details
(or e-mail Carla)

Up Next - March 22nd - Team 2


Grades K-4
Maluhia - set up
Betty
Charissa & Brenna - set up
Lorien

Ages 3-4
Brett - set up
Katie - set up
Madison -

Babies, 1s & 2s
Sam & Heidi

Set up team - please arrive at 9:15

See you then


image from: http://www.metro.co.uk

Mosaic Middle School!

Check out these awesome Mosaic Pieces:



2.23.2009

This Week - March 1st - Team 4


Grades K-4
Delia B - set up
Molly M - set up
Amanda - clean up

Preschool
Amia F - clean up - (subbing for Meghan)
Meg M - set up - (subbing for Lauren)
Jason H - clean up

Babies, 1s & 2s
Krysta H - clean up
Allison L - set up

Set up team - please arrive at 9:15

See you Sunday!

March/April Team Schedule


March 1st - Team 4
March 8th - Team 1
March 15th - Beautify Sunday
March 22nd - Team 2
March 29th - Team 3
April 5th - Team 4
April 12th - Easter - TBA!

image from idahostudios on flickr.

2.10.2009

This week - February 15th - Team 3


Grades K-4
Julie - clean up
Jacky - set up
Emily
Brad - set up

Ages 3-4
Amia - clean up
Lauren (subbing for Meg) - set up

Babies, 1s & 2s
Drew & Lael - clean up

Set up team - please arrive at 9:15

See you Sunday!


image from: http://www.metro.co.uk

2.04.2009

This Week - Feb 8th - Team 2


Grades K-4
Maluhia - set up
Betty
Charissa & Brenna - set up
SUB NEEDED

Ages 3-4
Brett - set up
Katie - set up
Madison -

Babies, 1s & 2s
Sam & Heidi

Set up team - please arrive at 9:15

See you Sunday!


image from: http://www.metro.co.uk

1.28.2009

This week - Feb 1st - Team 1



Team 1:

grades K-4
Carla C
Ethan L
Joanne S - set up
David G
Matt & Elinor M - clean up

Preschool (3s-young 5s)
Kelli G
Laura A
Rose S - set up

Babies, 1s & 2s
Josh & Annie

1.21.2009

Alan Hirsch on Missional

"A proper understanding of missional begins with recovering a missionary understanding of God. By his very nature God is a “sent one” who takes the initiative to redeem his creation. This doctrine, known as missio Dei—the sending of God—is causing many to redefine their understanding of the church. Because we are the “sent” people of God, the church is the instrument of God’s mission in the world. As things stand, many people see it the other way around. They believe mission is an instrument of the church; a means by which the church is grown. Although we frequently say “the church has a mission,” according to missional theology a more correct statement would be “the mission has a church.”

Love it.

Read more here and here.

1.19.2009

2009 Kids Teams

Team 1:
grades K-4
Ethan L
Joanne S - set up
David G
Matt & Elinor M - clean up

Preschool (3s-young 5s)
Kelli G
Laura A
Rose S - set up

Babies, 1s & 2s
Josh & Annie P

Team 2:
grades K-4
Maluhia V - set up
Charissa & Brenna - clean up
Betty S - set up
Lorien T

Preschool (3s-young 5s)
Brett B
Katie B
Madison S

Babies, 1s & 2s
Sam & Heidi

Team 3:
grades K-4
Julie H - clean up
Jacky S - set up
Brad S - set up
Emily S - clean up

Preschool (3s-young 5s)
Amia F - clean up
Meg M - set up

Babies, 1s & 2s
Lael & Drew - clean up

Team 4:
grades K-4
Delia B
Amanda A
Molly M
Ian M
Arlena M

Preschool (3s-young 5s)
Meghan V - set up
Jason H - clean up
Lauren R - set up

Babies, 1s & 2s
Krysta H - clean
Allison - set up


Middle School Gathering - January 25th


Middle School Meeting

at the Wiley’s


It’s that time again!

Join us on January 25th for a fun time together! The Middle School students are gathering at the Wiley’s for food, fun, sandwich making for Church on the Street, study time and much more!

We hope to see you there.

What: Beautify, Listen, Eat, Study and Send!
When: January 25th, 2009
Where: 4784 Nettle Ln
Bellingham, Wa
Time: 11am-1pm
Other: Just bring yourselves! Food will be provided

Up Next - Team 1 - Feb 1st


grades K-4
Ethan
Joanne S - set up
Kelli G
Matt & Elinor M - clean up

Preschool (3s-young 5s)
Dave G
Laura A
Rose S

Babies, 1s & 2s
Josh P
Annie P

1.10.2009

A post for Erin



I have this friend Erin. We became friends in Poland. We lived in an apartment in Czestochowa with two other girls. But, Erin and I would stay up late into the night, sitting across from each other in these super ugly 80s chairs. We would talk about what God was doing in us. We would talk about how God was using our team. We would talk about what Jesus was doing in the lives of the young people we were hanging out with in Czestochowa. But, often, we would just talk about the Gospel. We talked about what we had learned to be the Good News, what it was that was so good about Jesus and what He had done. We talked about our favorite things that we had learned through the Bible, sermons, YWAM schools. Eventually, we decided, that all the quotes and scriptures and sermons we loved... they were all saying the same thing. They all taught the same one thing (well, a few things bundled together into one thing): The Gospel. We decided, then, that there was really only one teaching. And we started calling it "the one teaching." So, whenever we came across the kind of Good News that just makes your heart happy, we'd look at each other and say, "it's the one teaching."

I share this story today, because I read something today, and my mind and heart went back to those chairs in Poland.

Check it out:

"In order to live out the life God intends for us to live, we must understand and believe the gospel AND it must permeate all of life. Many Christians believe the gospel is the starting point in their relationship with God, but that they move on to something more after that. If this is the case, they are deserting the one who called them by grace and turning to another god to save them – they are no longer living in line with the very truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:6-10; 2:14). The gospel is the power of God to save everyone who believes (Romans 1:16) and to make them righteous by faith in the work of Jesus Christ, accomplished on their behalf (Romans 1:17; 2 Corinthians 5:17, 21). However, it’s not only the beginning of our Christian life, but it is also the ongoing means by which we are changed (Colossians 2:6- 7). As Tim Keller has stated, “The gospel isn’t just the ABCs of Christianity, but the A to Z.” It is the way in which we are to live everyday of our life. The reason why so many Christians fail to experience ongoing transformation is because they have forgotten what God has done for us in the Gospel (2 Peter 1:3-9)."

The Gospel is not the starting point. Oh no, it's the only thing. We could read about it, talk about it, process through it, learn about it forever. And we must. It's how we'll be changed. And 2 Peter 1:3-9 is one of the things I thought about a lot that summer. We have everything we need for life and godliness, and we need to be reminded of that a lot, so that we don't forget.

The above paragraphs come from "The Gospel Means" by Jeff Vanderstelt of Soma Communities in Tacoma, WA

Thanks Amber and Erin for letting me use this picture without asking :)

1.09.2009

A note to Current Mosaic Kids Volunteers

It's that time again! Kids Teams are up for rotation.

If you are currently serving with Mosaic Kids, your commitment to your team actually ended at the end of 2008. What I would like to do is keep you on your teams for the next 6 months with the option to opt out again at the end of June. If your schedule has changed, if you’re moving or have other commitments, or if working with the kids just isn’t working for you, please e-mail me and let me know that your January Sunday will indeed be your last Sunday. I will need to start filling your spots. If I don’t hear from you, I will keep you on the schedule, and your Jan/Feb dates are already posted (below). Thanks everyone!!

I appreciate you all more than I can express!

January/February Team Schedule



January 11th - team 3
January 18th - team 4
January 25th - beautify Sunday
February 1st - team 1
February 8th - team 2
February 15th - team 3

image from redstamp.com on flickr.

This week - January 11th


grades K-4
Julie
Jacky - set up
Sarah S
Steve
Brad - set up

Preschool (3s-young 5s)
Jason H - clean up
Kenzie & Sierra
Amia - set up

Babies, 1s & 2s
Krysta - clean up
Martinsons


image from: http://www.metro.co.uk

Wondering when we're Gathering?

Check the sidebar under "Upcmoing Events"

I try to keep our Majestic Sundays and Beautify Sundays and other events listed so that you can plan and keep up!

1.05.2009

More of what I'm reading

Carla Barnhill's thoughts on children and faith here and here.

Epiphany



Yesterday, our elementary kids learned about God’s Epiphany: His big Show and Tell to the world of His Son Jesus. We read the story of the Wise Men. They heard that the long promised King had been born and they set out to find Him, bearing gifts and following a star to the most unlikely of locations. The kids looked at the story in Matthew chapter 2 and also in the Jesus Storybook Bible, where it reads like this:

“Far away, in the East, three clever men saw the very same star. The star that God had put in the sky when Jesus was born. They knew it was a sign. A baby king had been born. They had been waiting for this star. They knew it would come. ‘He’s here!’ they shouted. ‘He’s here!’ (And I’m sure if you’d been there, you would have heard them laughing and dancing and singing until the sun came up!) At dawn, they packed up their camels and wrapped gifts for the baby. They brought their most precious treasures of all: frankincense, gold, and myrrh. Special, sparkly, lovely-smelling, gleaming things – just right for a king. The three Wise Men (actually, if you’d met them, you’d have thought they were kings because they were so rich and clever and important looking) set off. They rode their camels… Across endless deserts… Up steep, steep mountains… Down into deep, deep valleys… Through raging rivers… Over grassy plains… Night and day, and day and night, for hours that turned into days, that turned into weeks, that turned into months and months, until, at last, they reached… Jerusalem. Jerusalem was by far the most important city for miles around and, as anyone can tell you, that’s where a palace would be and kings are born in palaces. So that’s where they went. But they were in for a surprise. They went to see King Herod. Surely he’d know where this baby was. But he didn’t. In fact, he didn’t like the sound of a new king – it made him cross. He didn’t want anyone to be king, except him. But Herod’s advisors told the three Wise Men what was written in their books – what God had said about the baby king: ‘Go to Bethlehem. That’s where you’ll find him.’ Suddenly, the star they had seen in the East started moving again, showing them the way. So the three Wise Men followed the star out of the big city, along he road, into the little town of Bethlehem. They followed the star through the streets of Bethlehem, out of the nice part of town, through the not=-so-nice part of town, into the really-not-nice-at-all part of town, down a little dirt track, until it stopped right over… a little house. But wait. It wasn’t a palace. Ant there weren’t any guards. Or servants. Or flags. Or red carpets. Or trumpets. Or anything. Did they get it wrong? Or was this what God meant? Sure enough, in that little house - there, sitting on his mother’s knee – they found him. The baby King. The three men knelt before the little king. They took off their rich royal turbans and gleaming, golden crowns. The bowed their noble heads to the ground and gave him their sparkling treasure. The journey that had begun so many centuries before had led three Wise Men here. To a little town. To a little house. To a little child. To the King God had promised David all those years before. But this child was a new kind of king. Though he was the Prince of Heaven, he had become poor. Though he was the Mighty God, he had become a helpless baby. This King hadn’t come to be the boss. He had come to be a servant.”

It was a great way to introduce them to the tradition of Epiphany, or "the revealing," which has long been celebrated after the 12 Days of Christmas, on January 6th.

image from here