To the most fabulous team ever:
I am so excited for us to kick off all kinds of brand new things coming July 5/6! If you missed the all team meeting last week, I want to take a moment and update you on what we went over, just so we're all on the same page. But, before I do that...
I'm so glad to be back and missed you all so much! It was nice having the 8 weeks off with my precious baby girl, that, let's just be honest, should have been named "Little Andrew" instead of Ava Joy! HAHA! But I'm glad to get back to it and partner with you to help you grow as leaders and help these kiddos grow by helping them discover God in a more fun and easy way!
But, let's start off by saying....
THANK YOU!!!
Thank you so much for all you do to serve God here at Freedom in the Greenhouse! Your role is vital and we couldn't reach these kids and ONE MORE effectively without you. Before I left on maternity leave, we had a meeting about upcoming changes about launching the new children's auditorium. We will still be doing this but not until some more money comes in for us to be able to do so. So, hold out... it's coming! I promise!
Just a reminder of why we do what we do... it's all for ONE MORE! At Freedom, we want to create environments where everyone can experience the freedom of Jesus and you are helping us do that in the Greenhouse by providing a safe and fun place for the kiddos to discover God!
I want to quickly review some of our policies for you as volunteer team members:
- Wear your WE SERVE shirt and bottoms that are below the knee each time you serve
- Starting July 5/6 also wear your GH name badge---you are responsible for bringing it and wearing it.
- If you decide you would like to take a break from the GH, please give us a 3 week notice as opposed to saying, "I'm taking a break and this is my last day."
- Room 203 is available upstairs for you to utilize for your personal belongings.
- If you serve in room 201 upstairs, please do not use or place anything on the production table.
- This is something we're going to try to catch better at check in, but please no food or drinks in the classrooms upstairs. (nurseries are a little different because of bottles and what not so we're looking into how to best create this policy.)
- If you serve with K-4 kiddos, remember that we have minimal restroom breaks. If the child comes to you and asks to go to the restroom, ask them to wait a few minutes and finish the current activity. If they then on their own come back up to you and ask, then you can DISCRETELY take them to the restroom. Otherwise, this will create a ripple effect of kids wanting to use the restroom when they don't really need to.
- EVERYONE needs to attend their preservice meeting upstairs prior to serving! --This is as mandatory as I can make it for you being volunteers. It's important for us to come together and get excited as a team, pray together and also make sure everyone is there and all positions are filled.
- Just a reminder of our honor code that you all signed when being interviewed for the Greenhouse. Please refrain from profanity and doing anything that would cause Christ to grieve and others to stumble, while serving and outside the church as well.
- We serve consistently in the Greenhouse to build trust and relationships with the kids that we serve.
Our brand new curriculum to make life easier on you in preparing to reach the kids and also stream line the ministry!
We have been focusing on helping you develop the content and also wanting you to be good communicators as well. Well, that's a lot so we're switching and giving you the content and you just have to communicate it! This will make your life so much easier during the week as all you will need to do is read through how you will be utilizing the time with the kids, gather your supplies and you'll be off to the races.
I'm excited for you to take the energy you were using from preparing... to pastoring! Let's love on these kids and help them discover God in a more fun and tangible way that doesn't make you want to pull your hair out from preparing all week!
WE WANT TO MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO DO THE MOST IMPORTANT THING!
If you have a smart phone, go right now to the app store and download this free app: LEAD SMALL. It has a red dot for an icon. Everything you need to lead your time with the kids, from infants through 4th graders is in that app! (aside from supplies). If you don't have a smart phone or would prefer to have hard copies of the class time, that will be available for you.
Also, I'm very excited to step up our PARENT COMMUNICATION! This curriculum has a great tool to reach parents throughout the week and equip them as main spiritual leaders in their kids lives. Parents will be encouraged to download the PARENT CUE app, for a one time $1.99 fee which has SO much to use during the week. Everything from meal time discussions, bed time prayers, activities and articles on parenting tips!
I'm so excited to scratch all that we have done before --- what got us here won't get us there. We are going to a new level and this will help us get there. We have leaders stepping into new roles and we are developing new leaders. And I'm also excited to scratch anything we have ever thought about doing the rest of the year. God wants to do a new thing.. The Greenhouse is a place to grow... for the kids.. for you.. and for me! And I'm excited to go on this journey!
Thank you all for serving and doing what you do... you're all rockstars and never forget that you're helping fulfill the vision of Freedom by serving in the Greenhouse!
(See below for some more info on the curriculum!)
-We're in this together,
Pastor Tiffany
K-4 Team--check out how we are going to be able to better serve our students through this new curriculum!
Nursery- PreK team--here's how we are going to be able to love on our little ones and help them discover Jesus better!
God Made Me
God Loves Me
Jesus wants to be my friend forever.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Also, for those leading infants through 5 year olds, here are things you need to know about the curriculum:
MAKE IT FUN
Each teaching lesson begins with Small Group activities that are fun and
welcoming. These activities are designed to make the children feel drawn into
the room. Not only do they help the children become more comfortable in
their classroom, they also introduce new concepts they need to understand
the Bible story. There are three types of Make It Fun activities: movement,
game, and investigation or role play.
MAKE IT TRUE
After a fun time with classroom friends, children are led to a Large Group
time for worship, intro sketch and Bible story. Whether you have Large
Group in a classroom or theater, this is when children come together to hear
the truth of God’s Word.
During worship, children are encouraged to openly express their love for who
God is and praise Him for all He has created. The curriculum provides one
song and recommends up to two others. Worship time also equips leaders to
teach the month’s memory verse.
The introductory sketch (in 3s-5s) provides a real-life situation to which
preschoolers can relate that connects their world to the Bible Story.
The Bible story is written with age-appropriate language and told in an
exciting and interactive manner. First Look Bible stories are written to be told
spoken and not read, and we encourage advance preparation by leaders.
MAKE IT STICK
Children return to their room to participate in a variety of Small Group
activities that will help them apply what they have learned. These activities
may be crafts, games, or even yummy snacks. Each activity reinforces that
month’s Bottom Line in a fun and interactive way. Throughout this time of
the lesson the Bottom Line is repeated to be sure each child knows the truth
of God’s love. There are five types of Make It Stick activities: Memory Verse
Review, Bible Story review, Just for Fives (more advanced), movement and
craft.
MAKE IT REAL
Three- through 5-year-olds are led into a Small Group time where they can
personalize the lesson and have a time for prayer. In Small Groups,
relationships grow as children are encouraged to share their thoughts
about the Bottom Line and talk to God in their own words.
PARENT CUE
Different Parent Cues are provided depending on the age group. Each has a
way for the parent and child to interact over what was learned at church.
What happens at home is more important than what happens at church.
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