Sunday Outdoor Adventure Club!- An Invitation from a New Life Parent

Dear Parents,

I have been playing with ideas of how to connect families more at New Life.  With the first service ending earlier now and with my interest in science and nature I was thinking about trying to put together a once a month Outdoor Adventure Club.  My concept would be that we could meet in the shell room after first service and head to a park - Central Park, Forest Park, Juniper Valley, Alley Pond, etc.  Each family would bring their own packed lunch.  We could do a nature walk/nature scavenger hunt type activity, connecting it to an aspect of God's character.  We have a number of field guides - mushroom identification, edible plant guide, tree identification, bird identification that could assist with that as well as binoculars, field scope, microscope.  Then have a picnic lunch and then free time for the afternoon to hang out as long as you want.  Could also do some organized games if we wanted to depending upon where we were.

Is this something that there is interest for?  I would like to have a team working with me to organize this.  I don't think it will be very labor intensive, more having people know what the plan is for the day to act as leaders of subgroups once we get to the park.  This type of a thing works best in groups where there is not more than 7 or 8 kids.  If everyone could respond with a "yes, I am interested", or "no I am not interested", number and ages of kids, and whether you would be willing to be on the leadership team, that would be really helpful.  I am having Millie and Kelly send this out so please respond to me at skmoltz@verizon.net.  Would like to do the first one toward the end of April.

Thanks!
Kristin Moltz
(Josiah and Aaron's mother)

Email us at children@newlifefellowship.org with "yes, I am interested". And we'll connect you with Kristin Moltz and this fun, family club!

{Toddler/Preschool Ministry} Christmas Countdown!

Christmas Countdown!

We’re having a “Christmas Countdown” this year, and we want you to be a part of it! Children love counting down to anything (How many times have you said 3, 2, 1, blast off?), and we wanted to bring that excitement into the Christmas season.

{Elementary} Family Activity- Individuality

Incredible!

As a writer, one of my favorite pastimes is a little game called Mad Libs. And nothing shows each person’s individuality than a Mad Libs story. No matter how many people fill out each story, it’s never the same! Anyway, when I was a little boy, long before Mad Libs was ever invented, my brothers and I would play a game that we called Incredible! In this game we would use pictures from a magazine to tell some pretty incredible stories. Now that I look back, I realize it’s a great way to discover your own individuality. So grab a friend this week and see how many Incredible! stories you can come up with!

Materials
Magazines (with lots of pictures)
Scissors
Paper bags
Markers
Paper
Pencils

How To
Clip 10 fun pictures from your magazines from each of the following categories:
1. Person
2. Machine
3. Place
4. Food

Write the numbers 1 through 4, each on its own paper bag. Place the magazine clippings in the appropriate bag – bag #1 being the Person bag, bag #2 the Machine bag, and so on. Write the following story on a sheet of paper:

The (describe one person from the person bag) flew in/on the (name one machine from the machine bag) to the (describe one place from the place bag) and ate a very large (name one food item from the food bag). He/she felt pretty sick after eating the (same food item) . So he/she (make up a fun ending together!) .
One person draws a picture from the corresponding bag to help complete the story. At the end of the story, everyone shouts, “Incredible!” and the already used pictures are discarded before the next person begins drawing to tell his or her story in the same way.

Download & Print instructions HERE.

Let us know how it goes by leaving a comment below! Thanks & Enjoy!

{Preschool Minisrty} New Song: "This is How!"

Hi Preschool & Toddler Parents! (Yes, this means you too Toddler Leaders.)

My daughter (2 yrs old) has been signing this song all week long after coming home from church on Sunday and so I looked up the words and hand motions to the song. We totally love it and we've been playing the song over and over in our house.

So to help everyone learn the words and the hand motions/dance moves I have put together an instructional video for you!

Hope it's helpful & Have fun with it!

Also, you can download the lyrics and hand motions HERE!

Register Your Child for the New Life Christmas Eve Dance Team!

Dear Parents,

This year we are inviting children and youth (Kindergarten and up) to participate in a dance as a special part of New Life's Christmas Eve services. Susan Maysonet, mom and professional dance instructor, will teach the children the dance on Sundays during December to "O Come, Let Us Adore Him" by TobyMac.

If your child would like to participate, please download and fill out theregistration form and bring it to the first rehearsal. Participants need to commit to being on time and present for rehearsals.

Christmas Eve Dance Team Information

Who: Kids, Kindergarten-High School (5yrs and up)
What: New Life Christmas Dance Team

When:

Rehearsals:

December 4
9:15 - 9:45 or 11:15 -11:45 (During adult worship)
December 11
9:15 - 9:45 or 11:15 - 11:45 (During adult worship)
December 18
9:15 - 9:45 or 11:15 - 11:45 (During adult worship)
***Mandatory stage rehearsal December 18th 1:15 - 2:00
Performances:

December 24 (Christmas Eve Services)
5:00pm and/or 7:00pm

Where: All rehearsals will take place in the Upper Stage Room (K-3^rd grade room). Once rehearsal is done K-3^rd graders will stay in the room for their regular program, 4-5^th graders can go downstairs to their room and Jr. High and High School students can go to their class or join the service. Parents do not need to pick up their child after regular rehearsals unless they aren’t going to class.

How: If you would like your child to participate, please fill out the Christmas Dance Team Registration form you received with this letter and bring it with you to the first rehearsal on December 4^th. Costume: Jeans and red turtleneck, please.

We would love for the children participating to dance in both services, but we also understand that they may be very difficult for some families. Please indicate if you will be present for both performances or if not, which one you will participate in. Services are at 5 pm and 7 pm.

Thank you for your help and support!

In His service,

Rosie Villodas

New Life Kids Director

{Preschool} Play Time Activity for June- Week 1

This past Sunday Toddlers, Preschoolers and Kindergarteners learned that because God loves them, He will teach them what they need to do.  They even hear the story of the 10 Commandments!

{Elementary} KidVenture: Bear Mountain Hike

New Life Kids is having a KidVenture event for kids in 4th-6th Grade and their families!  Once again we are headed out hiking at Bear Mountain.  This is always so much fun.  You and your kids don't want to miss out on the beautiful sights of God's creation.

Bear Mountain Hike

Saturday June 18, 2011

{Preschool} Play Time Activity #2 for May

Hi Parents of Toddlers and Preschoolers,

Here is another fun activity to help reinforce what your kids are learning at church: God made everything!

Please let us know if you've done any of the recommended activities with your children.  We love to hear stories of what God is doing in the lives of children and their families.

Play Time Activity #2

(Click to download)

Enjoy!

New Life Kids

{Preschool} Car Time Activity!

As we continue to talk to your Toddlers, Preschoolers and Kindergartners about how God made everything, download this fun Car Time Activity you can do as you run errands OR head to and from church!

{Preschool} Play Time Activity for Home

Drive 2011

*Previously posted on Rosie's Blog.

So I'm getting ready to go to Drive 2011!  I'm so hype (definition- excited, thrilled) because (1) I will not have a toddler sleeping in the next room (ie. a full nights rest) Woo Hoo! (2) Northpoint Community Church, and their Children's Ministry, do so many things so well. I can't wait to learn what they've learned these last 15 years. Or at least what I'll be able to retain. :) (3) I can't wait to connect with other people across the country doing the same thing I'm doing... Children's Minsitry or as we like to call it #kidmin!

Laughing... Good for the Soul!

Hi New Life Parents,

Having a rough week?  Here is a little clip to bring a smile on your face laughter to your soul.  Enjoy!



Rosie V.