Got an email this week with some brilliant ideas for around-the-house!  Check 'em out on my Pinterest page ("Makin' life a little easier" board)!  (And don't judge my posts too harshly, I just joined...)

Merry Christmas from MSC KidSpace!

Be sure to check out some fun KidSpace photos from Sunday!

Parents,
Check out some fun apps for your smartphone! 
Scripture memorizing, movie reviews, story reading, trivia & more!
Click the "KidSpace Parents" tab for details!

Parents!
Got a flare for drama?  Like to engage kids in a game?  Enjoy baking?  Gifted in worship? 
We have got a place for you to give a little time in the New Year at KidSpace! 

A lot of our regular KidSpace volunteers will be traveling over the holidays and we have a few fun spots to fill if you want to jump in to KidSpace for a week or two!  We have helper openings on Jan. 1 and Jan. 8!
Here's the general schedule for KidSpace this holiday season:
Dec. 25 - NO CHURCH OR KIDSPACE
Jan. 1 - ONE service at 10 a.m.
Jan. 8 - regular services (9 and 11 a.m.)
Lots of places to get plugged in!!
Contact Rachel (rachel@msclawrence.com) with questions!
Sign up to help here!

Wow!  What a set of messages by Pastor Ray yesterday! 
All morning I have been asking myself some hard questions....  One day we all will stand before His beautiful face and give an account for our time, talent, money, bodies, and hearts.   How can I look HIM in the eye and give even one of my excuses... "I was too tired... I just didn't have the time... I thought I deserved it..."  How can any of my excuses hold water?
I want to hear Him say "WELL done"!!  
But how do we pay the price?  How do I give what I have so carefully reserved for myself?  
What if we held nothing back?  What would BECOME of us?? 

If you missed the messages, be sure to check it out here: The Cost of Discipleship.  

"Ask and you shall receive"

Hannah was married to a man who loved her, but who had a second wife who tormented Hannah because of her barrenness.  One year, when her family went to offer sacrifices, Hannah begged God for a child, whom she offered to give to God as a "thank you" if God would honor her request. 

            God DID "remember her request" (1 Samuel 1:19), and Hannah soon gave birth to a son, Samuel, who she gave to Eli the priest's care as she had vowed she would.  The Bible says that "though only a boy, [Samuel] was the LORD's helper" (1 Samuel 2:18).  Even as a boy, Samuel maintained integrity when the sons of Eli were treating God's required sacrifices with contempt and seducing the young women assisting in the temple. " As Samuel grew up, the LORD was with him, and everything Samuel did was wise and helpful."  God also broke His long silence during those days and began to speak regularly to Samuel.   Samuel became a priest even though he wasn't in the "right family" so to speak (God actually changed the FAMILY LINE of the priesthood at this time!), and became the one who anointed David as king!  Also, in response to her sacrifice of Samuel, God allowed Hannah to have three more sons and two daughters because of her willingness to give her first son to God.

            Maybe that was more info than you wanted, but I think that we should not forget how much God loves us and values our coming to Him!  Like He did for Hannah, God changes things on our behalf when we ask in faith!!  And God's answer went way beyond Hannah's request for a son!  If you have some time this week, read through Ephesians chapter 1 and ruminate for a while on God's love for us!  He gives us a love that is scandalously beyond logic, expectation, our deserving (IF in fact we deserve anything), or even our capacity to understand the depth of it!  His contract (Covenant) with us is so rich, so full, so magnanimous, so faithful that it borders on ridiculous!   I don't mean to imply that God always give us what we want, BUT He IS faithful to us, He LOVES us, "works out everything according to His plan", and gives us the same power that God used to raise Jesus from the dead!  Of COURSE He hears us when we pray, and will give us justice when we cry out to Him!

            You are so vital!! Not JUST to KidSpace or as a parent, but to the family of God and the work He is doing on earth! 

KidSpace kids will be singing We Three Kings (first 2 verses) in "adult church" on Sunday, December 11 (both services)! 
Be sure to be practicing at home!  For song lyrics click here.   

Children who can recite the verses from this series (Super Sports Spectactular) will be invited to a Seussical The Musical Night in December!  I have heard that this musical is delightful and fun for all ages, so grab a VERSE CARD on Sunday if you don't have one around your house, and start working on those verses at home! 

"Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, 'Good-bye and have a good day;   stay warm and eat well' - but then you don't give that person any food or clothing.  What good does that do?" - James 2:15-16
       This month (November) at KidSpace we are going to be putting together Welcome Packets to give to kids in the Family Promise program next quarter!
Check out the suggestion list below.  Drop off a few items, money, or a completed packet in the collection box in the east wing/DYR at the church.

Ideas for what you might include in the packet to help families feel welcome:
- welcome signs or cards
- stickers
- Search & Find books (from the Dollar Store)
- eatables (such as tic tacs, lifesavers, gummybears, etc.)
- small stuffed animals
- Capri Sun or other portable drinks
- books (kid-friendly, like Thomas the Train)
- small things that they may forget (such as soap, toothbrush, toothpaste)

Yep, we got the pics right here from our fun girls night: Princess & A Popstar PHOTOS!

A baptism, a song, and a dive...check out these fun KidSpace photos!

Check out these FUN DAY photos from this summer!

Girls!  Don't forget, this Saturday, Oct. 8 is a GIRL EXTRAVAGANZA!!!
     Farm girl, Princess Poppyseed and popstar Vanna Banana decide that trading places is the perfect solution to make their dreams come true.  It's only when the look-alikes actually experience each other's lives that they realize the grass isn't always greener on the other side of the fence!
     This "girlie" event will be from 6:30-8:30 p.m. and will feature the movie, "Princess and the Popstar" and still leave time to celebrate just being a girl.

The KidSpace "Kingdom Herald" newspaper will be published soon for the month of October!!  If you have any jokes, comics, stories, etc. please submit them to Rachel by Friday, September 30!  Why?  Because everyone has something to contribute!

Collecting school supplies starts this Sunday!

A few weeks ago in KidSpace we learned "I Will Do The Right Thing, Not Just Talk About It", and we are offering an opportunity to put it into practice!
In October, KidSpace is collecting school supplies for needy kids in Latin America.  Check out the info below and (with your family) put together a bag or two to send!

Our new series...

...is on its way!  Parents, don't forget to ask your children what they learned this week!  Also, check out your children's class tabs (above) for a Family Devotional with some activity ideas to bring the lesson home!

New photos posted!

Check out these Omaha Zoo Trip Photos!

DODGEBALL photos uploaded!

DODGEBALL PHOTOS!

Ideas for Memorizing Verses!

We've passed the half-way point for our current series "Kingdom Tales" and our Scripture memory of Ephesians 6:10-17!  Below are some techniques/ideas to help you memorizing:

1. Write it out (an oldie, but a goodie).
2. Say it out loud (faith comes by hearing...)
3. For longer verses, create a short outline of the verse (ask yourself - "what is it saying?").  The CONCEPT is as important as the words.
4. Draw a picture for each phrase.
5. Have someone else read it aloud to you a few times.
6. Make flashcards (one word/phrase per card) and time yourself putting the verse cards in order.  See if you can beat your time each time (or your siblings!).
7. Write out the first letter of each word in the verse and see if you can say it with only the first letter as your prompt.
8. Have your parents help you make a crossword or word-search puzzle with the words from the verse (Puzzle Makers).
9. Put the words to a song or rhythm (feel free to invent your own!)
10. Repeat the first phrase a few times, then repeat the first phrase and add the next phrase to it.  Slowly add the remaining phrases. (Like the game "I'm going on a picnic and I'm bringing...")

Check out some fun photos of the Extravaganza!

Photos from 4th of July Extravaganza

Weekly Updates

Parents,
Wanna know what your kids are learning at KidSpace?  Check out your child's class "tab" each week to find out and get a few ideas for practical at-home application!

Check out our "Events" tab for more info!

Hey parents, check it out:

Our memory-verse-a-thon is off!  Each week we are inviting kids to memorize a verse from Ephesians 6 in NLT (check out the K-4th grade tab for more info).  If your child still needs a "versecard" be sure to pick one up on Sunday, or check out the one below.

New KidSpace changes are in effect!

 

New KidSpace changes!

New KidSpace changes!! 
Starting June 5, there will be some major KidSpace structure/classroom changes!  Please watch this video to find out the details.

Omaha Zoo Trip!!

Two summers ago...we took an epic trip to Omaha...

Water park...pizza...private zoo tour...settling down under the sharks and rising with the "jellies".
Another morning and afternoon of butterflies, swamps, jungles, 3D movie and birds feeding from your hand (well, the stick in your hand anyway).  It was 34 hours of amazingness!! 

And...it is BACK this summer!!

The trip will be Tuesday, July 19 until Wednesday July 20 and is open for all children 8-12 years old.  Cost is $65 per child.

To reserve your child's spot on this wild adventure, email Rachel.  Registration and payment is due by Wednesday, June 15.

Thanks so much for everyone who came out to the first ever KidSpace Dodgeball Tournament!!
Check out our Dodgeball Photos on Facebook!

Vision

Morning Star Church Children's Ministry Vision Statement:
To make an impression of the Father and His Kingdom in such a way that children are inspired to live their lives in the confidence that the God of the Bible is with them.

I went to a conference recently and the pastor asked us "What could you do if you KNEW, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the God of the Bible was WITH YOU?"

Ask yourself that question.  The same God who did all of those miracles (healings, miraculous victories, to name a few), protected His people, and RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD!  What would you be willing to trust Him with?  In what ways would you be able to step out in power and trust instead of staying frozen in fear and insecurity?

What if our kids, the children that we are parenting/serving REALLY grasped that concept, too?  How much further could they go than us?  How much could they see changed in their schools?  The culture?  The world?

I know that the work that Jesus did and the power of God's Kingdom equals a better life.  The Word of God is a mighty weapon to eradicate the darkness with His marvelous light.

We can be a part of building these children up as heirs of the vision of God's Kingdom!   I am believing God to lead us into a more powerful time of ministry, relationships and care for families and volunteers than we have ever experienced before.  

Have a heart for the next generation and want to be a part of what He is doing?  Email me at rachel@msclawrence.com.
Rachel

Can You Name It? Contest

CONTEST!!
We are looking for TWO new names for Children's Ministry at MSC, and we need your help!! 
We are holding a contest to name the following two age groups:
1. Birth-through-Pre-K
2. Kindergarten-through-4th grade groups.

The contest is open to children and parents.  All submissions must be made by Sunday, May 1 to Rachel at rachel@msclawrence.com.  The person whose submission we choose (or who leads us to a name) will receive a prize.

P.S. Our NEW Children's Ministry Vision Statement is: To make an impression of the Father and His Kingdom in such a way that children are inspired to live their lives in the confidence that the God of the Bible is with them.

DODGEBALL TOURNEY FOR KIDS!

Have your kids come out to MSC on Sunday, May 1 for a Dodgeball TOURNAMENT! 

2:00-2:30 p.m.* - 2 yrs.-pre-K come and "every-child-for-themselves" throw!
2:30 - 3:30 p.m.* - K-2nd graders tournament
3:30 - 4:30 p.m.* - 3rd-4th graders tournament
4:30 - 5:30 p.m.* - 5th-6th graders tournament
*times are subject to change based on interest

Prizes, snacks and drinks provided!  To sign up, email Rachel at rachel@msclawrence.com with names and ages/grades of kids.
SIGN YOUR KIDS UP BY APRIL 22 TO PARTICIPATE. 

Blogging is off-the-ground!

Hey parents and volunteers! 
Gearing up for some exciting changes!  Watch this space...