March 21- Level Up - Week 3

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Welcome!

We’re so excited that you stopped over to see what’s happening in kids ministry! Each week we’ll have all information and links you need to stay up-to-date right here in one convenient place.

We have options for you to work through the lesson with your family or set your kids up to watch one of our virtual lessons.

What we’re studying this month

LEVEL UP: A 4-WEEK SERIES ON EASTER

Video games are something today’s kids are familiar with. . . maybe even too familiar! Games are played on every platform from game consoles to handheld devices/phones, and there are a ton of different games to choose from. But the constant across this diverse gaming universe is that every game has levels of increasing difficulty. When a player “levels up,” they are usually met with more challenges but also with more rewards. Through this series, we are challenging kids to “level up” their faith by examining the events surrounding Jesus’ death and resurrection. Even though they might be facing difficulties and adversity of their own, kids will find the greatest rewards in their faith when they fix their eyes on Jesus. Because Jesus trusted God, Jesus beat death! When we doubt and have questions about God, Jesus helps me believe, and even during those times, Jesus is always with me.

DOWNLOAD THE PRESCHOOL PARENT GUIDE
DOWNLOAD THE ELEMENTARY PARENT GUIDE


How to Study at Home

  1. Get your Child a snack

  2. Read the Bible Story to your child and/or

  3. Click on the link to the YouTube Playlist for that week and watch the videos. Lessons each week brought to you by our Children’s Director Melissa. “in-person” lessons complete with worship music, videos, games, memory work, and more.

  4. Review Memory work and Pray with your kids when they are done

  5. If you have time or the desire - choose one of the follow-up activities to help the kids engage with the lesson

Weekly Lesson Plan -

INSTRUCTIONS: Look up the story in your Bible. See if your kids can guess the Big Idea.

THE BIBLE: Doubting Thomas: John 20:19-20, 24-29; (2 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 11:1)

BIG IDEA: Jesus helps me believe

Last week, we learned about the women going to the tomb and learning Jesus beat death! Jesus was no longer in the tomb because Jesus was alive. Let's look at the Bible and I'll read what happened next.

  • INSTRUCTIONS: Read John 20:19-20.

  • The disciples were so excited to see Jesus! But not everyone was there. One of the disciples was missing — Thomas. Let's keep reading.

  • INSTRUCTIONS: Read John 20:24-29.

  • Thomas didn't believe what his friends were saying. He didn't believe Jesus beat death. So, Jesus helped Thomas. Jesus appeared to all the disciples in the same room a second time! And this time, Thomas was with them. And when Thomas saw the marks where Jesus had been nailed to the cross, and when he touched them, he believed. Jesus helped Thomas believe!

  • Jesus loves us so much, Jesus will help us believe!

Additional SCRIPTURE| 2 Corinthians 5:7

INSTRUCTIONS: If possible, have everyone open up their Bibles to 2 Corinthians 5:7. Have one of the kids read the verse out loud to the group.

  • Who can tell me in your own words what you think this verse means?

Being able to see is very important. But the thing is, we don't need to see to believe in Jesus! We don't physically see Jesus today. But we believe in Jesus because we have faith. Faith is believing in something even though we can't physically see it.

PRAYER

Toddler Tips: A toddler needs may have trouble understanding the concept of prayer because they cannot see God. Echo Prayer is a good strategy to encourage and teach kids how to talk to God. The teacher or parent speaks aloud a short segment of the prayer, and the children echo back the same sentence or phrase.

Jesus, thank You for reminding us that even when we doubt or have questions, that doesn't change how much You love each of us. Thank You for surrounding us with others who pray for us and encourage us. Help us to grow our faith and believe in You.

March 14- Level Up - Week 2

BigIdea2_S_LevelUp_GrowKids.jpg

Welcome!

We’re so excited that you stopped over to see what’s happening in kids ministry! Each week we’ll have all information and links you need to stay up-to-date right here in one convenient place.

We have options for you to work through the lesson with your family or set your kids up to watch one of our virtual lessons.

What we’re studying this month

LEVEL UP: A 4-WEEK SERIES ON EASTER

Video games are something today’s kids are familiar with. . . maybe even too familiar! Games are played on every platform from game consoles to handheld devices/phones, and there are a ton of different games to choose from. But the constant across this diverse gaming universe is that every game has levels of increasing difficulty. When a player “levels up,” they are usually met with more challenges but also with more rewards. Through this series, we are challenging kids to “level up” their faith by examining the events surrounding Jesus’ death and resurrection. Even though they might be facing difficulties and adversity of their own, kids will find the greatest rewards in their faith when they fix their eyes on Jesus. Because Jesus trusted God, Jesus beat death! When we doubt and have questions about God, Jesus helps me believe, and even during those times, Jesus is always with me.

DOWNLOAD THE PRESCHOOL PARENT GUIDE
DOWNLOAD THE ELEMENTARY PARENT GUIDE


How to Study at Home

  1. Get your Child a snack

  2. Read the Bible Story to your child and/or

  3. Click on the link to the YouTube Playlist for that week and watch the videos. Lessons each week brought to you by our Children’s Director Melissa. “in-person” lessons complete with worship music, videos, games, memory work, and more.

  4. Review Memory work and Pray with your kids when they are done

  5. If you have time or the desire - choose one of the follow-up activities to help the kids engage with the lesson

Weekly Lesson Plan -

INSTRUCTIONS: Look up the story in your Bible. See if your kids can guess the Big Idea.

THE BIBLE: Easter: Matthew 28:1-10; (John 3:16-17)

BIG IDEA: Jesus beat death

Today, we are celebrating Easter! I know Easter is still a little ways away. But it’s always a good time to hear the Easter story. Easter is an incredibly exciting day. It's not about candy, or Easter baskets or bunnies, although all those things are great. Today is all about Jesus!

  • INSTRUCTIONS: Read Matthew 28:1-10. (Optional: You can show this video to summarize the life and ministry of Jesus and the events leading up to Jesus' death and resurrection.)

  • Jesus was treated so badly! The people were so angry with Jesus that they arrested Him and put Him on the cross. It was terrible! All of Jesus' friends were so sad because they loved Jesus and thought they'd never see Jesus again.

  • But what happened three days later?

  • This is why we celebrate Easter. We celebrate Easter because Jesus is alive! Jesus beat death

Additional SCRIPTURE | John 3:16-17

INSTRUCTIONS: Read John 3:16-17. Then ask the following questions to your group:

  • Who is the Son?

  • If God loves the world, does that mean God loves everyone?

  • How does it feel knowing God loves you so much He sent Jesus — His own son — to save you?

  • Jesus beat death so we could all live the good life! The mistakes we make that would normally count against us — like they do in a video game or sport — are forgiven and forgotten!

ACTIVITY |EASTER STORY

Let's see what some kids your age might have to say about the Easter story!

  • INSTRUCTIONS: Show this video of kids retelling the story of Easter.

  • Can you tell the story of Easter in your own words?REFLECTION |Pressed for a Purpose

PRAYER

Toddler Tips: A toddler needs may have trouble understanding the concept of prayer because they cannot see God. Echo Prayer is a good strategy to encourage and teach kids how to talk to God. The teacher or parent speaks aloud a short segment of the prayer, and the children echo back the same sentence or phrase.

God, thank You for sending Jesus to Earth to beat death and to forgive me. Thank You for loving us that much! We love You.

March Parent Resources

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PLEASE REMEMBER TO REGISTER WORSHIP IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE SO ALREADY!

We are so excited to be worshiping together in-person! If you have chosen not to worship with us at this time know that you're loved, and missed, and we can’t wait to see you soon!

Worshipping in-person during a pandemic looks a little different than it did ONE YEAR AGO before all of this started. (How have we been doing this for a year already!) There are some guidelines that we have in place to keep everyone safe and help you to have a wonderful experience.

If you have any questions, need help, have some ideas to make our process better - don’t hesitate to reach out. melissa@restoreworship.org.

 

In-Person
Covid Guidelines

  • Masks must be worn for the entirety of the service. All family members age 3 and up must wear masks.

  • There is a cry room available for children age 2 and under. Children 2 and under do not need masks in this room but parents (and older kids) do.

  • There is no food or drink allowed in the sanctuary. AAAHHH (insert sad and angry emojis - ugh ) I know this is such a bummer but eating and drinking require taking masks off and we need to keep those masks on. See below for my list of great things to keep kids occupied in service that are NOT food.

  • I will always have activities for kids in case you forget to bring some from home.


Activities to keep kids busy during "big church"

Below is a small list of things to pack in your "church" bag. I highly recommend letting them only use these things on Sundays so they'll be new and fun and hold your child's interest.

I also recommend making a sticker chart at home. When your child sits successfully in church they get a sticker and a small reward. At the end of the month if they've completed all Sunday's maybe something special like alone time with mom and dad, staying up later one night, a special snack, etc.

  • Color Wonder coloring sheets or Water Wow books from Melissa & Doug - Available on Amazon

  • Seak and Find books

  • Sewing Cards - One of our ADULT church members actually sews during the sermon because she says it helps her concentrate better

  • Reusable sticker books -please no "real" stickers cuz no one wants to be scraping them off of the pews and hymnals LOL

  • Special toy or book that they ONLY get in church.

  • Small sensory toys. (Amazon has a lot of good options)

    • Pipe cleaners (I have some)

    • small squishies (I have some)

    • Fidget spinners

    • squish balls

    • water glitter wands

The Bible App for Kids

Put the Bible App for Kids on your phone or ipad. It's available in both Android and iTunes. I'm not a fan of extra screen time. But this app is great and helps stay focused on the Bible just like mom and dad.