Family Ministries Update
Happy Summer Faith Families,
Warmer days are here and school is out any day now for everyone! I feel like a kid again myself when the kids get home from school on their last day. It's always bittersweet. We will miss our friends and teachers, but lazy days, not waking up to rush for the bus, is one of my favorite things. Chill in the morning with my kids, YES. Take our time starting our day, YES. Finding that Peace again, that God has told us about over and over. It truly restores my soul. Give it a few weeks and the "I'm Bored," the fighting, and the mess will get to me, but for those first few days, Peace!
We finished this school year's Sunday School with trivia questions from Sept-May and did Boys vs. Girls. The kids did an awesome job. I made some hard questions and to remember from September, I was truly impressed with the kids. We then had a wonderful Family Fun Picnic in the Park with over 30 people who came to enjoy our last family fun for the school year.
We will be having "live" Faith Kids each Sunday for our kids to continue to be engaged during worship each week. It will correlate with the sermon message of the day. We will have the worship folder, and the back bookshelf will have books, quiet games, puzzles, and a few toys for the kids to come back to after Faith Kids and enjoy if they get a little wiggly. I will be back in the area to supervise and even play a quiet game or puzzle with them, so parents can still enjoy worship. Kids can also bring things back to their seats, if parents are more comfortable with that option. The items just need to be returned after worship. Families may think that since there is no Sunday School each week for the summer, they may not want to go to worship. I get it, TRUST ME! Kids get bored, wiggly, antsy, loud, but it is also an important thing to experience being in worship. We don't have kids in worship, but then assume they will want to come back on their own as adults? It doesn't usually happen. So, for the summer, I know our kids can do it! And we can too as parents. (Someone please remind ME of this when I'm telling my own kids to be quiet, lol.)
I can't imagine not doing something with you all for the whole summer; so I have something for us to do each month to stay connected.
June 13 Bon Fire & S'mores: 7:30-9:00 We will have a firepit in the parking lot and items to make s'mores. Bring a folding chair to sit on around the fire and enjoy some fellowship, quiet, and peace that a bonfire brings.
July 24-26: Stronghold Family Camp, Oregon IL. This is a pre-registration activity. We have 3 spots still available if you are still interested. It is $25.00 per person for the weekend. Please see Mrs. Amanda if you are still interested.
August 9th Faith at the Lake & BBQ @ Mrs. Amanda's: 2pm Cedar Lake Beach. 7408 Constitution Ave. Cedar Lake, IN 46303 BBQ 4pm-7pm-ish. Let's go swimming in the lake, play on the beach, build sand castles for the afternoon, then head on down the street to Mrs. Amanda's new house and enjoy a BBQ of burgers and hot dogs. Everyone is welcome. Sign up outside of room 4. You can go to both, just the beach, or just the BBQ. Hope to see you there.
A quick note about VBS. As of right now, we will not be having a Vacation Bible School. I am having some health issues that need to be addressed with surgery and the recovery is 6-8 weeks with light lifting. Nothing about VBS is light. It makes my heart sad and I am sure there will be others who are also disappointed, but it is too huge of an undertaking to ask people to plan, prepare, decorate, and run this kind of program without me. I appreciate your love and understanding around this decision as it did not come lightly for me. But at this time, I have to take care of my health and body.
I pray your summer is filled with sunshine, warmth, and the peace that easy laid-back days offer without the rushing around of a school schedule.
Many blessings,
Amanda Steenvoorden, Director of Family Ministries