Children's Ministry: April 2015

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Vacation Bible School and Nepal

Dear VBS Parents and Volunteers,

We are deeply saddened by the news of the earthquake in Nepal and Mount Everest. We intend to be sensitive and prayerful as we approach our theme for Vacation Bible School this year. As adults, we understand that natural disasters are possible in God’s vast and mysterious earthly creation, but for children it is difficult to understand how and why such terrible things occur. In the coming weeks and this summer at VBS, we are going to trust that God is at work through us amidst the situation in Nepal. Please know that we will carefully handle talking with the children about the disaster and how we are helping during the week of VBS.

We believe that the way we can support the people of Nepal is to contribute emergency aid. We have decided that it would be best to change the recipient of the Penny Wars to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance for disaster relief in Nepal. They have already set up a fund for emergency aid, http://pda.pcusa.org/situation/nepal-earthquake-april-2015/. We will contribute the money collected from the boys and girls during the week to this fund.

We are working with the Child Development Association (CDA) in Roswell, who was our initial mission partner for this project, to still purchase play equipment for them through other VBS and Mission Outreach funds. We feel it is important to uphold that promise to them.

Amidst devastation we have to intentionally look for the place where God is at work. We do not know why these things happen, but we know that God is present throughout it. In Christ, God suffered the worst that humanity can endure. We know that when God’s children suffer, God is the first to feel that pain. We will do what we can to aid the suffering. The children, youth and adults of the Roswell Presbyterian Church have an opportunity to support Nepal from here through our heightened awareness of this disaster due to our theme for VBS. We are blessed to be able to offer God’s money towards their incredible needs. Our continual prayers for their healing and recovery are needed as well.

Vacation Bible School will still be a wonderful and powerful week for the children and volunteers this summer. The purpose of VBS is not the theme, it is the faith experience for all involved. Therefore we will focus on opening ourselves, all the more, to God’s work being done.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns about this. Do not hesitate to reach out to any of the church staff or myself for how to help your children, or yourself, deal with the grief of this disaster.

Thank you,

Sarah Kate DeWyngaert
Director of Children’s Ministry
Roswell Presbyterian Church
sarahkate@roswellpres.org
Direct Line: (770) 649-4507

Monday, April 27, 2015

College 101: First Class Sunday

First Class Sunday is this week, May 3.

College parents: Becca Raymond, Rick Stewart, John Painter, and Carol Swan, will be talking about life as a college parent and answering questions. Even if you do not have a child heading off to college soon, this will be great information to keep in mind for the future. All are welcome!

9:45 to 10:45 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall

First Class Sundays is an open forum for parents, grandparents, and those involved in the life of children and students. You will learn about today's hot topics. Normally scheduled for the first Sunday of the month.

For more information and to listen to/download previous presentations,
visit http://www.roswellpres.org/ministries/fcs

5th and 6th Flick on the Floor!

Attention all 5th Graders!

You're invited to get a taste of middle school life on Friday, May 15.

Join us for a Flick on the Floor! Cost for dinner and popcorn is $5.

Sign up online by May 13.

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

There is so much fun coming up!

Even though this is a very busy time of the year with summer right around the corner, we have so much coming up in Children's Ministry! Check out all of the ways you and your child can be involved in fun and service in the upcoming weeks.

Sunday, April 26th, BBQ and Field Day for 4th and 5th Graders!

Reservations with Mem, mem@roswellpres.org

Saturday, May 2nd, the Drake Walk for families!

Information and reservations.

Friday, May 15th, Flick on the Floor for 5th and 6th Graders!

Information and online reservations.

And don't forget about all of our summer camps!

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Mission Opportunities for Families this Spring

We are in the midst of RPC's mission campaign, 2nd Mile for Mission. 2nd Mile for Mission is RPC's annual Mission Outreach giving campaign, where every dollar goes out the door to directly benefit our local and global mission partners. This is above and beyond the General Operating Fund.

What better way to be a part of the mission than to also give and serve as a family! Here are some ways your family can participate through Children's Ministry.

Children's Ministry Families, we have two special mission opportunities planned with our local mission partners for this spring that we hope your family will participate with.

1.) We will be collecting items to create "Welcome Home" baskets for families at HomeStretch. HomeStretch "guides working, homeless families to a place of permanent stability" and often these families have very few possessions besides clothes. Items that we can include in these welcome baskets are: kitchen linens, cleaning supplies, detergent, dish soap, personal hygiene items (bars of soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, etc.). We will have boxes to collect these items on the elementary hall. Please bring all donations in by May 3rd.

2.) Saturday, May 2nd Children's Ministry will participate in the Drake Walk which is a community walk for The Drake House. The Drake House helps homeless mothers and their children get back on their feet. The walk will begin in the Roswell United Methodist Church parking lot and will take place in historic Roswell. Those participating through Children's Ministry, will park and meet at 8:45am on May 2nd in the north parking lot of RPC (near the playground) and walk to RUMC as a group. All participants must register and pay online through RPC, click the link for registration. Cost is $10 per person.
Please let Tricia Patterson know if your family is planning to attend the walk so we can be looking for you!