Easter is Here!

Happy Easter Everyone!

CHILDREN'S SERVICES: This Easter Sunday we have our Pebbles Nursery and Cornerstone (SK-Gr 5) Services happening.

CORNERSTONE: Cornerstone is planning a special Easter service this Sunday. We have a fun craft, a game called "Find the Stone," and a great way to explore the resurrection story.

We hope that you and your family have a wonderful Easter celebration. He is Risen! Yes, He Is Risen!

The Fabulous Reinvention of KidsROCK

THE REINVENTION! Re-inventing is so much fun. It gives an opportunity to think outside of the box and expect God do something awesome. KidsROCK needs to be reinvented! KidsROCK is our Sunday morning ministry to children from Infant-Grade 5. KidsROCK is "fun" but we want it to be FUN. If you have ideas of how we can reinvent our KidsROCK ministries please post some of your ideas on this blog! Help us make the reinvention FABULOUS

NEWS ITEMS

KIDMO IS FINISHED: As of Thursday April 14th our midweek Kidmo program on Thursday nights has concluded. We are sad that it is finished but we had a great time. Please pray for the children and families we impacted. SUMMER CAMPS: Please note that we will not be running a Summer Camp for the Summer of 2011. We were not able to get the volunteers needed to launch the camp properly. Please pray for the connections made with the children who came to our Kidmo Midweek program and our March Break Reptile Party.

What is Going On? April & Summer

If I were to summarize the one question I'm getting around our Children's Ministries it would be "What's Going On?" because there are so many awesome things coming and plans being set up.

What's Going On In April?

• EASTER FAMILY ART SHOW: We have 1 submission so far for our family art show. We need more! We encourage all children in our KidsROCK program to make an art submission this Sunday April 10th so we can make a display


• MOMSTOWN FAMILY CRAFT TIME: Saturday, April 9th from 10:30-12:00pm. This community organization provides crafts for the whole family during this time. See Ian Peers for details


• LAST KIDMO NIGHT: Thursday, April 14th will be our last mid-week program night for Kidmo from 6:45-8:15pm. We are going to celebrate all that God has done through this program with an awesome party! All who have attended Kidmo are welcome


• EASTER CELEBRATION: We have a dynamic program planned for children on Easter Sunday, April 24th. Children are going to make Jesus Tomb, explore Jesus' resurrection, and have a fun "Find the Stone" game.


• MOM-TO-MOM SALE (MOMSTOWN): Saturday May 7th from 8:00am-1pm at Highview there is going to be a mom-to-mom sale. $1 for non-momstown members. See Ian for details

What is happening for our SUMMER MINISTRY?

We would like to plan a day camp from 9am-3pm for the week of August 22-26th where all the registration donations that come in would go to our Hot Springs Orphans in Thailand. The curriculum is out of this world (literally) and our plans are AWESOME. We are having difficultty finding adult leaders to help with this program so we are not taking registrations yet until we have what we need to launch the program. If you know someone who is 18 or 18+ who would like to volunteer for this week please let us know.

Who is Fuzzy Bottom?

FUZZY BOTTOM is a visiting Tarantula for our Reptile Party. See below

Don't forget to go to March, April & May Events

Find out about:
- New Momstown dates for March, April and May
- Easter Family Art Show Opportunity
- Easter Sunday for KidsROCK
- Momstown Mom-to-Mom Sale

__________________________________

WHO CAME TO VISIT US?

A lady named Amber from the Reptile Party Inc company came and brought her reptiles. It was a fabulous show. The children absolutely loved it. Here is who came with Amber:

Tarantula – Fuzzy Bottom
Crested Gecko – Sticky Toes
Blue Tongue Skink – Mr. Squishy
Pancake Tortoise – Lightening
Corn Snake – Peaches
Ball Python – Chocolate Chip
Red Footed Tortoise – Mortoise
Tegu – Oreo
Boa Constrictor - Sweetheart

Yes, these animals were in Highview!

FAST NEWS FEED ABOUT MARCH BREAK 2011

• Leaders & Helpers: A HUGE thank you to all the leaders who helped with the Reptile Party. We had planners, people who purchased items ahead of time, leaders throughout the day, people who came to serve dinner, some who made food, and others who cleaned up. There was such high participation for this March Break and it was so awesome.


• Spiritual Opportunities: The opportunity to reaffirm the truth that God is the Creator and Jesus wants to be our Forever Friend was awesome. This March Break opened a lot of opportunities to connect with children and families and have spiritual influence in their lives. Pray as we follow up


• Turn On The Tap Donations: A little over $500 came in for TOTT. Registration was by donation this year for our March Break outreach program. So thankful to all who contributed.


• Snake Cake: Crista from The Urban Cakery donated a huge snack cake that was beautifully decorated. Thanks so much for your help. It was a huge hit!


• Momstown: A big "Thank You" goes out to Momstown for sending out an email to the people in their network. It really helped with registration!

March, April & May Events

What's In This Update?

• March Break Reptile Party Update
• New Momstown dates for March, April and May
• Easter Family Art Show Opportunity
• Easter Sunday for KidsROCK
• Momstown Mom-to-Mom Sale
• For more information, keep reading!

____________________________________

March Break Reptile Party

Our Reptile Party on March 17th is full! Please be praying that God would greatly use this day to bring God's love to the children and families who come. We are doing a dinner for the families who registered from 4:30-5:30pm. Please pray.

_____________________________________

MOMSTOWN IN MARCH

The events listed below are made available by a community organization called "Momstown." They are a community based organization that rents our facility and they meet the needs of mothers in the Kitchener-Waterloo region. Please contact Paula Garceau to find out how to join one of the events below and what is involved with membership for "Momstown." For information on all the events (such as the age group of the children, etc) below and how to join in on them please contact paula.garceau@momstown.ca for further information

• Family Craft Time: Saturday, March 12th from 10:30-12pm. This provides families with an opportunity to do a child-friendly craft
• Mom's Meet & Greet: Friday, March 18th from 10:30-12pm. This provides moms an opportunity to just spend time with each other, catch up, and have some play time
• Momstown Network Meeting: Wednesday, March 23rd from 7-10pm. If you are a mom and run a business, this is your opportunity to network!
• Family Craft Time: Saturday, April 9th from 10:30-12:00pm. This provides families with an opportunity to do a child-friendly craft

________________________________

EASTER FAMILY ART SHOW

Submissions for your family art are now being accepted! The topic is "Resurrection." Easter is a focus on the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. We want to celebrate these themes through art. As a family read through the Easter Story in final chapters of Matthew and come up with creative art. Some ideas are listed below.


Dates for your Submissions: Sunday, March 13th, 20th, 27th, April 3rd, 10th

Final Due Date: The final date is April 10th

Display Dates: The display Sundays for your art will be on April 17th, and 24th in the Lower Level

Art Forms: All art work should be on 8x11 or 11x17 paper. However, if you are wanting to use different art forms please contact Ian Peers ahead of time to work out how your art will be displayed.

Pictures: If possible, pictures will be taken of your family with your art work and posted on this blog for celebration purposes.


Art Ideas: A cross, grave clothes, the tomb, a bright light illustrating resurrection. For more ideas see www.artistshelpingchildren.org/jesuscraftideaskidsprojects.html

_________________________________

Easter Sunday

Date: April 24th

Time: 10:20-11:45am

Topic: The Stone Rolled Away!

Bible Story: Matthew 28:1-15

Craft: Each child will make a Jesus' empty tomb

Games: Courtesy of our "BUZZ" curriculum

At the end the children will play a game called "Find the Stone!" It's basically an easter egg hunt but just under a different name!

____________________________________

momstownKW mom-to-mom sale

Great deals on gently used baby and children's clothes, toys,

equipment and other goodies!

Lots of brand names like-new quality!

Date: Saturday May 7, 8am-1pm

Location: Highview Community Church

Address: 295 Highview Drive Kitchener ON

Cost: $1 for non-members

Contact: kitchener-waterloo.momstown.ca

Reptiles Are Coming To Highview!

REPTILE PARTY

A display of LIVE REPTILES in the morning

FUN reptile SNACKS throughout the day

Reptile GAMES and CRAFTS in the afternoon

God is The Creator!

God made all the creatures that move along the ground (Gen 1:24-25)

DATE: Thursday, March 17th

AGE: SK-Gr 5

TIME: 8:30am-4:30pm

COST: A donation of whatever amount. All donations go toward safe water filters for our "Turn On The Tap" Project

REGISTRATION DUE: Sunday, Feb 27th, 2011

ADDRESS: 295 Highview Drive Kitchener ON

CONTACT: To register contact Ian Peers

at ianpeers@buildingbiggerhearts.ca

or 519-745-4211 ex 26.

Space is Limited, Don't Delay!
______________________________________

How Can You Help?

You might be wondering how you can help with the Reptile Party. There are so many ways it's crazy!

Leaders Needed: 8-10 Time: 8am-6:00pm

Training: Sunday, March 13, 2011 from 12pm-1:30pm in the Lower Level

Areas: Small Group, Kitchen Duty, Games Leaders, Craft Leaders, Administration, Registration

Protection Policy: Quickly contact Ian Peers if you are interested in helping if you have never gone through our Protection Policy Process. If you have gone through this process in the past and want to help, please contact Ian right away to find out if your information needs to be updated.

An Upcoming Reptile Party & Much More

March Break Reptile Party: March 17th, 8:30am-4:30pm. SK-Gr 5. A real reptile demonstration! Registration forms available soon. Reg forms due by Sun, Feb 27. Cost is a food donation to the Foodbank or a financial donation to the Haiti Project. 6 adult volunteers needed. 6 youth volunteers needed. See Ian for application.

KIDMO: New change on the horizon. We began with a bang and now we need to change direction. Please be praying for the children we have reached and will reach in the near future.

KidsROCK Volunteers: Thank you for embracing a new philosophy of scheduling. Please see when you are scheduled on the cork board in the Lower Level of Highview this Sunday.