May is Mental Health Awareness Month!
More than ever, mental health is so important in ALL of our lives. We face each day with more input and information than ever before and it can feel overwhelming without even realizing that it's overwhelming.
Our kids and youth don't really know any other way, so this constant bombardment of distractions and information is "normal" for them. We must teach them to find time to take a break, unplug, and seek peace.
Prayer and time with God can be a HUGE gift to our mental health, but it doesn't stop there.
God is an amazing provider and gives us many supports and resources to better our mental health.
Check out these three resources for you and your family.
Our kids and youth don't really know any other way, so this constant bombardment of distractions and information is "normal" for them. We must teach them to find time to take a break, unplug, and seek peace.
Prayer and time with God can be a HUGE gift to our mental health, but it doesn't stop there.
God is an amazing provider and gives us many supports and resources to better our mental health.
Check out these three resources for you and your family.
Challenges like school pressures, making new friends, and even big changes at home can make kids' minds feel like a jigsaw puzzle missing a piece. These activities are tools that can make kids’ hearts feel lighter and their minds feel stronger. They’re simple, fun, and they can make a big difference in a child’s life. How to do it:
- Create a calendar with a kind act for each day (e.g., help with chores, compliment a friend, make someone laugh).
- Check off the acts of kindness as you complete them, and notice how it makes you and others feel happy.
Where to start?! This book might help!
Relationships or the pressures of performing at work or school are things we all know can have an impact on mental health, but sometimes it’s less obvious when the world around you is what’s causing problems. Whether you realize it or not, one or maybe all of these four things are probably affecting your mental health in some way right now.
Click on the image above to take you to a great article from the book!
Relationships or the pressures of performing at work or school are things we all know can have an impact on mental health, but sometimes it’s less obvious when the world around you is what’s causing problems. Whether you realize it or not, one or maybe all of these four things are probably affecting your mental health in some way right now.
Click on the image above to take you to a great article from the book!
As parents, we not only have to care for our own mental health, but we get to support and love our kids through theirs. That can be a whole other category of overwhelming!
Parent Cue has resources to encourage us to be the parents God calls us to be, but their pages dedicated to mental health are especially full of help.
Click the image above to take you to this amazing resource.
Parent Cue has resources to encourage us to be the parents God calls us to be, but their pages dedicated to mental health are especially full of help.
Click the image above to take you to this amazing resource.
Sunday School and Parent Resources
MAY THEME
Astronaut Neil Armstrong once said landing on the moon was “one small step for man.” The biggest adventures start in such a simple way — especially when it comes to space! Asteroids, distant planets, and brand new galaxies await us once we leave earth’s atmosphere. Being the first to explore such uncharted territory can be intimidating. In this series, we’ll take a look at the Book of Acts to learn from the first Christians. Through their stories of faith and bravery, kids will learn how to take the first step of believing in Jesus, the next step of praying for others, and an even bigger step of trusting the Holy Spirit makes us brave. But they won’t want to skip the last step of telling others about Jesus.
Astronaut Neil Armstrong once said landing on the moon was “one small step for man.” The biggest adventures start in such a simple way — especially when it comes to space! Asteroids, distant planets, and brand new galaxies await us once we leave earth’s atmosphere. Being the first to explore such uncharted territory can be intimidating. In this series, we’ll take a look at the Book of Acts to learn from the first Christians. Through their stories of faith and bravery, kids will learn how to take the first step of believing in Jesus, the next step of praying for others, and an even bigger step of trusting the Holy Spirit makes us brave. But they won’t want to skip the last step of telling others about Jesus.
SCHOOL YA UP!
Check out our latest Sunday School lesson video and see what we're learning about.
Check out our latest Sunday School lesson video and see what we're learning about.
THINK ABOUT IT!
Read this week's scripture and talk as a family. Use these conversation starters to get the discussion going.
Read this week's scripture and talk as a family. Use these conversation starters to get the discussion going.
BUFFALO GROVE (BG) CAMPUS
Children's Sunday School...9:00am most Sundays
At 9:00am, the Nursery team is ready to take care of babies and learn alongside preschoolers up through 4 years old.
Our Kindergarten through 5th grade students gather together.
**The Nursery is open for families to use together on their own during our 10:30am service.**
DEERFIELD (DF) CAMPUS
Children's Sunday School...10:00am most Sundays
At 10:00am, children who are preschool aged through 5th grade begin in the Sanctuary with their family, then head to Sunday School after the opening prayer.
Periodically...
On occasion, we will not have Sunday School, in order to give families a chance to worship together. It's SO IMPORTANT for kids to learn how to be in the service. Books and coloring activities will be available.
Check out this article about why.
Children's Sunday School...9:00am most Sundays
At 9:00am, the Nursery team is ready to take care of babies and learn alongside preschoolers up through 4 years old.
Our Kindergarten through 5th grade students gather together.
**The Nursery is open for families to use together on their own during our 10:30am service.**
DEERFIELD (DF) CAMPUS
Children's Sunday School...10:00am most Sundays
At 10:00am, children who are preschool aged through 5th grade begin in the Sanctuary with their family, then head to Sunday School after the opening prayer.
Periodically...
On occasion, we will not have Sunday School, in order to give families a chance to worship together. It's SO IMPORTANT for kids to learn how to be in the service. Books and coloring activities will be available.
Check out this article about why.
MAY Sunday School
May 5:
May 12: Mother's Day!
May 19: Pentecost Sunday!
May 26: Memorial Day
- BG...NO Sunday School! It's Music Ministry Celebration Sunday and the Children's Chimes are playing. Children will remain in the worship service with their family. An activity will be passed out during the Children's Sermon.
- The Nursery will run as usual.
- DF...Kids will hear how the disciples were with Jesus when He went up to heaven after the resurrection.
- BIG IDEA: Take the first step--believe in Jesus.
- BIBLE: Acts 1:1-11
May 12: Mother's Day!
- BG...Children begin in the Sanctuary and after the Children's Sermon, will head to Sunday School to assemble Summer Fun Care Packages for the Food Pantry.
- BG and DF...Kids will hear how Peter and John were healing and teaching people at the gate called Beautiful.
- BIG IDEA: Take another step--pray for others.
- BIBLE: Acts 3:1-11
- Create a Mother's Day gift!
May 19: Pentecost Sunday!
- BG and DF...Kids will hear about how the Holy Spirit came and the church celebrated it's birth day!
- BIG IDEA: Take a big step--the Holy Spirit makes us brave.
- BIBLE: Acts 2:1-21
May 26: Memorial Day
- BG and DF...Kids will hear how Philip shared the good news of Jesus in Ethiopia.
- BIG IDEA: Don't skip this step--tell others about Jesus.
- BIBLE: Acts 8:26-40
JUNE Summer Sunday School
Stay tuned for the GREAT books we'll be reading this summer for our Good Book Club!
June 2
June 9: Pajamas and Popt'art's
June 16: Father's Day!
June 23: Vacation Bible School begins that evening!
June 30
June 2
June 9: Pajamas and Popt'art's
June 16: Father's Day!
June 23: Vacation Bible School begins that evening!
June 30
JULY Summer Sunday School
Stay tuned for the GREAT books we'll be reading this summer for our Good Book Club!
July 7
July 14: Pajamas and Popt'art's
July 21
July 28
July 7
July 14: Pajamas and Popt'art's
July 21
July 28
AUGUST Summer Sunday School
Stay tuned for the GREAT books we'll be reading this summer for our Good Book Club!
August 4
August 11: Pajamas and Popt'art's
August 18: Blessing of the Backpacks
August 25
August 4
August 11: Pajamas and Popt'art's
August 18: Blessing of the Backpacks
August 25
What's Happening Outside of Sunday School?!
(all events open to children and families from BOTH campuses!)
3rd GRADE GOD SQUAD and CLUB 45
We just wrapped up our 3rd through 5th grade gatherings for the 23-24 school year. Congratulations to our 5th graders who graduated up to Youth Group!
We look forward to gathering our newest 3rd through 5th graders again in the fall, beginning September 2024. Watch for our new schedule coming soon. We'll continue to gather for food, fellowship, and fun once or twice a month on Sunday evenings from 5pm-7pm. $3 per evening.* Friends are ALWAYS welcome!
*Scholarship money available!!! Just reach out to Miss Jenn.
We just wrapped up our 3rd through 5th grade gatherings for the 23-24 school year. Congratulations to our 5th graders who graduated up to Youth Group!
We look forward to gathering our newest 3rd through 5th graders again in the fall, beginning September 2024. Watch for our new schedule coming soon. We'll continue to gather for food, fellowship, and fun once or twice a month on Sunday evenings from 5pm-7pm. $3 per evening.* Friends are ALWAYS welcome!
*Scholarship money available!!! Just reach out to Miss Jenn.
KINGSWOOD ON THE MOVE!
Here's the scoop! Families are invited to come hang out and get to know each other better this summer on our ice cream tour.
I scream, you scream, we all scream for our new summer series!
Here's the scoop! Families are invited to come hang out and get to know each other better this summer on our ice cream tour.
I scream, you scream, we all scream for our new summer series!
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL!
Save the dates for Sunday, June 23 through Wednesday, June 26.
Rising kindergartners through rising 5th graders are invited to join us each evening from 5pm-7:30pm...with dinner included! We will also have a 2-night Nursery/Preschool program for 3 and 4 year olds.
VOLUNTEERS, register HERE!
Registration for Wild Life Explorers (campers!) will open June 1st.
Think about the weirdest animals you know. What noise does an aardvark make? Is an axolotl really smiling? Are glass frogs made of real glass? Is a wombat a type of bat? It’s wild that God helps each animal grow and thrive . . . and us, too! Wild Life is 4-day adventure where kids discover how special they are to God and how wild it is that they can share their story, use their gifts, spend time with God, and spend time with others.
Save the dates for Sunday, June 23 through Wednesday, June 26.
Rising kindergartners through rising 5th graders are invited to join us each evening from 5pm-7:30pm...with dinner included! We will also have a 2-night Nursery/Preschool program for 3 and 4 year olds.
VOLUNTEERS, register HERE!
Registration for Wild Life Explorers (campers!) will open June 1st.
Think about the weirdest animals you know. What noise does an aardvark make? Is an axolotl really smiling? Are glass frogs made of real glass? Is a wombat a type of bat? It’s wild that God helps each animal grow and thrive . . . and us, too! Wild Life is 4-day adventure where kids discover how special they are to God and how wild it is that they can share their story, use their gifts, spend time with God, and spend time with others.
What KIDS asked for on their webpage!
Service Opportunities to Help Others
Did you know that Gratitude Generation is a local nonprofit organization that is making generational waves?! And...they are housed in our Deerfield site campus at 815 Rosemary Terrace in Deerfield, IL.
They do a tremendous amount of compassionate work in our community, for others, teaching the next generation of children and families how to serve. We've been thrilled to partner with them at events we've held, and we support their mission to support neighbors in need while building a new generation of service-minded leaders.
Check out the many opportunities they have for kids and teens.
Seriously...they're amazing!
Parent Tips & Opportunities
YOU are rocking this parent gig, we know! But just in case you're wondering, check out this parent resource for all kinds of GREAT info. Parent Cue is one of our favorite resources for parenting.
Ever wonder what activities you can do with your kiddos to strengthen their faith? Group's childrensministry.com has all kinds of fun articles and activities for kids at church and at home!
The Stewardship Team is offering a study for those looking to strengthen their financial well-being and future as people of faith. Participants will address issues like saving, giving, expenses, long-term planning, eliminating debt, and planning for retirement. Those who have taken the course in the past benefited from the learning and grew in faith and knowledge. If you would like to participate, please attend an online informational meeting at 7 pm on Tuesday, May 14. The study schedule and dates will be set at that meeting. Please sign up for the informational meeting so we can send the ZOOM link before the meeting.
Sign up HERE!
Sign up HERE!
Do you love pumpkins?
Love to organize, connect with people in our community, and serve others?
Check out our Pumpkin Patch Coordinator/Supervisor position(s) and see if God is calling you to help here.
Love to organize, connect with people in our community, and serve others?
Check out our Pumpkin Patch Coordinator/Supervisor position(s) and see if God is calling you to help here.
