Children & Family Ministry at West Side Church

Preparing Our Hearts for the Resurrection: Lenten Family Resources and Events

childrenatwestside — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:43:23 +0000

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a time for families to reflect on the story of Jesus and prepare our hearts to celebrate Christ’s death and resurrection. Join us Wednesday night, Feb 22, at 5:15pm for a simple family meal in West Side North Sanctuary and/or come to the service afterward from 6:00-7:15pm in West Side South. Children are welcome and childcare is available in West Side North for any child 5 years old and younger during the worship service.

We also have Lenten resources available for families–you can find books for adults and children with daily readings for Lent on the parent resource table. We pray that you can use these resources as a family for meaningful devotional time now in the weeks leading up to Easter.

Our elementary selection, appropriate for families with 1st-5th Grade children, is, “Looking Up for Lent” and we have chosen another fun Seek-n-Find book for younger kids (2 yrs-1st Grade), “What Do I ABC This Lent?” These resources are free for families, and we encourage you to pick up your copy today!

Sunday, Feb 26: Berry Blast Carnival for Elementary Kids

childrenatwestside — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:34:37 +0000

Berry Blast Carnival is a day of celebration for the end of our unit on David and the Fruit of Spirit and the kids’ victory over the youth in the Souper Bowl of Caring (over 200 items collected). Kids in 1st-5th Grade are invited to bring a friend and participate in games and activities during the entire Sunday School hour, starting at 9:45am. Please pick up your child in the Fellowship Hall as usual between 10:50-11:00am.

Click here to download our event postcard, great for helping your child to invite a friend!

For Kids and Families in February

childrenatwestside — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:59:45 +0000

Happy Groundhog Day! Here’s what happening to brighten up your winter this month at West Side Church

Wed, Feb. 1-Mar 28: Wednesdays @ West Side Join us for dinner at 5:15pm and classes at 6:00pm. Childcare Available. More information on this 8-week session here.

Tues, Feb. 7: Parent Connection Play Group, WSN Enjoy fellowship and play with your child and other parents as we make Valentine’s Day arts and crafts!

Wed. Feb. 8 – Sun. Feb. 12: Souper Bowl of Caring Mission Project Closing Dates Make sure to bring in your final food donations for our Souper Bowl of Caring!

Sun. Feb. 19: Souper Bowl of Caring Wrap Up for Children and Youth Come and see who won the competition, children or youth? Who will receive the grand surprise?!

Tues, Feb. 21, Parent Enrichment, WSN Join us as we hear from licensed therapist, Patricia Curtis, as she shares about “Rupture and Repair: Handling Disobedience God’s Way.” Childcare Available. Last month, Rev. Faye Serene gave a great talk on “Emotion Coaching” for parents of young children. Visit the For Parents section to get the notes from her talk.

Wed, Feb. 22: Wednesdays @ West Side: Ash Wednesday Service Come for a simple supper at 5:15 and worship as a whole church from 6:00-7:30pm. Childcare Available.

Sun, Feb. 26: Promised Land Sunday School Carnival Day To culminate our Life of David and Fruits of the Spirit Unit the elementary kids will celebrate together with a carnival. Not to be missed!

Wednesday Nights are Back!

childrenatwestside — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:58:19 +0000

Wednesday Night activities are back in sesssion, starting tomorrow night, January 25th, with a fellowship dinner at 5:15 pm and and our annual Congregational Meeting from 6:00-8:00 pm, all in the West Side North Narthex and Sanctuary. Members at West Side Church will vote to approve the 2012 class of Deacons and Elders (including a new elder for Children & Family Ministry), approve the salaries of pastors and approve the call for current Children and Family Ministry Director Heather Smith to become a Designated Associate Pastor. All are welcome to attend and childcare will be available for children 5 and under in the Infant / Toddler Room.

Then join us for eight weeks starting Feb 1 for Wednesdays @ West Side, a series of classes for all ages beginning with a fellowship meal every week at 5:15 pm and a class from 6:00-7:30 pm. Click here to download the brochure and registration form.

Classes will be offered for your children ages Infant-5th Grade. Each class will experience a Bible lesson and age-appropriate activities that will encourage your child to trust God no matter what, make the wise choice, and treat others the way they want to be treated. Older elementary kids will learn a new worship skill. Click here to see our offerings for your child’s age or grade level.

Adult classes offered this season are:

Bible Study: Revelation Teacher: Rev. Ralph Kieneker

Whether you are relatively new to faith and Scripture or a seasoned veteran, this study of the last book of the Bible – the Revelation of Jesus Christ given to and recorded by John – will be a good place and way to grow with others. You will not only gain a deeper understanding of the Revelation, but also all of Scripture. The book itself gathers together, interweaves, and integrates stories, images, and themes from all preceding books in the Bible. So this study will not only provide a sort of overview/survey of all Scripture, but will also aid participants in how to read, interpret, and mature in living the Bible, for all it’s worth! (Continuation of Fall class, but prior participation is not a prequisite for Winter.)

“Financial Peace University” (13 wks – Feb. 1 thru May 16, excl 2/22 and 4/1) Facilitator: Gary Bush Registrar: Cindy Kieneker

Cost: $100 per person/family, includes workbook. (Scholarship assistance available.)

Financial Peace University (FPU) aims to help you eliminate debt, save for the future, and give like never before. FPU consists of a 13-week video curriculum taught by financial expert Dave Ramsey—that incorporates small-group discussions to encourage accountability and discipleship. FPU is highly entertaining for everyone, with a unique combination of humor, informative financial advice and biblical messages. To-date, more than one million families have benefited from FPU. Contact Cindy Kieneker to register (509-628-9973) or Gary Bush with questions (509-539-8905).

Spiritual Formation – “Going Deeper: Beneficial Practices for Spiritual Growth” Teachers: Rev. Dan Wodrich and Dr. Melanie Saint James

Following Jesus involves movement – living and walking with Him in the company of others. Followers of Jesus have “next steps” the Lord invites and calls us to take with Him in faith. This class will survey and explore “next steps” practices that have been beneficial to Christians across centuries as they have followed Jesus across the varying seasons of their lives. The class will encourage your listening to and for the Lord’s voice and His call upon you. The aim is to nurture your cooperation with Him as His Spirit works to form Christ in you and to deepen your participation in Jesus’ life with the Father and in His ministry to the world. Beneficial practices such as Spiritual reading (lectio divina) of Scripture and Christian classics; abiding prayer; Ignatian Exercises; Sabbath-keeping; communal discernment of calling, et al, will be introduced. Familiarity with the “Mansions of the Heart” pathway for Christian Growth will be beneficial, but is not assumed nor a prerequisite for participants in this class.

What’s Happening in January?

childrenatwestside — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 23:27:51 +0000

Sun, Jan 15: Souper Bowl of Caring Service Project Starts

Bring in canned foods to the Fellowship Hall to donate to those in need in our community. Kids are competing against the youth to see who can bring the most cans in again this year. Final Sunday to bring in cans is Super Bowl Sunday, Feb 5!

Tues, Jan 24: Parent Enrichment, 9:15-11:15 am

Come and hear Pastor Faye Serene share on Emotion Coaching. Childcare available. Location: West Side North Rm 2-4. Note: we are meeting the 4^th Tuesday this month due to the Imago Christi Discovery Jan 17-19 and 19-21.

Thurs, Jan 26: Women’s Alpha Begins, 9:15-11:15 am

Moms, do you want to discover more about the Christian faith? Join us for Women’s Alpha on Thursday mornings in the West Side North Koinonia Kafe; childcare available.

Wed, Feb 1: Wednesdays @ West Side Resumes

Join us for dinner at 5:15, classes start at 6pm. Eight-week classes available for children, youth and adults. Email cstrachan@westside1.org to register your family.

Holiday Services & Childcare

childrenatwestside — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 01:44:49 +0000

Christmas Eve: 6:30 & 8:00 pm Services, West Side South Sanctuary

Childcare provided at 6:30 service for ages infant-5 years

Locations: West Side South Upper Room (3-5 years) and Green Carpet Room (infants-2 years)

Christmas Day: 10:00 am Service, West Side North Sanctuary

No childcare provided so families can worship together

New Year’s Day: 10:00 am Service, West Side South Sanctuary

Childcare provided for ages infants-5 years

Locations: West Side North Infant Toddler Room (infants-2 years) and adjacent Rainbow Room (3-5 years)

PreK-5th Grade Sing for Christmas Program: Choir Celebration on Sunday, Dec 18

childrenatwestside — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:43:23 +0000

Sunday, Dec 18 is a special Sunday where children will sing with the adult choir and instrumentalists as a part of the Christmas Program: Special Choir Presentation. We will have two worship services this morning at 9:00 & 11:00 am (WSS) and 1st-5th Grade children will sing at the beginning of both services. They will be joined at the 9:00 service by our PreK-K class. There will be no Sunday School this morning but childcare for infants-5 year olds is available all morning in West Side North.

Children who are singing are asked to attend rehearsal with the choir on Thursday, Dec 15 from 6:50-7:30pm in West Side South Sanctuary.

Schedule for Sunday, Dec 18

8:30am: 1st-5th Grade children dropped off in Upper Room and PreK-K children dropped off in Green Carpet Room (Room 302) in West Side South. Children prepare to sing. Childcare will be available all morning in West Side North for younger siblings.

9:00-9:30am: PreK-5th Grade children sing in first service and leave sanctuary during sermon

9:30-10:55am: Special activity for 1st-5th Grade in Upper Room; PreK-K will go to childcare in West Side North and may be picked up there after the first service ends.

11:00-11:30am: 1st-5th grade children sing in second service and leave sanctuary afterward

11:30am: Pick up 1st-5th grade children in the Upper Room. Parents may choose take children to the remainder of the 11:00 service or to go home.

Family Caroling, Wednesday, Dec 7

childrenatwestside — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 22:40:53 +0000

Come to an All Church Caroling and Chili Cook-Off, Wednesday, Dec 7. Join us to sing and reach out with Christ’s love to our local community. This is a fun event for all ages. Don’t forget to dress warmly if you plan to go out and carol!

Event Schedule:

5:15 pm: Chili Cook-off Family Dinner (West Side North Sanctuary)

6:00 pm: Christmas Caroling in local neighborhoods

7:30 pm: Optional cocoa, cookies and fellowship

Parent Connection in December

childrenatwestside — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 22:32:13 +0000

Parent Connection for parents of young children, ages infant through kindergarten, meets this month on Tuesday Dec 6 & 20 from 9:15-11:15 am.

Tuesday, Dec 6, Playgroup meets in the West Side Church North narthex (lobby) for a fun time for parents to meet other parents from West Side Church, West Side Preschool, and the community. Parents will stay near their children while they do a Wrapping Paper Stamping art project and play. Please bring a nut-free snack for your child/ren.

Tuesday, Dec 20, Enrichment meets in the West Side Church North building Koinonia Cafe area (near the lobby) for a Christmas Traditions brunch and the DVD “Why Christmas?” Come celebrate the true meaning of Christmas as we hear the Christmas story. Bring your favorite holiday dish or treat to share and come hungry! Childcare is provided and elementary siblings who are out of school are welcome to attend this month.

Shoebox Time on Wednesday Night: OCC Results

childrenatwestside — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 22:21:59 +0000

Click to view slideshow.Thirty-four children around the world will get the blessing of a Christmas box and the chance to hear the gospel because of Wednesdays @ West Side. On November 9, the final night of Wednesdays @ West Side, Children and Family Ministry partnered with BASIC Mid-High ministry to pack boxes for Operation Christmas Child. All children’s and youth classes on Wednesday night participated, from our littlest class of infants-3 year olds, our 4 year old-1^st grade class, our 2^nd-5^th graders, and finally our mid-high students and their high school leaders. It was so exciting when we all joined together to “send-off” our boxes with a short time of fellowship and prayer. We had fun guessing where our boxes might go and sharing jokes and riddles—some of those 4 year olds tell great jokes! Most importantly, we prayed a blessing over our boxes and the children who will receive them. Operation Christmas Child provides an online check-in for boxes where you can receive a tracking number for your box, so we will find out where in the world our boxes have gone. Operation Christmas Child is a wonderful ministry that not only blesses children overseas but helps us to build relationships as we work together to serve others.

West Side Church and Preschool generously donated 127 boxes this year to Operation Christmas Child. Praise the Lord and thank you to all who participated!