It’s been awhile but I’m about to be inspired…

I know, I know…to my few blog readers, I am sorry it has been so long since I last wrote. Life is happening. You know? Family, kids, sickness, church, preschool, etc… I promise I will try to do better!

 That being said, I am sure within the next two months I will find inspiration in two conferences I will be attending. Next week a group from our church will be going to Newspring for Unleash 2008. We went in 2007 and it was the catalyst for MUCH change over the course of the next year. I’m excited about what Perry and the Newspring team will be bringing us, a chance to worship, and seeing the reactions to those we’re bringing. Dare say some will be shocked and not know what to think!

Then in April I will be going to Orange! I am psyched about North Point’s Family Ministry conference. Hmm…one day I wold love to present or teach at these things! But, right now I am excited about being the student, learning from some of the masters in the field of youth and children’s ministry. Hopefully I will be inspired, challenged, and stretched as I am there. I wold love to learn some practical application things too to apply to what we’re already doing with 252 Basics and First Look.

Between those two upcoming events, I should be able to find plenty to blog about, now I just need to find the time!

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loving the new curriculum!

We’ve been using our new First Look and 252Basics curriculum for about a month now and I can say that I love it! It is great to use – I love the digital format for it. I am able to open the files and modify the material to fit the format of how we’re using it. They both give plenty of variety and activities that we’re having enough material for both small group hour and large group time with another smaller group break out for 252basics. I have gotten good feedback from my volunteers on how First Look repeats the same simple point each week. The kids are remembering it! That’s the best! You can tell they are truly learning what we’re teaching. With 252Basics, we switched from KIDMO and the kids are responding well to “live” teaching vs. DVD-based.

If you have any suggestions on getting the kids to use their God Time books and Refrigerator Notes, I’d appreciate it! I am looking forward to going to Orange Conference to talk to others who use it and to learn more. I am loving the model of Family Ministry and know that the “church” needs to move more in that direction. I’ll post more about that later!

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Fall changes…

I have decided today that rather than going with the Elevate curriculum from Fellowship Church, we are going to go with 252Basics by ReThink Group (North Point Church). So our Fall line up will be First Look for Preschool and 252 Basics for Elementary. We will be taking the content, using a portion of it — the small group portion during our church’s Sunday School hour. It won’t be like traditional Sunday School for the kids, more like small group time. The kids will come together and hangout for 10-15 minutes then we’ll meet in small groups. They’ll be introduced to the Bible Story and concept for the day, do activities together, and then dig deeper with the truths. During our church hour, the kids will meet in whole group for crowd breakers, games, presentation of Bible Story, Worship, offering, and prayer. We may do a family production program 2-4 times a year.

I am really excited about this decision. I struggled with moving from KIDMO to Elevate. But Elevate just didn’t feel right for me. Very production driven, and we’re not quite there yet. I also felt that their activities were paper/pen oriented and I prefer hands-on actvities like 252 Basics offers. This Fall should be BIG for us!

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preschool curriculum

I am making a BIG change in the fall with our preschool program and I am struggling over which curriculum choice to make. My contenders are:

*Lil’ K

*First Look – 252 basics

*PromiseLand – Willow Creek

I need to check into each of them tomorrow and start comparing them and the additional resources needed as well as structure — if you have any thoughts, please post them!

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