Children in United Methodist Churches raise money to send to the United Methodist Children’s Fund for Christian Mission, which supports missions that help children. Each year four missions are selected (two in the U.S. and two in other countries) to receive the funding. The money collected is divided equally among the four mission sites. One year, over $100,000.00 was raised by children for this fund.

In 2010 the four mission sites chosen for the UM Children’s Fund are McCurdy School in Espanola, New Mexico; Partnership in Treatment, in Anchorage, Alaska; Kiev Street Children Ministry, Kiev, Ukraine; and Sudan Shalom Ministry, South Sudan.

In July, our K-5th grade Sunday School Classes learned about each of these mission projects and what they do. Then, in August the children studied the story of Jesus feeding more than 5000 people with two fish and five barley loaves given by a young boy. The children learned that God can take our small gift and perform miracles!

In response, through our Sunday School offering in June, July, and August, our children collected $60.00 to support the United Methodist Children’s Fund for Christian Mission. Way to go!

To learn more about the United Methodist Children’s Fund for Christian Mission, visit www.gbod.org/children.

The School for Little People September 2010 Parent Connection Newsletter is now available on-line!

Musikgarten is an internationally acclaimed sequential music and development program for children beginning at birth.  The program opens and develops your child’s inborn joy and talent for making music.  Early childhood is a time of rapid growth and brain development, an optimal time to start your child’s musical journey!  We are excited to announce that this program is available right here at our church.

Family music for babies and toddlers will be offered in the fall beginning September 15th.

Family Music for Babies (ages newborn to 18 months) – Play musically with your baby through bouncing and rocking songs, wiggle and peek-a-boo games, dancing, moving, and singing.  Music play activities are designed to increase your child’s curiosity about music, to develop listening skills and a sense of beat, and to establish the foundation for singing and musical thought.

Family Music for Toddlers (ages 16 months to 3 ½ years) – Participate with your toddler in singing, chanting, moving, dancing, listening, and playing simple instruments while developing a strong musical bond with your child.  Through activities that bridge the natural connection between music and movement, your child’s musical aptitude and listening abilities are enhanced and further developed.

Visit  www.musikgarten.org/wichitafalls to register for the fall.

For more information on the program contact Sarah Fukasawa at 940-224-1221 or musikgartenwichitafalls@gmail.com.

The School for Little People August 2010 Parent Connection Newsletter is now available on-line!

Kids who have completed grades 3-5 are invited to join us for one last hoorah on a fun trip to Six Flags on Wednesday, August 11, 2010.

Cost (includes supper, 1 ticket, and transportation):

• $40 each if 10 or more sign up
• $45 each if 10 or less sign up

Times / Details:

• Leave FUMC at 8:00am;
• Bring a sack lunch to eat when we get there;
• Bring spending money for snacks / souvenirs at Six Flags;
• Return to FUMC by 9:00pm.

DEADLINE to register is Sunday, August 8, 2010!

Friends are welcome.

Medical release form is required for all participants.

For more information, contact our Children’s Pastor:
Rev. Lydia Pellikan (lpellikan@fumcwf.org or 940-766-4231, x272)

Check out all the fun from Galactic Blast VBS – A Cosmic Adventure Praising God!

Friday, July 16, 2010

Today, we focused on how God is AWESOME in wanting to be in relationship with us – ALL of us – and wants us to be in relationship with others, too! The primary Bible passage was Luke 24:13-32, the story of the two disciples who encounter Jesus on the road to Emmaus and realize who he is when they share a meal with him.

Would you believe that this week, there were 155 different children (age 4 – grade 5) participated in VBS, and they gave an offering of over $273 to further the Imagine No Malaria campaign to get rid of malaria on the continent of Africa by 2015? Also, they brought about 1 1/2 pick-up beds worth of aluminum cans and numerous ink jet cartridges and cell phones for recycling!

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Today, we focused on how God is MAGNIFICENT in helping us and encouraging us to help others! The primary Bible passage was Luke 18:35-43, the story of Jesus giving sight back to a blind beggar.

Would you believe that today alone, the children gave an offering of over $47 to further the Imagine No Malaria campaign?

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Today, we focused on how God is AMAZING in knowing us and wanting us to be all we can be – who God created us to be!! The primary Bible passage was John 4:1-42, the story of Jesus talking with the Samaritan woman at the well.

Also, would you believe that so far this week, the VBS kids have raised OVER $173 for the Imagine No Malaria campaign? In addition,they have brought almost a truck bed load of aluminum cans to benefit the Wichita Falls Area Food Bank, not to mention some cell phones and ink jet cartridges for recycling! Also, today, the 4th & 5th grade group packed 120 boxes of food at the Food Bank for the less fortunate in our community!”

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Today, we focused on how God is INCREDIBLE in always being with us – even in silence! Key verses were 1 Kings 19:4-18, the story of Elijah finding God in the wind, earthquake, or fire, but in the silence.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Today, we focused on how God is a WONDERFUL CREATOR! Key verses were Genesis 1:1-2:4, the first creation story in the Bible, and Psalm 24:1!