Hello Chapel Hill Families!

CH Kids had fun learning more about one of their favorite Bible characters, John the Baptist, on Sunday. For our spiritual practice, each child dipped their hands in a bowl of water as a leader called them by name and said “God finds happiness in you”. It was a great reminder that God loves us.

We also discussed ways we show that we believe in God. Ask your child about what they do to show God they believe. Some examples were praying, reading the Bible, singing praises, feeling God’s presence in nature, and being in community with other believers.

A New Year brings a new Unit, Faith Word, and Memory Verse. Our Faith Word for the month of January is BELIEVE which means “to know in your heart what is true about God”. Our Memory Verse is from John 6:14, “This is truly the prophet who is coming into the world.” upcoming Bible Stories include:

• January 15th “Jesus Calls Levi” (Mark 2:13-17)
• January 22nd “Jesus Feeds 5000” (Luke 4:14-30)
• January 29th “Jesus Walks on Water” (Mark 6:45-52)

Information for our new families:

• Our volunteers are supposed to arrive by 9:00, but life happens and sometimes they are running late. Please try to drop off kids between 9:15 and 9:30 AM to avoid waiting on them to arrive.
• Please walk your children back to their classrooms at drop off. We want our volunteers to see who goes with which kid to help speed up our pick up time.
• Don’t forget your pick-up ticket. You will show this to get back to the children’s wing and again to their teacher to pick them up.
• Remember that kids are now promoted to their next grade level so check that their name tags show they are in the right group. Please let Ryan know if it is incorrect.

We sponsor cousins, Neema & Kikwete, who live in the Angel House Orphanage in Tanzania, Africa. We have pledged to give $90/month in order to provide food, clothing and schooling to these children at Angel House. Each Sunday, kids have the opportunity to bring money to put into our offering for Neema and Kikwete. Would you help us meet our goal by sending your child with $1.00 each week? Our former Director of Children’s Ministries, Raegan Brane, has visited Angel House in the past. You can find out more information about the Grassroots Organization and Angel House by clicking HERE.

REMINDER:

If you have a 3rd, 4th or 5th grader that has a Deep Blue Bible, please help them remember to bring it with them to Sunday school each week! We don’t have many extras of that particular version at the church and they will be looking up and reading scripture every time they come to church from now on.

Don’t forget to check our Chapel Hill Kids Facebook Group regularly for the most up to date information. If you haven’t checked your child’s information on the birthday post, please make sure you do so as soon as possible. I have marked it as an announcement so you can easily find it. If you have moved in the last year, please contact the office so that we have your correct address on file so they can receive some birthday mail. The office number is (316) 684-1117.

Blessings to you and your children,

Allison

Celebrate Wonder is a Sunday school curriculum that engages children’s natural sense of curiosity to help them understand God’s love. It creates a safe environment for kids to ask big questions — helping them explore the Bible in ways that feed their imagination and encourages creativity. Through carefully-selected Bible stories, songs, videos, and hands-on activities, Celebrate Wonder gives children the tools to explore their faith while incorporating it into their daily lives.

Each month, our weekly stories will align with a Faith Word. The Faith Word for the month of January is “BELIEVE”.

In Jesus’ time, tax collectors were not popular. The payment of taxes to the Roman Empire caused resentment among people. Additionally, tax collectors made their living by charging more money for taxes than the Romans expected and keeping the difference, a system seemingly designed to encourage greed and dishonesty.

In this week’s lesson we hear the story of Levi. Levi was a tax collector and was sitting at a tax booth, probably collecting a toll along a major road. When Jesus saw Levi, he issued the invitation, “Follow me.” With these words, Jesus extended an invitation to someone who most likely took pride in cheating and corruption.

It is likely that Jesus’ association with tax collectors surprised many. Jesus even shares a meal with other tax collectors. In biblical times, eating together was a sign of trust and hospitality. Witnesses, especially the Pharisees, were angry and confused. How could Jesus, a man of truth and justice, invite a tax collector to follow him?

Yet, we can learn from Levi. Levi showed no hesitation to abandon his old ways. When Jesus called, Levi followed. We do not know any more other than Jesus’ reminder that even those who seem unrighteous are invited to follow too.

Jesus’ invitation to Levi also serves as a reminder that, as followers of Jesus, we too are called to invite others in. We are called to seek out those who may be left out, lonely, or feel less than. An invitation from Jesus is an invitation to take your place in God’s beloved family. It is something we are offered and something to be shared.

Go for a walk. Try to take a route you might not have taken before, hike a different trail, or invite a friend. Sometimes, we always go the same ways. But Jesus shakes things up. As you go a different way, remember Jesus always goes with us.