UPCOMING EVENTSChristmas Craft & Living Nativity 12.03

Mark your calendars and bring the whole family to the Living Nativity! This new event will still feature all of your favorite things from Christmas Craft Night – fellowship, crafts, and hot chocolate! Rehearsal at 5pm. Living Nativity, crafts, cookies 6pm.

Dress Rehearsal 12.08 ALL of the children planning to perform in this year’s pageant should attend on this Monday night 6-7pm.

Christmas Pageant!! 12.10 This year the children will be performing ‘One Night In A Stable.’ Be sure to invite your friends and family. It’s not to be missed! 6:15pm

Christmas Party!!! 12.14 Nothing says Merry Christmas like laser tag, video game stations, zip lines and a desert bar! Bring your friends and family to an afternoon fellowship the whole family will love!

Give thanks no

matter what happens.

God wants you to

thank Him because

you believe in Christ

Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Passage of the Month

PARADISE ISLAND

November 30th Newsletter!

Christmas is About Grace!“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever

believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life!” John 3:16

Sunday Morning 9:30am Leaders December 7th - Michelle Anderson December 14th - Kay Villar

Sunday Morning 11am Leaders 1st & 2nd Graders: Todd Seales, Amy Plouf & Karin Kmetz 3rd & 4th Graders: Mike & Gina White 5th Graders: Lois Jablonski & Mandy Houston

So much of the Christmas story revolves around Godʼs grace towards His creation. From the first promise of a Saviorʼs arrival (Genesis 3:15), to the prophet Isaiahʼs amazing prophecies of Jesusʼ coming life and purpose (Isaiah 53; 9:6), even to Godʼs inclusion of the foreign Magi in the miracle of the Messiah's birth (Matthew 2), Godʼs grace is displayed throughout the Christmas narrative. Hear it in the angelʼs song, “Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth to people who enjoy His favor!” (Luke 2:14). Thatʼs what grace means: to be granted unmerited favor, to be blessed without cause by a superior. “Grace” is a beautiful fusion of love and mercy – it is undeserved and restorative; it forgives debts and closes gaps. God orchestrated every aspect of the life and birth of His son, Jesus, to be a supreme act of grace: We failed to know God; Jesus came as a living representation of His character. We failed to understand God; Jesus came as a teacher, clarifying thousands of years history, prophesy, laws and proverbs. We failed to follow God; Jesus came as a redemptive sacrifice, as an example of human righteousness. In the New Testament, the term “grace” is used 156 times and takes on an especially active quality. Godʼs grace, His favor, is at once proof of His love and mercy, as well as a compelling reason for us, His dear children, to get our act together and finally live as the forgiven and loved followers of an almighty God. In his letter to Titus, Paul writes “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people, instructing us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly desires.” God has poured out His favor. Through the birth, life, and death of His son, God has shown us mercy and confirmed His love. He has given us so much to celebrate. This Christmas season, I hope you and yours will remember to bask in the ultimate gift of His grace. Our God is so good!

The S.S.UPDATEBringing you up-to-the-minute Sunday School info!

This week, weʼre discovering: Exodus 23:14-19 (and parts of 2 Kings 23) to discover how some of the rules God gave His people include some major celebrating with entire days and sometimes WEEKS set aside to give His people an opportunity to take time to celebrate.

Our Bottom Line is: Take time to celebrate what God has done. We want kids to make celebrating what God has done a big part of their lives. They can do this in small ways likea prayer of thanksgiving, or in huge ways like throwing a giant party.

Take-Away Concept: There are many times when we donʼt want to give thanks, but our hope in Jesus allows us to be thankful regardless of our circumstances.

Key Points: • God is at work in our lives even

though we may not understand.• Our response of gratitude shows that

we trust God in all circumstances

Games!

Music!

Journaling!

Friends!

Thursdays 6:00-9:30pm

Ask a kid: Who can you think of that helps you every day, even if you don’t see them?

Ask a parent: How do you remember to say thank you to people who help you often?

Parent Cue

Throughout the year, a portion of the children’s offering will be used to fund

the education of a child in Argentina.

Please Pray For Me!

1st & 4th Sundays from 9:30-10:30

A chance to serve God and children!email EStrong@fumcsp.org

Curriculum Materials for K-5th Grades

BIBLE STORYOnce, Twice, Three Times to Celebrate (Israelite Feast Days) • Exodus 23:14-19 (2 Kings 23, supporting)

BOTTOM LINETake time to celebrate what God has done.

MEMORY VERSE“Give thanks no matter what happens. God wants you to thank him because you believe in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18, NIrV

PLUG INSMALL GROUP ACTIVITIES TO FOCUS THE ENERGY

• Ideas for Early Arrivers

• I am Going to Grandma’s for Thanksgiving …

POWER UPINTERACTIVE LARGE GROUP EXPERIENCE

TO ENGAGE THE HEART

• Opener

• Worship

• Bible story

• Prayer

• Closer

CATCH ON SMALL GROUP ACTIVITIES TO MAKE THE CONNECTION

(CHOOSE TWO OR MORE OF THESE ACTIVITIES)

• What’s the Celebration?

• Celebration Cookies or Party Hat Pass

• Verse Pass

DISMISSAL• Pray, share and reflect on today’s lesson before

leaving

HERE’S A SNEAK PEEK OF WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING IN 4TH AND 5TH GRADE THIS WEEK:

NOVWEEK

4

4

GRATITUDELetting others know you see how they’ve helped you.

©2014 The reThink Group, Inc. All rights reserved. www.ThinkOrange.com

SMALLGROUP

4-5

The kids have committed to pray for Emily, a sweet and talented 14 year old who was recently matched with a family interested in adopting her. Pray that God will open each of their hearts and stitch her and her prospective family together with love!

Living Nativity begins at 6pm on 12.3!Cookie decorating and hot chocolate drinking and Christmas Craft making to follow! You can bring the whole family (and your neighbors and friends) too!

Christmas Pageant Rehearsal Schedule! December 3rd 5-6pm December 8th 6-7pm December 10th 5pm

One Night In A StableA Children’s Christmas Pageant

December 10th at 6:15pmPerformers

arrive at 5pmVolunteers

appreciated!

Key Verse: ”For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given – and the government will be on His shoulders, and His name shall be called wonderful counselor...” Isaiah 9:6

Theme: Christmas is better when you celebrate it by showing someone else how much they matter!