UPCOMING EVENTSChristmas Eve Service 12.24

Get in the spirit with an evening specially crafted for all ages! Join us for scripture, carols, and a 4pm glowstick-lit service to remember! Celebration Station 12.25 Celebrate Recovery isn’t just for adults. Children of all ages will love this night of food, fellowship, games, singing, journaling and art therapy!

WNL Returns!!! 01.07 Choir will be back - as will art, music, dance and missions. New classes may include a strategic games focus (chess anyone?) as well as a new Worship Arts course focusing on praise music production and creating short video clips. Dinner will be provided, and a new Music & Me class for toddlers and their parents is currently accepting interested families.

Be rich in good

deeds... Be generou

s

and willing to share.

1 Timothy 6:18

Passage of the Month

PARADISE ISLAND

December 21st Newsletter!

Merry Christmas!When our genuine desire to serve God results in us being more generous with our time, money, love, talents, attention and forgiveness, God doesn’t just use our efforts to further His kingdom on earth – He furthers His kingdom within our hearts. When we learn to give as God gives, it changes us as much as it helps those around us!

Throughout Scripture, we read all about Godʼs generosity towards us. One of those moments, found in James 1:17, talks about it like this: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.” Every good thing we have is a gift from Him. But we also know that Godʼs generosity has a purpose. God gives to us and expects us to do the same for others, in return. In his second letter to the church at Corinth, the apostle Paul reminds us, “You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” Meaning: God is generous with us, so we can be generous to others.

Often we think of generosity in terms of finances, but true generosity goes far beyond our money. Our generosity should

impact everything — our time, talents, prayer, energy, and resources. Being generous is a mark of following God. But around this time of year, itʼs sometimes easier to focus on what we would like to receive, rather than what we can give. And sometimes we become too overwhelmed by our “obligations” and lose sight of why we are supposed to be serving others. Thatʼs why our Sunday School small groups are spending this entire month focusing on generosity. They have been learning how to get “wrapped up” in Jesus, others, and the miracle of Christmas. By the end of December, we want your kids to understand that when we choose to give generously to others, we become truly rich with everything that really matters in life.

Sunday Morning 9:30am Leaders December 28th - Luanne Rechtshaid January 4th - Still Needed! (see back page)

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

Practice generosity by donating gently used luggage to children in foster care!

Bring donations to the 4th floor!

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

This week, weʼre discovering: God sent us the greatest gift when He sent us Jesus.

Through John 3:16-17 and Luke 2:1-18, we celebrated Jesusʼ birth as we paused and remembered that God gave us His only Son so that we could have a personal relationship with Him.

Our Bottom Line is: Get wrapped up in Christmas.

Itʼs easy for kids to get wrapped up in the presents and festivity of the Christmas season, but we want them to celebrate the real meaning of Christmas—Jesus!

Take-Away Concept: Christmas is a great time to learn that weʼre not generous because we are rich but, rather, we are rich because we are generous. Generosity changes us when we learn how to give the way God gives.

Key Point: • Generosity is a reflection of Godʼs

character. He is a generous God.

Games!

Music!

Journaling!

Friends!

Thursday 7:00pm

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.

1st & 3rd Sundays from 9:30-10:30

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

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!

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: Join us as we get together to celebrate Jesus’ birth on Christmas night! Children are welcome!

I don’t know about you, but as soon as “checking a bag” meant bruising my checking account, most of my midsize and larger luggage began

collecting cobwebs. But no more!! Donate your lightly used suitcases and duffle bags to the foster children at 4KIDS and the Heart Gallery. These kids are routinely relocated and asked to pack up their belongings at a moments notice. If luggage is unavailable, their belongings are thrown into garbage bags. Let’s end this sad practice today.

Curriculum Materials for K-5th Grades

BIBLE STORYThe First Hotel (Jesus is born) • John 3:16-17; Luke 2:1-18

BOTTOM LINEGet wrapped up in Christmas.

MEMORY VERSE“Be rich in good deeds … be generous and willing to share.” 1 Timothy 6:18, NIV

BASIC TRUTH: I can trust God no matter what.

PLUG INSMALL GROUP ACTIVITIES TO FOCUS THE ENERGY

• Ideas for Early Arrivers

• Christmas Rip

POWER UPINTERACTIVE LARGE GROUP EXPERIENCE

TO ENGAGE THE HEART

• Opener

• Worship

• Bible story

• Prayer and Worship

• Closer

CATCH ONSMALL GROUP ACTIVITIES TO MAKE THE CONNECTION

(CHOOSE TWO OR MORE OF THESE ACTIVITIES)

• If the Shoe Fits

• Wrap Your Head Around Christmas

• Distracted

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:

DECWEEK

3

4

GENEROSITYMaking someone’s day by giving something away.

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

SMALLGROUP

4-5

Family Service 4pm

Please Pray For Me!

Donate New and Used Suitcases!

The crafts you all made while attending this year’s Living Nativity were a huge hit with area shut-ins. Thank you for bringing a little extra joy to your community!

Praise Report