Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Check back after Christmas for more details about things to come.
May God bless you this Christmas season.
Don't forget to check out this link. It is a different way to celebrate Christ's birth.

The Children's Ministry Staff

Interesting Stats!!!

"Christian parents may not be completely comfortable with some of their children's media preferences, but that's not stopping them from purchasing those products for their kids. According to a new study from The Barna Group, born-again parents will likely spend more than $1 billion this Christmas season on media such as CDs, DVDs, video games and magazines for their children under the age of 18. Nearly four-fifths (78%) of those parents purchased movie or television show DVDs for their kids, but 26% of those who had done so didn't feel quite right about what they'd bought. For CDs the numbers were roughly 60% and 33% respectively; for video games, 39% and 46%; and for magazines, 51% and 31%. George Barna said of the study's findings, "Millions of Christian parents want to appear to be relevant in their children's eyes, and to provide gifts that fit within the mainstream of postmodern society. The problem is that many of the entertainment products that meet those criteria conflict with the moral precepts of the Christian faith. Parents have to make a choice as to what is more important: pleasing their kids' taste and sensibilities, or satisfying God's standards as defined in the Bible. ... Many Christian parents are striving to serve two conflicting masters: society and God. They refuse to believe that they cannot satisfy both." [barna.org, 11/19/07 stats]


REMEMBER:
December 15th 8:30am to 10:30am: Christmas Pageant Dress Rehearsal for all children Kindergarten through 6th grade. Set and stage crew also need to be at this practice.

December 16th 6:00pm: Christmas Pageant. Rehearsal for all children K-6th starts at 4:15pm. The Early Childhood Angel Choir only needs to be there at 5:30pm to get dressed.

December 18th: Simpich Marionettes bring Christmas to life in a whole different way. Invite your friends and bring the family to experience this fascinating art form. Call SGC for ticket information: 303-986-1527.

December 19th: No Pioneer Girls or Modern Day Knights.
December 26th: No Pioneer Girls or Modern Day Knights.
January 2nd: No Pioneer Girls or Modern Day Knights.

January 18th & 19th 6:30pm to 8:30am the next morning: Campout/Campin. Sons and Dads, if you are in 1st through 6th grade come and join us for a great overnighter at Southern Gables. We pretend to camp, but in a whole lot warmer environment. Call 303-986-1527 for more information.

End of the Year is Almost Here.

One more great article to glance at as we race to the end of the year. Click here to link to a Center for Parent and Youth Understanding article that talks about the shows that tweens (9-13 yr. olds) are watching.

End of the year dates and times.

Christmas Pageant

Saturday, December 15th from 8:30 to 10:30 AM- Practice for all students in Kindergartent on up in the Worship Center.

Sunday, December 16th during both morning services: Choir will sing some of the songs that will be sung during the performance that night. Please report to your normal Sunday School room no later than 8:55am.

Sunday, December 16th at 4:30PM all students in Kingergarten on up report to the Worship Center. 3 and 4 year olds will report to the Early Childhood Wing at 5:30PM to get Costumes on.


Keep watching for information on the 18th and 19th of January for the Father/Son Campout/Campin.

A Few changes

Simpich Marionettes is taking the place of Family Caroling.

Family caroling originally scheduled for the 19th of December from 6:30pm to 8:30pm has been replaced by Simpich Marionettes on the 18th of December starting at 6:30pm in the Worhip Center of Southern Gables. Plan on making this amazing experience part of your Christmas Celebration. Tickets available soon in the Welcome Center or call 303-986-1527 for more information

Schedule??? During this Season?

Dates to note:

November 21st: No Pioneer Girls or Modern Day Knights. Instead join us at the Thanksgiving Eve Service: 7:00pm in the Worship Center.

December 15th 8:30am to 10:30am: Christmas Pageant Dress Rehearsal for all children Kindergarten through 6th grade. Set and stage crew also need to be at this practice.

December 16th 6:00pm: Christmas Pageant. Rehearsal for all children K-6th starts at 4:15pm. The Early Childhood Angel Choir only needs to be there at 5:30pm to get dressed.

December 18th: Simpich Marionettes bring Christmas to life in a whole different way. Invite your friends and bring the family to experience this fascinating art form. More details coming soon.

December 19th: No Pioneer Girls or Modern Day Knights. Bring the family and join us as we spread Christmas Cheer to our neighbors through caroling. We leave the church at 6:30pm to begin our singing.

December 26th: No Pioneer Girls or Modern Day Knights.
January 2nd: No Pioneer Girls or Modern Day Knights.

January 18th & 19th 6:30pm to 8:30am the next morning: Campout/Campin. Sons and Dads, if you are in 1st through 6th grade come and join us for a great overnighter at Southern Gables. We pretend to camp, but in a whole lot warmer environment. Call 303-986-1527 for more information.

It's Friday, time for a movie?

We rely on the MPAA rating system to tell whether movies are worth while. Read this article (click here) on the history of certain ratings standards for insight into the thinking behind the rating system.



One movie that might be worth watching would be The Pirates who Don't Do Anything. This full-length Veggie-Tale movie releases on the 11th of January, 2008. Click here for more details.

Mother Daughter Sleepover:
November 16 & 17 Starting at 6:30pm: Grab your mom (any age) or daughters (4yrs-6th grade) and head to the church for games, dress-up, giggles, treats and chick-flicks. Contact Kathy Williams (click here) or call 303-986-1527 to ask her more questions.

Christmas Pageant:
Practices continue during 2nd service through the 16th of December. Call Kathy or Than at 303-986-1527 for more information.
Parents we would love to have your help.

Operation Christmas Child:
Send a Christmas Present around the world to a child in need. Pick up the information at Wild West Fall Fest or Sunday look for the information in the bulletin. Steps to sending a gift (Click here to find out how)The last step is bring the box to Southern Gables before Nov. 18th.

Family Caroling:
December 19th from 6:30pm to 8:00pm. Bring your family and join us as we spread the joy of Christmas to the our neighbors around Southern Gables Church. This is a family event and we would encourage all families to attend. For more questions call or email Than (click on his name for email) at 303-986-1527.

Kiddos Could be Learning...

Look below at all the ways your child could be impacted by children's ministry lessons.

Moppets 11/6/07
Lesson Focus: Jesus Heals a Blind Man
Biblical Content: John 9:1-11, 35-38

Pioneer Girls for 11/7/07

Unit Focus: Using the Bible (and other various topics depending on age)

Modern Day Knights for 11/7/07
Unit: Men of God
Lesson: Highlights from Paul's Life
Verse focus for until Dec. 12: Ephesians 6:10-17

Sunday School focus for 11/11/07
Biblical Content: 1Kings 19:9-18
Lesson: God Speaks to Elijah in a Whisper
Memory Verse: Isaiah 41:10
Engage them: How do you like to be communicated to? (talking, emailing, texting, movie watching.) What is God's primary way of communicating with us?

For more ways to stay connected with the children's ministry lesson focus on Sunday morning pickup the Alive page available with at the back of the worship center with your bulletin or pick up the take home page available every week at your child's Sunday School class (2yrs through 4th grade).

Racing to the End of the Year

Before the end of this year here are things for your Calendar:

1. Rocket Launch

Saturday, November 3 @ 9:00am.

Bandimere Speedway (Click here for directions)

Note: If you are in Modern Day Knights you will be starting your rocket during Wed. night clubs. We will also provide engines for launching your rockets. If you are not go to Colpar Hobbies- West (click here for directions) or another hobby store and buy a rocket kit and engines. Check this website before you leave that morning for weather updates.

2. Christmas Pageant: Practices begin this Sunday, Nov. 4th during 2nd service. Call Kathy or Than at 303-986-1527 for more information.

Parents we would love to have your help.

3. Mother Daughter Sleepover on November 16 & 17 Starting at 6:30pm: Grab your mom (any age) or daughters (4yrs-6th grade) and head to the church for games, dress-up, giggles, treats and chick-flicks. Contact Kathy Williams (click here) or call 303-986-1527 to ask her more questions.


4.Operation Christmas Child:
Send a Christmas Present around the world to a child in need. Pick up the information at Wild West Fall Fest or Sunday look for the information in the bulletin. Steps to sending a gift (Click here to find out how)The last step is bring the box to Southern Gables before Nov. 18th.

Music Matters

The Power of Media (click here to access it) is a thought provoking look at how music affects us. What goes into our heads is often hard to get out and may be even harder when connected to music.

Note: Clubs will be held on the 24th of October. They will not be held on the 31st of October

Things to Know
Wild West Fall Fest


This Friday 6:30-8:30 PM @ Southern Gable Church
Chili, Games and Fun for the Family.

The Rocket Launch has been moved to:

Nov. 3, 9:00 AM Bandimere Speedway (Click here for directions) Note: If you are in Modern Day Knights you will be starting your rocket during Wed. night clubs. We will also provide engines for launching your rockets. If you are not go to Colpar Hobbies- West (click here for directions) or another hobby store and buy a rocket kit and engines. Then everyone come on out and join us for a light breakfast and lots of blast offs and high flights.

Mother & Daughter Sleepover (Sponsored by Pioneer Girls)

Nov. 16 & 17 starting at 6:30pm to 8:30am the next morning

games, dress-up, giggles, treats and chick-flicks.

Contact Kathy Williams (click here) or call 303-986-1527 to ask her more questions.

Operation Christmas Child:
Send a Christmas Present around the world to a child in need. Pick up the information at Wild West Fall Fest or Sunday look for the information in the bulletin. Steps to sending a gift (Click here to find out how)


The last step is bring the box to Southern Gables before Nov. 18th.


Christmas Pageant:
Full choir rehearsals start November 4th during second service (Kindergarten through 4th grade) as part of the children's church. If you would like to be a part of this great production telling a piece of the greatest (true) story on earth make sure that you attend 2nd service Kid's Church. Contact us with questions (click here) or call 303-986-1527.

If you are 3 or 4 years old join the angel choir. Practices are the beginning of second service starting the first Sunday of November as part of children's church.

Help us tell this story today by volunteering. Click the link above or call the number to sign up to help us.

Rocket Launch Postponed and Bible Links

Due to scheduling at Bandimere Speedway, the Rocket Launch has been moved to:

Nov. 3, 9:00 AM Bandimere Speedway (Click here for directions)

Note: If you are in Modern Day Knights you will be starting your rocket during Wed. night clubs. We will also provide engines for launching your rockets. If you are not go to Colpar Hobbies- West (click here for directions) or another hobby store and buy a rocket kit and engines.

Then everyone come on out and join us for a light breakfast and lots of blast offs and high flights.


Bible Links:

Head to ibs.org to find all sorts of great Bible reading resources. You can study the Bible, set up a reading plan, listen to the entire Bible, or use study tools to help deepen your understanding of the Word.



Dates to put on the Calendar, Palm, or other life tracking device


Wild West Fall Fest FRIDAY, October 26th 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM @ Southern Gables Church

Bring the family for a hootin’ good time filled with:
W chili and hot dogs* *Food available on a first come first-served basis.
W cotton candy & popcorn
W games for the youngins’
W ol’ fashioned fair exhibits
W & a whole barrel of fun

Help us make this year great.
1. Donate candy at the Children’s Ministry Kiosk in the Welcome Center.
2. Donate pumpkins from your garden to help decorate by bringing them to the Children’s ministry Kiosk in the Welcome Center.
3. Bring some of your homemade talent (quilts, cookin’, Lego sculpture, wood workin’) for our ol’ Fashioned fair Exhibits.
4. Help your Adult Community or Small Group run a game booth. For more information please call (Than Baylor @ 303-986-1527) or email him.




Mother Daughter Sleepover (sponsored by Pioneer Girls)
Nov. 16 & 17 staring @ 6:30 PM at SGC.
Daughters bring your moms for a night of games, treats, dressup, and chic flicks.
Contact Kathy Williams @ (303-986-1527) or email for more information.


Check back soon for information about the Christmas pageant.

The Beginning of Communication

In the age of technology we are working on communicating with all of you in best way possible. This blog is created to do just that. Our hope is that you are informed, challenged and inspired by the posts that appear here.

Don't Forget about upcoming Events

1. 
   
   Journey Retreat
   When: October 12th - 13th
   Time: Leaving the 12—4:30 p.m. from SGC
   Returning the 13th—3:00 p.m.
   Where: Golden Gate Canyon State Park
   Why: Fun, Friendship & Fascination
   Cost : $20


2. 
   
   Rocket Launch (Sponsored by Modern Day Knights)
   October 20th
   9:00 am
   Bandimere Speedway
   Build a rocket with your son and come on out to see how it flies.
   Call 303-986-1527 to reserve a spot today.


3. 
   
   Wild West Fall Fest
   FRIDAY, October 26th
   6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
   
   Bring the Family for a hootin’ good time filled with:
   
   W chili and hot dogs*
   W cotton candy & popcorn
   W games for the youngins’
   W ol’ fashioned fair exhibits
   W & a whole barrel of fun
   
   *Food available on a first come first-served basis.
   
   There are all sorts of ways to be involved.
   
   1. Donate candy at the Children’s Ministry Kiosk in the Welcome Center.
   
   2. Donate pumpkins from your garden to help decorate by bringing them to the Children’s ministry Kiosk in the Welcome Center.
   
   3. Bring some of your homemade talent (quilts, cookin’, Lego sculpture, wood workin’) for our ol’ Fashioned fair Exhibits.
   
   4. Help your Adult Community or Small Group run a game booth.
   
   For more information please call (Than Baylor @ 303-986-1527)

Keep checking back to find out more in CMSpottings.