Spring is in the air and our bodies are ready to unwind and relax a little from the crazy cold weather. School is getting close to the end, but sports and such are just starting up, still causing hectic schedules. We hope that during this time you are able to find peace and commune in worship with God, our amazing Heavenly Father. Checking in with him regularly just makes life all that much better!  

Many of our amazing volunteers, on Sundays and during the weekday programs, have given so much time and dedication to our KidsLife ministries since the start of the school year. Please make sure to take the time to thank them for teaching our precious children more about Jesus' teachings and how to live a Godly life. The list of teachers names in The LOFT and Tiny Town are listed below in the right-hand column. 

If you volunteer in a KidsLife program, you are so greatly appreciated! We value the time you give and continue to ask for your serving heart to continue on in one of our many ministries. We love you!!    

If you are considering volunteering this summer or in the Fall, we have many ministries and serving opportunities to choose from.    

Here is just a quick list:

Sunday mornings:

Tiny Town Sunday Nursery Care (Infants-4) - are rooms are filling up with kiddos and we are in need of more volunteers, especially in the Infants room during the 9:30 service! Lots of new babies!

The LOFT (Teachers or Assistant teachers) - during the summer our usual Sunday School teachers get a much deserved break, please consider signing up for a Sunday or two this summer, at either the 9:30 or 11:00 service.  

Summer:

VBS volunteer (pre-prep work or week of June 24-28th)

LOFT or Tiny Town on Sundays

Weekdays in the Fall:

GEMS

Cadets

Hangout

2 Fridays a month childcare for the Mom's Group

Wednesday morning childcare during Coffee Break

Prayer Concerns

If you have any prayer concerns or joys to share, please email me, Tiffany, at children@calvaryop.org. I would love to be praying for you! The power of prayer is AMAZING!!  

Our Check-In System is in the process of being changed over to a new program. Please bear with us as we all adapt to a new check-in procedure. If you are recently new to Calvary, and your child is not in our current system, please accept our apologies. They will be in the new system when we commence the conversion.

It was a little chilly but we had a great turnout for Work Day. Close to thirty Calvary folks worked hard painting cabins, building bridges, raking leaves, laying mulch and much more to help beautify the grounds of Manitoqua. Thank you to all who were able to help in this local mission project. You were a blessing!   

It's not too late to sign up for church camp! Some of the camp sessions are full, but check out Manitoqua's website for more information here www.manitoqua.org.

Calvary continues to offer financial assistance to all regularly attending families. So far, we are helping to send 50 campers this year! Contact Tiffany for more information at children@calvaryop.org. 

Thank you to all the families who have taken part in our PNO ministry. Keep a look-out for the sign-up sheets in August for our next PNO! Want more info on this ministry? Check out www.calvaryop.org/pno.

This summer is going to royally rock! At Kingdom Rock VBS kids will learn they can stand strong for God!

June 24th - 28th

9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Interested in volunteering? Our volunteer registration forms are now in the bulletin as an insert, or you can even sign up online by clicking here.  

Here are some other opportunities that may interest you before VBS begins:

• Orland Day Parade Float Committee
• VBS Decoration Team

These are great opportunities to get involved in VBS, especially if you can't commit the whole week in June. Contact Tiffany with your questions and interest at children@calvaryop.org.

Cadets

The 2nd-8th grade boys wrapped up their ministry season last week by ending with the Awards and Auction Night. This evening is always a big hit with the boys and a lot of fun!  

Thank you to all the Cadet counselors, some who are dads with participating Cadets, others who just like to serve and mentor these young boys. We have had a great year and it is because of your dedication and love you have for the ministry.  

Most importantly, we would like to recognize Derrick Mars as he takes a much deserved leave from the Corps. He has served as Head Cadet Coordinator for 5+ years. Thank you, Derrick, for your wonderful commitment and compassion for the Calvary Cadets. You carried on the tradition and took it to a higher level. Well done, good and faithful servant! 

SERVING OPPORTUNITY: 

Is God laying on your heart to get plugged in at Calvary and serve in a ministry? The Cadet program is a great ministry for men/dads of all ages to get involved. It only meets two Wednesdays a month! Come try it out and see how God can work in your life through this program! 

GEMS

Thank you to all the families who came to support the GEMS in their annual Pancake Breakfast. The funds raised went towards their Camp Tecumseh retreat they had just this past weekend. It was a wonderful way to end this ministry's season!

Be sure to join us this Sunday, May 5 during all three services for GEMS Sunday as the 8th graders share their testimonies.  

The 2nd-8th grade girls will end their season NEXT Wednesday, May 8th with their Awards night and the annual 8th grade fashion show!

Thank you to all the amazing GEMS counselors for their compassion and dedication to our girls throughout this year. Chris Stuursma has led another successful ministry season, and to this we are all so appreciative!  

SERVING OPPORTUNITY: 

Is God laying on your heart to get plugged in at Calvary and serve in a ministry? The GEMS program is a great ministry to get involved in. It only meets two Wednesdays a month! Come try it out and see how God can work in your life through this program!     

THE HANGOUT

As you plan for the Fall season, don't forget that on Wednesday nights we offer The Hangout from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Your child can be engaged in an activity at Calvary every week, not just twice a month!

May Dates (final two dates for this season):

1st - Girls Night

8th - Boys Night

Does your child show interest in drama, dance, or singing? Spotlight Theater is a great place to get them plugged in to learn more skills in this area. Calvary is hosting a week-long summer camp experience!  You can visit their website at www.spotlight.org to find out more information!

This year's theme is CAMP Pixar! The kids will learn to act, sing and dance to songs from Disney's Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Monsters Inc., and many more!

To register your child, click here.

EARLY BIRD DEADLINE: JUNE 10

Cost is $165 Early Bird / $180 After

Since Calvary is hosting Spotlight they have offered us a great discount! All new families to Spotlight can use the online code CHURCH13 for $25 off per family. All returning families can use the online code, CHURCHRET13 for $15 off per family.

Tiny Town News

Hi parents! This month our children are going to bless the hungry. We are going to decorate bags and they will take it home. Please help them by collecting non-perishable items and bringing them any time in May into their classroom.

Our Memory Verse this month:

"Be kind and loving to each other." Ephesians 4:32

Check out this month's Bible teachings and "Parent/Child Small Talk" here.

Questions about our Sunday mornings? Contact Luz Lopez, Weekend Coordinator, luzl@calvaryop.org. 

Little Lambs & Story Hour 

Wednesdays, 9:30-11:00 a.m.

We are just about to wrap up our program for the school year. But here is a little information about what is to come in the Fall!  

While moms attend Coffee Break Bible Study, Little Lambs (2-3 yrs.) & Story Hour (3-5 yrs.) children will experience exciting Bible stories, crafts, snacks and interactive play with others their age. Care for infants is also provided.    

Hope to see you mothers at Coffee Break and your little ones in Tiny Town in September! 

Moppets  

Fridays, twice a month, 9-11:30 a.m.  

We are also wrapping up this program for the summer. There are only two Fridays left! But, read on if you want more info for the Fall!

Are you a mom with little ones? Then join MOPS and More and bring your kids to Moppets! Actually, no matter what stage of mommyhood you're in, from newly pregnant to kids in high school, there are moms who have been there and can help you with the most pressing issues you face at MOPS & More. We hear from nationally known authors, speakers and experts on discipline, parenting, love, cooking and many other life issues that affect moms. We also have a lot of fun making sure to take care of you-time with plenty of social time, yummy snacks and creative activities. Come and meet new friends, and have a break. You deserve it!

For more information, please contact Corinne Ufferman at corinneu@calvaryop.org.  

Question: So, what goes on down there in Tiny Town on Wednesday mornings while the moms, grandmas, and "girlfriends" are having Coffee Break Bible Study and on Fridays while the MOPS and More ladies are meeting?

Answer: Well, first of all, our Tiny Town little ones are being lovingly cared for by an awesome group of faithful Calvary volunteers. By this time of the year, the children are well acquainted with their care givers and we hardly ever have separation tears.

The babies in the Garden Nursery are played with, rocked, patted, fed, and loved on each week.

The children from ages two and up get to play in their classrooms, engage in Bible study by hearing the stories that teach them about God's Love throughout history, work on crafts that will remind them of the day's story, have a snack, and then the most fun of all - visit Calvary's Playland!

This year the children have also been introduced to lots of "old time" songs that many of us learned when we were children. You may hear your young ones humming the tunes of such old standards as "This Little Light of Mine," "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus," " Zacchaeus," "Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho," " I'm in the Lord's Army," "Praise Him, Praise Him, All You Little Children," and of course, "Jesus Loves Me." You can download the music and words to many of these songs from the internet and enjoy having a sing-along at home!

May in The Loft 

Our virtue this month is:

As a fruit of the Spirit, patience is a foundational way that we reflect God's character. When we show patience, we are less likely to hurt our relationships with others. We are more likely to trust that God has something better for us in the future.

Patience is waiting until later for what you want now. Waiting isn't always easy. When having patience seems too difficult, the Lord will give us strength to wait. At its core, patience is fueled by faith. We trust that what we're waiting for is best for us.

But patience is more than just waiting. It's also about our attitude while we wait. A patient person can wait with joy even when the situation might be stressful or anxious. A patient person avoids searching or settling for a quick fix.

Sometimes it feels too hard to be strong while we wait, but our trust in God gives us the strength to wait well.

Get Your Weekly / Monthly Devotionals Here!  

We at The Loft strongly believe that parents are the strongest teachers of God. We're committed to give you parents tools to help you succeed in teaching your children about Christ! You can pick up the monthly devotionals outside The LOFT, near the kiosk screens. Or you can download them with the links provided!

Also, please see important announcements on our Parent Add-Visor Card! 

Offering Update  

Abel

Dipali

We continually teach the kids what compassion is all about. To help them carry out compassion towards others, we challenge them to bring in their offering to go to our Compassion International children. To remind them, we have begun monthly voting ballots. When they bring in their change, they can put it the stoplight of their personal vote.  

MAY OFFERING CHALLENGE:

(Drum roll please!)

To prepare for our "end of the year school party" on June 2nd, we would like the kids to vote on their favorite dessert, cookies or ice-cream???

Which will win the vote? Please encourage your children to tithe their allowance they may receive or assist them in bringing offering for our mission children God is calling us to serve.

KidsLife Ministries would like to help support our families. One way we have decided to do this is to use this Parent iResource section to list job opportunities in addition to providing resources that you as a parent can use. You can give a description of what you have to offer (i.e. childcare) or list what you are looking for. We hope to foster a community where we can help each other connect. Any questions or descriptions should go to Tiffany at children@calvaryop.org.  

We know of TWO families who are looking for childcare for their children and are looking for hired help. If you're interested, read on!  

Childcare Job #1

By Kendra Smiley, www.kendrasmiley.com

As parents, we want our kids to make good choices. When they are very young, we make the majority of the decisions for them. As they grow up, Mom and Dad relinquish more and more of that responsibility. Whether it is dealing with their friends, teachers, or life decisions, we have a suggestion for you. Teach your kids to ask (and answer) the question, "What's my goal?"

Here's an example...Your 13-year-old daughter has a math teacher who is a perfectionist and demands that the decimal point be put right on the line or the problem is wrong. Furthermore, your daughter does not see why in the world this is so important!

• Teach your child to ask (and answer) the question, "What is my goal?" If the daughter in the example answers the question in this way, "My goal is to get a good grade in math," then she will be able to logically conclude she needs to put the decimal point on the line.
• Answering the question, "What's my goal?" and acting accordingly is very powerful. The 13-year-old can have a feeling of control knowing she is doing what she has determined is best.
• The answer to the question may not be as positive. She may say in all truth, "My goal is to annoy my teacher and convince her she is wrong to demand the decimal point be placed right on the line."
• Even if you completely agree, it is not about winning or losing. Even if your daughter wins this "battle," the odds are she will lose the "war."
• It is all about helping your child develop long-term thinking. It is not just winning an insignificant battle. It is much bigger than that. The goal is to help your child look long-term. Then she will able to reject the honest but negative response and search for an answer that will ultimately benefit her.
• The power of asking and honestly answering the question is good for kids AND adults too! And choosing the productive answer is the Next Right Choice!

Have you checked out our Facebook page?

Come and join the KidsLife Ministries community online right here!