SIGN-UPS are now closed! All grade level maximums have been met!

We could use some volunteers, though! If you're interested in helping our parents have a night off to themselves, please email Tiffany at children@calvaryop.org.  

Plan to join us this Wednesday, March 5 here at Calvary for a special worship service as we begin the season of Lent. Invite your friends and neighbors to attend this service with you!

Childcare for infants through age 4 WILL BE PROVIDED. 

To support the high value we place on church camp in a child's life, Calvary Church will offer financial assistance for overnight camps based on the child's association with Calvary Church.

For 2014, the church financial assistance per child will be $140 for full week Rez, $112 for the 2-night program, or $60 for the one-night program. The $140 can be applied to the other overnight camps that Manitoqua offers: Horse Camp, King's Camp, S.A.M.S.; or other Christian affiliated overnight camps.   

Camp Manitoqua has many wonderful camp opportunities for your child, whether it's just a one- or three overnights for those entering 2nd-4th grade, or a full week for 3rd grade and up. We are very excited to have designated "church weeks" this year where hopefully many of our children can attend camp together.

Stop by the Camp Table upstairs near The LOFT and Youth area to pick up a Manitoqua packet and a detailed registration/financial assistant letter. Have the camp packet already? You can request just the letter by email, pick one up from the Camp Table, or download it HERE!

It's still winter! Be on the lookout for emails and Facebook announcements that will announce a spontaneous sledding day when the weather permits! Bring your sleds and/or ice skates and meet up with some Calvary families at Centennial Park, 15600 West Avenue in Orland Park, for some winter fun! Rental cost of ice skates is $2 or just bring your sled and wear warm clothes! 

Bring the family to Calvary for a morning of celebrating Easter with a special craft, goodies, and an egg hunt inside! Don't forget your baskets! This is open to the community so tell your friends and neighbors!

We are now accepting donations of individual wrapped candy for our Egg Hunt. Please place items in the basket near the Welcome Center, by Sunday, April 6.

Want a serving opportunity with your family but can't join the summer mission trips? We have a local mission project for Calvary to take part in!

Spring Clean-Up Work Day is set for Saturday, April 12 from 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Come when you can! Lunch will be served and childcare provided for ages 4-9. Or have your child work alongside you!   

Sign-ups will begin shortly at the Welcome Center!

As families go through old toys, games, etc, please keep KidsLife Ministries in mind as to where to donate your unwanted items! Some items we are on the look-out for include:

- Gently used thick and thin baby blankets

- Gently used twin/queen size comforters (to keep around during the cold winter months in case of emergency evacuation)

- Baby swing (non-battery operated, plug-in type)

- Board games of all ages (preschool through elementary...great for Parents' Night Out!)

Please let us know if you have any of these items that you are willing to donate. We can arrange a drop-off time.

The Cadet boys had a great time racing their derby cars this past Saturday. Photos will be available soon at www.calvaryop.org/cadets. Congrats to all the winners!

Cadet Sunday is this coming Sunday, March 9. Make sure to come and support the boys during all three Sunday morning services! 

The remainder of the Cadet season will include continued badge work, field trips, Adventure Zone at Camp Manitoqua and the Spring campout, right here on Calvary grounds.

Questions? Direct them to our Cadet Coordinators Mark Sullivan, drpaulmarksullivan@gmail.com, and Mike Sluis, sluismichael@sbcglobal.net.

GEMS

The GEMS had an amazing time with their gents at the annual GEMS/Gents Derby Racing night. We had a lot of stylish derby cars! Congrats to all the winners!

More happenings to come for the spring: GEMS Pancake Breakfast and their annual Camp Tecumseh retreat.

THE HANGOUT

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!

March's Calendar

March 5th - Girls Night (they will also participate in the Ash Wednesday Service) 

March 12th - Boys Night

March 19th - Girls Night

March 26th - Boys Night  

Momtourage

Momtourage is the new name of Calvary's ministry to moms! We meet two Friday mornings a month from 9-11:30 a.m. for discussion, speakers, crafts, and activities as we explore some of the most important issues affecting our lives and our kids. While the group is geared towards moms of young children, all moms are welcome! Join anytime! To learn more or to answer your questions, email us at momtourage@calvaryop.org.  

2014 Winter/Spring Dates

March

14        Mini Wellness Fair

21        After Hours Mom's Night Out

April

11        Creating Balance (Craft)

25        Dealing with Loneliness (Craft)

May

9          Does God Have a Plan for Me? (Speaker)

23        Year End Party

March Sunday Mornings in Tiny Town

Sometimes it's hard to believe that Jesus, the Son of God, walked around here on the same earth that you and I now inhabit. When I see pictures of places that I've read about in my Bible, I am truly humbled to know that my heavenly Father sent His Son here, to this earth for me-to save me. And, to save you. Then, I think about what Jesus did in His years here on earth, and I am amazed. Amazed.

We want our preschoolers to feel that same amazement, that wonder and awe, that only Jesus can bring. Jesus came to do amazing things, and He did them. They'll hear about how the people in the temple were amazed by the questions a 12-year-old boy was asking. They'll here of the awesome experience that was Jesus' baptism when God spoke from the heavens. They'll watch in awe as Jesus turns water to "super fancy drink" at a wedding.

In addition, our preschoolers will learn that Jesus invited some special friends to go on His amazing journey with Him. They'll hear how these men left their jobs to follow their savior and watch Him do amazing things. Finally, they will learn that Jesus taught us how to pray. We can talk to our Father in heaven any time, anywhere, about anything. Now, that IS amazing. What a gift!

MEMORY VERSE

"The crowds were amazed at his teachings." Matthew 7:28, NIV

BOTTOM LINE:

Jesus can do amazing things! 

Check out this month's Bible teachings and "Parent/Child Small Talk" outside the 3's and 4's room or right here!

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

Health / Illness Reminder

As we all weather our way through this extreme winter, I want to remind you of our Tiny Town policy regarding health issues. These guidelines are designed to protect the health and well-being of all our precious little ones.

Illness: Please be considerate of all families and workers by keeping sick children at home. A child should not be brought into Tiny Town if he or she is vomiting or has diarrhea, has any contagious condition, or is generally not feeling well enough to play.

Children will be required to leave Tiny Town with any of the following symptoms:

1. Fever above 101 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Severe diarrhea-more than two abnormally loose stools.

3. Severe coughing, croup or whooping like sounds.

4. Yellowish skin or eyes.

5. Unusual rash or spots.

6. Complaints of sore throat or difficulty in swallowing.

7. Pink Eye-red or swollen eyes with abnormal discharge.

8. Runny nose which requires excessive wiping from a SPROUTS worker and/or causes contact with others.

9. Unusually cranky, less active, or loss of appetite.

10. Presence of lice, scabies, or impetigo.

11. Vomiting

Our Tiny Town volunteers will be advised not to admit children with any of the above conditions. This decision will be up to the judgment of the classroom volunteers and/or the Tiny Town Coordinator. Coordinators and volunteers cannot administer medication of any kind to your child.

Thank you for your understanding in this matter. We strive to keep our rooms and toys as germ-free as possible. We want all of our little ones, as well as our volunteers, to stay healthy!

Serving Hearts

It takes at least 22 volunteers weekly to run a full Tiny Town program.

The expectation is that all families who regularly use the Tiny Town facilities volunteer occasionally to ensure that there are always adequate caregivers for each service.

If you have not already done so, please find Luz or Corinne to fill out a form indicating which dates and times you will be available to help out, and return the form to the Tiny Town office.

All programs for Infants through Age 5

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

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 Momtourage 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.  

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!

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

March in The Loft (5s through 5th Grade) 

"The hardest thing in life is to forgive." Mr. Zamperini said. "But healing, real healing, only comes from forgiveness."

Forgiveness is deciding that someone who has wronged you doesn't have to pay.When we choose to forgive others, it's a response to the great love and forgiveness God has shown us. Forgiveness means letting go of what someone did to us in order to restore the relationship.

But forgiveness isn't always a simple exchange. What if the person never apologizes? Forgive anyway. What if the person does it again? Forgive again. What if the person never changes? Keep on forgiving. By controlling how you respond and making an alternate choice to forgive, you can delete the impact of what that person did to you.

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! Here are this month's GodTime Devotionals and the Parent Add-Visor Card. You can also get a hard copy outside the LOFT doors.

Offering Update  

Abel

Aniya

Thank you for teaching your child the importance of tithing and giving to others in need. Through your child's support, we continue to sponsor two Compassion International children. Abel is now 7 and lives in Mexico and Aniya just turned 5 and lives in India.

Our monthly sponsorship commitment is $38.00 per child, a total of $76.00.

We continually teach the kids what compassion is all about. To help them carry out compassion towards others and to remind them, we have fun monthly voting ballots. When they bring in their change, they can put it the stoplight of their personal vote.  

MARCH'S OFFERING CHALLENGE: What do you like to do more? Play some crazy board games or cuddle up and watch a movie?

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.  

Family Devotionals for Lent 

The season of Lent is right around the corner, starting on Ash Wednesday, March 5th. How will your family prepare their hearts for the preparation of Easter? Check out this family devotional for Lent.

The author, Kimberlee Conway Ireton, comments, "My prayer is that as you embrace this season, your family's life with Christ will grow deeper and richer. I also pray that you will have grace for yourself and your children as you embark on this road from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday and, especially, that you will know the loving presence of Christ during your journey through Lent."

Need a babysitter and not sure who to contact or trust? How about giving one of our very own Calvary teens a call?! We have a list of Calvary teens who are interested in watching your children! If you want to obtain a copy of this list, please see or contact Tiffany. Additionally, if you know of anyone else who would like to be placed on this list, please send information to children@calvaryop.org. 

Have you checked out our Facebook page?

Come and join the KidsLife Ministries community online right here!