Northwest Conference Children

& Family Ministry news

Recharge 2014

Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014

Grace Fellowship, Brooklyn Park, MN

Looking for another great way to train your volunteer teams? Recharge is a day dedicated to equipping leaders in children, youth and family ministry. Main session speaker, Rich Van Pelt, trains thousands of educators, counselors and youth workers each year in adolescent crisis intervention and teen suicide prevention and response.

Breakout workshop sessions for Children and Youth Ministry volunteers will be offered. Conference staff Ginny Olson and Kara Stromberg are both leading break-out sessions at Recharge. Ginny will teach about ministry to girls and Kara is leading a seminar on ministry in small church settings. We also have a room set aside for all Covenanters to gather for lunch together. Hope to see you there!

Visit the Recharge website for more info

Monthly Children & Family
Ministry Connection

Next Meeting: Thursday, Jan. 16

Noon-3 p.m. Bring a lunch.

Topic: Understanding our Children: Ages and Stages of Development led by Sara Sosa from Plymouth Covenant.

Location: Bethlehem Covenant Church youth room (3141 43rd Ave S., Minneapolis 55406) www.bethlehemcov.org

Mark your calendars:

Thursday, March 20 - Working with students on the autism spectrum, led by Lynn Jackson from Connected Families http://connectedfamilies.org
Thursday, May 15 - Leading Up: How to lead well from the second chair, led by Tiger McLuen from Youth Leadership www.youthleadership.org

Looking to network with children's ministers throughout the Twin Cities?

Twin Cities Children and Family Ministry network

Feb. 6, 9:30-11:30 a.m.

Christ Presbyterian Church, Edina

Topic: A Family Ministry Conversation

COST: $10.00, includes breakfast

RSVP: in order to plan for you please RSVP to byron.ragains@davidccook.com

Bible app for kids

For those of you with smart phones and tablets, the popular Bible app from YouVersion now has an animated version available for kids, designed for early readers and pre-readers. It's completely free and it's available now for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Android devices. The app is a growing collection of Bible stories with touch-activated animations and learning activities, perfect for helping kids learn the big stories of the Bible. Go to bible.com/kids on your mobile device to download it today.

Children & Family Ministry Sabbath retreat

Wednesday, Feb. 26 - Friday, Feb. 28, 2014

Covenant Pines Bible Camp

Suggested donation: $20

"Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, 'Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.'" Mark 6:31

Sound familiar? You are invited to Covenant Pines for a spiritual rest and renewal retreat for children, youth and family ministers Feb. 26-28. You get a room to yourself, opportunities for spiritual direction with Judy Swanberg, Associate Director of Pastoral Care & Development, and guided reflection time led by Steve Burger. Hope you can join us! RSVP to the conference office at 612-721-4893.

Family Ministry Toolkit conference: Providing tools to build faith in and through the family

March 15, 2014, 9-3:30 p.m.

Cost: $25

Registration: http://tinyurl.com/2014Toolkit

Conference site: Trinity Evangelical Free Church, Lakeville, MN Phone: (952-435-5548)

Co-hosted by Next Step Resources and Trinity Evangelical Free Church

Keynote speaker, Mark Gold, is a veteran youth and family ministry worker, national conference speaker and global mission visionary. He is passionate about the family as a change agent for the kingdom. Twelve breakout session options to choose from offer practical insights for ministry leaders.

Save the date:

Go: Serve

Who: NWC Families

April 26, 2014

Redeemer Covenant Church, Brooklyn Park

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This is a new NWC Family event, intended to bring Northwest Conference families together for a shared learning and outreach opportunity. This NWC Family event is targeted to families of all kinds with children in pre-K through upper elementary school.

GO: SERVE is an opportunity for families to learn and grow together, in a family-friendly, yet stretching, environment suitable for younger children. Families can expect to have their worldview expanded, to be inspired by God's kingdom workforce in the world, and to have opportunity to extend the hope and love of Christ with those experiencing unmet needs.

Resources will be provided for families to learn together, debrief and reflect on the experience together. Registration information will be mailed to all churches in mid-January.

A closing thought ...

Does it ever bug you that Jesus doesn't cry in Away in a Manger? Consider these rewritten lyrics by Michael Pearce Donley. Using these for print or a slide? Look up Away in a Manger (with tears) on CCLI.

Away in a Manger (with tears)

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,

The little Lord Jesus, laid down his sweet head.

The stars in the sky looked down where he lay.

The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

He's holy and high, but there's comfort to see.

That little Lord Jesus, he cries just like me.

Our Savior, Creator still shivers in cold.

And comes as a Babe I can sing to and hold.

The Word now is flesh, O the Word is a child.

Behold, Heaven's language has wakened and smiled.

I see a new cov'nant on this Christmas night.

Between darkened hearts and the Author of Light.

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay

Close by me forever and love me, I pray.

Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,

And fit us for heaven to live with thee there.

NWC Church Resource Bank

Some of you have been asking how we can share resources with one another. Our conference website has a Church Resource Bank where you can post your extra resources or requests for resources you need. Click the link above and look for the Submit a Church Resource link.

Go ahead and post something. Let's help each other out!

Social Media

To get the latest updates on events and other Children & Family Ministry happenings for the NWC, like us on Facebook:

NWC Children & Family Ministry Facebook Page

Did you know there is also an ECC Children's Ministry Facebook page? This is a closed group, so if you are interested in joining (all are welcome!), send an email to kara@northwestconference.org and you will receive an invitation. This is a great way to collaborate on a national level.