Coming Up: Gospel Project for Kids

We are continuing our Sunday lessons at 9:15 & 10:30 going through the life of Jesus with a particular focus on the Jesus the Servant. Our Preschoolers and Elementary kids are now learning the same Bible truths and stories through Gospel Project for Kids. This allows you to disciple your child at home about how to serve like Jesus. I want to say a HUGE thanks to those who have stepped in to help on Sundays and also I'm grateful for your flexibility and care shown to Morningside Kids. They will remember this season of their childhood for a long time! Thank you for being an influential part of their lives! 

Volume 8: Jesus the Servant/Unit 22: Jesus the Healer
June 21: Jesus Healed Ten Men (Luke 17)
June 28: Jesus Healed a Woman and a Girl (Mark 5)
July 5: Jesus Healed a Man Who Was Lame (John 5)
July 12: Jesus Healed a Man Who Was Blind (John 9)

Volume 8: Jesus the Servant/Unit 23: Jesus the Teacher
July 19: The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)
July 26: The Cost of Following Jesus (Matthew 8; 16; Luke 9; 14)
August 2: Jesus Taught About Prayer (Luke 11; 18)
August 9: Jesus Taught About Possessions (Luke 12)
August 16: The Good Shepherd (John 10)

Volume 8: Jesus the Servant/Unit 24: Jesus the Miracle Worker
August 23: Jesus Calmed a Storm (Matthew 8; Mark 4; Luke 8)
August 30: Jesus Fed a Crowd (Matthew 14; Mark 6; Luke 9; John 6)
September 6: Jesus Walked on Water (Matthew 14; Mark 6; John 6)
September 13: Jesus Showed His Glory (Matthew 17; Mark 9; Luke 9)

Morningside Kids 6/28/20

Bible Passage: Luke 17

Key Passage: Isaiah 53:4-5

Big Picture Question: Why did God create people? God created people to worship HIm, love Him, and show His glory.

Story Point: Jesus healed a woman and raised a girl from the dead.

Next Week: Jesus Healed a Man Who Was Lame (John 5)

Jesus had just returned from the region of the Gerasenes, where He had healed a man with an unclean spirit. He crossed the Sea of Galilee and came on shore, where He was surrounded by a large crowd of people. News of Jesus’ teachings and healings was spreading, and people wanted to see Jesus. They wanted to learn from Him and be healed. Jairus, a leader in the synagogue, came to Jesus in crisis. His daughter was at the point of death. Without Jesus’ help, she would surely die. Jesus went with Jairus, but as He walked, a woman in the crowd came up behind Him and touched His robes. She too was desperate for healing. The woman believed that Jesus’ power was strong enough to heal her even if all she did was touch His robes. Because she had faith, Jesus healed her. Imagine Jairus’s devastation when he heard that his daughter had died. The people suggested that Jesus was too late to help her, but Jesus proved them wrong. He went to Jairus’s house and raised the little girl from the dead. By healing the woman and raising the little girl from the dead, Jesus showed His power as the Messiah. Jesus died on the cross and rose again to save people from sin and death. When we trust in Jesus, God forgives our sins and changes us to be more like His Son.

As you talk with your kids, point out that the woman and the father of the little girl came to Jesus in faith. They needed Jesus’ help, and they trusted in Jesus’ power to heal. After Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, He ascended to heaven. Even though Jesus is not physically on earth today, we can pray and ask God to heal people who are sick. Whether or not God grants physical healing, we can rest knowing that He brings ultimate healing through His Son, Jesus.

Incrediworld -- Week 2

46 Morningside Kids joined us for Incrediworld this past Wednesday night! The Blue Blasters and Red Riders learned from Pastor Todd about the importance of putting on their “Bible glasses” when looking at the world around us. Our memory verse for Week 2 tells us that truth is found in God’s Word (John 17:17). “If the Bible says it, that settles it!”

Engage your child in conversation about these points and encourage them to memorize the Bible verses each week. Verses can be said at the memory verse station at check-in, even those verses from previous weeks. This is one way your child can earn points for their team.

At Midway Games, the Blue Blasters (K4-2nd) spent some fun time being Incrediworld spies attempting to weave their way through imaginary security lasers. In our Craft Cove, the Red Riders (3rd-5th) designed their own pair of “Bible glasses” to help them see creation the way God’s Word says it. We ended the night with our drama and take home snacks. TEAM WINNER: The Blue Blasters beat the Red Riders (380 to 260)! Let’s see who can win next week! Team points accumulate week by week. Blue Blasters and Red Riders can earn tickets for their team in five ways: attendance, team color, offering, memory verse, and serving others.

Incrediworld -- Week 1

Incrediworld — Week 1

We had a fun first week at the Incrediworld Amazement Park! 45 children and 22 volunteers joined us for a thrill ride through God’s creation with our roller coaster cheer, singing and Bible lesson at the Incrediworld Stage, Wonder Wheel in Craft Cove and pre-packaged To-Go Snacks from our Concession Stand! We discovered some extreme animals and on an even more extreme scale we emphasized that God made everything from nothing—He didn’t even have to use ingredients! “In six short days, everything was made.” Our theme verse (Genesis 1:1) and this week’s Incrediverse highlight this truth. Watch kids singing our Incrediworld theme song from last night on our YouTube channel!

Teams, T-shirts & Tickets

We divided up the kids into two competing teams, The Blue Blasters (K4-2nd) and The Red Riders (3rd-5th). Your child will receive an Incrediworld t-shirt soon in blue or red depending on their grade level. Throughout the summer kids can earn tickets/points for their team in five ways at our Memory Verse Station:

• Attend Incrediworld

• Wear their team color 

• Say the Incrediverse from memory

• Give money to our missionaries in Brazil (The Travers)

• Serve others (signed note from a parent saying what they did to serve someone else)

Calendar & Weekly Schedule

6/24 - K4-2nd - Bible Glasses in the Craft Cove; 3rd-5th - Midway Games outside the South wing 

7/1 - K4-2nd - Midway Games outside the South wing; 3rd-5th Bible Glasses in the Craft Cove

7/8 - Ice Cream Social - No Incrediworld

7/15 - K4-2nd - My Bug Jar in the Craft Cove; 3rd-5th Midway Games outside the South wing

7/22 - K4-2nd - Midway Games outside the South wing; 3rd-5th My Bug Jar in the Craft Cove

7/29 - Academy of Arts - No Incrediworld

8/5 - Make a Big Splash! (Back to School) - waterslides, activities & school supplies

This year for the safety and health of our children and volunteers, we are serving pre-packaged To-Go Snacks from our Concession Stand in the South wing hallway after kids have sanitized their hands and are safely returned to parents.

Midway Virtual Contests!

Join us on our Morningside Kids FB page for weekly Midway Contests! We will be giving away some Extremely Fun prizes!

See you all soon for Week 2 of Incrediworld!

*UPDATE - Incrediworld!

As you may have read from Pastor Stuhl's email, all services are cancelled for tonight including Incrediworld. Although this is very disappointing for kids, volunteers and parents, it is a prudent decision. Please use this as an opportunity to discuss with your kids that our plans are not always God's plans. He remains kind and loving through change and disappointment. We can trust Him.  

For now, we look forward to meeting next Wednesday when we will enter the Incrediworld Amazement Park to take a thrill ride through God's creation! We will begin our night with the Roller Coaster cheer. Here's an example of the cheer if you want to get your kids ready for fun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dZh5my9Iik.

You can also encourage your kids to learn about some of God's incredible creatures in our world by viewing these resources...
Incredible Creatures That Defy Evolution

Reading God's conversation with Job together as a family in Job chapters 39-41 offers a perspective on a few animals and provides a reminder of who's really in charge of God's creation. 

Blessings,

Lara Cropsey

Summer @ Morningside Kids!

This summer on Sundays beginning on June 7 in our children’s ministry, we will be providing two identical lesson times for K4-5th grade kids at 9:15 and 10:30 using our Gospel Project for Kids (GPK) curriculum. Gospel Project for Kids is a Christ-centered, chronological Bible study for kids. Kids will discover how the gospel unfolds from Genesis through Revelation. When kids truly experience the gospel, their hearts are transformed. It is the gospel, not good behavior, that changes everything. GPK is a three-year curriculum, so your child will encounter the full gospel from Genesis through Revelation at least two times from K4-5th grade.

The purpose for our Morningside Children’s Ministry is to disciple your child in hearing, speaking and living out the Gospel not only on Sundays, but also throughout the week. You, as the parent, are the key to discipleship at home during the week. Gospel Project for Kids provides resources for parents to be disciple makers at home. Our children’s ministry volunteers desire to see your child come to Christ and grow in their personal relationship with the Lord, but we cannot replace you as the parent. Our goal in Morningside Children’s Ministry is to partner with you in the Gospel that we along with our children might fulfill the mission of loving God, loving each other, and loving our world.

Having to cancel VBS this summer was so disappointing, but we have found an alternative that is sure to excite kids and make a spiritual impact on Wednesday nights at 7:00 pm! (check-in begins at 6:45 pm) We are super happy to bring Incrediworld to our Morningside Kids and community! In this weekly VBS, kids head to IncrediWorld Amazement Park, where they take a thrill ride through God’s creation. Each week is filled with interesting lessons from the most amazing book on the planet, The Bible! Don’t miss the fantastic crafts, games, special dress up contests, and our Incrediworld t-shirt too! Morningside Kids (K4-5th) will come face-to-face with God’s incredible world of wonders as they go wild with these thematic weeks. We pray our time will make a lasting spiritual impact on the children and volunteers too!

Register here: https://tinyurl.com/yat6obyf

• Creation Days: June 17

• Worldview Days: June 24 & July 1

• Gospel Days: (July 8 - Ice Cream Social) & July 15

• Design Day: July 22 & (July 29 - Academy of Arts Drama)

• Dino Day: Aug 5 (Make a Big Splash!)

To get involved as a volunteer in these exciting opportunities and make a spritual impact, sign up here.

Reopening Children's Ministries

We are so excited to welcome our children back tomorrow! We look forward to having them in the nursery, preschool and elementary areas. If you've chosen to stay home and watch the livestream or you are sitting together as a family in the auditorium, we respect your decision. But for those families who have chosen to allow your children to reenter our children's ministry, we're super happy to welcome them! 

I'd like to share several things with you and answer some important questions before you arrive, so you know what to expect. First, why are reopening our children's ministry? While many churches are reopening, most of them have chosen not to reopen children's ministry at this point. Here are our reasons for reopening the children's ministry at Morningside. 

The second question you may be asking is where does my child go when we arrive. Most children are used to quickly finding the gym. As this time, the gym and gym classrooms will remain closed. We will be using the nursery rooms and south wing during this transition. Prior to dropping off your child in his or her classroom, please check-in electronically at one of the kiosks in the hallways. A volunteer will be available to help check in your child/children. If you need to provide special instructions for your infant or toddler, please allow the nursery volunteer to record that information for you. In order to adhere to CDC guidelines, we are asking parents not enter the nursery play areas and south wing without permission from a volunteer.  This excludes nursing mothers. If a child needs your attention to happily transition into a classroom, take the opportunity outside of the classroom to help them. It is better overall that we keep our volunteers and children safe by limiting who enters the nursery rooms and south wing. 

The last question you may be wondering about is what will my child/children be doing during the hour? Nursery will pretty much be the same with fewer toys and more effort given to sanitizing and hand washing when needed. This Sunday in our preschool and elementary areas, we will take some time to introduce our children to the new area. Because of the new space and some special things in the south wing we will also establish guidelines so children know what is expected. We will spend a few minutes talking about change and our unchangeable God. They will then have time to play in the various areas. You can see a sneak peak below. Overall, we want children to feel welcome and safe this first week back in a new space. Each child will receive his or her own bag of craft supplies so we are not sharing crayons, glue sticks, etc. and cross-contaminating.  We will not be serving snacks at this point. We will limit bathroom breaks.

A few last minute comments and requests...
We will practice social distancing as much as possible.
We are not requiring our volunteers or children to wear masks. 
We are not requiring temperature check at the door (we will have touchless infrared thermometers available as a precautionary need).
We will only use the bathrooms if it is an emergency. If a child/children need to use the bathroom, we will utilize the upstairs bathrooms. Two adult volunteers are required to be present and may not enter the bathroom.
We will be using hand sanitizer or washing hands as needed. 

Please have your child do three things before leaving the house: 
1. Eat food
2. Use the bathroom
3. Wash his or her hands

The children’s ministry volunteers and I look forward to welcoming our Morningside Kids back to church!

Lara Cropsey, Children Ministry Director

Congratulations, Morningside Kindergarteners

This past Sunday, we enjoyed celebrating our K5 graduates in our reopening service! Great job, Kindergarteners!

Mystery Island VBS 2020

Because of the current public health circumstances, we will not be holding our regular VBS in June. Along with the pastors and medical team, we will continue to monitor the coronavirus situation and look at options for a later event in August if possible. This was a difficult decision. I know many children will be disappointed. The pastoral staff and medical team support this decision and believe it is a wise choice at this time. Answer in Genesis (AIG) has been especially helpful to churches having to make these tough decisions. AIG will continue to promote this theme next summer. 

K5 Graduation

K5 Graduation

We realize all age groups are missing out on some special year-end events for school and church. Since the Governor officially announced on Tuesday that South Carolina will finish the school year online, we want to make a special effort to recognize our kindergarteners on May 17 at the beginnning of the 10:30 worship service. We will be displaying a photo of each child on the screen while parents walk their child to the front of the Auditorium. Each child will receive a balloon, treat and diploma. We will congratulate each Kindergartener with clapping from the congregation. After a few words from Pastor Crockett, parents and children will exit the auditorium. Volunteers in our children’s ministry will hold the balloon, treat and diploma for your child and return it to him or her at pick up following the 10:30 worship service.  

How can you help your K5 child be celebrated? 

1. Email a picture of your child to Lara Cropsey at lcropsey@morningside.org by this Thursday, May 14. (either in cap or gown or a nice photo is fine)

2. Meet in the nursery hallway at 10:25 with your child to receive a balloon, treat & diploma. 

3. Walk with your child in and out of the Auditorium.

Congratulations to all the K5 Morningside Kids for completing their first year of official school!

Spring Surprises!

Although we greatly miss seeing all our Morningside Kids at church, we want you to know we have been thinking about you and praying for you. We have some Spring Surprises we wanted to let you know about. Maybe your children have received a special note in the mail from their Sunday school teacher or Kids on Mission volunteer. Morningside Kids will be receiving a special handwritten note in the mail with a $2 bill to keep, share or spend during this memorable time of Covid-19.

Also, we’re preparing to welcome back all our Morningside Kids soon! The Walkers and Runners rooms are being refreshed with some new toys, books and puzzles for these little ones to explore with our caring volunteers.

We do pray that the Lord will allow us to be together in the near future! May the Lord meet all your needs and bless your family with safety and good health!

MBC Children's Ministry Coronavirus Precautions

Dear Parents,

Thank you for allowing us to care for and impact the lives of your child each week. We strive to provide a clean and safe environment for your child to come learn God’s Word and have fun with friends. With the cases of the coronavirus increasing in South Carolina, we want to adequately care for the health of Morningside Kids while at church. We are keeping up-to-date with CDC health guidelines. You can keep up-to-date as well through this link:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Our current and additional health precautions for MBC children’s ministry are outlined below. Please take a few minutes to read through these details. One detail to be aware of is that we will not be serving food at church (which includes snacks) through April 5. You are welcome to send a nut-free snack with your child during the next few weeks. At this time, we do not anticipate any changes to the children’s ministry programming. Feel free to email me with any questions or concerns that are still lingering. Let’s pray that the Lord would help us to do our best to use good hygiene and to spare our church family from any serious exposure to the coronavirus.

Blessings,

Lara Cropsey

What current and additional health practices are being emphasized and implemented in our children’s ministry?

Nursery Volunteers

• Wearing gloves when changing diapers

• Wearing gloves when dispensing snacks (provided by parents) or feeding babies & toddlers

• Properly disposing of wet and soiled diapers

• Properly disinfecting changing tables

• Careful hand washing after diaper changes and wiping noses & mouths

• Disinfecting toys and surfaces after each service

• Texting the CM Director if virus symptoms appear 

Preschool Volunteers

• Wearing gloves for dispensing snacks (provided by parents)

• Providing tissues for preschoolers

• Careful hand washing or hand sanitizing after assisting with wiping noses & mouths 

• Properly disinfecting toys and surfaces after each service

• Spacing children to avoid sharing bodily fluids (save your hugs, high fives and hand-holding:-)

• Texting the CM Director if virus symptoms appear 

Elementary

• Wearing gloves for dispensing snacks (provided by parents)

• Providing tissues for grade school kids

• Careful hand washing or hand sanitizing when needed

• Properly disinfecting surfaces after each service

• Spacing children to avoid sharing bodily fluids (save your hugs, high fives and hand-holding:-)

• Texting the CM Director if virus symptoms appear)

When should I keep my child home? 

• fever within the past 24 hours

• vomited or had diarrhea within the past 24 hours

• heavy nasal discharge, coughing, sneezing or sore throat

• started the use of antibiotics for a contagious illness within the past 48 hours

• contagious or unexplained rash

• head lice

• pink eye

Missions Conference 2020

3/1 - This past Sunday, our 3rd graders had the opportunity to learn more about the Spanish culture by exploring on our chromebooks. Preschoolers enjoyed receiving maracas after learning about mission the week before. Thanks to Kathy Burget for sharing her story in Junior Church of how God worked in her family as missionaries to Puerto Rico for many years.

2/23 - This past Sunday, our K4-5th graders had the opportunity to explore the Spanish mission field and learn more about its culture, language and religions in the Lobby. We will continue our emphasis on Spanish-speaking countries in our children's classes and the Lobby again this coming Wednesday & Sunday. Perhaps the Lord will call some of our children to serve Him as missionaries in a Spanish-speaking country.

Nursery News

Our nursing room and nursery donation area have been recently refreshed. The nursing room is open to all moms needing a quiet place to feed their babies. The nursing room is privately located inside our infant room. The nursery donation closet is also in the infant room. This donation closet is open to members, regular attenders and those in our community needing clothing and other baby supplies for their child. Donations may be dropped off in the bin marked donations found in the nursery closet. We trust both the nursing room and donation closet will be a blessing to many moms.

Kids on Mission Calendar 2019-2020

Kids on Mission Calendar 2019-2020

Sept 4 Welcome to Kids on Mission

Sept 11 Bible Truth #1: God’s Word; Goofy Glasses Night

Sept 18 Bible Truth #1: God’s Word

Sept 25 Bible Truth #1: God’s Word; Pirate Night

Oct 2 Bible Truth #1: God’s Word; Backpack Blessings

Oct 9 Bible Truth #2: God’s Greatness; Silly Sock Night

Oct 16 Bible Truth #2: God’s Greatness; Snack Night

Oct 23 Bible Truth #2: God’s Greatness; Harvest Night

Oct 30 Fall Carnival! No KOM

Nov 6 Bible Truth #2: God’s Greatness

Nov 13 Bible Truth #3: God’s Goodness; Western Night

Nov 20 Bible Truth #3: God’s Goodness; Snack Night

Nov 27 Happy Thanksgiving! No KOM

Dec 4 Bible Truth #3: God’s Goodness; Christmas Night 

Dec 11 Bible Truth #3: God’s Goodness; Store Night

Dec 18 J.O.Y. (Jesus - Others - You) Night!

Dec 25 Merry Christmas! No KOM

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Jan 1 Happy New Year! No KOM

Jan 8 Christmas Break - No KOM

Jan 15 Welcome Back!

Jan 22 Bible Truth #4: The Trinity

Jan 29 Bible Truth #4: The Trinity; Crazy Hair Night

Feb 5 Bible Truth #4: The Trinity; Snack Night

Feb 12 Bible Truth #4: The Trinity; Backward Night

Feb 19 Bible Truth #5: God’s Creation

Feb 26 Bible Truth #5: God’s Creation; Color Night

Mar 4 Bible Truth #5: God’s Creation; Backpack Blessings

Mar 11 Bible Truth #5: God’s Creation; Animal Night

Mar 18 Bible Truth #6: Review & Snack Night

Mar 25 Spring Break - No Kids on Mission

Apr 1 Bible Truth #6: God’s View of You; Career Night

Apr 8 Bible Truth #6: God’s View of You; Hawaiian Night

Apr 15 Bible Truth #6: God’s View of You

Apr 22  Bible Truth #6: God’s View of You

Apr 29 KOM Olympic Games

May 6 KOM Finale & Store

May 13 Awards program

Morningside Kids' Christmas Party

While parents spent time out and about, over 50 Morningside Kids enjoyed a fun Christmas night full of food, games, crafts, scavenger hunt and videos at church. We were glad to welcome many kids and hope many will join us for our next fun time in the spring! Thank you to our Photography Mentoring Team for taking these photos: Jen Stuhl and Mary Stuhl

Christmas Program 2019

Morningsiders of different ages, cultures, and languages joined their voices to sing Gloria in Excelsis!

Our Children’s Choir had a wonderful time participating in this year’s Christmas program. During the program, 1st through 5th graders sang “Angel Carols” and “Immanuel, God’s Precious Gift of Love.” Children also joined the adult ladies in singing “Where Were You on Christmas Night” and “Go Tell” with the middle schoolers. It was a blessed opportunity to give glory to God through song while remembering that God fulfilled his promise to rescue the world from sin in the person of Jesus Christ.

Several middle-school students also joined with high-school students to sing “Mary Did You Know?” The adult choir sang “Angels We Have Heard on High,” “A Cradle Carol,” and “Gloria! To God Sing Gloria!” In addition to accompanying all the groups, orchestra provided “From the Realms of Glory” as an offertory.

Sarai Patiño of our Spanish ministry sang “He Who Is Mighty”/“El Dios poderoso” before Pastor Crockett closed the service with a challenge: “God came to dwell with us so we could dwell with Him.”

Thank you to our Photography Mentoring Team for capturing these photos of the Christmas program! Jennifer Davisson, Jonathan Harper, Dalila McCrum, and Dominic Sacco.

Kids on Mission This Week 12/10

K4-K5

Part 4: Jesus Fulfills God’s Promise

Story 12 Many Silent Years

Bible Verse: Jeremiah 29:14 “And I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.”

1st-5th Grade

Bible Truth Booklet #3: God’s Goodness

Memory Verse:  Psalm 34:8 - O taste and see that the LORD is good: Blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

Other bonus memory verses, Bible Truth Questions and Answers, and Bible Reading Plan can be completed for additional points.

Kids on Mission This Week 12/4

K4-K5

Part 3: God Continues His Promise

Story 11 God’s Promise Remains 

Questions 26-27

Bible Verse: Ezekiel 36:26 “I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you.”

1st-5th Grade

Bible Truth Booklet #3: God’s Goodness

Memory Verse:  Psalm 84:11 “For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no

good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”

Other bonus memory verses, Bible Truth Questions and Answers, and Bible Reading Plan can be completed for additional points.

Children's Christmas Party

Kids, come enjoy the fun at our FREE annual Children’s Christmas party on Saturday, December 7 from 5:00-8:00pm! Infants-5th grade are welcome. A light supper will be served to K3 and up. Participate in a variety of games, Christmas crafts and activities, and watch an inspiring video! Register here.