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Transitions


     This week our church will begin a transition period as we say goodbye to Rev. Marcus Mims as our Minister to Students.  See the note below about the ways we will celebrate his ministry and show our appreciation this Sunday, April 25.
      Some of our kids may not be very familiar with Pastor Marcus or have had much interaction with him, but others may have had him as a leader at a VBS or another special event or know him through an older sibling or just from seeing him at church.  I thought it was a good week to share some tips for talking to your kids about transitions because change is inevitable and can be difficult for kids.  Whether it is going to a new school, moving to a new house, preparing for a younger sibling, or any number of transitions, change can be exciting but often stressful for kids.  I found some helpful tips in an article (linked here) by Nicole Schwarz, a parent coach and family therapist.  And I will share some of her helpful suggestions below along with a few of my own.  
     Take a look at the other news & reminders below and please let me know if you have prayer requests, needs, concerns or a good news story you would like to share. 
    
On the journey with you,
Mrs. Jamie Winkler
Minister to Children and Families
jwinkler@fbc-h.org
704-877-9491

"There is a right time for everything. Everything on earth has its special season." - Ecclesiastes 3:1 (International Children's Bible)
Join us on Sunday April 25 for a Drive-in/ Outdoor Worship Service (in English) in celebration of Rev. Marcus Mims’ Ministry to Students at First Baptist Church Huntersville. Pastor Marcus is resigning from his position as Youth Minister after serving at FBC-H for 12 years and we want to show our appreciation for his ministry and service.

This service will take place at 11:00 AM in the parking lot behind the Education Building; please enter the parking lot at the Sanctuary entrance. Worshipers may remain in their cars and tune in on 87.9 FM or bring chairs and sit outside. We will hear testimonies from guest speakers and a message from Rev. Marcus Mims.
No RSVP is required to attend this outdoor service.

We invite each family to bring their own picnic lunch and stay after the service for a tailgate meal. We also invite everyone to wear orange in honor of Marcus’s favorite team - the Clemson Tigers. We have a few more fun activities planned during the tailgate meal and we will have an area set up for cards and gifts as well.
Helping Children Through Transitions

When it comes to transitions in the Bible, one of the most notable is the transition of leadership from Moses to Joshua, found in Deuteronomy 31. Maybe reading this story together as a family would be a good way to break the ice and start a conversation about transitions when your child is preparing for one.  You could ask your child how they think Joshua may have been feeling and point out that Moses and God both encouraged Joshua to be strong and brave and not to worry because God would be with him  (Deut. 31:7-8,23).  Ask how they are feeling about their own transition - worried? scared? excited? and why?  Encourage them that you will help them through the transition and that God will be with every second through it even if you can't be in the room with them every second.

Here are some more transition tips from Nicole Schwarz:
  1. Prepare: Give your child ample opportunity to process the transition by providing them with age-appropriate information. Some children may want to see pictures, learn people’s names, or spend time in the environment ahead of time.
  2. Talk about it: Create normalcy around the topic by making it part of your everyday conversation. Encourage your child to ask questions or express their thoughts about the transition. Ask open-ended questions: “I wonder if you’ll have a class pet? What pet would you choose?”
  3. Make a list: You may not know all of the facts, and that’s OK. Focus on what you know, and be honest about what you don’t know. “That’s a great question. I’ll write it down and we’ll try to find the answer when we visit your new school on Tuesday.”
  4. Give them an outlet: Some children struggle to put their thoughts and feelings into words. Offer a variety of resources to process their feelings: drawing, journaling, writing a story, modeling with clay, or find a book at the library about a child dealing with a similar transition.
  5. Practice coping skills: Create a long list of calming and coping strategies and practice them often. In some situations, role playing together helps the child feel more confident and gives them options for handling the event in real life.
  6. Watch for changes: It’s not always easy to know when a child is struggling. They may show their discomfort by being more aggressive, regressing to old behavior (thumb sucking, bed wetting), or complaining of physical symptoms (stomach aches, headaches).
  7. Seek help: If you are concerned about any of the changes listed in #6, if your child continues to struggle with the transition after it occurs or if you are worried about how they are adjusting to the transition, seek help from a mental health professional.
BIBLE STUDY & WORSHIP:
 
VIRTUAL OPTION - CHILDREN'S BIBLE STUDIES via ZOOM - Bible Story time with Ms. Jamie 
IN-PERSON BIBLE STUDY AT CHURCH - SUNDAYS, 9:30-10:30 AM 
You are invited to attend Bible Study in person Sundays 9:30 - 10:30 AM.  (Participants arrive between 9:15-9:30 AM)
  • We ask that everyone wishing to attend in-person Bible Study on Sunday please RSVP each week by 12:00 noon on Thursday so that we can ensure meeting spaces are adequately prepared to include everyone.  A link to register for Bible Study is available for May 2 at at www.fbc-h.org/reservations or you may simply reply to this email!  If you still wish to RSVP for this Sunday, please call or email Jamie or the church office. Thank you!
  •  
  • One important change on Sundays is that parents/guardians will come pick-up children from their outside classroom doors, so that we do not overcrowd hallways when classes dismiss.  Thank you for coming to pick up your children as soon as your class is dismissed. Please let Jamie know if you have any questions.
WORSHIP ON SUNDAY MORNINGS takes place weekly in the Sanctuary (in English) and in the Discipleship Center Auditorium (in Spanish) at 11:00 AM.  *See note above about this Sunday's service.
Each week you can find the links to make a reservation at
www.fbc-h.org/reservations/.  All ages are invited to attend; childcare (Extended Teaching Care) is available for children ages 4 and under in the Family Life Center by reservation.


Or join us for worship virtually at www.fbc-h.org/worship or at www.facebook.com/fbchuntersville
Opportunities to serve in the FBC-H Children's Ministry:
  • Teach / Co-teach a Children's Bible Study every week or on a rotating basis. 
    • We are praying for teachers in our Faith Foundations Class (Babies) and Bible Beginnings Class (Toddlers/ Twos).
    • Those precious faces pictured above are some of the kids you would have the opportunity to teach.
  • Be a substitute for a Children's Bible Study Class
  • Volunteer with Extended Teaching Care (childcare during worship for ages 4 and under).
  • Join the Vacation Bible School planning team
  • Talk to Jamie if you have other ways you think God is leading you to be involved!
First Baptist Church Huntersville - Kingdom Concept / Mission Statement

Our church exists to glorify God and make disciples: 
  • by connecting our community for real relationship with God and one another. 
  • by cultivating community - removing the walls that divide us and building bridges that connect us as one human family, each person created in the image of God.
Our Motivation:
  • Dignity & Worth of Each Individual 
  • Diversity 
  • Unity in Christ 
  • Service to the Community 
  • Responsiveness to the Holy Spirit
Copyright © 2021 FBC-H Kids, All rights reserved.


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