In just a few weeks, on Sunday, February 26th, K-5th grade kids will have an opportunity to lead worship during the adult service your family attends!  They will be singing "We are Free" (NewSpring Worship) and "Say, Say" (Kristian Stanfill).  Both songs are available for download on iTunes if you would like to purchase them for your child or you can watch and practice right here!  

In order to make this Sunday worship experience a big success, we need your help with the following:

• Arrive to the service you normally attend no later than 15 minutes prior to the service start time.   Since our children will take the stage at the beginning of our adult service, your early arrival will ensure that your child can participate.  Children who are not checked in 15 minutes before the service start time will not be included in the performance.

• Before checking your child into KidSpring, please make sure that your child goes to the bathroom.

• Check your child in as usual at one of our START stations.

Following the performance, we will take your children to their normal classrooms where they will remain until you pick them up as usual at the end of service.

Please talk with your child prior to this date to determine if he or she wishes to participate.  Any children who do not wish to participate will remain in their environments for normal Sunday programming.

Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns about February 26th, and don't forget to invite your family and friends! 
 

In Large Group, Rom and Ram had to make their way to a button and press it before being blasted by lasers. Rom and Ram were unsuccessful because they refused to listen to each other. Using the code segments sent from the Game Boss, our tour group was able to unscramble a message and send it to Rom and Ram. They learned I Will Be Humble! After learning this, Rom and Ram helped each other and made it to the next level!

In Small Group, we read a story from 2 Chronicles 26 about a man named Uzziah who became king when he was 16 years old. God made Uzziah very successful as king. King Uzziah decided to go to the temple one day and burn incense as a way of worshipping God. However, only priests were allowed to burn incense in the temple. The high priest told Uzziah that he should leave the temple, but Uzziah knew he was being disobedient and he thought the rules did not apply to him. Then, God caused Uzziah's forehead to break out in a skin disease called leprosy that spread all over his face. God was punishing Uzziah for being prideful. Uzziah had to live in a room far away from everyone else to keep them from getting sick too.

We also learned the next part of our Memory Verse. We will continue adding to this verse throughout the series. Here is what we learned on Sunday:

“Run away from evil things that young people long for.
     (run in place)

Try hard to do what is right.
     (thumbs up)

Have faith, love, and peace.
     (count on fingers 1, 2, 3)

Do these things together with those who call on the Lord”
(point to everyone in the group)

2 Timothy 2:22 (NIrV)

Come back next week to see Rom and Ram take on more challenges in the Sector and learn more about God as we go through the video game!

In Large Group, Button and Switch got the chance to go into the Candy Zone and collect as much candy as they could fit into their bags.  After leaving the Candy Zone, Button and Switch decided to share their candy with the Gatekeeper because he was not allowed to go into the Candy Zone.  Since Button and Switch decided to do what is right by giving their candy, the Gatekeeper gave them the Power Up Piece!  Button and Switch helped us learn I Will Give!

In Small Group, we read a story from Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9, and John 12:1-8.  In this story, Mary brought some very expensive perfume to Jesus while He was eating with his disciples.  Mary poured this perfume on Jesus' feet and then washed His feet with her hair.  Jesus was thankful for the gift Mary gave because it showed Jesus how much she loved Him.  Mary understood what we need to know today, which is I Will Give!

To help your preschooler remember to give this week, here is a fun activity you can do!  Sing the following to the tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know It”.  Fill in the blanks with SMILE, HUG, HIGH-FIVE, WAVE, etc.:

If you love Jesus, give a ______!
If you love Jesus, give a ______!
If you love Jesus, & you really want to show it,
If you love Jesus, give a _____!

Come back next week to see if Button and Switch find the next Power Up Piece!

Parents, we shared the salvation message with your child so be prepared to answer questions!  Here are a few resources that can help you shepherd your child's heart toward Jesus:

• www.gqkids.org
• KidSpring Blog (salvation category on right)
• Leading Your Child To Jesus, David Staal

In Large Group, Rom and Ram tried to find their way through a maze. Rom and Ram took one wrong turn, but chose to continue going the wrong way. Using the code segments from the game boss, our tour group was able to unscramble a hidden message and send it to Rom and Ram. We learned I Will Choose To Repent!  After seeing this message, Rom and Ram realized that they were going in the wrong direction and chose to turn around and go the right direction. With the message, Rom and Ram successfully made it through the maze.

In Small Group, we read a story from Luke 23 about Jesus and two criminals being led to a hill to be killed. Some soldiers had arrested Jesus for crimes that He did not do. As a result, Jesus had to die on a cross. Jesus knew that his death was a part of God’s plan for a way to forgive us for all of our sins. Jesus was not angry at the guards for putting him on the cross or the crowd for making fun of him. One of the criminals beside Jesus began to join in with the crowd and make fun of Jesus. The other criminal realized that he had been going the wrong direction and decided to turn from his wrongs and follow Jesus. Jesus forgave the criminal who chose to repent. Three days after dying and being put in the grave, Jesus rose from the dead! After this, Jesus told his followers about forgiveness and salvation. Just like the criminal on the cross, we can be forgiven for our sins when we choose to repent.

We also reviewed our Memory Verse.  We will continue adding to this verse throughout the series.  Here is what we learned on Sunday:

“Run away from evil things that young people long for.
     (run in place)

Try hard to do what is right.
     (thumbs up)

Have faith, love and peace.”
(count on fingers: 1, 2, 3)

2 Timothy 2:22 (NIrV)

Don’t forget to come back next week to see Rom and Ram take on more challenges in the Sector and learn more about God as we go through the video game!

In Large Group, we joined Button and Switch in the Bubble Zone.  They were having so much fun playing "bubble catcher" using all the bubbles that came from the Bubble Buddy.  They even got to meet the Bubble Master who was in charge of making the Bubble Buddy work.  He instructed Button and Switch NOT to touch the Bubble Buddy.  However, as soon as he left, the Bubble Buddy stopped making bubbles.  Button and Switch decided to disobey and touch the Bubble Buddy anyway.  Even though they broke the Bubble Buddy after touching it, the Bubble Master gave Button and Switch another chance to obey.  When they decided to obey, they got the next Power Up Piece!  They were able to learn I Will Obey!

In Small Group, we read John 21:1-14 about a time when Peter and the disciples were fishing.  They fished all night but didn't catch anything!  Jesus instructed the disciples to try fishing from the other side of the boat.  When they obeyed, they caught so many fish that they couldn't even bring the nets up!  When the disciples obeyed Jesus, good things happened!  We learned that when we obey instructions, good things will  happen for us too!

Come back next week as we join Button and Switch in the next zone of Video Game Land!

In Large Group, Rom and Ram faced a puzzle challenge.  After deciding that they should move onto other challenges that were more exciting, Rom and Ram attempted to use cheat codes in order to skip ahead a level.  Using the code segments sent from the Game Boss, our tour group was able to unscramble a message and send it to Rom and Ram.  They learned I Will Have Integrity!  After learning this, Rom and Ram completed the puzzle without cheating and got to go ahead to the next level!

In Small Group, we read a story from Daniel 3 about three friends named Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who showed great integrity.  These friends did not follow the king's orders to bow down to a statue because they knew that they should only worship God.  Even when they were faced with having to be thrown in a fiery furnace for disobeying the king, these friends had integrity and chose to do what was right.  God protected them when they were thrown into the furnace since they had integrity!

We also learned the next part of our Memory Verse.  We will continue adding to this verse throughout the series.  Here is what we learned on Sunday:

“Run away from evil things that young people long for.
     (run in place)

Try hard to do what is right.
     (thumbs up)

Have faith, love and peace.”
(count on fingers: 1, 2, 3)

2 Timothy 2:22 (NIrV)

Come back next week to see Rom and Ram take on more challenges within the Sector and learn more about God as we go through the video game!

In Large Group, Button and Switch entered the Jungle Zone to look for the next power up piece.  They found the next piece, but instead of working hard to move the step pyramid closer to the tree where the power up piece was, Button just wanted to relax and take it easy.  Switch helped Button by pausing the game and listening to a story from the Bible.  In this story, Jesus told His disciples to go to other cities to tell people about Jesus.  They had to work hard in order to tell other people about Jesus, and since they worked hard, Jesus gave them more authority and they had joy.  Button and Switch learned to work hard and when they worked hard together, they were able to retrieve the next power up piece and then move on to the next zone!

In Small Group, we learned many different ways that we can work hard.  For example, we learned that we can work hard at obeying by continuing to do what we are told, even when we want to do something else!  We read the story from Luke 10:1-2 about Jesus sending His disciples to tell other people about Jesus.  This helped us learn that I Will Work Hard!

Remember to keep practicing the Remember Verse from Deuteronomy 6:18 and come back next week as we join Button and Switch in their attempt to find all the power up pieces!

In Large Group, Rom and Ram were testing out a new level of the Sector video game.  At first, they thought this level was going to be easy and they would move on quickly.  However, they quickly realized that this level was actually very difficult and they kept failing it!  Meanwhile, we worked together to decode some code segments in order to send a message to Rom and Ram.  Our message was I Will Be Prayerful!  This helped Rom and Ram because being prayerful means asking God for help.  They attempted the level one more time, but this time, they asked for help when the level became difficult.  They were able to pass the level and advance to the next round!

In Small Group, we read a story from 1 Samuel 1-2 about a woman named Hannah.  Hannah wanted a baby very badly, so she asked God to give her one.  Hannah told God that if He gave her a son, she would give him back to God.  God was the only one who could help Hannah and He gave her a son.  Hannah kept her promise and gave her son, Samuel to the tabernacle to serve God for his whole life.  Then, God gave Hannah three more sons and two more daughters!  We learned that when we don't know what to do, or we don't have control of what is going on, we can be prayerful and ask God to help us!

Join us next week and Rom and Ram continue testing out the Sector and we continue learning about how to have a life that is powered up for God!

In Large Group, we met two gamers named Switch and Button. They were in the star zone of video game land looking for Jesus so they could learn from him. Thankfully, a friend helped them realize that the best place to learn from Jesus is the Bible!  Along with Switch and Button, each of us realized that "I Can Learn From Jesus!"

In Small Group, we read a story about Jesus and His disciples from Matthew 4:18-22; 9:9; 10:1-4; Mark 1-3; and Luke 5-6.  We found out that Jesus taught His disciples about God's love. There are many people that we can learn from, but the most important person to learn from is Jesus! 

And, don't forget to start practicing our new memory verse at home! 

"Do what is right and good (one thumbs up, then another)

in the Lord’s sight, (point up)

so all will go well with you.” (nod head & march feet)

Deuteronomy 6:18 (hold up six fingers)

Come back next week as we join Stitch and Button as they continue in Video Game Land!

In Large Group, we joined a tour of a new video game called the Sector.  Two video game testers - Rom and Ram - had been beamed into the video game.  This game was different than most because it could change and shift into any kind of challenge imaginable!  Using what we learned about God from the Bible, we were able to send messages to Rom and Ram when they were fighting about who was more important. We decoded a message to help teach them that I Will Focus On God And Do What He Wants Me To Do!

In Small Group, we learned more about David after reading a story from 1 Samuel 17, 26 and 2 Samuel 6:14-23.  We learned how David focused on God and what He wants us to do.  Even when David was faced with a nine foot giant named Goliath, he focused on God and did not let Goliath embarrass God's people.  Later, after King Saul's attempts to kill David, David's men encouraged him to kill King Saul in his sleep.  Instead, David focused on God and did not listen to his friends.  Another time, David was worshiping in the streets to thank God for letting the army win so many battles.  His wife told him to stop and made fun of him, but David focused on God and continued to worship.  We learned that we can focus on God and He will help us do what He wants us to do!

Over the next few weeks we will continue adding to this portion of our memory verse:

“Run away from evil things that young people long for.
     (run in place)

Try hard to do what is right.”
     (thumbs up)

2 Timothy 2:22 (NIrV)

Join us next week as we see what Rom and Ram face in the Sector!

Jesus shows us how He wants to be our friend in Matthew 19:13-15. In small group we learned how we can be friends with Jesus. We can be Jesus' friend by learning stories about Him from the Bible, talking to Him when we pray, worshiping Him with singing and dancing and by learning about Him and worshiping Him with our friends at church!

We hope you will worship with us this coming Sunday as we begin a new video-game series called Power Up Jr.! Happy New Year!

In Large Group, we played some games to help us review what we learned this year in KidSpring.  We reviewed some of our Need to Knows from 2011, such as Patience Is Waiting With A Happy Heart, Disciples of Jesus Use Their Gifts To Help Others, and Bad Things Happen, But God Makes Everything Alright.  We reviewed these so we could learn that Jesus was with us at the beginning of this year when we were learning about Him and He was also with us at the end of this year!

In Small Group, we also reviewed what we learned over the past year.  We practiced saying our Memory Verse from Revelation 17:14 and kids received a special candy prize for attempting the verse on their own!

We had so much fun during our Christmas Knight series, but we are so excited to get the next series started.  We will join Rom and Ram as they enter the video game world to test the newest game.  Get ready for Power Up!

In small group we played Bingo and talked about different ways we can show Jesus that He is our King--obeying what He tells us in the BIble, singing to Him, giving Him our money at church, praying to Him & serving Him by serving others. We also had a parade to show King Jesus our love!

In large group, Hark the Herald told us about some Wise Men (Matthew 2:1-12) who brought Jesus gifts fit for a king! Click below to see for yourself!

All princesses and knights also went home with a set of Royal Ornaments! These are to help your family remember seven different names for Jesus each Christmas. We hope to see you next Sunday for our last day in the castle, and in the meantime, help your child practice our series Remember Verse (below) so that he or she can win a prize!

"He is King (put on pretend crown)
over all (spread arms up and out)
kings.” (put on pretend crown)
Revelation 17:14

Some very wise men worshiped King Jesus in Matthew 2:1-12. Click below to see how Noble the Knight learned this truth on the quest of becoming the Christmas Knight:

All kids who joined us for a Christmas service made a set of Royal Ornaments. We hope your family will use these ornaments to enjoy remembering seven names for Jesus for many Christamses to come!

Join us next week as we play some awesome games to help us remember what we have learned throughout this Christmas series. We will aslo find out one more name for Jesus and give prizes to anyone who can remember the series Memory Verse below!

"He is the Lord of all lords (point up)

And the King of all kings. (pretend to make a crown over head)

His followers are chosen and special and faithful." (point to others)

Revelation 17:14 (hold up 1 on left hand and 4 on right hand)

At Christmastime, we often see pictures of baby Jesus on Christmas cards, nativity scenes and in children's books. These pictures can remind us of how God sent Jesus as a tiny baby to be with us.

Come party with us this week at any of our Christmas services! Your preschoolers are sure to have a royally fun time learning another name for Jesus!

During Large Group, Kerfuffleous was summoned to meet with the king while Noble had to stay back to attempt the noble task of untangling Chistmas lights and replacing the bulbs.  When Kerfuffleous showed up wearing the king's robe, Noble was so jealous!  Hark the Herald was able to use Noble's knight training to remind him/her that being jealous and selfish are sins and Jesus wants to come into our hearts to take away those sins by letting His light shine in our hearts!

In Small Group, we read a story about a man named Simeon.  The Lord promised Simeon that he would get to see Jesus before he died.  The Holy Spirit led Simeon to the temple on the same day that Mary and Joseph were going there to present baby Jesus to the Lord.  Simeon praised God, saying "He is the light to show God to the nations!"  Simeon knew that Jesus Is The LIght of The World, and the light in darkness for all of us!

Don't forget to check out newspring.cc/party to make plans to attend a Christmas service on your campus!

We learned from John 4 that Jesus is called the Giver of Living Water.  This isn't a type of water that we can drink, but it is the eternal life that Jesus gives us when we ask him to forgive our sins! Since Jesus gives this living water, we know that Jesus Gives Eternal Life!

During Large Group, Noble the Knight and Kerfuffleous had to prepare for the royal feast!  They were in charge of the menu and deciding who to invite.  While the kids offered some great suggestions for the feast, including french fries and ice cream, Noble and Kerfuffleous had a disagreement on who to invite.  Noble wanted to invite everyone in the kingdom to the feast because Christmas is all about celebrating the birth of Jesus and everyone is invited to know about Jesus!  However, Kerfuffleous only wanted to invite the important people in the kingdom because he/she doesn't like it when a party has to end and everyone goes home.  Noble helped us learn that even though the king's party might end, Jesus is throwing a party in Heaven that never ends because Jesus Gives Eternal Life!

In Small Group, we read a story from John 4 which taught us about a time when Jesus met a Samaritan woman at a well.  Although Jews and Samaritans did not get along, Jesus talked to this woman about the water He could give her - a water that will allow her to never be thirsty again!  The woman put her faith in Jesus because she knew that the living water Jesus could give was eternal life with Him in Heaven!

Don't forget to check out newspring.cc/party to make plans to come to one of our Christmas services!  We are ready to party!

Chrismtas lights are a good reminder of how Jesus is the Light of the World! Whenever your family spots a display of Christmas lights, remind them that Jesus is the Light of the World, helping our hearts see how to do what is right!

It's a family advent calendar that will teach you and your kids WHO Christmas is really about!

A new present is "opened" each day with truth about who Jesus is. 

Have fun!

http://jennyfunderburke.com/advent/ 

This Sunday we learned that Jesus Is The Good Shepherd! Click below, so that Hark the Herald and the Kingdom Sheep can tell you all about it!

In Small Group we read a story that Jesus once told about a shepherd in Matthew 18:10-14. We also put together puzzles that taught us different ways Jesus takes care of us like a shepherd takes care of his sheep. At the end of small group, we practiced saying our new Remember Verse with the motions:

"He is King (put on pretend crown)
over all (spread arms up and out)
kings.” (put on pretend crown)
Revelation 17:14

Candy canes are something we often see during the holidays, and they look just like shepherd's staffs! Use candy canes to help your kids remember that we are the sheep and Jesus Is The Good Shepherd!