Parent Letter

January 7, 2009
Dear Parents,

In just a few weeks, City Church will begin to implement the new programming schedule that the Design Build team produced and that our elders approved. It has a big effect on the way we will do Sundays at Abba Street and I wanted to make sure we were all on the same page with the new changes.

Beginning Sunday, February 1^st, there will be two basically identical preschool services offered that will coincide with the 9:15 and 11:00 worship services. Your child may attend whichever service your family chooses to go to and they will hear the same story and do the same activities as children at the other service. We are continuing to use the same curriculum we started with in the fall and will be hearing stories from the New Testament this spring. The activities the children participate in, be they games, crafts or something else, will all reinforce the story and message behind it. Since our time with your child is limited, we are ending registration at 9:30 and 11:15 respectively. We know things can happen in the morning that put you behind schedule, but please make every effort to have your child here on time so they can get the full benefit from the service.

If you choose to volunteer at Abba Street or elsewhere and will be at church during BOTH services, your preschooler will attend Abba Street during one service and then go to the Breakout Room during the other. In the Breakout Room, your child will be supervised just as carefully and will have a great time with directed play and lots of choices of things to do. There will be no set curriculum or lesson that will be taught there, but the volunteers will definitely be able to do a game about Noah’s Ark or read a story about Paul and Silas at their discretion. God will be there, too.

There will also be a Wednesday night program offered for the preschoolers. It will be one where they are all together and rotate from activities such as craft, snack, gym time and the lesson. We will be using a curriculum called Little K which is a biblically-based DVD lesson that will be entertaining and engaging. The program will keep the kids moving and energized and should be a lot of fun for them. We hope this provides a time for children to learn and play if parents choose to attend one of the adult groups offered on Wednesday nights.

One of the greatest challenges to this new program is the increase in volunteers that Abba Street will require. I am asking that volunteers commit to an every other week rotation for the period of a quarter (first quarter being February through April). We currently have Sunday School teachers who teach for a quarter and Worship volunteers on a once-a-month basis. I wholeheartedly feel that the kids will benefit more from volunteers they see more than just once a month. By volunteering every other week, you get to really know the kids and how they react and can be best taught as opposed to just seeing them once a month. I think this goes a long way in developing a better relationship and trust among the children and volunteers and perhaps allows God’s word to be better communicated and heard. We still need people to commit to teaching our children about God’s love. If you are at all interested in volunteering or even being on a list of substitutes, please refer to the attached list of volunteer descriptions. Sign-up sheets will be available for the remaining Sundays in January when you check your child into Abba Street. Please call me if you have any questions or would like to reserve your spot TODAY!

This is a time of change for me, for the kids and for you as parents. It could be a little hectic at first. But hey – hectic is a preschooler’s middle name most of the time, so I am confident we will all handle this adjustment in stride. However, I want you to know that I am always open to comments, concerns, questions, suggestions and the occasional compliment! Please do not hesitate to call me if you would like to talk about all of this. I am a parent, too, and my children will be going through the same changes and adjustments as yours.

Our goal is still the same: teaching children that God loves them, God made them and Jesus wants to be their friend forever. Our church is still the same: making disciples who make a difference. And most importantly, our God is still the same: merciful and forgiving, loving and gracious, just and sovereign. Regardless of our schedules or timeframes or changes, we will continue to serve Him and honor Him in all that we do.

Serving with you,
Jennifer Parris
Abba Street Preschool Director
423.648.2978 | jparris@thecitychurch.cc

Volunteer Opportunities

Classroom Volunteer The volunteers in the classroom will teach the story for the day and facilitate and help the kids in the activities that reinforce the story’s message. The activities could include a game, craft, puzzle, snack, etc. There are two volunteers in each of the Purple, Orange and Blue classrooms. They are there to assist the children and make sure the environment is fun, safe and supervised. The curriculum is given to volunteers so that they can prepare their story, and all activities and supplies are planned and organized for volunteers by Chrissy Wofford. Time Commitment: One service every other Sunday for one quarter (February thru April to begin)

Registration This person is the first face that greets our children each Sunday. The registration volunteer is responsible for making sure parents sign their child in correctly and fill out the security sticker. They will also ensure the child is signed out appropriately and communicate any necessary information to parents as the pick their child up. Time Commitment: One Sunday service per month

Storyteller We are looking for someone who can tell the day’s Bible story in a creative, imaginative way that captures the children’s attention and really communicates what God wants them to learn that day. The story will be told during the large group portion of our time together where all three classes come to the worship room to have praise and worship. This volunteer works with Christine Haga. Time Commitment: Twenty minutes each Sunday (or every other Sunday if we have multiple volunteers)

Worship Leader Our Worship Leader should be someone who can lead the children in fun, appropriate, energizing songs that teach the kids how to worship God with their voices. The kids love doing hand motions, jumping, clapping and dancing to their music, so the worship leader needs to come with a good supply of energy ready to share! This volunteer works with Christine Haga. Time Commitment: Twenty minutes each Sunday (or every other Sunday if we have multiple volunteers)

GM Wednesday Nights The preschoolers will come together for Wednesday nights and follow a curriculum called Little K. Volunteers are needed to supervise and participate with the children during the evening with crafts, gym time, snack and during the DVD lesson. These volunteers will work with Nani Williams, the Elementary Director, as far as specific duties and instructions are concerned. Time Commitment: Every Wednesday night for 5 week increments (or more if you choose)

Service Schedule

9:00 - 9:15 – Kids arrive/Free Play
9:15 - 9:20 – Snack
9:20 - 9:30 – Bible Story told in classroom
9:30 - 9:40 – Reinforcement Activity #1 (game, puzzle, etc)
9:40 – 9:55 – Reinforcement Activity #2 (craft)
9:55 - 10:00 – Prepare for worship together (bathroom, clean up)
10:00 - 10:20 – Large group worship time
10:20 – 10:35 – Prayer time/ Prepare to leave

All kids will go to Discovery Time for purposeful play at various centers such as the chalkboard, train track, dollhouse, kitchen, bug building, etc. Any child not picked up from their classroom by 10:35 will be dismissed from Discovery Time when their parent arrives. Also, any child coming to Abba Street will be received into Discovery Time until 10:55. At 10:55, the children will come back to the Abba Street hallway and divide back into their classrooms. This will also be the time that kids go to/come from the Breakout Room if they will be at church for both services because their parents are attending church and serving somewhere.

10:55 – 11:00 – Kids arrive/free play
11:00 – 11:05 – Snack
11:05 – 11:15 – Bible Story told in classroom
11:15 – 11:25 – Reinforcement Activity #1 (game, puzzle, etc)
11:25 – 11:40 – Reinforcement Activity #2 (craft)
11:40 – 11:45 – Prepare for worship together (bathroom, clean up)
11:45 – 12:05 – Large group worship time
12:05 – 12:15 – Prayer time/Prepare to leave