This summer has been a time of seeking the Father, hearing His voice, and moving! We have spend many hours in meetings and prayer discussing our children’s program. We want to thank you for your prayers for our children and volunteers as we have been seeking direction. On September 11th we will begin our new children’s program Kids for Christ. This will be an evening program for children entering kindergarten to 5th grade. We have made several big changes. We have switched from Wednesday after school to Sunday evenings and we are no longer using FaithWeaver Friends curriculum. We are using TruStory
Even though these were very hard decisions to make we are filling with excitement at what God is going to stir in us and our children at Ogden. We wanted to tell you a little bit about TruStory and give you a glimpse of why we are so excited about these changes.
Tru Philosophy
Spiritual development can and should begin from the earliest age with parents as the primary nurturers of their children’s faith. Tru resources support both the church and home with a focus on knowing God personally, igniting a passion for Christ, learning to listen to His Spirit, keeping biblical content true to context, and cultivating a concern for people’s needs in our communities and the world.
The Big God Story
We define “The Big God Story” as God’s ENTIRE story. It incorporates all of history, stretching from Genesis to Revelation and beyond. God has woven His redemptive plan throughout time. We hope to communicate each part of the story within the context of God’s bigger story, so the Bible doesn’t become a collection of short stories where Jesus is just another character. We want kids to understand that they not only play a part in their incredible story, but are also part of a much larger faith community of past, present, and future believers.
In the past, Christian instruction has told fragmented stories of God, Jesus, and other people in the Bible, and we did so in ways that were not linear or part of a greater narrative. Most children who know the stories of the Bible would still not be able to tel you whether Abraham was born before David, or if baby Jesus was alive when baby Moses was.
What happens is that our stories are told in isolation, not focusing on the bigger story where God is central. Instead, Moses is the key figure one day, Noah is the key figure the next day, and Jesus is merely the key figure on another day. By putting each story in context of the meta-narrative, we can begin to elevate Jesus, the Redeemer, to His rightful place in the story line!
We also have an opportunity for our preschool age school to come and learn about Jesus on Sunday nights. They meet at 5:30pm in the preschool class which is the classroom to the left in the nursery.
Music Ministry
We have a love for music and we love to give children an opportunity to ministry to others through music
Rainbow Bells
Any child who is K-2nd grade is welcome to join our rainbow bell group at 5:15 on Sunday evening just before Kids for Christ. They have the opportunity to play in worship several times throughout the year.
Orff (Percussion Ensemble)
Any child who is 3rd-5th grade is welcome to join our Orff ensemble at 4:30 on Wednesday afternoons. Practice lasts an hour and families are welcome to stay for our fellowship meal in Baker Hall at 5:30. They have the opportunity to play in worship several times throughout the year.
Children’s Choir
Children are welcome to come to choir practice it begins at 6:00pm on Wednesday evening immediately following the fellowship meal. During the Fall children work on a Christmas musical and During the Spring they will be working on individual songs. Choir practice lasts until 6:45pm.
Sunday School
All children are welcome to come to Sunday School. This is a time where we focus on understanding God’s word and apply it to our lives. Sunday School begins at 9:30 am.
Nursery
All children who are not in school yet meet in the nursery for a time of fun and learning during the Sunday school hour.
K-2nd grade
Our Primary school-age children usually gather in the nursery and go as a group to their classroom up on the 2nd floor. It is the room to the left at the very end of the hallway in the children’s area.
3rd-5th grade
These children meet on the 2nd floor at the in of the hallway in the children’s area. There classroom is to the far right.
During the summer, Ogden unites with several churches in the community to organize a three-day, outdoor, hands-on ministry (“Marketplace”) where the events of the Bible come alive for children. The Bible is covered on a seven-year schedule. We are excited about this summers theme “Covenant People”. We will be studying Abraham and Moses.
We also have seem different family events throughout the year: Fall Festival, Birthday Party for Jesus, Pool Party, and Game Nights. To sign up for any of these events, to volunteer, or for more information, just call the church or stop by the church office to talk to Meghan Travis
