PARENTS LETTER. Dear Parents:

Transcription

1 PARENTS LETTER Dear Parents: Welcome to our Awana Program. We are very excited and feel privileged to have your child participate in our Awana Program! Awana is a Christian club (see the enclosed doctrinal statement) for children that teaches the Word of God through games, Bible study, memorization, and a motivational award system based on achievement. We want to help you, as a parent, give your child a tool to develop spiritually, intellectually, and physically. If you have other children, they are also invited to one of our Awana Clubs: Puggles: 2-year-old boys and girls (must be 2 by August 1) Cubbies: 3 & 4-year-old boys and girls (must be 3 by August 1) Sparks: Kindergarten through 2 nd grade boys and girls T & T Girls: 3 rd through 5 th grade girls (6 th grade is optional) T & T Boys: 3 rd through 5 th grade boys (6 th grade is optional) Club time runs from 6:30-8:15 p.m., with check-in time at 6:20, on Wednesday nights. Children will check-in at their club table located in the fellowship hall. All clubbers (Cubbies, Sparks and T&T) must be picked up by their parents or guardian. Parents should be ready to pick their child up at their classroom promptly at 8:15. Each weekly club meeting has three elements: Council Time, Handbook Time, and Game Time. During Council Time, your child will be exposed to messages from God s Word and will participate in praise and worship of our Creator. During Handbook Time, an adult leader works with a small group of clubbers assisting them in memorizing Bible verses and other learning activities. Your child will begin to gain a valuable understanding of spiritual truths in this way. He/she will earn awards for passing sections in the handbook to motivate further achievement. During Game Time, your child will enjoy the active Awana games, uniquely created around the Awana Game Circle. Please return the enclosed Emergency/Activity Permission Form before the child s second club night to ensure their participation in game time. Your child will receive an Entrance Booklet their first club night. Please look over the Entrance Booklet with your child. Your involvement and interest will help your child to complete the booklet, and it will ensure your child s success in the Awana Program. Children in the Awana Program receive awards for their efforts. Upon completion of the Entrance Booklet your child will become eligible for official membership in the Awana Club and may receive their uniform and handbook. (You may order the uniform and handbook as your child progresses along in the Entrance Booklet, so the uniform and handbook can be awarded to your child as soon as the last section of the Entrance Booklet has been successfully completed.) While our facilities and equipment are supplied by the church, each clubber should bring dues of 50 per club night to help reduce the cost of operating the Awana Club. It also encourages a sense of ownership in the program and teaches the clubbers responsibility and good stewardship. These dues are not mandatory, but will be helpful. We are thankful to you for allowing us to spend this time with your child each week in our Awana Clubs. We have as our hearts desire to love your child and to teach them about the Lord Jesus. Also, if you do not have a church home, we invite you to visit our church. We have Small Group

2 Bible Study Classes that begin at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings with classes for all ages. There are also two Sunday worship services; one at 10:30 a.m. and the other at 6:00 p.m. On Wednesdays, there is an adult Bible Study held at 7:00 p.m. We invite you to come as a visitor and leave as a friend. Please review the attached Awana Club Rules to make sure your child will be prepared to get the most out of their participation in Awana. Thank you for your interest and cooperation. If you have any questions or concerns, please call your Awana Club Commanders. Sincerely in Christ Jesus, Michael & Celeste DeLeuil Michael & Celeste DeLeuil Victory Missionary Baptist Church Awana Club Commanders (Home) (Michael s Mobile) (Celeste s Mobile) 2

3 WELCOME TO CUBBIES!!! We are looking forward to a fun filled, exciting year. We are very blessed to be able to teach your children. Here is some basic information for you. Children will have an opportunity to complete the following kinds of material: Apple Acres Entrance Booklet This booklet must be completed to receive a vest and a Apple Seed Handbook. AppleSeed Handbook - This is our official handbook. It contains 26 Bear Hugs and 4 Special Days. We will complete one Bear Hug each week. All clubbers must memorize each main verse in the Bear Hug. The 3-year-old clubbers may memorize the bolded portion of the verse, while we ask the 4-year-old clubbers to say the entire verse. This will help prepare them for Sparks. AppleSeed Handbook CD This is now included with each handbook and is an excellent way to review the character stories and memory verse each week once you have read them to your clubber. Review In this section of each Bear Hug, a clubber recites an already learned verse. Please check the box in that section if your child is ready for the review. This section is optional and not required to complete the Bear Hug. Under the Apple Tree - These are sections in each Bear Hug containing at home activities for you and your child to help reinforce and apply lesson truths. Extra activity options can also be found on the Handbook CD. This is also an optional activity. Please sign off on the section if it has been completed. All clubbers will receive patches approximately every four weeks. All children will complete the AppleSeed Handbook this year. A calendar will be placed in your clubber s folder to help you understand which Bear Hug will be covered for the week. We look forward to teaching your children about God s love for them.

4 PARENT HELPS LEARNING VERSES AT HOME 1. Notice Mom and Dad s part in the handbook. 2. Help your child to understand the meaning of the verse. 3. Learn verses in the order listed and follow calendar schedule. 4. The leader will listen to only the main verse and the review verse (optional) per child per week. This will be the lesson/verse on the schedule. However, we will help your child makeup missed sections in order for them to complete the book. Please do not work ahead. 5. Study a few minutes daily to help your child learn the verse. Use the CD to help review. 6. Please sign the book so the leaders know that your child has learned the verse during the week. 7. Cubbies is not competitive. Your child should work at his/her own pace. Do not feel that you have to complete the Review section or the Under the Apple Tree section. These are optional. 8. Two helps are allowed per verse. A help is any clue given to help remember the verse. PLACING THE AWARDS ON VEST: CUBBIES UNIFORM AWARD PLACEMENT 1. Awards should be sewn on, not just ironed on. Adhesive will not hold. 2. It is important that clubbers wear their vest each week and that the awards are placed on the vest as soon as they are received. This helps your child to be proud of his/her accomplishments. 3. Start at the bottom left of the letter A when securing the patches to the vest. Refer to the handbook if needed. Each clubber will receive four green and four red apple patches this year.

5 CUBBIES SCHEDULE 6:15-6:35 COMING-IN TIME Welcome the clubbers and parents Register new Cubbies Take dues Have clubbers put away personal belongings Cubbies go to pre-club activity room Place an attendance sticker on attendance chart 6:35-6:55 STARTING TIME Cubbies review the Motto & Key Verse Pledges to the flags and Bible Sing the Cubbies Theme Song and other songs Recognize birthdays Puppet skits Prayer 6:55-7:15 STORY TIME Bible Lesson Prayer 7:15-7:35 BOOK TIME Cubbies review and recite the Bible Verse for the night Leaders try and help clubbers understand what the verse means Cubbies complete the Activity Sheet for the night 7:35-7:55 PLAY TIME Cubbies play noncompetitive active games 7:55-8:05 SNACK TIME Cubbies eat very simple snacks - cookies and Kool-Aid, etc. 8:05-8:15 AWARDS / GOING-HOME TIME Cubbies will join the other clubs on the Awana line if receiving awards. If not receiving awards, Cubbies use this time to review their verse for next time, sing songs, play games, etc. until their parents come to get them.

6 CUBBIES CALENDAR August 30 Apple Acres Entrance Booklet (A) & (B) September 6 September 13 September 20 September 27 Bear Hug 1 Bear Hug 2 Bear Hug 3 Bear Hug 4 October 4 October 11 October 18 October 25 Bear Hug 5 Bear Hug 6 Bear Hug 7 Fall Festival November 1 November 8 November 15 November 22 November 29 Bear Hug 8 Bear Hug 9 Special Day 1 Thanksgiving NO CLUB (Thanksgiving) Bear Hug 10 December 6 December 13 December 20 December 27 Bear Hug 11 Special Day 2 Christmas NO CLUB (Christmas) NO CLUB (New Year s) January 3 January 10 January 17 January 24 January 31 Skate Station Bear Hug 12 Bear Hug 13 Bear Hug 14 Bear Hug 15 February 7 February 14 February 21 February 28 Bear Hug 16 Bear Hug 17 Valentine s Day Bear Hug 18 Bear Hug 19 Grand Prix March 7 March 14 March 21 March 28 Bear Hug 20 Bear Hug 21 NO CLUB (Spring Break) Special Day 3 Easter April 4 April 11 April 18 April 25 Bear Hug 22 Bear Hug 23 Bear Hug 24 Bear Hug 25 May 2 Bear Hug 26 Special Day 4 May 9 Awana End of the Year Awards Ceremony

7 GENERAL AWANA RULES 1. All clubs will start promptly at 6:30 p.m. Clubbers should arrive at 6:20 p.m. to allow plenty of time to check-in with their secretary and make it to opening ceremony. All clubs will dismiss promptly at 8:15 p.m. 2. Each clubber will be eligible to purchase a uniform after completion of the Entrance Booklet. Once obtained, each clubber should wear their Awana uniform at all times during each club night. The uniform serves many purposes. It bonds the group, it provides a place to display the awards earned, and it distinguishes the clubs. It is an Awana requirement. 3. Clubbers should not bring food, drinks, gum, toys, or phones to club. If your child brings such items, they will be held for your child during club and returned to them after club is over. 4. The Entrance Booklet or Handbook should be brought to club each night, even if the child does not have a section to pass. Each section in the Entrance Booklet or Handbook must be passed in one setting with 2 helps only from their Leader. Clubbers should bring their Bible to each club night as well. 5. Your child should come to Handbook Time prepared to recite sections from their Entrance Booklet or Handbook. This will require them to prepare at home. Just a few minutes each night will help them to be prepared when they arrive. If a child misses a club night they are to makeup the missed section the next club night as well as the scheduled section for the club night attended after an absence (i.e. the child will need to say two verses during the next club night after missing). 6. Club dues of 50 cents should be brought each club night to help reduce the cost of operating the Awana Club. These dues are not mandatory, but will be helpful. 7. Each clubber must wear long pants (below the knees) and tennis shoes. This is necessary to ensure safety during game time. A clubber will not be allowed to participate in game time if he/she does not meet this requirement. 8. Parents or Guardians are to pick up their child, unless other arrangements have been made. Please let your child s Club Director or Secretary know if someone other than a parent or guardian will be picking up your child. 9. An Emergency/Activity Permission Form should be brought back on the child s second club night. The clubber may not be allowed to participate in game time until this form has been received. 10. AWANA Clubs will meet when school is in session only. During holidays, spring break, and summer break, Awana will NOT meet. If for any reason (weather, etc.) school is cancelled on a Wednesday, Awana will not meet. 11. Conduct/Discipline Policy: A 5 count will be used to gain the clubbers attention and keep clubs safe and orderly. When clubbers hear an Awana Team Member counting to 5, he/she should get quiet and listen to the Awana Team Member for instruction. A 3 count will be used for individual misconduct. The 1 st Count is a warning. On the 2 nd Count, the clubber will be counseled by his/her Director and Leader. On the 3 rd Count, the clubber s parents will be called and the child will be sent home. Please review this policy with your child so he/she will know what to expect.

8 AWANA CLUB DESCRIPTIONS PUGGLES: Puggles is a one-year program for two-year olds. A two-year-old Puggle must have their second birthday before August 1 st, and be entering Kindergarten in 3 years. Parents of this age group must stay at church during club to be available if their child needs them. Puggles includes a lovable baby platypus named Puggle and a uniform t-shirt. In Puggles, the curriculum is centered on helping the clubbers understand what God s love is all about and that God created the good things around them. Puggles will also be encouraged to help each other, to share and take turns. CUBBIES: Cubbies is a two-year preschool program for ages three and four. A three-year-old Cubbie must have their third birthday before August 1 st, and be entering Kindergarten in 2 years. Cubbies includes a cute character named Cubbie Bear, a blue uniform vest with accompanying awards for Cubbies to wear, and an apple farm theme. Cubbie Bear encourages children as they achieve in handbooks. Handbooks provide Bible memorization and curriculum and stimulating activities specifically for preschoolers. Geared to encourage parental support, the handbook teaches basic Bible truths to help Cubbies grow in their respect and love for God, His Son, & His Word. SPARKS; Sparks is a three-year program for children in Kindergarten, 1 st, and 2 nd grades. Sparks includes a fun firefly character named Sparky, a red uniform vest with accompanying awards for Sparkies to wear, and an aviation theme. Sparky firefly, along with his three friends, encourages and motivates children to learn their verses and complete activities throughout all three handbooks. Each handbook builds a foundation of biblical wisdom through memory verse drills, crafts, activities and review of key doctrine and Bible facts. T & T GIRLS & BOYS: T & T (Truth & Training) Girls and Boys are 3 rd through 5 th grade girls and boys (6 th grade is optional). This club includes green shirts with accompanying awards for those working in the Ultimate Adventure Handbooks; Grace in Action and Evidence of Grace, and blue shirts with accompanying awards for those working in the Ultimate Challenge Handbooks one and two. Each of the handbooks contains a variety of Bible memorization curriculum and other Bible-centered achievements. Each club is a one-hour and forty-five-minute program comprised of three primary segments: Council Time, Handbook Time, and Game Time. Each Sparks and T & T club meeting begins with a flag ceremony where clubbers pledge to the National Flag and then to the Awana Flag. The clubs then break-up into the three thirty-minute segments.

9 AWANA DOCTRINAL STATEMENT THE BIBLE We believe that the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is supernaturally inspired, so that it is inerrant in the original manuscripts and preserved by God in it verbal and plenary inspiration, so that it is a divinely authoritative standard for every age and every life. (Matthew 5:18; I Corinthians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:116-17; 2 Peter 1:21) GOD We believe in one God that eternally exists and reveals Himself in three persons - Father, Son, Holy Spirit - having each the same nature, attributes and perfections, worthy of the same worship and confidence. (Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; John 1:1-2, 14, 10:30, 14:15-17; I Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 13:14) We believe in God as absolute and sole Creator and Sustainer of the universe and that creation was divine command, from nothing and not through an evolutionary process. (John 1:3, 10; Acts 17:24-25; Genesis 1:1) We believe that God, by His sovereign choice and out of love for men, sent Christ into the world to save sinners. (John 3:16, I Timothy 1:15; I John 4:14) GOD THE SON We believe that Jesus Christ was fully God in the flesh and fully man, that He was born of a virgin and that He lived a sinless life, in which He taught and performed mighty works and wonders and signs exactly as revealed in the four gospels. We believe that He was crucified, shed His blood, died to pay the penalty for our sins and was raised bodily from the dead on the third day. Forty days later He ascended to the Father s right hand where He is Head of the Church and intercedes for believers. From there He is coming again personally, bodily and visibly to this earth to set up His millennial kingdom. (Isaiah 7:q4, 9:6; Hebrews 1:1-2, 7:25; Luke 1:30-35; Ephesians 4:8, John 1:1-5, 10-14, 14:3; Colossians 2:9; I Corinthians 15: 3-4; Ephesians 1:13, 4:30, 5:18; I Corinthians 15:3-4; Acts 1:3, 11; Revelation 20:4) GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person and is God, possessing all the divine attributes. He convicts of sin, regenerates, indwells, baptizes and seals all believers at the moment of their salvation, filling them in response to yieldedness with the goal of conforming them to the image of Christ. (John 3:5, 16:7-11; Acts 5:3-4; Ephesians 1:13, 4:30, 5:18; I Corinthians 6:19, 12:13) MAN We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam s sin the race fell, inherited a sinful nature and became alienated from God. We believe that all men are morally corrupt, and of themselves utterly unable to remedy their lost condition. (Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 1:18, 3:23, 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3, 12) SALVATION We believe that salvation is a gift of God and is received by man through personal faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for sin. We believe that man is justified by grace through faith apart from works and that all true believers, once saved, are kept secure in Christ forever. (Acts 13:38-39; Romans 4:5, 6:23, 8:1, 38-39; John 10:27-29; Ephesians 2:8-9) THE CHURCH We believe that the family of God is composed of all persons who are regenerated by the Holy Spirit through saving faith in Jesus Christ; that they are united together in the family of God. He is Lord and Head of the church and they are commissioned for the God-given tasks of worshipping, fellowshipping, teaching, evangelizing and exercising their spiritual gifts. (Acts 2:42,47; Romans 12:5; Ephesians 1:22-23, 5:23-24; I Corinthians 12:12-14; 2 Corinthians 11:2) We believe that the establishment and continuance of the local church is clearly taught in the New Testament Scriptures. (Acts 14:27, 20:17, 28-32; I Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11) We believe that the local church is autonomous and free of any external authority or control. (Acts 13:1-4, 20:28; Romans 16:1, 4; I Corinthians 3:9, 16, 5:4-7, 13; I Peter 5:1-4) THE ORDINANCES We believe the ordinances for the believer are water baptism by immersion and the Lord s supper as a memorial. They are, however, not to be regarded as a means of salvation. But both of which are an evidence of obedience and fellowship with the Lord. (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:38, 41, 8:12, 35-38; Luke 22:19-20; I Corinthians 11:23-29) THE CHRISTIAN LIFE We believe that a Christian should walk in holiness and not after the flesh, with the goal of being conformed to the image of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As a new creation, walking in the Spirit, the Christian learns to grow in faith, in obedience to Scripture, in prayer, in fellowship with the saints and in a life of service. We believe that the Christian will stand before the judgment seat of Christ to have his life evaluated according to his deeds. (Galatians 5:16-26; Hebrews 10:25; Ephesians 4:20-24; Hebrews 11:6, 12:1-2; John 17:17; Ephesians 6:18; Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 5:10; I Corinthians 3:10-15) THE SECOND COMING We believe in the personal, pre-millennial and imminent coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead, of the believer to everlasting glory and the unbeliever to judgment and everlasting conscious punishment. (I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Corinthians 15:51-52; Titus 2:11-13; John 14:1-6; Matthew 25:46; Revelation 20:11-15, 2 Peter 3:10) Note: Underlined text in THE CHURCH section was edited as part of Victory Missionary Baptist Church s Awana Charter Membership. Original text was the true Church is, the body of Christ of which He, Head; and are commissioned

10 PARENT S CHECKLIST Read Parent s Letter. Completed Enrollment Form for my child (To be returned 2 nd night your child attends). Completed Emergency/Activity Permission Form for my child (To be returned 2 nd night your child attends). Reviewed Club Rules with my child. Reviewed Club Nightly Schedule with my child. Ordered Uniform, Handbook, and Handbook Bag (Optional) so my child can receive these items as soon as he/she is eligible. These will be presented during nightly Awards/Recognition. Made a personal commitment to work with my child, as needed, to learn their Handbook verses and activities.

11 AWANA ENROLLMENT FORM DATE CHILD S FULL NAME NAME CALLED BY AGE GRADE PARENT S NAME(S) ADDRESS CITY, STATE, ZIP WORK # HOME # DAD S CELL # MOM S CELL # ADDRESS BIRTHDAY DIET RESTRICTIONS SPECIAL NOTES OR CONCERNS I GIVE PERMISSION FOR MY CHILD S PICTURE TO APPEAR ON THE CHURCH WEBSITE (NO NAMES WILL BE GIVEN) YES NO DO YOU ATTEND CHURCH? YES NO IF YES, GIVE NAME OF CHURCH PARENT OR GUARDIAN / (Print Name) (Signature) APPROVED WORKMEN ARE NOT ASHAMED II TIMOTHY 2:15

12 EMERGENCY & ACTIVITY PERMISSION FORM CHURCH: Victory Missionary Baptist Church 517 Reasoner Lane Russellville, AR (479) TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: As parent and/or legal guardian, I authorize treatment under the direction of any licensed physician of the following minor in an emergency which, in the opinion of the attending physician, may endanger the life of the minor, cause disfigurement, cause physical impairment, or cause undue discomfort if treatment is delayed. I agree to be responsible for any costs associated with such treatments. I release Victory Missionary Baptist Church, its staff, members, or other agents from any claim, expense, or liability arising from an injury to the following minor: NAME OF MINOR ADDRESS PHONE NUMBER FAMILY PHYSICIAN PHYSICIAN S PHONE NUMBER CONTACT OTHER THAN PARENT CONTACT S PHONE NUMBER SPECIFIC MEDICAL OR FOOD ALLERGIES, CHRONIC ILLNESS, OR OTHER CONDITIONS IMPORTANT TO THE CARE OF MINOR: CURRENT MEDICATIONS DATE OF LAST TETANUS SHOT This release form is completed and signed of my own free will with the sole purpose of authorizing medical treatment under emergency circumstances in my absence and to allow my minor child permission to participate in Awana activities with Victory Missionary Baptist Church. Name / (Print) Relationship to Minor Date (Signature) (NOTE: THIS FORM MUST BE RETURNED BY YOUR CHILD THE 2 ND VISIT TO OUR AWANA CLUB IN ORDER FOR HIM/HER TO BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE AWANA GAMES OR TO BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY EXTRA/SPECIAL AWANA ACTIVITIES.)

13 CUBBIES PRICE LIST/ORDER FORM It is recommended that you order your child s uniform, handbook, and book bag (optional) as soon as possible so the clubber can be awarded their uniform and receive their AppleSeed Handbook when they have completed the Apple Acres Entrance Booklet. Please indicate your child s uniform size, and whether or not a book bag is desired, in the space provided at the bottom of this form. HANDBOOK $10.99 VEST $10.79 SMALL (4) CHEST SIZE 25 MEDIUM (5) CHEST SIZE 27 LARGE (6) CHEST SIZE 29 X-LARGE (8) CHEST SIZE 31 XX-LARGE (10) CHEST SIZE 33 HANDBOOK BAG $ 6.59 $28.37 CHILD S NAME: UNIFORM SIZE: BOOK BAG (YES/NO) You may make a check payable to Victory Missionary Baptist Church. Check here if you need to setup a payment schedule. Check here if you need the Awana Scholarship Fund to purchase your child s book & uniform. NOTE: UNIFORM & HANDBOOK ARE REQUIRED