Children's Ministries Newsletter

Happy Sunday,

We are looking forward to full, busy, fun rest of the month of ministry: another week of Day School Camp, our Summer Sports Camp and Vacation Bible School: all in the next 2 weeks! Many thanks to those of you who have heard our call for help and signed up to volunteer for one of our camp weeks or to send food for VBS or to come into the office to help with tasks to prepare for these busy weeks. We need EVERYONE to make this month a success---there are still roles to be filled, tasks to be completed, plans to be made, and jobs for everyone. Please reach out for more information or sign up using the links in this newsletter. And here's something we all can do: PRAY, pray for our leaders and coaches and volunteers and all the children whom we will serve in these next few weeks. We pray that our church and our church family be a place where they feel safe and loved, where they meet friends for a life time, and where they meet THEIR BEST FRIEND and where they learn about (through our teaching, words and actions) who God is and how much he loves each of us. And we hope that these lessons and the feelings these children associate with being a part of who we are this summer will stay with them and sustain them as they grow up. We hope they'll know they always have a place with us and we feel blessed by the children who come back (250+) each summer to learn and play and sing and love and grow with us. We also know that as leaders and volunteers, we, too, learn so much while working with these precious children---we, too, are reminded of the important lessons God has for us as well. There are abundant blessings all around as we get to share Jesus and God with so many children in the next few weeks.

Summer at JW is not our "slow time" in Children's Ministries; we continue on with our Sunday morning ministries and we offer lots of other ways to join us as well; you'll find more information about our summer plans and HOW YOU CAN HELP right here in this newsletter. We need you to make this summer a success! ***WE ALSO NEED BIBLE BEARERS and CHILDREN'S CHURCH TEACHERS THIS SUMMER because those Sunday morning areas of service are still very much needed throughout the summer months too!

We are right in the midst of a fun-filled, faith-filled SUMMER 2025 and there's no better time to join us. Read more about our upcoming ministries in this newsletter and please reach out if you have questions or want more information about how you and your family can be involved in all that JWUMC has to offer families and children and youth of all ages!

With Love,

Hope

hmurphy_227@yahoo.com / 843-343-3314

We are thrilled to offer our Summer Sports Camp again this summer at Lenevar Park from July 14 - 17, 5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. We will offer soccer, basketball, flag football, and tennis as well as agility training for children age 4 - current 8th graders. Registration for this camp is on-goin nd the cost for camp is $80 per camper.

Because of the generosity of our sponsors and coaches, ALL proceeds from Summer Sports Camp go to support mission projects for and by children.

Our camp director is Laban Chappell (laban@highseasproperties.com) and he will be lining up coaches for this year's camp. Adults and youth who are in high school (completing 9th grade this year) are welcome to help us coach at camp this year; if you'd like to help with Summer Sports Camp please sign up using the link below.

******OUR ONLINE PRE-REGISTRATION IS CLOSED NOW, but WE DO HAVE MORE ROOM and WALK UP REGISTRATION IS WELCOME BEGINNING AT 5:15 TOMORROW EVENING AT LENEVAR PARK>

Barrier Pest Services (Trip Cummings)

The Crab Shacks (Laban Chappel)

William H. Nixon, Jr. Attorney at Law

Jay Costa Real Estate

The Peper Law Firm

Dunlap Backflow LLC

The Red Williams Sunday School Class

Sea Island Land Development (Adam Lee)

J.H. Hiers Constructions (William Rhodes)

Harbor Commercial Properties (Vitre Stephens)

TNT Physical Therapy (Scott Thompson)

Sunday,July 20, 2025

Bible Bearers: 8:30 Emmett Ratcliffe / 11:00 James Dunlap

Children's Sermon: Sarah Crowe

Children's Church: 8:30 Melissa Dudzinski / 11:00 Celia Jones

Sunday,July 27, 2025

Bible Bearers: 8:30 Preston Stanley / 11:00 Sims Brewton

Children's Sermon: Hope or Pastor Ken

Children's Church: 8:30 HELP NEEDED / 11:00 Celia Jones

IF YOU COULD PLEASE HELP US THIS MONTH, please see the links below and sign up for a spot to help us out and to enable us

to continue to provide these ministries in the summer months:

*Look Ahead At Children's Church Dates to Serve:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508094CA5AD2FA13-childrens1#/(Children's Church)

*Look Ahead At Bible Bearer Dates to Serve:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508094CA5AD2FA13-bible#/ (BIBLE BEARERS)

We know schedules change in the summer months, but we still need Bible Bearers and Children's Church leaders all summer long. We STILL HAVE a need for a Children's Church teacher this month and we have needs for Children's Church and Bible Bearers in July. I'd love your help(I NEED your help!), so if you could check your family's calendars and if you're available (or your elementary aged child is and would like to be Bible Bearer), please look at our available dates and help us fill these spots so that we can continue to provide these ministries during the summer months.

Children's Church Volunteers Needed:

July 27 at 8:30

August 3 at 8:30 and 11:00

August 10 at 8:30

August 17 at 8:30 and 11:00

August 24 at 8:30 and 11:00

August 31 at 8:30 and 11:00

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508094CA5AD2FA13-childrens1#/

Bible Bearers Needed:

August 3 at 8:30 and 11:00

August 10 at 11:00

August 24 at 8:30 and 11:00

August 31 at 8:30 and 11:00

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508094CA5AD2FA13-bible#/

We are so excited to announce our VBS theme and dates for summer 2025! Click on the link below to see a promotion video about this year's theme. We will begin with our volunteer recruitment next week; we will be looking for adults and youth who can commit to serving with us that week. Our registration for campers for our summer program will not open until March 15th. (We need to have as many volunteers in place by then as possible to help us know how many campers we can safely accommodate this summer.)

So, volunteers, please go ahead and sign up below and spread the word in your classes, groups, Bible studies and circles and lets get our team together!

We have reopened the online VBS registration (for limited classes that still have space) for the time being. As we continue to monitor our incoming forms and the numbers per each class we may have to close some additional classes or age groups permanently. There also may be periods where the online form is closed again for us to figure class configurations to determine if we can accept more registrations. Please be patient with our process as we strive always to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all our children and volunteers.

AND SPEAKING OF VOLUNTEERS........

*If you've been waiting to sign up to help, please go ahead and do so. Our numbers of volunteers (especially adults) informs the number of children we are able to accept and helps with our registration process. (You'll find the volunteer sign up below too!)

Whether you can help during the week all week or a day or two or not at all, we can STILL use your help with VBS on our set up day: Sunday July 20 from 1 - 4 pm. We'll have some pizza on hand after church and long list of tasks to be done to be ready for our 250+ kids on Monday morning. Please plan to join us if you can spare an hour or two and some man power on Sunday afternoon 7/20.

Ever wonder who sets up for a covered dish dinner, making tea and putting out paper products so that the congregation can enjoy a meal together? Or do you consider who might wash and fold cloth table coverings when there is a church event? There are so many little tasks that make our church programs come together, the simple behind the scenes jobs that provide the framework and support for ministry and fellowship. John Wesley UMC needs volunteers who are willing to be SUPERHELPERS behind the scenes!

The Fellowship Friends is a group of individuals who agree to serve for various "behind the scenes" needs at John Wesley. Once committed, Fellowship Friends will receive texts when a need arises and may accept or decline a request to serve according to their own personal schedule and availability.

Join the Fellowship Friends to offer help with...

• setting up for church meals (make tea and coffee, organize paper products, cover tables, etc.)

• clean up the kitchen after an event (wipe down counters, light sweeping, put away used dishes, etc.)

• decorate for special events (Advent, Easter, MDPD, Members in Ministry Breakfast, etc.)

• organizing storage and spaces around the church campus

• washing and folding tablecloths

• and other helpful tasks that make our church programs a welcoming experience for everyone!

Need More Information Before Signing Up? Email Missy, missycario451@gmail.com

If you're new to JW and haven't found a class, it's a great time to start; if you've been away from Sunday School for a while and have been meaning to find your way back to a class, NOW is the time come back! We hope you and your whole family will join us in Sunday School this year. For years, I've said this to families about children and Sunday School and I believe and have seen with my own eyes and in my own family that it is true: JWUMC Sunday School is where our children meet their friends and their BEST friend. Sunday School begins at 9:45 and we have a class for EVERYONE! Please reach out to me or to our wonderful Director of Christian Education, Missy Cario (missycario451@gmail.com) if you have questions about Sunday School for any age!