Children's Ministries Newsletter

Happy Sunday & Happy Mother's Day!

We are so grateful for all of our mothers and grandmothers and all the special ladies we have in our lives who have loved and cared for us and nurtured us in our faith. It takes a village, as they say, we know that is true in faith development with our children as well----there are so many of you who regularly nurture and care for the children (of ALL ages) at John Wesley. We thank you for the significant role you play in the lives of children in your homes and in God's house.

Thank you to Missy Cario, our wonderful Director of Christian Education, to our music ministries team and to all of you who made this year of Wednesday Night Out such a success! Our Summer Celebration last week was a great way to bring this year of WNO to a close as we prepare to wrap of this school year and dive head first into our summer ministries. Read more about what's coming up this summer in this newsletter, and please reach out if you have questions or would like more information.

We are gearing up for a fun-filled, faith-filled SUMMER 2025 and there's no better time to join us.

With Love,

Hope

hmurphy_227@yahoo.com / 843-343-3314

Sunday, May 18, 2025

Bible Bearers: 8:30 Cora Ratcliffe / 11:00 Kiki Smoak

Children's Sermon: Dan Schwartz

Children's Church: 8:30 Caroline Thomas / 11:00 Celia Jones

*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)

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

We welcome any adults who would like to serve to join our rotation of Children's Church leaders at 8:30 and 11:00.

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

Children in grades 1 - 5 are welcome to serve as Bible Bearers!

*If you're looking for a way to connect or serve, please contact me and I am happy to give you more information, support, and help you and your families get more involved in our ministries here at John Wesley!

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

Due to an enormous initial response to our VBS registration, we have had to close our online registration for a couple of weeks so that we can process forms and numbers per age group. We are working on getting that completed this week and plan to re-open registration on May 15th for the classes where there is still space available. If you've been waiting to register, please check back after May 15th.

*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!)

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 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 also begins March 15 and 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. We will be reaching out to our wonderful sponsors from previous years soon to inquire about sponsorship this year; we also welcome any new sponsorships at $250, so if you have a business that may be willing to help, please reach out to me or use the link for Sports Camp Sponsorship below (there is even an option to pay and submit your logo for promotional materials within the link). We are so grateful for the sponsors who

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.

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!