NOW HIRING August 26, 2010
Posted by rshort in : 6-Operations , comments closed
Is God calling you to a position in Kid’s Quest? We have several part-time positions open that might be a fit for you. You can read the official job ads here on the MBC Employment site but I’d like to take the opportunity to say a few informal words to you about one of our positions.
Before I start, though, let me first add that anyone can apply to our open positions regardless of age, gender, or season of life. However, since the majority of our reader base for this blog is parents, I’d just like to dream out loud and point out a job opportunity our moms may not have considered.
Today I’d like to talk to you about our Resource Coordinator position. This could be a great position for a home-based mom who loves to organize tangible objects – and what mom hasn’t had some experience organizing and re-organizing the growing pile of kids’ stuff in their homes?
Your job would be to hang out with a fun group of women, mostly moms, too, as you fill containers with classroom supplies. That’s right, I said hang out because it doesn’t feel like a job – it’s more like spending time with your women’s small group. And if you know other moms, we would hope you’d invite them, too, to join the group.
Some of the moms bring their little ones with them which works out fine because we meet in Volunteer Central which is inside the nursery area. So kids can watch a movie, take a nap, or play with toys while everyone’s helping out.
The schedule is very convenient for a mom with school-age kids because you can get everything done and still be home in time for when your kids get out of school. The balance of hours is typically spent doing occasional shopping trips to pick up supplies – which you can usually fit into your normal time for your own errands.
I see a lot of moms volunteer their time to do similar work as this for their kid’s teachers at school. Why not do the same for your church? And you get paid for it!
If you’d like to be considered for this position, send a resume by email to resume@mcleanbible.org. And if you are a homemaker, there may be a good chance you haven’t updated your resume in awhile. That’s ok! It is a part of our official HR process at MBC so we do need one but please don’t stress about the gaps between when you last worked. You can add volunteer experience, too.
Can We Be Better Than Who We Are? August 20, 2010
Posted by rshort in : 1-Hot News , add a commentMy youngest son is entering Kindergarten this fall and so, like many other Pre-K parents out there, I attended Kindergarten Orientation in June. At my kids’ school, the current Kindergarteners always perform a musical for the rising class. This year, the kids spoke and sang about making a difference in their world by learning about kindness, generosity, compassion, friendship, cooperation, and patience. Hmmm…don’t these sound familiar?
That’s right! These are the same virtues that we teach in our elementary Kid’s Quest classes to help kids know how to grow in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and man (Luke 2:52).
At first I thought, “This is great! It’s so nice they’re teaching our kids about character and it ties into the virtues they’re hearing at church, too.” But then…a lone child stepped up to the microphone to deliver the closing line, “We all have the power to be better and better.”
HMMMM…
I don’t agree with that statement. Or rather, I feel it’s incomplete.
I do not have the power to be better and better. I am by nature a sinful, selfish, and proud creature. I do not have the strength within me to be a kind, generous, compassionate, friendly, cooperative, and patient person each and every day. Sorry, but I have a very limited supply of “nice.”
That’s because the power to be better than who we are comes from Christ and Christ alone (see Philippians 4: 12-13). Apart from Him I am powerless. The power to live out these virtues comes from complete and absolute surrender to His will and reliance on Him alone for the strength to make wise choices each and every day.
Now I’m not about to launch a protest at my son’s school for making an effort to teach my kids about character because ultimately, God gave that job to me (see Deuteronomy 6:6-7). It’s my job to pass on God’s commandments to my kids and point them towards Jesus. It’s my job to make sure my kids understand that the power to make wise choices, the power to be better and better, comes only through having personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
I am so thankful that Kid’s Quest’s vision is “Bringing Church & Family Together for a Child’s Spiritual Growth” because I don’t feel quite so alone bearing the burden of this important task (click here to learn more about how parents and Kid’s Quest can combine their influences to have a greater impact on kids). And I’m even more excited to share with you about a new family resource that can make teaching virtues natural, easy, and something we look forward to and less like another task we have to fit into our already busy schedules.
Introducing….CUE Box!
CUE Box is a resource that equips parents to leverage the time they’re already spending with their kids to make the most of everyday moments together. It gives you intentional “cues” or prompts to use certain times of your day to further spiritual growth.
The materials you’ll find in the CUE Box are designed to be strategically placed within your home as reminders of a specific virtue - the same virtue we’ll be teaching in Kid’s Quest elementary classes – and its related principles each month. These materials will be constant reminders to you and your kids and help you to prioritize your family times. As you go through the CUE Box, you’ll find many activities to be used throughout the week during every day family times.
CUE Box will be replacing Family Times Virtue Packs. If you’re a current Family Times user, don’t worry – this is a much-improved version of what you already enjoy using. Just wait till you see how much more is packed into this box!
Each month a new CUE Box with a new virtue will be on sale in THE BOOKstore or at KIDstuff shows for $12 each. The first box will go on sale September 4/5 and teach on “Respect: showing others they are important by what you say and do.” To learn more about this new resource and to take a peek inside at the contents of the CUE Box, visit our website at mbctysons.org/cuebox.
SPECIAL OFFER – Want to be considered to receive a free CUE Box? We’re looking for a few families to participate in a CUE Box Focus Group. For details on the requirements email Sarah Back at sarah.back@mcleanbible.org.
Last Days of Summer August 16, 2010
Posted by rshort in : 2-What We're Teaching , comments closed
There are just 2 weekends left in our Extreme Sayings summer programming for Kindergarteners-5th Graders. This weekend we discuss what Jesus meant when He told us to live in peace (Romans 12:18a). We’ll take a look at David and how he made peace with King Saul who was trying to hurt him (1 Samuel 24:1-22). Next weekend we discuss how to do what is right in the sight of the Lord and people (2 Corinthians 8:21). We’ll take a look at how Abram showed great maturity by putting God and others first over himself (Genesis 13:2-18).
Have you been using your Family EnterAction Guide to enter into active conversations with your kids at home? It’s not too late to start if you haven’t! Use this free resource (available from your child’s leader in classes) to explore Jesus’ extreme sayings further and enrich your family time together.
Elementary kids are also invited to join in our last 2 Summer Fun Days. August 21/22 is Day Backwards. Oops, we mean Backwards Day! Bring your kids with all their clothes on backwards. Can they walk and talk backwards, too? Just kidding! That would certainly make things interesting, wouldn’t it?
And our final Summer Fun Day is Bible Character Day on August 28/29. A robe could be used for a shepherd. Or a colorful shirt could be Joseph. Or perhaps turn that princess costume into Queen Esther. Help your kids use their imagination in putting together a costume of their favorite person from God’s Word to wear on the last day of Summer Fun.
Cards For Soldiers August 13, 2010
Posted by rshort in : 3-Missions Projects , comments closed
For the August missions project we are continuing to support Operation Kindness, an MBC ministry that provides God’s Word and care package supplies for soliders. Please welcome guest blogger Jeana Pe, Kid’s Quest Weekend Services Manager, sharing a personal story:
My brother-in-law, Specialist Garrett Jessen, recently went to Army Boot Camp. My sister, Jill, a high school English teacher, took to pen and paper to stay connected to Garrett while he was away. They faithfully sent letters, drawings, and cards to each other. Garrett clung to these letters for encouragement and strength. After awhile, Garrett’s battle buddies noticed the consistent intake of letters at mail call. Jones, in particular, was amazed and saddened because he hadn’t received any letters. So, Garrett asked Jill to write Jones a letter. With a classroom full of Creative Writing students, Jill went above and beyond the call of duty by enlisting them. The letters were sent and all arrived on the same day – the day the platoon had to do 10 push-ups for every piece of mail they received. Hundreds of push-ups later, the platoon sat in their barracks laughing as Jones read out loud the students’ letters. Those letters became the running joke that strengthened the soldiers mentally and physically!
Your family can encourage and appreciate soldiers by making cards to be included in care packages. You can use your own materials or one we have created. Cards will be distributed in classrooms on August 21/22 or you can click here to download and print one now. Return completed cards to check-in stations. Click here to learn more about Operation Kindness and specific needs.
CORRECTION: Awana Enrollment Not Closed August 11, 2010
Posted by rshort in : 1-Hot News , comments closed
We have exciting news for those of you who were saddened by our previous announcement that Awana enrollment was closed. We’re sorry to say we miscommunicated internally regarding the closing but our error is good news for you!
Enrollment for Cubbies (preschool) and Sparks (Kindergarten) is temporarily closed but will be re-opened if new volunteers step forward for these age groups. So please be praying with us for God’s provision for these children. Also, if you have a child in that age group and are interested in participating in Awana, don’t let our temporary closing keep you from submitting your enrollment form now. We are keeping a waiting list so complete your form and we will contact you if the space becomes available.
As for the other age groups, 1st-12th Grade, enrollment is still OPEN. Walk-ins will not be accepted on opening night, September 26 so please enroll beforehand.
Click here to download an Enrollment Form from the website or pick one up at church on the Information Walls.
If you have any questions, email us at awana@mcleanbible.org.