Under Construction
The hammers are going, supplies are being brought in and the smell of paint will soon overcome the Christian Education Wing and everything will soon look fresh and clean ready for fall programming.
The summer has been a busy one of construction for the CE wing. People have been working very hard to get it ready for the fall time and I would like to thank everyone who has helped us so far.
I want to thank families for being so patient and understanding during this time since it has been an inconvenience with the upstairs including the bathrooms being out of commission. But soon the upstairs will be done.
We don’t have an exact date yet of when the upstairs will be open so please keep posted through Sunday morning announcements and bulletin.
Feel free to continue using the nursing room and parenting room downstairs.
If you would like to help with clean up, we would greatly appreciate that. We are looking for helpers to assist in washing/cleaning toys, tables, book cases, etc. Contact the office.
Summer Wednesday Connection
During the months of July and August, every Wednesday an activity will be organized for families and friends within our church and community to connect at.
These events are open to everyone. Feel free to invite friends and family.
Cost is covered by the individual.
Weather permitting.
Parents are to accompany their own children and are responsible for them.
JULY
July 7th: Appleby Drive Kids Club
Time:6:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
Meet at Kids Club Apartment ( 107-714 Appleby Drive)
The club minister to immigrant and refugee children. Tons of fun.
July 14th: Fort Carlton Provincial Park.
Time: 9:00 a.m.- 1 p.m. approx. Meet at the church at 9:00 a.m.
for those interested in car pooling. -Bring packed lunch.
-Fire pits and picnic shelter available.
-Historical Tours of the Fort and hikes available.
Cost: Family $9.00 Adult: $4.00 Youth(6-17): $1.00
Children under 5: FREE
July 21st: Saskatoon Berry Picking
- Berries are ripe! Meet at the church at 9:30 a.m.
- Bring a packed lunch. $5.00 per ice cream pail. Bring own pails.
- Place: Langham ( 30 min)
July 28th: Riverdale Outdoor Pool
- Time: 1:00 p.m.. Meet at the Pool
- Cost: Family $12.00 Adult: $6.00 Youth (6-18) : $3.60
August
August 4th: TBA(Outreach Opportunity)
August 11th: Kinsmen Park and Rides.
- 9:30 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. Rides open at 10:00 a.m. $1.00 per ride.
- Meet at the park -Bring packed lunch/snacks
August 18th: Pike Lake Day
-Leave church at 9:30 a.m. ALL DAY EVENT: you leave when you want.
- Day Pass to Park only : $7.00 Swimming/mini-golfing is extra $.
- Fire pits and picnic area’s available. -Nature hikes.
- Please see Pike Lake Provencial Park website for more info.
August 25th: Meewasin Park ( Free but bring snacks/lunch)
- Shelter and playground available. Time: 10:00 a.m.- 12. 00 p.m.
- Church will bring some play supplies.
Wondering how your family will get through a church service…
With summer around the corner, many parents might be wondering how they will ever make it through the summer family services. Between one child complaining they are hunger while another is bored and trying to keep a baby quiet, church may seem impossible. Don’t get discouraged, talking with some parents, it does take a child time to adjust to a new routine so be patient those first few weeks. Here are some suggestions to help you out.
Explain to your child the routine of the church service. Usually, we sing songs; pass the offering plate around, special music, main speaker and then closing music. This may be a good time to walk your child through the sanctuary to explain what a pew is, were the music comes from (instruments, speakers, sound board) , introduce them to main speaker ( usually Russ) and get them familiar with the environment.
Here are some suggestions to keep a child occupied during the service. This is a generalization so some of these may not pertain to particular age groups.
Create a special church bag. This special church bag will have toys only for church, snacks (crackers, fishy crackers, dry cereal or raisins), puzzles, coloring books, picture books and maybe a special candy. Have the child carry the bag so they feel part of the Sunday morning process. One parent suggested having soft caramel just for church service because it takes forever chew and helps keep them quiet.
Engage them in the service. We will try to have appropriate break out times during the service when Russ will ask families to answer questions together. Take advantage of this time to engage your children and ask them what they think. Also, maybe let your children be responsible for passing the offering plate and putting money into it.
This one may sound contradictory but decided to sit closer to the front instead of in the back. Just like adults, sitting in the front help keeps a person attention and the child can also have a better view of what is happening up front.
For parents with small children, make sure diapers are changed and the child is fed. Of course there will be times when you child may be ill or teething and they will be a little more noisy but that is okay. Don’t feel judged.
Feel free to take the child on a walk outside of the sanctuary half way through the service. It helps break up the time and helps the child to refocus.
There is a nursing room provide in the back of the sanctuary along with a parenting room accessible from just outside the sanctuary doors. There are toys, games, puzzles and washroom provided for your convenience. Please ask an usher if unsure where the room is located.
These are only suggestions and parents know their child best so please use your own discretion.
I hope these suggestions can be of some help!
VBS (Vacation Bible School)
Unfortunately, we are taking a break this year from VBS.
We know many parents and children will be dissapointed in this decision but don’t worry there are some other fabulous church’s in Saskatoon who are hosting VBS this year.
Here are a couple of churches that are putting on VBS this summer so feel free to check them out and get more information.
West Portal Church:
July 5th- July 9th 6:30pm-9:10pm Contact Katrina Funk at 382-1622 http://westportal.ca/?page_id=13 for more info.
Lawson Heights Pentecostal Assembly:
Aug 17th-20th Contact Shawna Lavender 931-7100
St. Anne’s Parish:
Aug 9th-13th 9a.m-12p.m Contact parish office at 931-4700
If you have any questions or concerns I would be more than happy to talk with you.
Contact me ( Mandy) at the church office.
Your Chores or Mine? Discipline….
“I’m amazed how two empty trash cans left by the driveway can transform me from Mother of the Year to a raging inferno in two seconds flat….”
I was curious to read more on discipline because it has been six months since I have entered Children’s Ministry and am evaluating how I have been disciplining the kids that I have been encountering week after week. Know we now all the kids are Angels…not quite…what about those dirty socks and spilled milk?
But in my reading I came across this article and thought I would share it with you. Discipline doesn’t always have to conjure up feelings of anger, disappointment and let down but with a little imagination and creativity, parents can have a sense of humor when it comes to discipline.
This article is from http://www.focusonthefamily.ca/parenting/discipline/your-chores-or-mine
Your chores or mine?
Written by Heather Trent Beers
I’m amazed how two empty trash cans left by the driveway can transform me from Mother of the Year to a raging inferno in two seconds flat.
One morning, I entered my 15-year-old son’s room. “Jacob,” I said. I waited for eye contact.
“Yes, Mom?” His eyes darted between the screen and my face.
“I’m heading out on an errand. Please bring the trash cans in before I get home in an hour.”
“Uh-huh.”
Now, I’ve learned two things about Jacob. First, I must say his name and make eye contact. Second, I need to make him repeat what I’ve said. Both are helpful in the “But I Didn’t Hear You” battle.
“What will you do?”
“Bring in the trash cans.”
“When?”
“Before you get home.”
“Which will be when?”
“In one hour.”
“Good. See you in an hour.”
I left with a spring in my step. He’s growing into a responsible young man! An hour later when I came home, however, the cans were still at the end of the driveway.
Goodbye, June Cleaver. Hello, Mommy Dearest.
I fumed as I pulled into the garage. “Why do I even bother?” I stomped to the end of the driveway, jerked the cans off the ground and wheeled them to the garage. My blood pressure soared, and my heart thumped wildly.
I knew Jacob needed a consequence for his inaction, but all I could think about were the chores that awaited me, and here I was doing his simple chore on top of it!
Suddenly, I smiled. If I’m doing his chores, he can do mine. The simple brilliance of the plan filled me with hope. I whispered fervently, “God, please let this work!”
Upstairs, I stopped by my son’s room. “Hi, Jacob!” I was pleased with my friendly tone.
“Hi, Mom!” He flashed a quick smile and continued his game.
“You left the trash cans at the curb, so I brought them in.”
“Oh . . . I’m sorry,” he said, grimacing. He looked at me, but his fingers continued tapping.
In the past, I would have made a smart remark like “ ‘Sorry’ doesn’t change things.” This time I said, “That’s all right. You can do one of my chores. The laundry needs folding.”
Jacob froze. He knew he’d been had, and it was fair and square.
While he hung shirts and folded socks, I read a few pages of a novel. I thought about what just happened. Bringing in trash cans: One minute. Folding laundry: Six minutes. Five extra minutes reading with my feet propped up. I could get used to this.
I whispered a prayer of thanks.
Two days later, I asked nine-year-old Rebekah to put her shoes away before lunch. I went through the “Say Her Name and Make Her Repeat My Instructions” deal. She passed with flying colours. Lunch came and went, but the shoes didn’t. So I put them away myself, without saying a word or sighing like a martyr. I was planning my next five-minute escape.
After lunch, I said, “Rebekah, you didn’t put your shoes away, so I did it.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, Mom,” came the usual reply.
“That’s OK. I need to vacuum the den, so you can do that for me.”
Rebekah looked as if I’d slapped her. “That’s not fair!” she wailed, eyes wide with shock.
“Well, it’s certainly not fair for me to do my chores and yours. Since I did yours, you can do one of mine.”
Her face fell. She hates vacuuming, so she didn’t do it with the best attitude. But it was done, and I got my five-minute reading date.
Over the next several days, I assembled my to-do list with glee, calculating how many chapters I might finish if all went well. I asked the kids to help more, and they did with improved attitudes. I started to feel less like the Lone Ranger and more like Mom.
Even my prayers were transformed from “God, help!” to “God, let them forget their chores; I just started a new book!”
Heather Trent Beers lives in Grandview, Missouri.