Virtue Pack: Gratitude

Family Times Virtue Packs are for sale for $5 in the Resource Center and at the check-in counter in the Family Life Center. For those that aren’t sure what a Virtue Pack is here’s an explanation from the Rethink Group, creators of the virtue packs.

 

FamilyTimes™ is designed to help equip parents with easy to use tools to make the most of everyday moments together. This tool is based on the biblical model that teaches that the home should be the primary place where a child learns about Gods.

Here’s what the bible says to parents about teaching virtues to their children…

“Impress them upon your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up,” (Deuteronomy 6:7).

FamilyTimes Virtue Packs provide activities to be used once a week during each of these four family times – MealTime, DriveTime, BedTime, and MorningTime. All of this is designed to give parents simple ways to help their kids grow in faith and character.

 

This month’s virtue you is Gratitude. Get your pack TODAY!!!!

 

Volunteer Highlight: Anita Lee

Meet one of our GREAT volunteers…

ANITA LEE

Volunteer Role: 8^th grade small group leader

Environment: Turnpike

Where did you grow up? I’ve lived in the following cities growing up: Los Angeles, Monterey, Clovis and Fresno

Family? Spouse: Russ Lee, Children: Sami (13y), Audrey (11y) and Bryce (6y)

What’s the last movie you saw? Spirit of the Marathon

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Vanilla Bean

What was the first concert you went to? Police

How and when did you get involved serving in Family Life? When it first began…7yrs ago.

What’s your favorite thing about serving in Family Life? Seeing kids lives impacted by God’s word.

Could you tell us about one moment when you were serving you’ll always remember? When my 3^rd grade students came up to me and told me I was their favorite teacher and they didn’t want me to leave and serve in Turnpike.

What’s your favorite message or series from “big church”? We were out of town one day and went to Saddleback and Rick Warren was preaching and he preached on How God Tests Our Faith. (2/11/07). Pastor Warren says that God tests our faith through: 1) Our Difficulties 2) Our Demands 3) Our Dollars 4) Our Delays

What’s your favorite Bible verse or Bible story? Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3

What’s something interesting about yourself that most people don’t know? I want to run in the Boston marathon – April 18^th, 2011 on my birthday. (Patriot’s Day)

Baptism

We had an amazing turnout for our baptism class last Sunday. It is a HUGE encouragement to have nine children seeking to be baptized. We’ll be seeing a lot of life-changing baptisms taking place over the next few months…Praise God!!!

For those that are wondering what baptism is or whether it is for you or your child here is some information that will help:

BAPTISM

Baptism can not get you to heaven
    We can only get to heaven through our belief and faith in Jesus. Ephesians 2:8-9

Act of obedience
    We get baptized to obey God’s Word. Matthew 28:19

Picture of Christ’s Death, Burial and Resurrection
    Colossians 2:12 

Those who believe in Christ should be baptized
    Did you know that only those who have asked Jesus into their heart need to be baptized? Why? Because Baptism is an outward symbol of an inward commitment!   

Identifies you with Christ      
    Romans 6:4 

Symbol of belief
    1 Corinthians 15:3-4

Must be under water
    Matthew 3:16

Next baptism class is December 14; please feel free to contact me at the church office if you have any questions.

Greg

KidStuf

There’s so much excitement about this ministry year at New Harvest I can barely contain myself. One new addition I’m particularly excited about is the beginning of KidStuf.

KidStuf is a program- for parents and their elementary age kids - that uses music, drama, dance, and storytelling to entertain and inspire. KidStuf is…

Value Driven - where character and faith are taught by emphasizing a monthly value

User Friendly - where your friends will thank you for bringing them

Creatively Wired - where video, lights, sound, and drama are used to make a lasting impression

Family Centered – where parents and kids spend quality time together

Kid Focused - where learning is fun and relevant for elementary age kids

Volunteer Fueled – where everyone can participate and get connected

The plan is to start KidSuf early in 2009. We’ll be giving periodic updates so stay tuned. In the meantime, check out this KidStuf promotional video so you can see what we have in store for the future at New Harvest Church:

School Anxiety

School is back in session! To some parents school comes as a great relief and to others a great source of anxiety. I had my first school experience dropping off our daughter at the newly opened New Harvest Child Care Center. They were amazing and my daughter did great; however, even under the best circumstances there is anxiety involved in handing over our children.

God knows this more than we can ever undestand. 1st Peter 5:7 pronounces “cast all your anxiety on Him because he cares for you.”  Turn to God in prayer if you or your child are having a difficult time. Let us know by giving us a prayer request on the IN TOUCH card in the the bulletin and we’ll pray along with you. God is the Great Comforter all we have to do is allow Him to work in our lives.

Blessings in Christ,

Greg

Prayer

Can you believe we are already celebrating Independence Day? It seems like just yesterday students were finishing up the school year and now we are almost midway through summer vacation. Don’t worry…there is plenty of summer left to fit in all the great family adventures.

The summer has been fantastic from our standpoint, with a great response from many Relief Drivers. However, we still have many more opportunities for you to serve! If you can serve in a classroom just ONE SUNDAY in July or August, please let us know today. There are sign up sheets at each Check In station.

As the summer rushes by, there is one activity that you can do with your children that is vital to their spiritual development…prayer. Taking time to pray with your children through all the busyness of summer will send a powerful message about the importance of their relationship with God. If prayer isn’t part of your regular routine, what better time to begin than right now? Start praying together and see how God works in the life of your family!

Have a great week!

Greg

Relief Driver story

This past week we experienced our first Sunday with Relief Drivers leading the charge. A Relief Driver is someone filling in for a volunteer who has been serving in Children’s Ministry all year. Sunday was outstanding! To have so many parents and other faithful servants step-up to help was heartwarming. There were so many success stories that were brought to my attention it’s hard to pick just one to share. So I went ahead and picked the one about my wife and daughter. J

Last Sunday my wife, Kim, was serving as a Relief Driver in Emma’s three-year-old class. The children were learning to be brave, because God is always with them. When returning home after church, my wife had to go outside for a moment and she told Emma she would be right back. Emma responded, “I’ll be okay, because God is always with me.” For a parent to see what goes on in their child’s class and then to see it at work at home…that’s priceless.

That was just one of the many stories that were relayed to me this week. We are excited to see what happens throughout the summer with our Relief Driver program in overdrive.

Have a wonderful week!!

God’s Blessings, Greg

Working for the Lord

Summer has arrived! We are thankful beyond words for all those faithful volunteers that have been serving in Family Life this past year. This summer will be a refreshing time for them and a time to recharge for next ministry year. If you are interested in providing relief for the volunteers this summer, all you have to do is sign-up on one of the Relief Driver posters that are located in the main lobby, the lobby of children’s entrance, and near the check-in at the Family Life Center.

 

Reflecting on why we work so hard and ask so much from our church family at New Harvest; I was reminded of a scripture passage, Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for man.” This applies in all areas of life; which may include volunteering in a ministry at New Harvest, working to support a family or striving to raise children in today’s world. In all you do, do it as you are working for the Lord. This was a tremendous encouragement to me and I pray that it will be the same for you.

God’s Blessings, Greg

Hello New Harvest!

Hello New Harvest!! I am writing to you as the new Director of Family Life. For me and my family this new assignment is a blessing from God. Entering this post with 13 years of experience as a teacher and a coach I would have to say that working with young people has been a big part of my life. In my new position I’ll be developing programs that introduce the next generation to Jesus Christ, which excites me beyond words.

As I assess the state of Family Life Ministry, I am happy to report that the ministry is in tremendous shape. In addition, the staff that makes up Family Life is second to none. The future is bright for all the New Harvest students and children. As the new director I could not be more pleased. This hard working staff has been diligently implementing a cutting edge strategy for family ministry, which revolves around small groups. What that means is when you hand your child to us; they are looked after by a small group leader…same leader, EVERY WEEK! We feel that life change happens in these small groups.

Here’s the catch this strategy; the small group leaders and their support crew that make everything happen each week…need a break! We plan to relieve them for the summer with what we call Relief Drivers, which are the parents of the children that are taught every week or anyone else interested in helping during the summer. So if you haven’t yet, pick a Sunday or two that you are willing to step in and provide some relief for our dedicated volunteers. Email me at gregzuffelato@nhclife.org or call me at 797-7000 to sign-up. Rest assured that the summer is set up to be very easy for those that come in to help.

It is an honor and a privilege to be able to serve Jesus as your new Director of Family Life. If you ever have any questions feel free to contact me or simply flag me down on a Sunday morning.

God’s Blessings,

Greg Zuffelato
Director of Family Life
New Harvest Church