ST. JOHN'S CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Halloween is Coming!

2011-10-27T04:13:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween!

This Monday is Halloween. Kids love Halloween! They get to dress up and get free candy! What a perfect holiday! Give your kids some precious Halloween memories that they'll have for life.

If you take your kids to a sponsored event, like a safe Halloween thrown by your church or community center, make sure to keep an eye on them at al times. Even though it seems less dangerous, you are still in a strange environment full of people that you don't know. All it takes is a minute with your back turned to find your child gone.

Cell phones are everywhere now! Everyone seems to have one, they can be so affordable. Make sure that your child has a pre-programmed cell phone with him/her if they go out on Halloween night! Make sure that all important numbers are already there and ready for use.

Below are more common sense tips that can help adults keep their kids safe.
* As bad as it sounds, this is just a fact of life now. Get on the internet and check your local state website for sex offenders. Almost every state has one, just do a search for your state sex
offender site. Look up your zip code and it should have a list of registered offenders in your area that includes street addresses. Make sure that your kids
stay away from these houses!

* Know the route your kids will be taking if you aren't going with them. Let them know that they are to check in with you every hour, by phone or by stopping back at home. Make sure that they know not to deviate from the planned route so that you always know where they will be.

* Trick or treating isn't what it used to be. In most cities it's not safe to let kids walk the streets by themselves. Your best bet is to make sure that an adult is going with them. If you can't take them yourself, see if another parent or two can.

* Help your young child pick out or make a costume that will be safe. Make sure that it's fire proof or treated with fire retardant. If they are wearing a mask of any kind, make sure that the eye holes are large enough for good peripheral vision.

* Know what other activities a child may be attending, such as parties, school or mall functions. If they are going to be at a friends home, get the phone number and make sure that you've
met the parents.

* Make sure you set a time that your kids should be home by. Make sure they know how important it is for them to be home on time or to call immediately if something happens and they are going to be delayed.

* Serve your kids a filling meal before trick or treating and they won't be as tempted to eat any candy before they bring it home for you to check. Check your local grocery store or craft store
for Halloween cook books full of tasty treats on a horror theme for both kids and adults.

* Make sure that if your child is carrying a prop, such as a scythe, butcher knife or a pitchfork, that the tips are smooth and flexible enough to not cause injury if fallen on. Make sure that
costumes won't get in the way when they are walking, which could cause them to trip.

* Teach your kids about not getting into strangers cars or talking to strangers, no matter what the person says to them. Explain to them as simply as you can that some adults are bad and want to hurt children, that they should never go into a house that they don't know, get into a car or go anywhere with a stranger. Also, tell them what to do should this happen, to scream as loud as they can to draw attention and to run away as fast as they can to someplace safe.

* Be sure to show your children know how to cross a street properly. They should always look both ways before crossing the street and should only cross at corners or crosswalks. Make sure that if you have more than one child, they know to take the hand of the younger child when
they cross a street.

Make Halloween a fun, safe and happy time for your kids and they'll carry on the tradition that you taught them to their own families some day!

Backpack Blessing is Coming!

2011-08-07T04:25:00.000-07:00

Calling all children, teachers, and everyone who works in the education profession! Mark your calendars now and plan to join us on August 28th at 9:30 am worship service. Please bring your backpack, lunch boxes, or briefcases for a blessing to start the new school year. What a great way to begin a new year!

The Best Week of the Summer July 18-22

2011-06-27T06:47:00.000-07:00

Summer Camps

Vacation Bible School

This year we will be Shaking It Up with your children as they explore the Bible as an exciting cookbook filled with recipes for living out God's Word. By celebrating biblical festivals, they will: Be ready for God, Give happily to God, Believe fully in Jesus, Remember Jesus often, and Celebrate God forever. Call Claire Meloni with questions or comments at 410-667-1133 or melonifamily@ hotmail.com

New This Year: Drama Camp

Children third grade and older are invited to stay after VBS for Our first Drama Camp. Children will eat lunch and have a break from 11:30-12:30 and then Drama Camp will begin and run until 3:00. Drama Camp will end on Friday July 22 with a Pot lunch dinner for the families and a performance at 6:00pm. Call Trisha at 410-592-6565 or email Sam at ssouthern@stevenson.edu

Mark your calendars now for the best week of summer, July 18- 22

Family Fun Night a Huge Success

2011-06-14T06:53:00.000-07:00

Thank you to all the families and friends that came out to Strapasta’s Family Restaurant and had dinner on June 13^th.It was a wonderful evening, and we had 40 families gather, some carry out and others eating in, come together as a St. John’s family. The evening was truly a Family Fun Event because everyone commented how special the evening was to be together with everyone. On a side note, Children’s Ministry received 10% of the purchases made that evening which totaled $1250.00. This money has been put towards the cost of an Accut die cast cutting machine for the church. Parent’s and grandparents look for the wonderful projects that the children will be making in Sunday School, Children’s Church, VBS, and more….

Family Fun Night at Strapasta's

2011-06-06T13:00:00.000-07:00

Grab Your Friends and Family and Come to Strapasta Restaurant on June 13, 2011 between 4:00- 8:00pm with a pink flyer and St. John’s Children’s Ministry will receive 10% of each sale before taxes. Everyone has to eat dinner, so why not enjoy an evening with your St. John’s Family. Come after school, before sports, before Council Meeting, or after all of the running around has ended! St. John’s Children’s Ministry will be using the donation from this event to help to purchase an Accucut Die Cutting Machine for the Church!

Please Join Us!

2011-03-27T17:26:00.000-07:00

Passover Meal

April 12^th 6:30PM

Again we celebrate the Passover Meal, the Seder, with special guests. Jesus was a Jew, and He celebrated Passover. We’ll learn about Passover and its connection to our celebration of Holy Communion. This special night is for everyone at St. John’s, including H2H youth and First Communion children and their parents and families. Please make a reservation so that we can prepare enough for all. It is a full meal. Call the Church office: 410-592-6565, or Email: office@stjohnssweetair.org or fill in the RSVP form below.

Special Guest: Morris Rosen is a Jewish Holocaust survivor originally from Poland who lives in Baltimore. He is now 88 years old, but still telling his story to many groups.

Passover Meal

· April 12^th - 6:30PM

· Where: The Fellowship Hall

· Cost: freewill offering

· Please Bring: Sodas or dessert

· Why: To better understand Passover, Communion, our Jewish heritage and our Jewish neighbors.

· Who: All Members & Friends of St. John’s, especially H2H families & First Communion families [let us know if you will need child-care for young children]

Mr. Morris Rosen survived to tell the story. He says, “I owe it to my fellow inmates from all the concentration camps where I was kept. They did not make it, but I did, and I want the world to remember them.” He survived Jewish ghettos in Poland, five concentration camps including the infamous Buchenwald and Theresienstadt, and a death march. He lost his parents and five siblings in the Holocaust. He has lived in America since 1949.

WINTER

2011-01-23T04:51:00.000-08:00

Winter isn't a time to stay indoors and wait for spring. There's a whole wonderland of sports out there for the entire family- sledding, snowmobiling, and snowboarding, to mention a few. Plus, someone has to shovel the snow, right?

Once out doors, however, take precautions to keep your family safe. In ice and snow, accidents can occur easily, and before you know it you might be on your way to the emergency room.

It's easy to keep safe- and stay fit- during the cold months. BY following a few tips, you can have a great time, no matter how much white stuff piles up outside.

Cold Weather Hazards

Certain injuries are more common in the winter because cold weather activities like ice skating, sledding, snowboarding, and skiing can lead to accidents that often involve children.

Now that snowboarding is drawing more children out in the cold weather, ERs are seeing more abdominal, head, and neck injuries in those who run into trees or large rocks while snowboarding.

And some illnesses are more common when the weather turns colder. Respiratory ailments, especially viruses like the flu, are prevalent because people stay indoors more and thus are exposed to more airborne germs.

At Home

One way to stay healthy whilecooped up inside is to make sure your family washes their hands. It's especially important to wash after sharing toys, coughing, and blowing a runny nose to help prevent the spread of viruses.

Decided you've had enough of the indoors and you're going to get the family outside to shovel the snow? Fine, but take care. Snow shoveling is strenuous work. It's OK for older, school age kids to help out, but young children should not be shoveling because they can strain their muscles from lifting heavy shovels full of snow.

Younger or older, children have a tough time knowing when to come inside from the cold. To nip frostbite in the bud, check on your children reguraly to make sure that mittens are dry and warm and noses aren't too red!

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-24T06:59:00.000-08:00

Here is hoping that everyone has a very safe, healthy, and blessed Thanksgiving Holiday filled with family and friends. There will be no Sunday School this Sunday November 28th!

Bon Fire/ Owl Prowl

2010-10-26T04:56:00.000-07:00

St. John’s Children’s Ministry is proud to present a Bon Fire/ Owl Prowl Night. Come and share a dinner and desserts that will be provided. Please bring chairs or blankets, your drinks, and friends. After the Bonfire and dinner we will be going on an Owl Prowl so bring good shoes to walk /hike in!!!

Date: November 5^th 2010

Time: 6:00 pm

Where: St. John’s Sweet Air

3911 Sweet Air Road

Phoenix, MD 21131

Reservations are a Must! 410-592-6565

Date: November 5^th 2010

Time: 6:00 pm

Where: St. John’s Sweet Air

3911 Sweet Air Road

Phoenix, MD 21131

Reservations are a Must! 410-592-6565

Child Protection Training

2010-10-14T07:36:00.000-07:00

Calling All Volunteers for Child Protection Training

Do you volunteer to work with the children or youth of St. John’s? Rotation Leader? Youth Leader? Driver of children/ youth to an event? Babysit children at St. John’s? If you answer yes to one or more of these questions than this is for you. Anyone that in even a small way touches a child’s life at St. John’s, is asked to participate in Child Protection Training. Children and Youth Ministries have partnered in purchasing the services of a company, Protect My Ministry, to support this effort. The following link has been generated for St. John’s as a secure link for just our use. When you click on the link, an application will pop up. Please fill in the application and click “submit” at the end. St. John’s will be notified of the new application. We will then instruct, Protect My Ministry to send an email inviting the applicant to complete the Child Protection Training. This training will take approximately a hour to complete. There is a video to watch in the comforts of your own home on your own computer. After viewing the six sections of the video there is twenty- five question quiz that reviews the information. At the end of the quiz, you will receive your grade and a certificate of completion! We are really hoping that we can celebrate the Christmas season knowing that all of our volunteers have been trained.

On October 11, 2010, St John’s Church Council voted and approved that all volunteers and staff will be required to complete the Child Protection Training to protect themselves but there will also be background checks to protect and keep our St. John’s children safe and always protected. This will serve as a step in making St. John’s a safe place for our children!

If there are any questions please contact Jeremy or Trisha.

Application Link: https://www.ministryopportunities.org/StJohnsSweetAir

Sunday School Kick Off

2010-09-08T05:41:00.001-07:00

Remember the fun and the excitement that the children shared with you in the spring about Sunday School at St. John's?? Well, Sunday School Kick Off is this Sunday, September 12th at 9:30 in the Chapel. Come hear about the exciting new themes we will be learning this year and the New Child Protection Plan that has already been put into place. Come and hear what has been happening over the summer at St. John's!

WILDLIFE ADVENTURES IS COMING

2010-08-19T04:37:00.000-07:00

Sunday, August 22, 2010, St. John's will be hosting Wildlife Adventures at 9:30am in the Chapel Hall. Mrs. Valerie Garcia and her wonderful array of animals will be on the St. John's campus entertaining the children for their last day of Summer Children's Church. Everyone is Welcome to share in the Wildlife Adventure.

Tent Troupe

2010-06-15T08:10:00.000-07:00

St. John’s Sweet Air
3911 Sweet Air RoadPhoenix, Maryland

Will be Hosting: TENT TROUPE TALES
THROUGH THE YEARS 1970 – 2010
A PROGRAM FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

Selected folk tales, stories and skits from our 40 seasons “on the road”
To celebrate our 40th season on the road with this unique ministry, TENT TROUPE comes FULL CIRCLE. Our show this year will reflect our first season - traveling on three separated weekends and presenting a program suitable for the whole family. We are including highlights and audience favorites from past seasons in a full afternoon or evening event featuring such stories as CAPS FOR SALE, THE GIVING TREE, JOHNNY APPLESEED, and several skits from Robert Fulghum’s ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED IN KINDERGARTER. The show is free of charge. Donations will be accepted at intermission.

Come, and enjoy an evening of family fun in the tent theater at7:30 pm on June 25th,at St. John’s Sweet Air Church!
Dinner in the Fellowship Hall at 5:30, Hot Dogs and Drinks provided. Please bring side dish or a dessert.

Summer Children's Church

2010-06-03T04:40:00.000-07:00

This Sunday, June 6th is the beginning of Summer Children's Church at St. John's. All children start out attending the 9:30 Service. After a Children's Chat, the children are dismissed to go to age appropriate activities. Some of the activities included Science, Cooking, and Videos. The activities are gear for children ages four years old to fifth graders. Sixth graders and above are encouraged to volunteer as helpers!

Dr. Luke and the Case of the Empty Tomb

2010-04-14T07:27:00.000-07:00

Dr. Luke and the Case of the Empty Tomb was performed with perfection and enthusiasm on April 11th by the St. John's Drama Group and Sunday School. Under the leadership of Jenna Loomis, the children had put in many hours of practice to have an unbelievably wonderful performance. Everyone left totally entertained! Way to Go St. John's children and youth!

Easter Play Is Coming

2010-03-03T08:21:00.000-08:00

Dr. Luke and the Case of the Empty Tomb will be presented on April 11, 2010 at 9:30. All of Sunday School, Beginners-6th graders, as well as the Drama Group will be apart of the production. Bring all of your family members to experience the talents of St. John's!

Sunday School Christmas Play

2009-12-28T07:49:00.000-08:00

This Sunday, January 3rd at the 9:30 Service, the St. John's Sunday School will be presenting, It All Begins with Jesus! Plan to attend it is guaranteed to entertain!

Country Fair Day

2009-10-15T07:45:00.000-07:00

Way to Go Children's Ministry! We have such an awesome group of people. Thank you to all of the volunteers that came and worked their shift for the children's games. Thank you to all the people that donating something to the Ravens Tailgating Bucket that we were able to give to the Silent Auction. Our bucket was wonderful! It had everything from a child's ravens jersey to pretzels to raven lottery tickets and even two tickets to the Ravens game!!! Everything was donated and the bucket raised $350.00!!!

Fall

2009-10-01T05:00:00.000-07:00

With the beginning of the new season of fall, St. John's Sunday School program is in full swing! Ms. Cathy Tydings is back in the Beginners class with 20 young followers registered. Rotation Sunday School program, with it's wonderful returning Shepherds; Morgan Bengal,Ms. Jacki Lober, Ms. Mary Knott, Ms. Phyllis Mann, and our newest shepherd Ms. Valerie Garcia. Well... okay Ms. Val, the Superintendent of Sunday School has decided to be a shepherd this year for the first time. We are still looking and praying for one more shepherd for the fifth graders. Our sixth grade is blessed with three men leading the group, Mike Griffth, Jim Kauffman, and Greg Derwart. This really is the best time of the year!!!

Good Things to Know

2009-07-09T09:20:00.000-07:00

CHILDREN'S CHURCH

2009-06-18T09:23:00.000-07:00

Children's Church is under way. What is Children's Church you may ask? Well... the children start off in church at the 9:30 Service. They participate in a "Children's Chat" and then they are dismissed.The younger children, 4 year olds to first grade go to the Fellowship Hall for an age appropriate activities, while the older children, second grade to fifth grade go to the Chapel Hall for their fun filled activities.
No registration is nessecary. Just come and have fun learning about the Bible!:0)

2009-05-13T08:12:00.000-07:00

Rich Melheim, Founder of ‘Faith Inkubators’ Coming to St. John’s May 26th

Faith Inkubators, the creator of our Head to Heart Confirmation ministry model and our Faith Stepping Stones Ministry is coming to St. John’s for the day, on Tuesday, May 26^th. Over the last 10 years we have grown to know and love Pastor Melheim and the crew at Faith Inkubators. Rich is doing a 75 city tour and for his stop in Baltimore he asked if he could locate this regional seminar at our church.

Children’s Ministry Directors and Youth Directors from all over the Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania area will be invited for the afternoon. From 1 – 5PM, he will unveil practical methods, models churches may use to enlist parents as partners in intentional nightly family ministry.

The evening session, “Working on the Dream”, is open to everybody, especially parents and kids. “It will be 1/2 standup comedy, 12% practical parenting advice, and 100% just plain fun for the entire family” Rich says. Rich is using this tour to launch a national six-week experiment in intentional Christian parenting. At each evening event, he will present five simple steps to keeping families closer during trying times. He will introduce parents to “The Faith Five”. Come find out what it’s all about, and you will have a great time. “Rich is a bundle of energy and faith!” says Pastor David Asplin. “You won’t be disappointed.” Get your RSVP in to the church office as soon as possible. Space will be limited; Rich Melheim is now a rather famous guy and lots of Mid-Atlantic churches will be promoting this regional event (which is happening at our church).

Call 410-592-6565.

For Church Staff (Children’s Ministry and Youth Ministry):

For Registration

Go To: www.faithink.com and see “Rich’s 75 City Road Tour”

Easter Play

2009-03-29T10:12:00.000-07:00

Well... the children of St. John's did it again. Dr. Luke and the Case of the Empty Tomb was an awesome performance performed by all of the Sunday School children. One comment was that it was the best childrens' pagent their have ever seen!Another comment, the children did an amazing job.Thank you to Valerie Garcia, Toni Duncan, Jenna Loomis, Lisa Ring, and all of the shepherds for all of their devotion to making this a marvelous performance!

All of Sunday School in Service

2009-02-28T17:57:00.000-08:00

On Sunday February 22, 2009, St.John's Sunday School attended the 9:30 service. What a wonderful sight seeing all of the children participating in the service. Yes, all of the children. Ms. Cathy's Pre K group came to service with all the rest of the Sunday School Children. God was definitely smiling down on us with more children in the rows than the rows could handle. Next month, March 29th, all of the children will be attending service at 9:30 for the performance of the Easter Play, Dr. Luke and the Case of the Empty Tomb.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2009-01-05T18:22:00.000-08:00

It was so wonderful to see everyone back at Sunday School yesterday. We had a really great turn out, however, nothing beats the turn out that we had for the Christmas Play on December 21st. The weather wasn't the best, I was nervous to come up stairs from my office that day, but, when I walked into the Fellowship Hall... my prayers had all been answered. The children were there, the parents were helping to get everyone ready, and in the end... the play was a hit!!! St. John's Children did an awesome performance. It was the highlight of my holidays as I am sure it was for you. Thank you to everyone for coming, helping, and performing!!

Dress Rehearsal

2008-12-20T08:22:00.000-08:00

The Dress Rehearsal went really well! Tomorrow's play will be a wonderful performance if today's practice is any indication.Thank you to all the parents that came today for the practice and helped make everything go so smoothly! Tomorrow is the BIG DAY!:)

Sunday School Christmas Program

2008-12-18T12:21:00.000-08:00

This Saturday at 9:00 is the Christmas Play Dress Rehearsal. The Sunday School Christmas Program is this Sunday at 9:30 Service. All children, kindergarten through sixth grade need to arrive at 9:00 to get dressed in their costumes. Please meet in the Fellowship Hall.Beginners need to meet in Ms. Cathy's room. Remember... all children beginners through sixth graders are apart of the play!

Sunday School is at 9:00am

2008-12-04T06:07:00.000-08:00

This Sunday, December 7, 2008, Sunday School will be at 9:00am due to the blended service schedule. Please come! We will be working on the Christmas Play!!! It will be here before you know it.

Rotation in Church

2008-09-29T20:17:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the Church Rotation Day. Kindergarten through sixth grade attended Church Service at 9:30. Way to Go Sixth Graders for a great job working at the service. We had fantastic readers, excellent greeters/ushers. Your class may be small but, You Rocked Yesterday in Church! Thank you for all of your hard work.

2008-09-24T13:21:00.000-07:00

September 24, 2008
Rotational Sunday School will be doing their rotation in Church this week. Parents please come to the church with your children.The children can sit with us as a class in the front of the Church or with you as a family.

ST. JOHN'S CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Halloween is Coming!

Backpack Blessing is Coming!

The Best Week of the Summer July 18-22

Family Fun Night a Huge Success

Family Fun Night at Strapasta's

Please Join Us!

WINTER

Happy Thanksgiving

Bon Fire/ Owl Prowl

Date: November 5th 2010

Date: November 5th 2010

Child Protection Training

Sunday School Kick Off

WILDLIFE ADVENTURES IS COMING

Tent Troupe

Summer Children's Church

Dr. Luke and the Case of the Empty Tomb

Easter Play Is Coming

Sunday School Christmas Play

Country Fair Day

Fall

Good Things to Know

CHILDREN'S CHURCH

Easter Play

All of Sunday School in Service

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Dress Rehearsal

Sunday School Christmas Program

Sunday School is at 9:00am

Rotation in Church

Date: November 5^th 2010

Date: November 5^th 2010