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This will be the final installment of our weekly family discipleship emails until late October. We are currently praying through and looking at what our children’s discipleship program will look like in the Fall. We value children and view them as the future church, the church that Christ died for. As so much has changed over the last 18 months, this truth has never and will never change.
 
While we have not been able to provide an in-person program for children, our hope has been that as we equip you as parents, your children have experienced the love of Christ. In our continued effort to come along side families, we now have Family Fidget Packs available for use during the service. I know all too well how daunting it is to work with children as they learn the art of participating in a worship service. I remember being exhausted because our three kids (ages 2, 3, & 4) couldn’t sit still or quietly in the worship service. As one writer accurately depicts, “It felt like we’d experienced a tour of combat duty without any medals.” 
 
The Family Fidget Pack is not designed to distract your child while you worship, rather it is to a tool to help your child participate in the worship service with you. Many times children’s brains can calm, retaining more information as they are sitting quietly and engaging their busy little hands. Our suggestion would be that you hold the Family Fidget Pack until the sermon begins. Children of even the youngest of ages may participate in singing praises to God. As the sermon begins, give your child(ren) one item at time from the bag. We know that children are busy, loud, and messy. We expect that children will make some noise during the service. Their little voices are a delight! However, we wanted to provide something for them. We want to let them know that just as Christ loves them, we love them and know it can be hard for busy little ones to be still. So next Sunday, if you think your child would benefit, grab a bag from the wall in the foyer and return it after service.

Sparks (K - Grade 2)

Videos: https://www.awanaplus.com/sparks

Sparks work at their own pace, so you may select the appropriate video for your child each week at the above link. Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the page for additional resources. We are using the ESV book version. Once your child has completed their section, please report your child’s progress each week using our Sparks Reporting Tool http://bethelsi.org/pages/sparks. Incentives earned will be mailed to clubbers each Saturday. Sparks basically receive jewels after every 4 sections once Rank is completed. You may find additional information on what is required to complete a section at the end of this email.

T&T (Grades 3-6)

Weekly Memory Verse: Deuteronomy 31:6 (ESV)

Video: https://www.awanaplus.com/graceinaction

Lesson T&T: Grace In Action 4.7 - Grace to Persevere video, and clubbers should work through and complete section 4.7, pages 234-241. Parents sign off on page 241. Be sure to have your child say the review verse each week as well as the weekly memory verse. At the end of each unit, clubbers will have a review week where they will be required to say all the verses from that unit.

Parent Tools

Be sure to check out the parent pages tab and scroll past the videos for additional resources. We are using the ESV book version. Once your child has completed their section, please report your child’s progress each week using our T&T Reporting Tool https://bethelsi.org/pages/tandt. Incentives earned will be mailed to clubbers each Saturday. T&T basically receive patches after every 4 sections completed. You may find additional information on what is required to complete a section at the end of this email.

Trek (Grades 7-8)

Trek middle schoolers complete Bible studies and join in powerful small group conversations to answer important Spiritual questions. Wrestling with "Who am I?", "Why am I here?", and "Who's with me?" help students own their faith and discover what they believe.

Weekly Memory Verse: Acts 9:18 (ESV)

Video: https://www.awanaplus.com/trek

Lesson Trek: His Story 4.3 - Saul of Tarsus video, and students should work through and complete section 4.3, pages 218-225. Parents sign off on page 225. 

Parent Tools:

Be sure to check out the parent pages tab - https://awanaym.org/assets/trek-1/Trek%201%20Parent%20Guides%20ESV.pdf or scroll past the videos for additional resources.

Journey (High School & Beyond)

Journey empowers high school students to live with godly perspective and evident faith. Each year students will go through Bible studies, memory verses, and great discussions on how to live out their faith in the world around them.   

Weekly Memory Verse: Luke 15:31-32 (ESV)

Video: https://awanaym.org/journey-curriculum/disciples/disciples-celebration

Lesson Journey: Disciples 7.3 - Celebration video, and students should complete section 7.3, pages 158-163.

Parent Tools:

Be sure to check out the parent’s guide at https://awanaym.org/assets/journey-disciples/Disciples%20Parent%20Guide%20ESV.pdf

Leader Videos: https://awanaym.org/journey-curriculum/disciples/leader-instruction-7-3-celebration

 

Review of what is required to complete a section:

Many of you may be asking, “What has to happen for a section to be signed off and reported?” Well, I am glad you asked!!

It’s pretty simple. Whether your clubber is in Sparks or T&T, they should begin each section with the scripture reference, say the specific verse or verses, and conclude with the scripture reference again. Each clubber is allowed 2 helps per section. These two helps may be anywhere from 1 to 3 words to help the child along at two different points throughout the section. 

Now, parents, don’t let your kids fool you! Many of our clubbers get through verses without any helps whatsoever.  In fact, I have to remind leaders regularly that clubbers are afforded two helps and every time I do, another leader says, “I always forget that!” The purpose of the helps are so clubbers don’t get stuck in the same place. It’s not so clubbers can rush through to the next verse.  We want them to learn the verses and be able to recall them. But we also want to provide grace and encouragement. Our goal is that scripture is impressed on the heart of clubbers!

Sparkies are only required to say verses to complete a section, with a few exceptions, and directions are given in their books. Sparkies should also work in order through their books.

T&T on the other hand must complete the Start Here and Explore Section (questions) in addition to memorizing the section and the Review Section to complete a section. Please note that the Silver and Gold sections are extra credit once they complete all their sections. In order to complete the book, all Start Here, Explore, Memorize, and Review Sections must be completed. T&T clubbers are not required to complete Extra Credit Silver and Gold to complete the book. If your clubber has not completed all units up to 3.8, I would suggest they focus on getting caught up before working on Extra Credit.

As you are working with your clubbers on verses many of you will learn the verses as well. You may simply initial next to your signature and denote it on the reporting tool in order for your clubber will receive 5 additional Awana bucks.  TO ANSWER THE QUESTION ALL YOUR CLUBBERS ARE ASKING... YES!!! We will have the Awana Store and Awards Celebration at some point!!! 

For Trek and Journey we will be checking in with those working through books and have periodic incentives.

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