Hello Parents! We believe you (parents) are the most significant influence in your kids' lives and are in the best position to help your kids know God. We also believe that we can uniquely equip and partner with you along the way as a kid’s ministry. With this in mind, this newsletter will highlight resources, events, and opportunities for us to partner together in raising the next generation. 

November Series Description: Puzzles are a lot of fun. Who doesn’t love a good peg puzzle? The cow goes in the cow shape. The pig goes in the pig shape. Easy, peasy! But as we get older, puzzles can become a lot more difficult, and it can be hard to know where each piece goes. 

We all face difficult circumstances that are way bigger than what we can handle. It’s in those times that God wants us to trust Him with all our hearts and say, “God’s got it!” 

We don’t have to have all the pieces or know where they all go. All we need to know is that God sees the big picture and God’s got it. Our job is to trust God and take it one piece at a time. So, whether it’s needing help with a big job, knowing which way to go, not having what we need, or talking to God about anything . . . God can handle it, because God’s got it!

Monthly Memory Verse: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart.” Proverbs 3:5, NIV

Monthly Bottom Line: Ask your child: WHO'S GOT IT? Say with your child: GOD'S GOT IT!

Weekly Bible Story and Focus: 

Find the weekly videos and parent guides on our Preschool Resources Page.

November Series Description: It’s the distant future, the year 3,000, and the universe has run low on its most precious resource - cheese. During the “Space Ninjas vs. Pirate Squirrels” series, kids will be divided into two teams and will battle each other for one of these last few blocks of delicious goodness. In order to win the coveted wheel of cheese, though, kids will have to exhibit team energy, team spirit, and compete in the “Battle for the Cheese” team trivia competition. 

Key passages, verses, and questions for this month: Read the passages together as a family and ask the following questions. Also, take the time to watch the weekly lesson video (around 10 minutes) together as a family.

November 3: Moses: Crossing the Red Sea into the Wilderness

Big Idea: God is giving, so we can be thankful without complaining. 

Bible Basis: Exodus 13:17-17:7

Key Verse: “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:14

Discussion Questions for Younger Kids: In what ways were you able to see God taking care of His people in this story? If you were Moses, how would you have felt when the people were complaining? Why? 

Discussion Questions for Older Kids: What do you think this story teaches us about God? Why do you think God continued to take care of His people even though they were complaining? Look up Deuteronomy 1:6-7 to see the answer. 

Watch the weekly lesson video together as a family.

November 10: The Tabernacle

Big Idea: God lives within us, so we can talk to Him anytime we want. 

Bible Basis: Exodus 25-31, 35-40

Key Verse: “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16

Discussion Questions for Younger Kids: What was your favorite part of that story? Why? Why do you think God wanted to live among the Israelites?

Discussion Questions for Older Kids: What do you think this story teaches us about God? The tabernacle no longer exists. Where do you think God lives now? 

Watch the weekly lesson video together as a family.

November 17: Joshua and the Walls of Jericho

Big Idea: God’s instructions for us are good, so I can follow them right away. 

Bible Basis: Joshua 1, 6

Key Verse: “Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.” Joshua 1:7

Discussion Questions for Younger Kids: What was your favorite part of that story? Why? God gave the Israelites a lot of instructions for defeating Jericho. What do you think would have happened if they didn’t follow them? 

Discussion Questions for Older Kids: What were the instructions God gave to the Israelites for defeating Jericho? What do you think would have happened if the Israelites didn’t follow God’s instructions? 

Watch the weekly lesson video together as a family.

November 24: God Calls Samuel

Big Idea: God knows us by name and calls to us, so we can listen for His voice. 

Bible Basis: 1 Samuel 2-3

Key Verse: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” Job 10:27

Discussion Questions for Younger Kids: What was your favorite part of that story? Why? What do you think it would be like to hear God talking to you? How do you think it would feel? 

Discussion Questions for Older Kids: What do you think this story teaches us about God? Why do you think God chose to give the message to Samuel instead of just telling Eli? 

Watch the weekly lesson video together as a family.

Find the weekly videos and parent guides on our Elementary Resources Page

November Series Description: We are wrapping up our “I AM” series! Throughout this study preteens have taken a deep dive into the conversation of identity and what they allow to define them. They have learned about being created in God’s image and for His glory, being broken by sin, and yet being deeply loved by God. They have learned what it means to be accepted, secure, significant, and called.

This month they will walk through the blessings God has given them to equip them for the mission He is calling them to. Our prayer for your preteen is that as this study concludes, they know what it looks like and are able to live out their faith in confidence, knowing the truth of what defines them is what God says is true about them. He calls them ambassadors and invites them to join Him in the glorious mission of sharing Jesus with those around them and growing deeper in relationship with their Savior.

Key passages, verses, and questions for this month: Read the passages together as a family and ask the following questions. 

November 3: I Am Signficant

Big Idea: Those who have trusted in Jesus to save them now have the Holy Spirit in them. 

Bible Basis: John 14:15-26

Key Verse: “But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative–that is, the Holy Spirit–he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you." John 14:26

Discussion Questions of the Week: How does the Holy Spirit help you view the world? When you sin, how does the Holy Spirit help you?

Please see your preteen’s weekly family guide for further activities and questions.

November 10: I Am Called 

Big Idea: As believers, we are called to live out God's mission to share the Gospel.

Bible Basis: Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:15-16; John 20:21

Key Verse: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

Discussion Questions of the Week: What is God's mission and how do we fulfill it? Are there places we go where we can meet people who are not trusting in Jesus? What do you say when you tell people about Jesus? How should you respond when someone says he does not want to hear about Jesus?

Please see your preteen’s weekly family guide for further activities and questions.

November 17: I Have the Gift of the Holy Spirit

Big Idea: Those who have trusted in Jesus to save them now have the Holy Spirit in them. 

Bible Basis: John 14:15-26

Key Verse: “But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative–that is, the Holy Spirit–he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you." John 14:26

Discussion Questions of the Week: How does the Holy Spirit help you view the world? When you sin, how does the Holy Spirit help you?

Please see your preteen’s weekly family guide for further activities and questions.

November 24: I Am Not Alone

Big Idea: In Christ, we are surrounded by a community of faithful believers, the church, that love and encourage us to follow and obey God.

Bible Basis: Ephesians 1:1-14

Key Verse: “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Discussion Questions of the Week: What are some ways people in our church encourage each other? How can our family be encouragers to others?

Please see your preteen’s weekly family guide for further activities and questions.

FG Kids Staff Update from our FG Kids Lead Director, Melanie Grainger: 

It is with sadness that I write to let you know that Sage has decided to resign from her position as the Special Needs and Family Coordinator. 

Sage writes, "I am beyond honored to have the opportunity to be a part of the Fellowship family. I am forever grateful for the opportunities to build a community of grace passionately pursuing life and mission with Jesus. Fellowship will always be near and dear to my heart. I have genuinely loved my time here working with amazing people who love Jesus." 

Sage has decided that it is the best decision for her family right now. She will be pursuing a job in her field. We wish her well and are praying for her as she steps into this new chapter in her life.

Lisa Romines will step back in as the interim Special Needs Coordinator so that we can have as smooth a transition as possible with our Thrive kiddos and families. We are continuing to work as a team to grow as a ministry as we come alongside you and so many others in spreading the Gospel through the love and care of your precious children! 

FG Kids Serving Needs: We need leaders for Thrive 9 AM & 11 AM; Preschool Upper 11AM; K-3rd 9am & 11am. If you are interested in serving, please fill out the serving interest form online.

FG Kids Holiday Schedule: 

• December 1 - No Elementary Programming due to the holiday weekend. Enjoy family worship! Nursery, Preschool, and Thrive will run as normal.
• December 22 - No Elementary Programming due to the holiday season. Enjoy family worship! Nursery, Preschool, and Thrive will run as normal.
• December 24 - Family Worship! There will be no FG Kids Programming.
• December 29 - No FG in-person services. Online service available at 11 AM. 

A word of encouragement from our Next Gen Ministry Assistant, Courtney Goyak: 

The month of November is fun for so many reasons! There's lots of yummy food, lots of football, lots of time with family, and lots of fall festivities. There's so much joy and so much to be thankful for. No wonder we call this the season of giving thanks. As you enjoy the many good and sweet blessings that this month brings, don't forget to pause and give thanks to the Giver of those blessings.

We live in a world that very much preaches the opposite - pride over humility, entitlement over gratitude. How do we disciple and raise the next generation to not take advantage of God's grace, provision, and blessings? How do we encourage them (and ourselves) to live in a constant "season of giving thanks"?

We cultivate and practice a heart of gratitude.

Gratitude and remembrance should be a regular rhythm. Build times of identifying and celebrating blessing into your small moments, your daily tasks, your weekly rhythms, and your yearly reflections. May it open up your eyes to see and celebrate God’s goodness. Through such upward praise and outward appreciation, may we fully embrace and live out what it looks like to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. 

So in the spirit of the season of giving thanks, we wanted to provide you with some simple prompts that can encourage conversations with your kiddos to think beyond the common "What are you thankful for?" Ask these questions at the dinner table. Talk about them in the car. Discuss them while you take a walk. 

What a privilege it is for us to taste the joy of giving thanks, and what a privilege it is to share this joy with our children.

Gratitude Prompts: 

• What is one way you can help others this week?
• Who is one of your best friends?
• What is something that makes you feel safe?
• What is your favorite food?
• Who is someone you love?
• What is something that makes you smile?
• What is something in your house that you are thankful for?
• What is something special that you get to do today?
• What is something that makes you laugh?
• What is a special skill you have?
• Who are people that bring you joy?
• What’s a beautiful sound?
• What is your favorite thing about fall? 

Carve out time this month to cultivate gratitude by looking at and tasting the grace of God in Christ and the thousands of gifts (big and small) that flow to us through Christ every single day. And let the feast of Thanksgiving mainly be a feasting on thanksgiving.