UNITY CHURCH WILKES BARRE Children's Church

Greetings from Marilynn,
Our YOUth Ministry Director

Hey there, and welcome back to our YOUthMinistry. I’ve already decided that 2010 is going to be a spectacular year, so take a moment and plan what awesome things are going to happen for you. We’ve got a great assortment of games, plays, crafts and activities in store – We can’t wait to see you!

I’m now going to introduce a great loving tool. We’re going to get a chance to practice it on Sundays, but I wanted to share it with everyone here first. Do you know what it feels like to being “in the heart?” It’s like taking hold of the knob of energy and greatness that God put inside us and cranking it all the way up. Have you ever felt “out of the heart?” Maybe you haven’t heard it called that before but that’s any time you might feel frustrated, bored, or restless. There’s a really great tool we use for shifting out of these lower feelings and getting back “into the heart.” This is very powerful, very quick, and very easy.

It’s called FREEZE-FRAME!

Catch that uncomfortable feeling when it hits. Gotcha!

Feel what your body is doing. Is your mind rushing or are you getting all tense? Is your chest throbbing? Is your face all squinchy? Gently pull your focus down to the area around your heart. Pretend you’re breathing through your heart, in and out, and listen to the beats.

Like Peter Pan said, “Think of the happiest things! It's the same as having wings!” Remember how you felt at a really great moment and just call it up again. It really is that easy. This is so cool. Now ask your heart what’s the best response to this challenge. Yes, I do mean it. The cells in your heart are as intelligent as the cells anywhere else in your body, including your brain! Now listen. Breathe, and listen. Practice just breathing and listening. You got it!

JOIN US IN HOLDING OUR SACRED VISION FOR OUR YOUTH

Do you remember when you were planning for your family to grow?
Did you start by looking at the space you were in and plan for growth by remodeling or redecorating?
Or did you wait for the new member to arrive and make the current space uncomfortable before you thought about what might be needed? Did you purchase the crib and the basinet and get diapers and other necessities ready, or did you wait until you had brought the baby home from the hospital and then wish you had thought about the necessities?

As a church family, we’d like to be prepared for the children before they arrive (especially since we don’t think they will be infants). We know that older children will often dictate whether or not the family will continue to come to church at all. If the child does not feel welcomed or didn’t have a good time they’ll lobby to stay at home and parents will often follow that request. Great thought and planning goes into our Youth Education Schedule.

We’ve got access to great materials; but every teacher knows that he textbook is never enough. Lesson plans need to be coordinated with crafts and fresh ideas are always welcome.

We are in need of additional core teaching staff. To what age level children do you feel most connected? As we’re organized, we pray for the children who are finding their way here. We already have an intimate nucleus of kids. Our intent will deliver our thriving youth congregation to our doors.

Faith and Imagination are necessary to invoke the ministry we mean to manifest. We ask that you join us in this visioning.