GREETER TRAINING GUIDE

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Welcome! We are so thankful for your commitment to invest in children and families during VBS. We know no greater joy than being able to share Christ’s love with His children, so whether this is your first or one of many times serving at VBS, welcome; it promises to be an exciting week filled with an abundance of His blessings! Prayer is such an important part of VBS. Start praying for the children God will bring to McGregor during VBS, for the families they represent, for Kingdom impact, and for all the volunteers involved, (including you), for lives to be changed, hearts to be touched, and His message to be received, all for His glory. What’s next? Carefully read through this VBS Greeter Training Guide so that you can best prepare to welcome families, keep them safe, and engage them in His truths. Be sure to carefully review the campus maps, find check-in locations, and read the daily lesson in preparation to joyfully welcome families to MBC. Below are a few more things to note about VBS: VBS Registration

Mini VBS (childcare) is available for children of volunteers who do not meet the minimum age requirement during VBS week, but you must register them by May 22 to reserve a spot.

Reserve Mini VBS childcare by providing your information at the end of your training session or by contacting Candi Girtman by May 22.

Please pre-register your older children online by May 29.

Volunteer Bonus: We know that time is valuable during VBS week and how important it is to you to be in your place when the children begin to arrive, so if you are volunteering in the Preschool area and have children attending VBS in the Children’s Ministry (1st-5th Grades), we are offering you a time-saving bonus opportunity. We will drop your completed 1st-4th grader off for you IF you select ACTIVITY B as your child’s classroom at registration. We will also drop off your 5th grader to the Faith Building. Permission to leave cards will also be available for 4th and 5th graders so that they can walk themselves to meet you after VBS. Look for an email with more details closer to VBS if you are participating in this bonus.

T-Shirts

When you complete your training by May 29, you will receive a free VBS 2017 t-shirt.

After you have watched the online training video, make sure to answer the review questions and submit your t-shirt size, so that you can pick up your VBS t-shirt on Main Street Sunday mornings beginning May 21 and on Wednesday evenings beginning May 24 during church services.

Pre-ordering for children’s shirts and for music CDs is available online when you register your children and is strongly encouraged, as there will be limited quantities available during VBS week. If pre-ordered, shirts will cost $10 for youth sizes and $12 for adult sizes. The week of VBS, all shirts will be $12. CDs are $5.

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VBS Times

Be in place at 5:30PM on Monday and no later than 5:50PM on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

Mini VBS childcare will open at 5:15PM on Monday and 5:45PM on Tuesday through Thursday.

Drop-off for all non-childcare classes begins at 6:00PM, Monday through Thursday. HeBrews Café For your convenience, HeBrews will be open on Main Street in the Hope Building nightly from 4:30PM to 7:30PM with VBS-friendly menu items available for purchase. Southern SnoBalls Southern SnoBalls will be on campus at the end of the night on Monday through Thursday if your family is interested in purchasing an icy cold treat. A portion of their sales goes right back to VBS! Cash only please. Missions Project Boys will compete against Girls to see who can raise the most money. This year’s offering will support Jungle Kids For Christ empowering children in the jungle of Ecuador so that they can break the cycle of poverty and abuse and share the message of transformation with their family, community, country and the world. Family Night Be sure to encourage families to join us Friday night at 6:15 PM in the Fellowship Hall. The Preschool and Children’s Worship Teams will be there as we wrap up. We will also discover who won the Boys vs Girls Offering Challenge - who will get the Pie in the Face? Ice cream on Main Street will top off this fun-filled family evening. While classes do not meet that night, you will be blessed by being a part of Family Night!

Visitor Follow-Up

On Thursday, June 8, teachers will receive a list of children in their VBS class who are first-time visitors to McGregor and do not have a church home. This list will include each family’s contact information. The information packs will only include those without a church home.

What an amazing opportunity to reach out to these families and expand the Kingdom. Since you, too, have invested time throughout the week praying for them, and getting to know them around campus, we’d love for you to contact a family to let them know how much you enjoyed meeting them, offer a warm welcome, and invite them back to church.

Contact your ministry leader for more on how you can connect with these families in the days following VBS.

If you have any questions about the material covered or would like more information, contact our team at 239-689-2603. As always, grateful to be serving alongside you,

Your Preschool Ministry Team

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Ministry Description for Preschool VBS Greeter Team VBS is an exciting and energetic experience for children and teachers alike. But before the first decoration is hung or the first child is greeted, take a moment to think about the purpose of VBS…

To meet and reach families in your community who otherwise might not hear the Word of God

To teach preschoolers Bible truths and to lay a foundation for future spiritual growth

To help preschoolers apply biblical principles in their lives

To grow personally as you meditate on each day’s personal Bible study and prepare to teach Purpose:

To show God’s love to everyone on campus during VBS by being a friendly, helpful presence Responsibilities:

Exude Christ-like attitude

Provide a warm welcome to families each evening

Assist families with locating room assignments

Assist new families in completing registration forms and escort them to the appropriate check-in area for room assignments

Serve as gentle buffer to keep ministry areas secure Time Commitment:

Monday > June 5, 2017, from 5:30PM until 8:30PM

Tuesday-Thursday > June 5, 2017 from 5:30PM until 8:30 PM and June 6 through 8 from 5:45PM to 8:30PM

Friday > June 9, 2017, 5:45PM until 6:45PM Training:

Online VBS Volunteer Training: http://teamvbs.mcgregor.net, click the Greeter tab. Special Qualifications:

Hospitality

Team Player Prayer & Devotions

Be sure to read the daily devotions in this guide to get you ready for each night of VBS

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Helpful Tips

Pre-VBS Notes Candi Girtman - Preschool Ministry Office: (239) 689-2603 Be sure to call if for some reason you are unable to serve. Plan accordingly…

How to coordinate drop-off and pick-up of your own children (if you are bringing children to VBS)

to insure all greeter areas are covered

Familiarize yourself with campus maps and check-in areas by age group Resources

When you arrive each evening, check in and pick up a clipboard from the Preschool Lobby.

To assist you in assisting families your clipboard will contain: an alpha list of all children who have pre-registered, maps of the Hope and Joy Buildings, and an age chart listing check in areas by age.

Warm Welcome

Smiles, Everyone, Smiles! Don’t forget to smile as we help families get settled.

“Did you pre-register online?” If they did, look them up on your Alpha List. If not, have the family

complete a registration form and escort them to the appropriate check-in area.

Only paper registration forms will be accepted during VBS week. Forms should be filled out on Main Street and the family escorted to the appropriate check-in area(s) for all their children. Extra forms will be located in the Preschool Lobby and Preschool Check-In areas.

Ask if parents are familiar with our campus.

Please stay with family until all children have been dropped off, if needed. Greeters can stay with the families as long as it takes to get all children to class. We wouldn’t want first-time guests to feel alone and overwhelmed.

As you walk with the family, you may want to engage in conversation. Find out if they have a church home, if the parents have a Life Group class, maybe even invite them to the Starting Point LG class!

If a child is checking in with a friend of a different age, see the age chart for rule of thumb. Preschool Check-In Procedures

Each preschool and kindergarten room has a sign-in sheet.

Parents will sign in their children at the appropriate Check-In Sheet by providing the name and contact number of the person who will be picking up. They will also complete a name tag for the child each night.

At check-in, remind parents that the pick-up person must show photo ID when picking up.

Ask a Children’s Ministry Director for room assignment of new registrations and check in procedures for that area as procedures vary between Preschool & Children’s ministries.

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Interaction With Children

Communicate positively. Enthusiasm is contagious!

Model Christlikeness. Safety Issues

In the event of an emergency, such as a power outage, severe weather storm, or any other threatening situation, a Director will notify you and your class to return immediately to your classroom or other designated location.

If anything out of the ordinary occurs, an Incident Report must be filled out. (This includes things like bumps, trips, pushing a friend, anything that leaves a mark, child was scared or upset for any reason.) Incident Reports should be signed by the teacher, then a Director, and finally the parent. The parent receives the yellow copy. This is our means of communicating with the parent and provides a record for future reference if needed.

Communication

There will be a radio available at each Preschool Check-In area, the Preschool Lobby, and with the

VBS Nurse on Main Street.

If you see anything out of the ordinary or something requiring security attention, please notify someone as soon as possible.

“Misplaced” Children

If a parent is unable to locate their child, first verify age/grade of the child to be sure the parent is

in the correct area. Remain calm, take a deep breath, and then tell the parent you will be happy

to assist them. Sometimes it is best if you ask the parent to wait in a particular spot for you while

you locate the child for them. Walking around with you may heighten the parents’ anxiety. Use

radios to communicate with other VBS areas to locate a child. Find a Ministry Director to assist, if

necessary.

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Children should be placed according to their birthdate or grade

completed in school. Registration is open for children who have

turned 3 by December 31, 2016.

Age Group Check-in Location Confirm that child has:

Preschoolers 1st Floor Hope

Purple Side

Turned 3 by

December 31, 2016

Entering

Kindergarten

1st Floor Hope

Yellow Side

Not yet entered

Kindergarten

Kindergarten 1st Floor Joy Completed Kindergarten

Elementary

Grades 1-4 2nd Floor Hope

Confirm child has

completed Grade 1-4

Elementary

Grade 5

2nd Floor

Faith Building

Confirm child has

completed Grade 5

Rule of Thumb for Preschool Registrations:

If someone is visiting with a Friend, it is okay to place them together if the ages are similar. If ages are more than a year apart, consider placing the children in the younger-aged room.

What to say to parents with children who were not 3 years old by December 31, 2016: “This year registration is only for children who turned 3 by December 31, 2016. The timeframe and the activities are not geared for younger 3’s. Our VBS is structured in rotations and it has been our experience that younger 3’s do not adapt well to the constant transitioning.”

If a parent is insistent or if you are not comfortable making the final decision, see a Director.

Nightly Schedule By Age Group

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PRESCHOOL ROOMS: H101. H102. H103. H104. H105. H106. H124. H125. H126

5:50* – 6:00 Teacher Arrival & Classroom set-up *teachers are encouraged to be in place by 5:30PM on Monday. 6:00 – 6:25 Children Arrive Opening & Fun Factory Activities Bible Story Introduction Bible Verse 6:25 – 6:50 Story Time in H100 6:55 – 7:20 Worship Time in Discovery Dock 7:25 – 7:50 Exploration Time in the Classroom 7:55 – 8:15 Snack Creation Time Wrap-Up Review: Bible Story & Verse Additional Exploration Time or Fun Factory Activity in the classroom COMPLETED PRE K ROOMS: H117. H118. H119. H120. H121. H122. H123.

5:50* – 6:00 Teacher Arrival & Classroom set-up *teachers are encouraged to be in place by 5:30PM on Monday. 6:00 – 6:25 Children Arrive Opening & Fun Factory Activities Bible Story Introduction Bible Verse 6:25 – 6:50 Worship Time in Discovery Dock 6:55 – 7:20 Exploration Time in the Classroom 7:25 – 7:50 Story Time in H100 7:55 – 8:15 Snack Creation Time Wrap-Up Review: Bible Story & Verse Additional Exploration Time or Fun Factory Activity in the classroom

COMPLETED KINDERGARTEN ROOMS: H115. H116. J103. J104. J105. J106. J107 5:50* – 6:00 Teacher Arrival & Classroom set-up *teachers are encouraged to be in place by 5:30PM on Monday. 6:00 – 6:25 Children Arrive Opening & Fun Factory Activities Bible Story Introduction Bible Verse 6:25 – 6:50 Exploration Time in the Classroom 6:55 – 7:20 Story Time in H100 7:25 – 7:50 Worship Time in Discovery Dock 7:55 – 8:15 Snack Creation Time Wrap-Up Review: Bible Story & Verse Additional Exploration Time or Fun Factory Activity in the classroom

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VBS 2017 PRESCHOOL MINISTRY MAP

NOTE: Some older 3’s and 4’s will be

assigned to rooms on the

Younger Preschool side of the hallway. These children will attend all

the rotations as their Pre-K and Kindergarten counterparts.

Younger

Preschool MiniVBS

(childcare) for volunteers’

children is also located on the

Younger Preschool side of the hallway.

Childcare activities will remain in the

Younger Preschool area.

BOYS’ RR

GIRLS’

RR

STORY TIME

H-100

PRESCHOOL

WORSHIP

Discovery

Dock

ELEVATOR

HOPE

JOY

Access to

Preschool VBS

classroom

areas from the

Hope Building

only

H-104

H-109 H-110 H-111

H-112

H-103 H-102

H-101

H-115

H-116

H-126

H-125 H-124 H-123

H-122

H-121

H-120

H-119

H-118

J-104

J-106 J-107 J-108

J-103

J-105

H-108

H-107

H-106

H-105

H-117

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MONDAY Bible Point: God made you. Bible Story: God lovingly creates people. Psalm 139; Genesis 1:26-2:4 Key Verse: “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!” Psalm 139:14 Consider This…

In Genesis 1:26, God speaks of himself in the plural form when He says “Let us make human beings in our image.” This is often thought of as a reference to the Trinity as well as an acknowledgment of God’s majesty. However, you may not know that throughout history, kings traditionally used plurals when referring to themselves. This “royal we” is known to have occurred in the Hebrew language and fits with the idea of the Trinity.

It’s interesting to note that after God created human beings on the sixth day, He looked at all He had made and saw that it was very good—not just good.

The book of Psalms is actually five different books put together. Each of the five books is thought to correspond with a book of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible).

Psalm 139 is part of the fifth book of Psalms. David wrote these primarily as songs of thanksgiving and praise that would’ve been set to music and used in communal worship.

Why It Matters… Today’s kids are in the unique position to compare themselves to the entire world. Social media gives us all a mirror to which we compare ourselves, and it can feel like there’s always someone who’s better, prettier, smarter, more athletic, more adventurous, and just all-around more! That’s why today’s message matters! You get the chance to share with the kids at your VBS that they were intentionally, lovingly, carefully crafted by God. You’ll have the opportunity to help kids (and even leaders) set aside the mirror and simply rest in the realization that the same God who created the entire planet also formed their fingers, toes, brain, and being with His skillful hands. Help kids discover that they’re one-of-a-kind creations of the most-high God who loves them dearly.

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TUESDAY Bible Point: God is for you. Bible Story: Rahab believes in God’s mighty power. Joshua 1-2 Key Verse: “If God is for us, who can ever be against us?” Romans 8:31 Consider This…

Joshua had already proven himself as a godly leader. When Moses sent spies into the Promised Land, Joshua was the leader who went on behalf of the tribe of Ephraim. Upon their return, only Joshua and Caleb had faith that God would give them the land He had promised.

Rahab’s short, yet crucial, role in this passage contains strong examples of faith, strength, grace, and mercy. Rahab may have impacted history in another way, as many scholars trace Jesus’ lineage back to her!

Joshua received plenty of training for his leadership position, serving as Moses’ personal aide for 40 years. (What a great internship!)

Joshua knew a thing or two about faith. At the time he took over as leader of the Israelite nation, he was one of only two remaining Israelites who had seen the plagues of Egypt and had been present for the entire exodus. He had seen God’s mighty power displayed time and time again.

Why It Matters…

Take a look around you and you’ll likely see people of all ages showing what they believe in. T-shirts proudly promote superheroes, ball caps shout logos of sports teams, bumper stickers tell what political candidates we like, and bracelets call out our connection to charitable causes. Kids know what it means to rally behind a cause, person, or team. So consider how the kids at your VBS will feel as they discover that God is for them! On days when they feel like they don’t have a friend in the world or when everything seems to be against them, kids can find comfort in knowing that God is on their side. Use every opportunity today to remind kids that God is championing their cause because of His unfailing love.

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WEDNESDAY Bible Point: God is always with you. Bible Story: God is with Gideon. Judges 6:11-7:25 Key Verse: “The Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 Consider This…

In Judges 6:11, Gideon is threshing wheat in the bottom of a wine press. People usually did their threshing above ground and often on a hill where the wind would blow away the chaff. However, in such a position, Gideon would have been an easy target for the raiders that plagued the area. Threshing his wheat in the hidden pit of a wine press kept his crops from being stolen.

Gideon followed God’s orders and destroyed the idols and altars to false gods. After this, people wanted to stone Gideon for his actions. Some of these people were Gideon’s fellow Israelites! This shows how far the Israelite people had fallen from God’s will.

The Amalekite and Midianite armies were camped in the valley of Jezreel, which was an incredibly fertile agricultural area and still is to this day. Whoever controlled this valley controlled all who lived around it.

The dream described in Judges 7:13 might seem a little strange without some historical context. At that time, barley was far less valuable than wheat; therefore, barley bread was considered inferior to wheat bread. Similarly, the Amalekite and Midianite armies considered Gideon’s army inferior to theirs. God simply used cultural symbols of value to demonstrate the surprising thing He planned to do!

Why It Matters… Researchers estimate that 1 in every 5 Americans struggles with loneliness. The kids and teens at your VBS are particularly vulnerable to such feelings, especially when you consider rampant bullying. Social media can create a false sense of connectedness that actually leads to physical isolation. (Think of how you feel when you see pictures of everyone else having fun without you.) Now more than ever, kids need to hear that God is with them. The kids at your VBS will be reassured to know that God is truly a constant companion who will never let them down. You have the chance to point out that a friendship with God satisfies our needs better than anything or anyone else.

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THURSDAY Bible Point: God will always love you. Bible Story: Jesus dies and comes back to life. Luke 22:66-24:12 Key Verse: “Your unfailing love will last forever.” Psalm 89:2 Consider This…

Pilate and the Jews didn’t really get along. Pilate had taken from their funds to build Roman architecture in the area and had brought imperial images into the city. Roman authorities had already warned Pilate about the mounting tensions in the area he ruled.

Pilate found Jesus innocent - he didn’t want to kill Jesus. In fact, Pilate likely thought the Jewish leaders were just jealous men who wanted to get rid of a rival. But when Jewish leaders threatened to report Pilate to Caesar, he compromised his beliefs and gave in to public demand for the sake of his career.

Interestingly, David foreshadows Jesus’ pain and suffering in amazing detail throughout Psalm 22. He writes of being mocked (verse 7), having His hands and feet pierced (verse 16), and people casting lots for His clothing (verse 18).

Most historians and scholars believe Jesus’ tomb was something like a cave, carved from the limestone hills surrounding Jerusalem.

Bringing spices to a grave was the Bible-times equivalent of bringing flowers to a grave today. It was a sign of love and respect.

Why It Matters… Of the many incredible things God offers us, His love is undoubtedly the greatest. Unfortunately, true love might be an increasingly difficult concept for the kids at your VBS to grasp. We claim to love everything from hamburgers to sports teams, so it’s easy to see where this confusion (or trivialization) comes from. But God’s powerful love is transforming because it’s unfailing and undeserved. That is unlike anything kids see around them! The kids and adults at your VBS will be unearthing evidence of God’s love as

long as they live - it’s just that big. Today you’ll help kids explore the fact that God’s pure love is real, unending, and stronger than our shortcomings. Kids simply don’t see examples of that in our culture today! Look for opportunities to set an example for the kids you interact with by demonstrating God’s unfailing love.