I P C K I D S

Gather, Grow, Go Independent Presbyterian Church Children’s Ministry

May 2016

A Look Ahead May:

• “That Thing” started back this month and will continue every Wednesday night in May, June, and August at 6:30pm in the Romper Room

• VBS Teacher Training is Wed. night the 11th or 18th

at 6:00pm, or Sun. the 22nd

at 9:45am (choose one date out of the three) in Room 214

• Camp Palmer is May 27th-June 1st

June: • VBS (13th-17th)

Registration is open for Teacher/Leader and kid sign ups!!! www.indepres.org/vbs

Semester in Review In the month of February we participated in the GO Conference by welcoming Clarke and Krystia Norton to speak to the kids about their ministry in Ukraine (pictured below). In Christ In Action (CIA), we wrote many cards and letters to our homebound, new parents, staff and senior members. We also made valentines for the homebound members, and we finished up coloring pictures for VBS to hang in the elevators and stairwells. In March we continued our service oriented program (CIA) and also celebrated Palm Sunday and Easter. Praise the Lord that the Jesus is risen indeed! In April we supported our friends who sing and serve in IPC’s Children’s Choir as they sang the praises of Jesus. We give thanks that our children here at IPC are well loved and pointed to Christ in all things.

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Introduction Dear Parents,

We are so excited to announce the start of our monthly newsletter called Gather, Grow, Go! We want this letter to communicate to you all what is going on in the Children’s Ministry, pass on parenting and children’s resources, and provide ways for you and your family to serve.

Our church has taken steps to emphasize discipleship as a mission of the church; we believe that this starts in the home. Deuteronomy 6:5 is a commonly quoted passage, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” Often times the following verses are left out but are pivotal for the family (vs. 6-7), “And these words that

I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” We want to come alongside you and aid you in cultivating the mission that the Lord has given for the family. We truly look forward to serving you and assisting you as you raise your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

We also would love feedback and suggestions that will help us to better help you. Please let us know your thoughts as we are excited to provide this new form of communication for our church families! In Him, IPC Children’s Ministry Staff

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Meet the Staff We want to be more accessible to you and your kids so here is a little introduction to our staff. Feel free to contact us anytime!

Elizabeth Fowlkes (Director) efowlkes@indepres.org Elizabeth has been the Children’s Ministry Director at IPC for 17 years and has been such a faithful servant to the Lord and to the families at IPC and has loved all the children who have come through the church doors. She will be retiring in early August, and we will miss her so much, but thankful we will still see her smiling face as she continues to be a faithful church member. She is married to Rankin and has two sons, Sam and Tom. Sam attends Ole Miss where Tom will also go in the Fall.

Rhona Gibson (Assistant Director) rgibson@indepres.org Rhona has been in her position for the last five years but came to IPC three years prior to serve as one of the Children’s Ministry summer interns. She was born and raised in Scotland and had attended Smithton-Culloden Free Church, IPC’s sister church. She met her husband Griffin the year after her internship and they married soon after. They have an adorable three year old daughter named Maggie Nell. Rhona and her family will be moving to Daphne, AL this summer where Griffin will complete his residency. We are sad to see her go

but happy they will be living by the beach! Rachel Wukasch (Intern for now and future Assistant Director) rwukasch@indepres.org Rachel started at IPC as a summer intern in the Children’s Ministry right after she graduated from Union University. She was hired at the end of August to stay on as the resident Intern. Her degree is in Family Studies and absolutely loves working with children and their families. She recently finished up a nine month discipleship/Bible program called Downline. She has thoroughly enjoyed her year of learning from Downline and learning from Elizabeth and Rhona and looks forward to continuing serving the families at IPC.

Sandy Martin (Administrative Assistant) smartin@indepres.org Sandy is a woman of many talents. Not only is she the administrative assistant for us, but she is also the administrative assistant for Nursery and Women’s Ministry. She has been in her role for 18 years. She is wife to Bill, mother to two sons, and grandmother to her twin grandkids, Liam and Ruby. She loves her cats, enjoys sweets, and working in her garden. She does so much for us and we love her so!

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Ways to Serve • We are looking for volunteers to help

us with VBS prep work on Wednesday nights (6:30-7:30) in Room 204 or Thursday mornings (9:00-12:00) in the Romper Room. We will have donuts and coffee on Thurs. mornings! Childcare is provided. Please email your reservation to Cindy Wright at cwright@indepres.org. Hope to see you there!

• We need some items for our Summer Things 2016. So, if you would like to grab one or some of these items off the list please place it in the tub outside the VBS Room (209). Thanks!

• Bags of snack chips • Freeze Pops • Mini Bottles of water • Capri Sun

• We are still in need of teachers and leaders for VBS. Please sign up online at www.indepres.org/vbs or at the VBS table in the Lobby.

- Please be thinking and praying about being a Sunday school or Jr. Church teacher in our new Sunday school year which begins August 14th. We have once a month, twice a month, or weekly opportunities available to serve.