Children & Youth

Rhythms of Rest: Jodi’s Sabbatical

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We all need rest and rest always produces life. It’s a natural law that applies to us humans as much as any other living thing. This is especially obvious during this time of year when we see dormant trees slowly waking up after a long period of “rest”. When we notice the first tulips and prairie crocuses pushing their way through the freshly thawed soil we’re reminded not only of the beauty of new life but also the bulbs and various seeds that were “resting” in the ground before they germinated. We humans are the similar, and we can surmise from the Genesis narrative, so is God (who rested on the 7th day). We’re made to live in rhythms of work and sabbath.

With these rhythms in mind we want to let you know we’re sending Jodi on a sabbatical.  It’s not that she’s burned out. Rather we want to give her time and space for extended rest, refreshment and rejuvenation.  The intertwining of pastoral and personal life is a delicate mix and sabbaticals are a normal part of staying fresh in pastoral life.  Her sabbatical will be May – July. Because of the interweaving of family life, Mike will also be stepping away from volunteer responsibilities during this time.

Here are the relevant hand off details in case you need to know who’s covering for what responsibilities:

Sunday am:

  • Caterpillars (Nursery):  Christy Chan
  • Butterflies (2,3 &4 year olds):  Tania Martens
  • Dragonflies (Pre K & K):  Merv Scott
  • Elementary (Grade 1-4):  Gloria Fligg & Andy Arthur
  • Kid Check:  Janet Blatz & Andrew Chan
  • Youth (Grade 5-7):  Doug & Rachelle Houlbrook & Kristin Kennedy
  • Youth (Grade 8-12):  Jason Eheler

Sat evening:  

  • Club 56:  Jeff Leighton & Kristin Kennedy
  • Sat Junior High:  Brent & Steph Woelke & Ian & Jess Williams
  • Senior & Junior Events:  Jason Eheler

Thursday:

  • Senior High:  Jason Eheler & James Ryan
  • Project Timothy:  Jason Eheler

Summer video series:  Tania Martens

Imaginative Prayer in Kids Church – Spring Update

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We are having fun continuing our journey into Imaginative Prayer with the Grade 1-7 gang!

Last Sunday, Grade 1-4: We explored chapter 16, “Forgiveness means we can forgive the sins of others.” What a valuable Jesus-focused message! As Jared Boyd states, “We’re trying to paint a broad picture of ways we can experience forgiveness: between us and God, between God and those who are lost, and between God and the people we interact with.” (136)

Pray that as we explore forgiveness that this generation would grasp how wide and deep and high the love of God is.

I wanna give a big shout out to our Sunday morning leaders, who are helping our kids know that they belong and are loved. Last week Marlese Hazeu, Josiah Koppanyi and Cliff Heide led small groups, while Gloria Fligg led the kids in a large group game called “bigger and better.” These kids not only had a lot of fun stealing gifts, but they were able to experience the path to forgiveness firsthand.

Last Sunday, Grade 5-7: Mike Labun led the Grades 5-7 on the same topic using an escape room/scavenger hunt he created. Kids hunted for clues and solved puzzles so they could break into a vault to retrieve an audio message on a USB stick. All of this led to a discussion on forgiveness.

Pray and Follow Along: We love our kids and youth at WCV. Pray that as we explore forgiveness that this generation would grasp how wide and deep and high the love of God is. As parents, keep on using this great resource by following along and trying the ideas in Imaginative Prayer. Here is the schedule:

  • April 22 – Week 18
  • April 29 – Week 19
  • May 6 – Week 20
  • May 13 – Week 21
  • May 27 – Week 22
  • June 3 – Week 23
  • June 10 – Week 24
  • June 17 – Week 25

 

Imaginative Prayer

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Hey parents of kids Grades 1-7!

We’d like to help you understand how the Imaginative Prayer book can power you up in spiritually leading your kid/youth/family.

What we’ve been doing: After a wonderful season in Gifts4God, we are back in our regular rhythms in Kids Church and Youth Sundays. We are really excited about how we’ve been exploring the Imaginative Prayer book with the Grade 1-4 class @ WCV. The Grade 5-7 class are also following along! The first six weeks we’ve had various leaders lead in the Imaginative Prayer in the large group. All four of us who have led in some way so far, have been a part of Spiritual Direction in these last two years. What a delight it is to now be able to lead the kids in this. Jared Boyd, the author of Imaginative Prayer, was our teacher and is our friend! Thanks to Gloria Fligg and all of our small group leaders in Kids church.

Using the “Imaginative Prayer” book to power your spiritual leadership:

The parent or mentor section: It can be easy to go through our week, not giving time or space for God to speak to us, especially with the busyness of our schedules, but the book can save you time by giving you something to build off of. We encourage you as parents to briefly/deeply look at the “parent or mentor” section of the chapter with your kids.

This past week: Small group leaders led the kids in week 8. This coming Sunday, Jan 28th, we are exploring week 9. Dig in and find out how you can follow up and discuss with your child. See Jodi if you do not yet have a copy of Imaginative Prayer.

We’re in sync: If you have kids in elementary and youth (grade 1-7), you will be happy to know we are in sync with them, so we’re using the same chapter on the same week.

Talk to Jodi if you have any questions. As the spiritual influencers in your home, we pray that God would lead you and nudge you as you parent your most precious gifts.

Gifts 4 God & Imaginative Prayer

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Hey parents of kids Grades 1-12!

We’d like to catch you up with what we have been doing in Elementary kids church and to prepare you for the break as we launch into our Gifts4God season. You literally can “catch up” as we break until the regular program resumes on Jan 14th. We’d like to help you understand how the Imaginative Prayer book can power you up in spiritually leading your kid/youth/family.

What we’ve been doing: We are really excited about how we’ve been exploring the Imaginative Prayer book with the Grade 1-4 class @ WCV. The Grade 5-7 class are also following along! The first six weeks we’ve had various leaders lead in the Imaginative Prayer in the large group. All four of us who have led in some way so far, have been a part of Spiritual Direction in these last two years. What a delight it is to now be able to lead the kids in this. Jared Boyd, the author of Imaginative Prayer, was our teacher and is our friend! Thanks to Gloria Fligg and all of our small group leaders in Kids church; we’ve had a wonderful start this fall.

Using the “Imaginative Prayer” book to power your spiritual leadership:

  1. The parent or mentor section: It can be easy to go through our week, not giving time or space for God to speak to us, especially with the busyness of our schedules, but the book can save you time by giving you something to build off of. We encourage you as parents to briefly/deeply look at the “parent or mentor” section of the chapter with your kids.
  2. This past week: Cliff led us in Chapter 6.  Dig in and find out how you can follow up and discuss with your child. See Jodi if you do not yet have a copy of Imaginative Prayer.
  3. We’re in sync: If you have kids in elementary and youth (grade 1-7), you will be happy to know we are in sync with them, so we’re using the same chapter on the same week!

 

What’s coming up: Gifts4God starts this coming Sunday Oct 29th-Dec 3rd.

What is Gifts4God?   Gifts4God is a time when we get to celebrate how God has made all of our kids and youth in a special way. When we read Psalm 139, we discover that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Kids get to choose what they love to do, whether it’s art, sports, dance, drama or cooking and they can sign up for what they love! We are so excited to begin this season again.

When?  Gifts4God will be for the next 6 Sundays Oct 29-Dec 3.  The Christmas Kids & Youth service will be on Dec 10th.

Why?  “I was just getting into the Imaginative Prayer book with my child. Why the change?” Gifts4God is an annual rhythm at WCV. The kids and youth look forward every year to this special time. This break in the regular program will give you some space to check out the book more and discover how it can work for your family in the New Year. We will be on Week 7 on Jan 14 and look forward to having families follow along. Please see Jodi for your free copy and read more about how to use the book.

Please note which class your child has signed up for, so when you are at the computers on Sunday am, you sign them up for the correct class. The list will also be available by the computers on Sunday. Any adjustments that need to be made, we will make them as we go! Please be aware of the various drop off rooms at WCV and pick up spots that will be new for these six weeks. The times remain the same as a regular Sunday with drop off at 10:45 and pick up at 11:45. (Please note that sports will start 5 minutes earlier due to the walk to YFC building. As well any kids or youth in sports must have a waiver signed by parents).

>>WCV Youth Waiver

~ Jodi Labun

Sunday Morning Kids Check – Download the App!

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During Sunday mornings, parents are missing part of worship because of the line-up at the KidCheck computers.  You might be one of them! If you have a smart phone, we want you to make the line-up shorter by following the instructions. If you don’t have one of those phones, be glad that people are doing this so you can get in faster too!

Get your password and app:

  1. On your phone: Download the KidCheck app from your app store OR at a computer: go to go.kidcheck.com
  2. Choose: “Forgot My Password”
  3. You will be asked to enter an email.
  4. You will be emailed a password (re)set link
  5. Create a password
  6. Log onto the app using the password

Time-saving tip: Before you click “Submit,” click on the gear key in the bottom right hand corner.  You will see “Remember Username,” and “Remember Password” appear, with little sliding circles to the right. Slide them so a blue area appears, and you won’t have to input the information again, unless you delete and reinstall the app.

Signing into Kidcheck on Sunday – When you get to church on Sunday, sign in like this:

  1. Open your app
  2. If you didn’t sign in, see #6, above
  3. In the bottom left corner, choose “Check-In”
  4. Choose “Use Express Check-In”
  5. Choose “New Check-In”
  6. Follow the prompts
  7. Pick up the tags at the station without a computer

Note: If you’re in the downstairs gathering, you can get your seat and sign in from there, then go and pick up your tags!

Imaginative Prayer Launch in Kids Church

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Parents, we are so excited as we launch into Imaginative Prayer with the Grade 1-7 this fall and winter!

Jared Patrick Boyd is the author.  Jared was my spiritual direction teacher in my first year at the School of Spiritual Direction.  He is a pastor and a father to four children.  His heart is amazing and you can read all about his vision in his introduction to Imaginative Prayer or hear Jared here.

In Kids Church we will be going through a lesson per week.  You can follow along as parents and follow-up with your child.  As Jared states on page 25-26 “This book is not a guide for busy parents.  It’s an invitation for busy parents to slow down, take some deep breaths, and recognize that you are the most important person in your child’s life and spiritual formation.  There is no environment your church can create to compete with the kind of connection that you are able to nurture with your child.”  You’ll find if you give yourselves to this process (even if you can’t do all the exercises), you will experience growth.

Here’s what our fall calendar will look like.  Feel free to follow along!

  • Sept 10 – Week 1
  • Sept 17 – Week 2
  • Sept 24- Week 3
  • Oct 1 – Week 4
  • Oct 8 – Thanksgiving – No Kids Church
  • Oct 15 – Week 5
  • Oct 22 – Week 6
  • Break for Gifts4God until the New Year . . .

There are also some new changes to our structure.  Grades 1-4 will continue to meet upstairs in Kids Church with our AMAZING team. Grades 5-7 will have a new youth team meeting with them in the youth room.  Grades 8-12 will meet in the Comfy Couch Room.

“This book is about connection because of the way Jesus asks us to imagine our life with him – he is the vine, his Father is the gardener, and we are connected to him.  This is how we bear fruit.  This is the image he give us.  This is what he asks us to imagine.”  (13, Imaginative Prayer)

WCV is providing one copy per family.  (More copies of this book are on order and will be here the week of Oct 13)

Filled with hope at what’s ahead . . .

~ Jodi Labun

A New Season of Breathe – 2017

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It’s almost that time of year again. A new season of Breathe is on the horizon, and anticipation is in the air! 

We are starting out with a Welcome Party, September 20th, followed by: Stories of Us, Worship, Skill Workshops, Special Guests, a Workshop Series facilitated by Naila Janzen, and more.

All women of all ages are welcome! Looking forward to seeing you there!

~ Naila Janzen

Project Timothy Update

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We’ve had an incredible week in Landenburg, PA @ Project Timothy.  We’ve grown together with over 100 youth.  We’ve worshipped together, absorbed teaching, allowed for personal formational time with God, participated in prayer ministry, small group and outreach.  We’ve discovered more about ourselves and become more aware of God’s movement in our lives.  We’ve created friendships from all over the US Vineyard to help us forge ahead on this journey we are called to as we go our own ways…until next year!

Thank-you WCV’ers for supporting our youth this year and investing in these young lives.  We could not have done this without you!

Jodi

Youth Leaving for Project Timothy

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The apostle Paul met Timothy when Timothy was very young.  Paul saw his potential and spent years investing in Timothy’s gifts, training him as a leader, and releasing him into meaningful ministry.  Project Timothy’s goal is to inspire, motivate, train, and release a group of young leaders in the Vineyard!

We are so excited to send seven of our youth to PT to be in this environment and have God continue His work of transformation in their lives.

Pray for our team as 7 youth and 2 leaders fly to PA. Seven of us are flying out on Friday morning, and the other two on Monday.

We will be in PA from July 28-Aug 5.

Thanks for your prayers!

Project Timothy Coffee House Fundraiser

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Hey everyone, our event is around the corner.  This event is to raise money for Project Timothy, a US Vineyard discipleship bootcamp.  It’s a life-changing event for our youth.  God has used this camp to change lives and transform some of our youth.  Come on out and support them!  We have a group of 10 people from WCV going this year!

  • Saturday, April 29, 7pm

  • Flatlanders Studio (3rd Floor) 782 Main.

  • Tickets available at the door for $10 / person.

PS and bring lots of cash for our amazing gift raffle prizes and 50/50!  Dessert, coffee and entertainment…come on out….

Second Annual Youth Coffee House

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The youth are fundraising again for Project Timothy! Please consider joining them at their Second Annual Coffee House Fundraiser on April 29th at Winnipeg Centre Vineyard. All the great things from last year are back! That includes live music, coffee, great eats and treats, raffle prizes and a 50/50 draw!

Tickets are only $10 if you buy them in advance!

We would love to have some amazing dessert donations or prizes for the raffle gift baskets! Please contact Jodi Labun if you are able to donate to support our youth.

Youth Fundraiser Lunch

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Come to our youth fundraiser lunch this Sunday, Feb 26th following the service to support our youth as they raise funds to go to their discipleship bootcamp!

Lunch is $20/family or $5/person.  Contact Jodi if you are able to donate a pot of chili or help out in any way.  It’s great when we can eat together!