Happy November!! I love this time of the year. The weather is cooling down and the holidays are here. There are lots of families getting together and sharing meals. My favorite holidays happen during this time of the year (Thanksgiving and Christmas!!) and I love seeing all the generosity so many people display at this time of the year.

Around this time of year, people also begin taking account of what they are thankful for in life. There are so many things that we take for granted throughout the year that, when we pause and reflect, are huge blessings in our lives.

How are you going to help your kids remember all their blessings this year? Here are some ideas you could use in your home:

  • You can create a running list of “Gratitudes”! Whenever your family can sit together (maybe a meal or at bedtime), have each family member share one thing they are grateful for. Each day, a new thing is added to the list by everybody. If you start today and do it through the whole month of November, that list could get very long. As the month goes on, the large and obvious points of gratitude are already used and the things that can be taken for granted begin to get added to the list.
  • You can look up a new scripture about thankfulness as a family and write it down. The bible has a lot to say about gratitude and thankfulness. Want a few ideas? Here is a list with 55 verses about thankfulness from biblestudytools.com.
  • You can do one of the fun crafts listed in the article from this month’s Resource of the Month!

Whatever you choose to create an atmosphere of gratitude in your home, don’t forget you are doing discipleship with your children to have a heart of gratitude in their lives as they grow up. It doesn’t matter if you children are 2 or 12, there is always something to be reminded of when it comes to gratitude.

Over at TWCCKids, we are full of gratitude for each family that we have the privilege of connecting with. We don’t take it lightly that you have chosen us to partner with you as you disciple your children! As we head into the holiday season, if there is anything your family is in need of, please reach out to me.

With a heart FULL of gratitude,

Alicia “Allie” Varela
Director of Children’s Ministry

Tip of the Month

It’s very common for most of our friends to think like us, care about the things we care about, and believe what we believe. While it’s comfortable to be around people who are like us, it also limits our view of the world and our chances to find deep, life-altering relationships. So what can we do to model inclusivity and get out of our bubble?

Check out THIS VIDEO for some helpful tips!

Resource of the Month

Wondering how you can create a culture of gratitude in your home this November? One of the ways you can dig deeper into gratitude is by helping your kids discover all the things around them they can appreciate!

Check out THIS ARTICLE from David C. Cook about creating “The Wonder of Gratitude” in your home! It even has a few ideas for some fun crafts you can do this month with your kids!

Question of the Month

Hey families, we just have one question this month! What are you thankful for? Let us know!

Here’s what’s coming up in TWCCKids Ministry

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19TH: THANKSGIVING FAMILY SERVICE
TWCCKids will be closed on the Sunday before Thanksgiving for a special family service. There will be service bags available at the Central campus and Family Tables will be available in the Upper Room at the Olive Campus.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17TH: CHRISTMAS SPIRIT DAY
On Sunday, December 17th, TWCCKids will be having our crowd favorite Christmas Spirit Day! Bring your kids to their TWCCKids classroom dressed to show their Christmas Spirit! This could be their Christmas pajamas, a Christmas shirt, Christmas socks, whatever they have that shows how much they love Christmas! We will have special crafts, special treats and a special lesson for each classroom! Your kids will not want to miss this fun Sunday!

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24TH: CHRISTMAS EVE FAMILY SERVICES
TWCCKids will be closed on Christmas Eve for a special family service. There will be service bags available at the Central Campus and Family Tables will be available in the Upper Room at the Olive Campus.

Additionally, in our TWCCKids Children’s Ministry classrooms, we will be practicing special songs to sing during this Christmas Eve service. If you would like to practice the songs at home with your kids, CLICK HERE FOR THE SONGS.

What we're teaching

STAYCATION!: A 4-WEEK SERIES FROM GENESIS ON ABRAHAM & HIS FAMILY

SERIES OVERVIEW:

Grab some blankets and flashlights! We’re going to build a fort or jump on the couch because the floor is lava! That’s right — it’s time for a family staycation! In this series about Abraham and his family (and our families, too!), kids will learn that God blesses us so we can bless others and God always shows us compassion. That’s why we can trust God (even when it’s hard to trust each other), always belong in God’s family, and can make peace with others — especially the people who live with us!

DOWNLOAD THIS MONTH’S FAMILY GUIDE