Preschool: We have been keeping busy in the Preschool even though our doors are closed during the summer months. Enrollment continues to increase and we continue to welcome new families to our collective preschool family. We have been preparing for a new after-school program, ‘Explore More’, that will run from 11:45-1:30 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays for our current preschool families. Summer Fun Camp was attended by 29 campers ages 3-5 the week of August 17-21. The first day of Preschool is September 8 and our enrollment will be near 190 children this year.
Children & Family Ministry. It has been a full and exciting summer for Children and Family Ministry. We started off the summer with an awesome VBS, where we climbed Everest and learned about God’s mighty power. It was a week to remember with many at HPC coming together to serve for VBS. An average of 152 children attended each evening. Children and Family Ministry ended the summer with our annual Family Camp. Twenty-nine families attended Family Camp, with a total of 51 children. Many memories were made, and faith and relationships grew. If you haven’t experienced Family Camp – you will have to come next summer! Children and Family Ministry will be starting September off with a bang! We are excited about our ministry team of 23 children’s Sunday School teachers, who will be teaching our children using the D6 curriculum. D6 emphasis Deuteronomy 6:4-7 and connects the church and the home to help our families live as disciples of Jesus. In addition to Sunday School beginning Rally Day, September 13th, 2nd Grade Communion Class and 3rd Grade Bible are also starting as special faith milestone classes for our children. Join us for Sunday School this year!
Student Ministry. We had many of our youth students serve in mentoring roles during VBS, where they were able to demonstrate God’s love to those in elementary school in our church and community. We also had an incredible trip to Haiti with 10 individuals who were able to share the love of Jesus with Haitian children in an outdoor VBS program and help construct three homes for Haitian families. We also had a time of building up our volunteer team of adult leaders.
All students in 7th through 12th grade, can be a part of the student ministry family. We have a new team of leaders and new curriculum to begin the new school year, and want you to be a part of the fun! On September 13th, Rally Day, we will combine middle school and high school for the annual “messy party clothes party.” Our middle school students will be using the D6 curriculum for their study time this year at church and at home. Our high school students will be using small group curriculum from Life Tree Café that will shape their faith. Both groups of students will share in a fellowship meal each week. We will have several new counselors joining the Student Ministry leadership team this year.
Adult Education. A few of our adult Sunday School classes and Connect Groups did not meet this summer. However, on Rally Day, September 13th, we get back in full swing with classes. There will be 3 adult classes at the 9:30 am hour and 3 adult classes at the 11:00 am hour on Sunday mornings. There will be 1 adult class on Sunday night, a Tuesday morning and a Tuesday evening study this year. More information about the variety of classes will be in an upcoming worship insert. All classes are open. Several of our Connect Groups are receiving new people in their groups. If they fill up, we’ll work to create new ones. We want you connected. It is our hope you will take one of these opportunities to grow in your faith and Christian discipleship.
Blessings, Pastor Dave Weaver