The Fall/Winter Season has brought many into our ministry on Sunday morn-

ings. Since September we have registered 15 new children in the Kids’ GIGG

program. From newborns to nearly teens, the Lord has been blessing us with

the privilege and pleasure of getting to know and serve children (and their par-

ents) whom we did not know before! This is exciting...and daunting!

Perhaps you’ve been feeling the Lord tug at your heart to get involved with the

Kids’ GIGG ministry? There are SO many areas in which one could find minis-

try fulfillment.

Worship Time, Craft Time, Bible Story Time, Game Time - can you see your

gifts being used in any of these areas? Snack time: how about baking some-

thing delicious and nutritious for the children ever once in a while? There are

organizing tasks, filing and administration, communication - are any of these

your cup of tea?

If you LOVE the idea of ministering to the next generation (or even the one

after that!), we’ve got all kinds of cool stuff you can get in on. Come on! What

are you waiting for? Grow with us!

A Letter from our sponsored Compassion Child...

Dear Children of First Baptist Church,

I thank you for choosing me. My father is called Sanou Ad-

ams. He is a farmer. My mother is Sanou Mariam. She is do-

ing small trading. I have two sisters and we live in the dis-

trict 24 OJ Bobo. I like eating rice and playing ball. I like the

blue color and the chicken as [an] animal. Do you have a car?

Please, I want you to pray for my family!

Signed, Mohamed Sanou.

And, Indeed, We Are Growing!

February memory verses:

4-6 year olds:

1 John 4:19 “We love God

because He first loved us.”

1st-3rd graders:

1 Peter 3:8 “Finally, all of

you, have unity of spirit,

sympathy, love for one an-

other, a tender heart and a

humble mind.”

4th-5th graders:

1 Peter 3:8-12

Recite your memory verses

to Pastor Donna on any Sun-

day morning for points and

prizes! The more verses, the

more points and prizes!

From the Director of Summer Academy

2

Librarian Heather’s Book 3

Rainforest Room almost ready for littlest ones

3

Marikka’s Paprika: 3

Compassion “Date Night” Fundraiser

4

Who’s Tending the Gar-den? Parent Schedule

4

G.I.G.G. Wish List 4

Inside this issue:

February 2012

First Baptist Bellingham Children’s Ministry

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me…” -Matthew 19:14

Growing in God’s Garden

Page 2 Growing in God’s Garden

A Letter from the 2012 Director of Summer Academy, Bethany Flint

FBC Family,

I am honored and thrilled to direct Summer Academy this year! I love watching our church come together for the children of our com-munity. This day camp experience, unique to First Baptist, reminds me of a beautiful hot air balloon glowing and gliding on a summer night. Friends, in five short months, Summer Academy will be soar-ing!

The children are the fabric of the balloon, full of energy, while the “fire” of the Holy Spirit provides the power for movement. When you come lead a class, pack a snack, drive a van, play a game, bring supplies, pray, share a smile, you are acting as the rope that pro-vides guidance for the dynamic fabric. I view my role as the basket that provides support for the indispensable ropes. Let me know how you would like to be involved in Summer Academy and come soar with us!

So, go to your calendar (yes, now, please.), flip the page five times, and write “FBC Summer Academy!!!” on July 9-13. Then write “Summer Academy Finale” on July 15. Then call the children you know, who are entering first through sixth grade, and tell them to do the same.

Soaring together,

Bethany

Lowry, Lois. Number the Stars.

This is the story of how the people of Denmark saved most of the country's Jewish population from the Nazis

during WWII, told through the eyes of the fictional young Annemarie Johansen. Though Annemarie's family is

Lutheran and their neighbors the Rosens are Jewish, this matters little to the friendship they share. When the

Nazis come looking for Jews, friends and relatives of Annemarie all join together to hide the Rosens and spirit

them away safely to Sweden. Annemarie isn't sure if she'll be brave enough to help when the time comes, but

when it is up to her to save her friends, she finds that love gives her the courage to try. The bravery of the Dan-

ish people during WWII is truly an example of what Jesus said in John 15:13 (NIV): “Greater love has no one

than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.” Lowry's book is a moving testimony that the good of God is indeed at work in

the world through the hearts of human beings, even during the darkest of times.

Heather Williams is a long-time member of FBC who loves books and reading, as evidenced by over seven years spent working in

libraries. She currently works in library technical services at Whatcom Community College. Her studies toward her Masters degree in Library and Information Science have included children's and young adult literature.

What’s on the Shelf? FBC Children’s Library Book Review by Heather Williams

Play-doh, modeling clay and home-made dough afford

children the fun of making “creations” they can easily

change and “undo.” Other art materials, such as paint

and crayon, do not have this “undo” factor- once it’s on,

it’s on. Having a material to easily manipulate during

their play can help many children relax, focus and ex-

press themselves.

“Fake Snow Dough” is a recipe from Art & Creative De-

velopment for Young Children by Robert Schirrmacher

and Jill Englebert Fox. Kids’ G.I.G.G. children have

been playing with Play-doh before class starts, and have

been baking for their restaurant, First Baptist Restau-

rant. Making fake snow to play with will add to the fun!

Marikka’s Paprika: “SNOW” DOUGH by

Last fall Kids’ GIGG was thrilled to receive from the FBC Women’s Ministry the gift of Room

6 for our growing group. Inspired by the creative minds of Jamie Nichols and Bethany Flint,

the new design includes vibrant colors, age-appropriate activity centers, as well as improved

safety features. Many thanks to many hands for bringing this dream into reality. Special

shout-outs to the Middle School Youth for doing some priming work and to Monica & Marikka

Matheny for donating hours and hours of brushstrokes.

All materials and labor—from vision to imple-

mentation– were generously donated. Lots of

Seeds & Sprouts “Rainforest Room” Nearing Completion

Page 3 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me…” -Matthew 19:14

RECIPE:

3 bars of Ivory soap

1 to 2 rolls of toilet paper

Hot water

Grate the soap. Tear individual sheets of toilet

paper. In a big bowl mix the grated soap with

the torn toilet paper. Slowly add a few table-

spoons of hot water. Mix with your hands until it

reaches the consistency of whipped dessert top-

ping. Add more hot water if needed.

Who’s Tending the Garden?

SAFE AND SOUND POLICY: In a church

(public) setting, a minimum of 2 adults

is necessary to provide safe childcare

for even 1 child between the ages of 0-

42 months. Additionally, we work to

keep the following child/teacher ratios

whenever possible:

INFANTS: 0-6 months: 2 babies: 1 adult

CRAWLERS: 7-12 months: 3:1

TODDLERS: 13-18 months: 4:1

WALKERS: 18-42 months: 5:1

Room #6 Seeds & Sprouts (0-42

months)

2/5 Veronica Smith & Barb Johns

2/12 Kim Cancelosi & Natalie Reeves

2/19 Kimberlee Terry & Cheryl Bowhay

2/26 Susan Reeves & Marikka Matheny

* Monica Matheny assisting each week

Room #1 Little Leaves (3 1/2-6 yrs)

Teacher—Marikka Matheny

Assistants:

2/5 Stephen Smith

2/12 Simeon Smith

2/19 Kristin Park

2/26 Family Worship Sunday

Room #2 Berries and Blossoms (1st-5th

grades)

2/5 Bethany Flint & Pastor Donna

2/12 John & Sara Lovell

2/19 Carole & Sunny

2/26 Family Worship Sunday

Sweethearts Date Night

Kids’ G.I.G.G. Wish List

Drop your little darlings at the church on Monday, Febru-

ary 13th from 5 –8 pm and take your sweetheart out!

For only $2.50 (suggested donation) your children will enjoy games, crafts,

pizza and popcorn and YOU will enjoy 3 uninterrupted hours of each oth-

er’s company! Sweet deal for a worthy cause.

All proceeds to support our Family Ministries’ Compassion Child,

Muhamed Sanou.

MUST register NO LATER than FEB 1st

donna@firstbaptistbellingham.com or 240-687-4441

1) New carpeting

2) New safety flooring

3) Quality wooden toys

4) Group circle parachute

Crafting Fun from

Jan 21st

Compassion Event

Tissue Pom

Bouquets by

Kezia and

Kristin P.

and Duct

Tape Treas-

ure Box by

Talia P.

“Lovery”

Greeting

Cards by

Micah F. and

Linnea P.

Myra P. watches from

her pillow fort.

Compassion Crafts on Sale in the Social Hall Feb 5th & 12th