Happy New Year! As we look forward to the new opportunities that are ahead of us in 2021, let's take a moment to look back and reflect on what God accomplished through the Sherwood Kids West ministry in 2020:

• Incredible Wednesday night experience with small groups/interest groups for kids to learn how to use their gifts, skills, and interests to glorify God and bless others
• Joining God’s Family Class, helping 8 kids go deeper in their relationship with Jesus on a path toward salvation
• Porch visits and Zoom discussions with kids and weekly devotional and prayer time with volunteers
• 5th grade SuperStart conference and Graduation Parade
• Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt which shared the resurrection story and gospel message with our community
• Safely re-opening our in-person Sherwood Kids Sunday morning classes with average 60% attendance compared to normal, and several new families joining
• Launching aligned curriculum so kids and parents can share spiritual conversations at home
• Launching the Power Up With Prayer initiative
• Drive-thru Trunk or Treat, blessing our community with a safe, fun experience
• 24 Boxes packed for Operation Christmas Child to share the love of Jesus around the world
• An AMAZING Christmas program where the kids shared the love and hope we have in Jesus

In a year filled with obstacles and challenges, God was unstoppable as always! It is our honor and privilege to serve your kids and your family through this ministry in Jesus’ name.
 
On to 2021! Here’s what you can look forward to in January:

• Sunday classes are in-person at 9:30 and 11:00am for newborns through 5^th grade. Masks are required for kids over age 3. For more details, visit socc.org/kidswest
• Power Up With Prayer – Poster 2! Each week this ministry year, your kids can participate in Sherwood Oaks’ "Year of Prayer." We’re on Poster 2 of our 3-poster series! You can grab one on Sunday morning at the SK Welcome Center or during the week at Sherwood Oaks East.

1. Follow the Power Up prompts which will be posted on our social media each week.
2. Color in the corresponding color on your poster to track the growth in your child’s prayer life!

• January 31 – 5^th Sunday: Typically, on 5^th Sundays, our Elementary Kids join the main service to experience worship with their families; However, on January 31 we will be offering class and a service project opportunity for our Elementary Kids during both morning services. (The sermon content for that day is a bit mature, so it might be best for kids to be in a more age-appropriate environment that Sunday. Feel free to contact us with questions!)
• We will not be offering any midweek children’s programming or childcare this semester. We will re-evaluate our county’s advisory status at the end of the semester with the hopes of re-gathering midweek in August 2021.
• Mom2Mom starts January 25! This is a great opportunity for moms to connect with other moms and be encouraged on your motherhood journey. Check out https://www.socc.org/women/ for more details or to register.

Questions or Concerns? Contact Becky at
 
Keep up to date at socc.org/kidswest. Follow us on Facebook (@sherwoodkidswest) and Instagram (@sherwoodkids_west)
 
Blessings,
 
Becky Thompson
Nate May

We have some great things going on this month! Here’s what you need to know for September:

• In-Person Children’s Programming is happening on Sundays at 9:30am and 11:00am. We love seeing more and more of you each week! Hope you can join us soon. For re-gathering details, visit our website. If you’re interested a hybrid/virtual option for Sunday mornings, please email Becky at . If there is enough interest, we would be happy to engage with your kids that way!
• Power Up With Prayer. Today we launched our year of prayer initiative with Sherwood Kids! We are going to POWER UP our relationship with Jesus by spending time in prayer - listening to God, praising Him, asking Him to guide our lives and help us be more like Jesus! HOW TO POWER UP:

1. Follow the Power Up prompts which will be posted on our website and social media each Sunday. (Links below)
2. Pick up a poster from your local Sherwood Oaks campus. Color it in as we go along to keep track of how much you're growing in your faith walk with Jesus!

• Ask and Seek Videos. Kids have so many questions about God, the Bible, the church: who wrote the Bible, why do we sing at church, is God a person, what are angel wings made out of, did Jesus eat pork, etc. etc., etc. In the spirit of what Jesus says in Matthew 7:7, the Ask & Seek videos create a space for your kids to ask questions and find answers. So, ask your child if he/she has any questions, then use the form at socc.org/kids to submit the questions to us. We'll make and post a SK! Ask & Seek video that answers your child's question.
• SK! West Core Groups. These groups are designed to provide a safe space for kids to connect with other kids. Register at socc.org/kidswest, and we'll place your child in a group that suits his/her interests and availability. Interested in leading a Core Group? Click Here.
• Weekly Curriculum. We are working hard this year to align our teaching content across all ages. Starting this month, the sermon content, Early Childhood lessons, Elementary lessons and midweek study will now have similar scripture and themes. Use this to your advantage! This is a great way to start spiritual conversations in the car ride home, or while you’re eating lunch or dinner, etc.

If you have any questions, please reach out! Email Becky at .
 
Keep up to date at socc.org/kidswest. Follow us on Facebook (@sherwoodkidswest) and Instagram (@sherwoodkids_west)
 
Blessings,
 
Becky Thompson
Nate May

Hi, Sherwood Kids West Families!
 
There’s nothing like receiving the June Newsletter a third of the way into June! Anyone else feel like they’re stuck in some kind of time warp?? Well, here’s what you might want to know for the rest of this month:

• Online Resources will remain available for families to use throughout the summer. You can find them all at socc.org/kidswest or on our Facebook and Instagram accounts.
• We LOVED doing porch visits with so many of you! We were able to spend some time with about 30 of our SK friends, but we know there are so many more of you who we would love to see as well! Want Becky and Nate to come hang out with your kids for a bit – outside, from a distance, of course? Fill out this survey!
• Sunday Zoom Hangouts are still happening! You can register here, and your kids can join us on Sunday mornings around 10:30am for a special time together after the 9:30am livestream service. For now, we are cancelling the Zoom hangout on Wednesday evenings.
• We hope you can join us for these upcoming events at the Bloomington West campus:
  • Drive-Thru Communion and Prayer – Sundays from 11:00am-1:00pm.
  • Drive-In Worship – Wednesday evenings at 7:00pm on June 10, June 24, and July 8.
• The Upward Soccer 2020 season has been cancelled. We are going to miss you all this year and hope to still have the Upward Basketball and Cheerleading 2021 season. We'll keep you updated. 

Keep up to date at socc.org/kidswest. Follow us on Facebook (@sherwoodkidswest) and Instagram (@sherwoodkids_west)
 
Questions or concerns? Contact Becky at  .
 
Looking forward to seeing you soon!
 
Becky Thompson
Nate May