Wow! We had a beautiful start to April celebrating Easter with so many of you! We had record attendance in our Sherwood Kids classes, and it was our joy and honor to celebrate that Jesus is Alive with your kids! Here’s what you can look forward to for the rest of this month and beyond:

• Power Up With Prayer – Our third and final poster is available for pick-up at the Sherwood Kids Welcome Center on Sunday mornings. Take one for each child, and follow along with us on our social media each week as we PLUG IN by reading scripture and POWER UP through prayer!
• VBX Block Party Registration is Open! Block Parties will take place June 7-11 at various homes/locations in our community. CLICK HERE to learn more and to register your child.
  • Want to Host a VBX Block Party in your neighborhood? REGISTER HERE
• Upward Soccer Registration is Open! Upward Soccer is a program designed to help families discover Jesus through sports. It is for boys and girls 4 years old through the 6th grade. All teams are co-ed, players get Upward reversible jerseys and shorts, and all games are played at Sherwood Oaks Bloomington East soccer fields. For more information and to register, CLICK HERE.
• Save the Dates:
  • Sunday, May 2 – 5^th Graders visit Youth Group at 11:00am (contact Hannah Eagan for more information,  )
  • Sunday, June 6 – Promotion Sunday! Incoming 1^st graders move up to Elementary class, and incoming 6^th graders move up to Youth Group.
  • Friday, June 11 – Summer Kick-Off – Details TBA
• Have a heart for helping kids know Jesus? There’s a place for you to serve on the Sherwood Kids team! Fill out this interest/availability form, and Becky will contact you with next steps!

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

Here’s what you can look forward to this month in Sherwood Kids West!

• Pajama Sunday is on March 14. “Spring Forward” with your clocks, and send your kids to church in their pajamas!
• Save the date! VBX Block Parties 2021 will be on June 7-11.Times and locations will vary. Trainings for site leaders will take place at the beginning of April and May. For more information or to register to be a site leader or volunteer, visit socc.org/kids. (Child registration will open on March 28.)
• Sherwood Kids! Palm Sunday on March 28. Join us for worship at 9:30 or 11:00am to see the kiddos wave palm branches. (There will be regular programming for kids of all ages.)
• The Easter Family Prayer Experience will be on April 2 & 3 at Karst Farm Park. Drop in with your family any time between 3:00pm and 6:30pm and pray through the Easter story together as you walk through 6 interactive prayer stations. (Rain location is Amvets/SOCC West Campus)
• Easter Sunday is April 4!
  • Sunrise Service at 7:00am
  • Worship Services at 9:30am and 11:00am (full children’s programming available)
  • Easter Egg Hunt at 10:40am in the field beside Amvets. (We are collecting donations of individually wrapped candy and small filler items starting this Sunday. We do not need eggs donated this year.)
• Power Up with Prayer. Each week this ministry year, your kids can participate in Sherwood Oaks’ "Year of Prayer." Simply pick up a "Power Up with Prayer" poster for each of your kids at the Sherwood Kids Welcome Center on Sunday morning. Then, follow the weekly prayer prompts at socc.org/kids and on Instagram and Facebook.

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)

Hi, Sherwood Kids West Families!

Here’s what you need to know for the month of February: 

• “Family Night In” at Sherwood Oaks EAST is on Friday, February 12. Arrive any time from 6:00-7:00pm to play a round of putt-putt in the church and/or pick up a Family Night In kit to have some family fun at home. Visit socc.org/kids for more information and to register.
• CIY SuperStart - registration is open for 5^th graders! This 2-day (overnight optional) event is a great opportunity for 5th graders to learn some outstanding Bible lessons, to connect with their peers and leaders, and to meet the Student Ministry leader. It will take place on March 5-6 at Sherwood Oaks East, and the cost is $25. Registration Deadline is February 21. Visit socc.org/kidswest to learn more and to register.
• SAVE THE DATE: VBX Block Parties will take place June 7-11. It will be an exciting time for us to build relationships and have spiritual conversations with our neighbors that will continue even after the event is over. Site leader registration will open on February 28, and participant registration will open on March 28. For more information in the meantime, feel free to contact Becky at
• Power Up with Prayer. Each week this ministry year, your kids can participate in Sherwood Oaks’ Year of Prayer. Pick up a "Power Up with Prayer" poster for each of your kids and follow the weekly prayer prompts at socc.org/kids and on Instagram and Facebook. (Posters are available for pick-up at the Sherwood Kids Welcome Center on Sunday mornings or during the week at Sherwood Oaks East.)
• Check out SK! Online Resources on Facebook, on Instagram, and at socc.org/kidswest! All our resources are designed to help families to grow in their relationship with Jesus and stay connected with our faith community.

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

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