Fall is underway....
We are enjoying the beautiful Marin fall days and getting in the last few bits of outside fun with our families. Our school routines are in place and life is feeling "orderly" once again. Don't we just love fall? Fall at Hillside is lovely also. We have a large group of people who are growing spiritually and getting to know one another through the Alpha Course as well as another group that is studying the Life of Jesus. HillsideKids is back in the fall rhythm and this month in UpStreet/Avenue252 we are looking at Individuality and how God created each of us uniquely with a purpose. Waumba Land is wrapping up their Creation study and our children know that God made them and loves them. And God said it was good!
Website Updated and Mobile Website is up and running
Please take a few minutes to check out the updated webpages for HillsideKids at www.hillsidemarin.org which is now easily accessible from your mobile devices. Information on the website is more of a static nature and this blog will contain more of the activities and information kind of info so be sure to bookmark this blog and check it frequently or use the link in the Hillside Newsletter to access it at least once a month.Registration Forms - yes, you do need to fill out a new form each year
On your next Sunday at Hillside, please arrive a few minutes early to complete a new registration form for each of your children. A new form needs to be completed each school year and because of the amount of paperwork that parents fill out in September we decided to not push this until October.On those forms you must choose your primary service that your child will attend so that we can have our ministries appropriately staffed by volunteers. You are also notified on that form that ALL parents/grandparents/guardians are expected to volunteer as subs at times when needed. Email addresses and cell phone numbers (to use during service to reach you if needed) are required along with your child's date of birth and grade level.
Holidays
I know you don't want to think about it but it's coming - the Holidays!As you plan your calendars here is what you need to know about what is going on within HillsideKids:
Children's ministry is fully staffed by volunteers. We are running two services and staff according to our average attendance which means that our 9:30 service has the most needs for subs and that our 11:00 is staffed to only take care a small number of children who attend weekly. If we hit a situation where volunteers are not available, then rooms and age-levels may not be available. So your occasional volunteering on a Sunday morning can make a huge impact so please consider serving whenever you are able.
Specific dates where we have adjusted program to reflect the lack of available volunteers:
- Sunday, December 23rd - Childcare only for 5 year olds and younger
- Monday, December 24th - Two Family Friendly services will be held at 4:00 and 6:00pm w/childcare for 5 and under.
- Sunday, December 30th - Childcare only for 5 years old and younger
For these dates above, we still need volunteers, we just won't try to run any program so that we can have higher adult:child ratios and minimize our age ranges. Children over the age of 5 are welcome to be in the Auditorium with their parents and I suggest that parents with children sit at the back of the sanctuary to minimize movements to/from restrooms, water fountain etc.
Between now and the end of the year
Volunteers are needed...if you are in town for a holiday - please consider serving in Children's Ministry. Many of the regular volunteers are here week in and week out throughout the school year and need to have a break during the holidays to tend to their own families needs.Volunteer Openings:
- URGENT: 2 year olds Leader at 9:30 to alternate monthly with our existing leader. One month on-one month off. Needs to start in November.
- 2-5 year olds Leader at 11:00 to alternate monthly with our existing leader. One month on-one month off. Needs to start in January.
- 1x month helpers in all age-levels of Waumba Land (0-2 year olds, 3-5 year olds) at both services.
If you'd like more information about these positions, please contact me directly at terri@hillsidemarin.org.
What happens if there are not enough volunteers?
Ministry cannot continue without safety in place for our kids. The truth is that age-levels may need to be closed until volunteers are located from within the parents of those attending that day. Absolutely not what we want to do but we cannot expect our other volunteers to do more than they are already doing.Reminder - Please be on time
All of our environments are closed to incoming children 15 minutes after the start of each service. Children may be checked in anytime from 15 minutes before until 15 minutes after so that you have an adequate window of opportunity to get to church. We offer supervised preservice activities for those kids arriving before service times that include time on the playground, music and play dough.October HillsideKids Activities
Pumpkin Patch "Meet There"
Thanks to everyone who came out for the "Meet There" event at the Petaluma Pumpkin Patch. It was a nice day spent with other families from Hillside while our kids played in the dried corn like a ball pit, climbed the mountain of hay bales, pet animals in the petting zoo, rode a pony or played in a bounce house and some families took home a pumpkin to make into their jack-o-lantern. I will put a few photos up on the HillsideKids Facebook page. If you haven't "liked" our page yet, please do so today!A special thanks to Jessica Pridemore for organizing and publicizing this event!
Jessica is our Waumba Land Coordinator and preps our materials each week for Waumba Land as well as coordinates & trains our volunteers. Jessica and her husband, Pastor Steve, are expecting their second child in November so she will be taking her leave from November 1st through January 31st. We are expecting her back in February. In the meantime, please keep her in your prayers.
Avenue252 Halloween Party
We also have an event coming for our preteen kids in Avenue252 - a Halloween party!- Date: Friday, October 26
- Time: 6:30-9:00pm
- Location: The home of Alex Lavine, 8 Heavenly Way, Mill Valley
- What to wear: Costumes welcomed but not mandatory.
- What to bring: A bag or bowl of your favorite snack.
- RSVP please: Jane Lavine (j_lavine@hotmail.com)
We are asking that this be a party just for the preteens so please no younger siblings at this event. Parents are welcome to stay and visit too.
We will have games and activities, music and food. Our goal is to help parents and kids connect in community, have fun and in hope that kids will connect again on Sundays in more significant ways.
November HillsideKids Activities
Gilead House Christmas - I am currently looking for ways for us to meet some of the Christmas needs of the six families that call Gilead House their home. I will be working with their director to find a way to add to whatever they are currently planning. More information to follow.
