Faith Explorers

Our Kids' Clubs are church-sponsored weekly programs for young people. Faith Explorers is for children in grades 3 through 5.

Every Wednesday evening during Kids' Club programs, the children learn Bible stories and Bible verses, sing songs, play games, and participate in craft projects. Children earn awards for completing memory work. Our Redeemer Lutheran Church believes that these programs provide fun and enriching midweek Christian activities for children.

Journey
Our journey this year will consist of:

• Exploring the church's stained glass windows, and how they relate to the Creed.
• Further exploring Bible lessons that relate to each window.
• Learning scripture verses that reveal Jesus as the light of the world.
• Learning the Apostle's Creed, how it compares to the Nicene and Athanasian Creeds, and when the creeds are used in worship.
• An introduction to Martin Luther: who he was, and how his ideas affected the history of Christianity.
• Learning Luther's morning and evening prayers.

Dues & Supplies
Dues for Faith Explorers are $15/year, payable upon registration. Scholarships are available.

T-shirts
Faith Explorers wear a red/blue/white tie-dyed shirt. Students who still have their tie-dyed shirt from Pioneer Club are welcome to wear those shirts. Students who need new shirts will receive a tie-dyed shirt, with no logo. New shirts can be ordered on the registration form for $10.

Memory Work & Awards
During the 2009/2010 education year, the children will work on a song of the "New Testament" books of the Bible. For demonstrating their knowledge at the end of the year, they will receive a special prize.

Special Awards
We have several special awards that we have developed that any child is eligible to earn. We work on these throughout the year, and they are awarded on the last day of club. We do try to take these awards seriously and make sure that the children really know the material. More information about these special award opportunities will be forthcoming.

Bible - Pencil
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church provides students with a new student Bible in 3rd grade at a special Rally Day service in August. Students are expected to bring their Bible with them to class each week. Students who have not yet received a Bible should contact Stephanie Robinson, Director of Children's Education by telephone at (319) 338-5626 or by .
Students should also come prepared with a pencil each week.
**Students receive a special treat each week for coming prepared: wearing their club t-shirt, and bringing their Bible and pencil. To receive these incentives, students must be on time for Opening at 6:45pm.**

Calendar Open House
The 2009/2010 school year will begin with an Open House on Wednesday, September 2, 2009 at 6:45pm. Parents and students will have the opportunity to play fun games and earn prizes. At 7:30pm parents and students will meet with their teachers, where they will receive a ticket for a special cool treat, to be redeemed at the close of the evening.

Classes Begin
Classes will begin on Wednesday, September 9, 2009, promptly at 6:45pm in Pioneer Club Opening. We have many important things to cover, and ask that students arrive early each week.

Awards Night
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 (our last night of Kids' Clubs for the education year).

Family Carnival Night
A fun Church Family Carnival Night will be held in the spring on Wednesday, April 14, 2010.

Cancellation
If at any time during the year the Iowa City schools are canceled on a Wednesday, our Kids' Clubs programs (Pioneer Club and Faith Explorers) will also be canceled on that day. Stay tuned to Channel 9 KCRG for last minute weather-related cancellations.

Mission Projects
Throughout the year we encourage the children to bring weekly offerings, which we use to support ministries that we think benefit children.

Newsletters
A newsletter is produced usually at the beginning of each new unit to inform parents of the unit's content, the Bible verse, and any important information for that month.

PLEASE READ THE NEWSLETTER CAREFULLY.

Information about our Kids' Clubs is also updated often in our church's monthly newsletter (Beacon), and our weekly newsletter (Reflections). These can be viewed online www.ourredeemer.org or by stopping in the church office.

Snacks
We ask all parents to provide at least 3 cans of juice and 2 packages of cookies or crackers one time during each semester. By arranging with the snack coordinator, these can frequently be brought for your child's birthday, thereby doing double duty.

Birthdays
Throughout the year we celebrate each student's birthday (or half birthday, if they fall outside of our calendar), by acknowledging them in front of the whole club. We encourage parents to send a special snack or treat for them to distribute to their class.

Classroom Locations
See appendix for church map of classroom locations.

CONTACT INFORMATION
For more information about our Kids' Clubs, please contact Denise Schwarting at 358-9590.