Hi EveryoneI am so excited, we started our first FW Friends program Wednesday night. We have named our program Friends Place. We named it that because it is a place to meet old friends, new friends and our best Friend ever Jesus.
We have only 1 hour from 6:30 to 7:30, I have 30 children registered and 23 showed up, Some were sick, some had homework.
I have 5 circle leaders who are great, and 1 game leader who will be coming every week, and 4 Center leaders, a different center each week along with games.
As it is Feb and the end of the quarter it makes for a great testing month.
We had a great time, the kids and leaders loved it. I am the opening and closing leader and a circle leader.
I got some funny hats and am decorating them acording to our whacky Holiday. It was a lot of fun. I also added a Whacky Door Prize, It is just a dollar prize, we put everyones name in a box and drew a name.
Everything went pretty smooth. We did not use any chairs, except at Journal time. Everyone sat on the floor, but I needed a chair. The kids didn't mind. I will subject if they would like to use a table in my circle we can.
Time went so fast, I was glad that the church service went overtime.
I made cue cards for each thing, Like the first sign says we are in Celebration Statiion. On the back I put a slip of paper, that say Welcome to Friends Place, you are in celebration Station, where we will be celebrating in song and praise, Bible Drama, It is now time for. Ane then I pick up the "Worship cue card. I made some really neat pictures from the computer, like The Worship cue card has three bears singing.
The cue cards help me to remember what is next and what to say. The Bible Drama cue card has what to say after the Bible Drama. I also write the Bible Point at the end of each cue card. It is a fun way to remember what to say without looking in the book.
Some of my cards have blank spaces such as "Do your Journal Page Temp. and Talk it in
lesson _____ and then I just put the lesson number in pencil and can just erase it for next week.
Now about the kids, they loved it. I had a cue card for closins with two martians waving good bye, The back said "Sad to say it is now closing time, turn to your circle friend and say "See you next week at Friends Place" They kids were sorry to see it end. They gave great reports to the Pastor and parents. When I went down, the Pastor said , I already good some great reports. My Pastor is excited about this program as I am.
People keep say all she talkes about is Friends Place. I can't help it, I love this program.
Well I am sorry for going on so long. I will try to be shorter next time.
If you are doing this program, It is the greatest. I just love it. I call it the loving, caring, nurturing time for our kids. Oh yes, one young man, who said he did every thing the training tape said not to do. After our first day, he came to me and said It was great and I didn't do any of the things I wasn't to do, I love my circle of Friends kids. It goes to show, this program is so different, as it also helps adults to be more like Christ.
Well Bless all of you who are working with FW Friends.
Evalen