It's finally Fall! And we have some exciting Fall activities coming up!!

In Sunday School, our littlest learners are learning about Noah and the Flood. The PreK class is learning about Esau and Jacob, and Jacob then running away and staying with Laban. The Mighty Oaks and Firm Foundations are learning about Samuel as a Judge and Saul as king.

There are two opportunities to serve at our Trick-0r-Treat Outreach Event this year! The Chamber of Commerce's Annual Downtown Trick-or-Treat Event is on FRIDAY, October 30 this year. This is a correction!! We will have a booth set up at the Holt's business parking lot at 309 W Ave F, Midlothian from 4-6 pm to pass out candy as well as information about our church and the Gospel.

Additionally, we will set up the same booth on the church lawn on October 31 from 6:00-8:30 pm to pass out candy as well as information about our church and the Gospel to families as they trick-or-treat through the neighborhood. 

 Sign up through the QR code above or let Melissa Burney know if you can help!

We will be celebrating Reformation Day on Sunday, November 1! Our Sunday School hour will be dedicated to learning about Martin Luther with the adults and youth meeting all together in the sanctuary. Children will meet in their regular classes but will be learning about Martin Luther also. Our worship service will include hymns written by Martin Luther and we will observe the Lord's Supper. Afterwards we will have our regular Fellowship Lunch plus a "Reformation Day Museum" set up in the Rock with projects about Martin Luther for everyone to enjoy. If you have questions about the museum or would like to sign up you can use the QR code below or see Melissa Burney. And be sure to come check with Melissa for craft supplies before you go shopping!! We have an abundance of all kids of craft supplies in the Children's Wing that you are welcome to use!!

I pray you all have a wonderful October and get a chance to enjoy the pleasant weather before the rush of the holiday season hits!

Hello September! I hope everyone is settling back into the school time routines well. I am looking forward to Fall weather and Fall activities!

For Sunday School our youngest learners are finishing the Creation account and moving into Noah's story. The PreK/Kinder class will be learning about Isaac and Rebekah. The Mighty Oaks and Firm Foundations class are moving into the life of Samuel.

Our Sunday School teacher ranks are becoming a little thin, if you would like to volunteer to teach or assist in a children's Sunday School class for 1 quarter (3 months) please let me know ASAP!

Oh my, I can't believe it's already time for school to start back up!

Sunday School is going very well. Our littlest learners are studying the Creation account from Genesis this month. The PreK/Kinder class is beginning the story of Abraham. The older elementary students are finishing the story of Samson and a quick overview of Ruth. 

We are working on a new Reformation Day Celebration for October 31/November 1st this year! I'm such a history nerd, I am really looking forward to this!! We are in the very early planning stages, but be looking for more details and opportunities coming soon!!

Are you ready for the dog days of summer? I am certainly NOT! But we will make it through! And one excellent way to beat the heat is to join us for Pool Days at the Thomas' home!!

Our Sunday School Classes are moving along through the Old Testament. Our youngest learners, the Sparkling Sprouts are finishing up a summary of Joshua and then they will start back "In the beginning." The Super Saplings are also in Genesis, learning about Noah and the Ark. The Mighty Oaks and the Firm Foundations classes are finishing up their study of Judges with a few weeks studying Samson.

I hope you are all having a fun and restful summer. Please join us at the pool as often as you are available!

June means VBS is here!! I am writing the morning after our first night in Emerald Crossing and we had a great night!! Thank you so much to all of our volunteers who are working hard to make this a super fun week for the kids as they learn about their Good Shepherd who cares for them!

This Sunday we will begin new units. Our youngest learners are going back to the beginning and will be learning about Creation this month. The older classes will begin learning about the Judges.

It's summer time and that means pool time! All church families are invited to Summer Swim Days at the Thomas family home:

I pray you all enjoy your summer with your families!

In Christ,
Melissa Burney

Well, if April showers bring May flowers I guess we are about to have a LOT of flowers around! The school year is winding down and summer is coming up fast!

Children's Department Promotions for Sunday School will happen on May 31st this year. We have several students moving up into new classes, and only one student promoting into the youth group. There is a list in each classroom as well as on the check in table of who is promoting into which class. If your student should be promoting and is not on the list please let me know ASAP!

Classes will be as follows:
Tiny Acorns: Birth-about 2 years old
Sparkling Sprouts: 2-3 years old
Super Saplings: PreK-K
Mighty Oaks: 1st-2nd grade
Firm Foundations: 3rd-5th grade

VBS is a major outreach event, and it's time for YOU to start reaching out to your community to invite them! I have printed small business cards as well as larger post cards with VBS info on them. Please grab some of these cards from the VBS table to begin passing them out. You can hand them out to friends and neighbors, you can leave them posted at businesses and restaurants around town, or go to the park and pass them out to everyone you see! 

It's also time to start decorating! We need teams to hang plain paper backgrounds throughout the Youth Wing during the week of May 18-22. Gina will be working her magic the following week of May 25-29, and she needs a lot of help!! You don't have to be crafty and creative, you just need to be able to follow directions! Thanks to some wonderful volunteers we have tons of vines and lots of sheep ready to go up quickly on the walls. Coming soon - flower craft kits! We will need lots of flowers put together to create a beautiful meadow, so look for those new craft kits on the VBS table soon! Please let me know when you are available to help!!

We do still need a few volunteers to make our VBS run smoothly, it's not too late to sign up! We need assistants in every area!
​

I am praying the Lord sustains us all through the end of this school year and into the summer months!

April already? This year is zooming by! I pray you all had a blessed and wonderful Resurrection Celebration.

Our Sunday School classes are continuing their Trekking Through The Testaments. The older students are following the conquest of the Promised Land with the Battle of Jericho, the Sin of Achan, and the Blessings and Curses. The youngest class will be learning about the 10 plagues in Egypt. 
​
Sunday School Promotion will take place May 31st this year. We have one student promoting into the youth group and then several students will move up to a new class in the children's wing. 

VBS is coming up fast! As I type this we have a little less than half of the volunteers we need. VBS is a major outreach event, so we need many helpers to welcome children from our community so we can share the Good News about the Good Shepherd with them!! Sign up today!!

We are also busy planning Summer Day Camp! This will be a fun week of discipleship for Oak Crest Families. We will study God's Wonders of Creation through Bible Study plus STEM experiments and activities. Sign up today!

Does anyone else feel like January lasted 432 years and then February rushed by in 57 seconds?? Wow, March is here!

In Sunday School our littlest learners are beginning a study of Exodus while the older students are heading into the Promised Land with Joshua!

Summer planning is kicking into high gear!

Our VBS this year will be June 1-4, right at the beginning of the summer! We are heading to Ireland for an Irish adventure through the 23rd Psalm, and I am really excited about this theme! (My family has a good bit of Irish heritage so I may be a little biased.) We have many volunteers signed up already, but we still need more help. You can sign up at the VBS Info Table set up in the foyer or using the button on our Connect App or the button below. 

VBS is an outreach event, and we want to invite our friends and our community! You can pick up flyers and invitation cards from the VBS Table to share with your friends, or head to the local park and pass them out to anyone you meet. VBS is open to students who have completed Kindergarten through 5th grade.

We are also planning another Kid's Summer Staycation Camp!

This year we are hoping to collaborate with some of our RBNet Sister Churches! We will spend four mornings studying the wonders of Creation through Bible study plus scientific experiments and activities, and there will be time each day for family fellowship also.

Camp is for students PreK - completed 5th Grade, plus a nursery for volunteer families only. 

Each morning will begin with an exciting Opening Assembly, followed by Class Lesson Time, a STEM Lab, and a Family Fellowship Picnic Lunch. Students may be dropped off for the morning activities, but parents will need to be present for and bring their own Picnic Lunch beginning at 11:30 am.

​Register to volunteer using the button below or on our Connect App.

You can also register your students using the button below or on our Connect App.

​Well January sure went out with a bang! I hope you all stayed warm and safe through all that ice and bitter cold!

We are moving right along in Sunday School as we Trek Through The Testaments. The older children are working on memorizing an Matthew 28:1-8 to recite on Easter Sunday, and continuing their study through Exodus. The youngest students are learning through Genesis following the life of Joseph.

It's already time to start planning VBS, and I am really excited about the theme for this year! You can preview the music for your kids using the QR code above. Please be praying about where you can serve this year during VBS. There are slides on the announcement TVs and in the newsletter with specific positions we need filled, please let me know where you are interested in serving.

I am also working on Summer Staycation Camp, and I am really excited to be collaborating with some other RBNet churches in the area for some combined lessons and fellowship. Be watching for details and ways you can help soon!

I pray you all have a wonderful month. I know as a homeschooler February is the WORST, but be encouraged! Summer is coming!

Happy New Year!!

I love new beginnings! New Years, new months, new weeks, even just new days, after all, His mercies are new every morning! I love a beautiful new planner all ready to be filled. We have a lot of fun activities to start looking forward to in this new year.

I'm already planning for this year's VBS and I am so excited about our theme, Emerald Crossing: An Irish Adventure through Psalm 23! I know June seems a long way away, but it will be here before we know it! Mark your calendar for June 1-4 and sign up to volunteer today!

I am also working on our special Children's Staycation Camp. We will explore the creation account in Genesis through STEM activities! The dates are tentatively set for June 22-25.

And we will have some new and exciting ways to celebrate Reformation Day this year as well! Keep your eyes peeled for opportunities to celebrate and serve!

May your year be blessed with new mercies every morning!