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CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES
Nursery
Lower
Upper
Leadership
Garden
The
Garden
"Where
children grow in Jesus"
Our
Vision
To equip,
empower, and mobilize a David generation where children
and their families are: continually seeking God's presence,
hungry for His Word, fully engaged in worship, and growing
their relationship with God so that others are led to
a deeper revelation of Who God is.
Our
Values
 Teach
Biblical truth that is relevant and applicable to a
child’s life.
 Have
intentional shepherding through Children's cell groups
where an authentic relationship with Jesus Christ is
modeled.
 Provide
an environment that is safe, fun and overflowing with
God's unconditional love.
 Cultivate
the growth of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Our
children are not just the church of tomorrow...
they
are the church of today
The
Garden Nursery
(Birth-2
years)
Kessler
Dixon ~ Area Leader for Nursery
childcare@riverstonewf.org
Just like any
other garden, we begin with a nursery. In the Garden
Nursery,
children ages birth through 2 years old experience loving
attention, songs, Bible stories, and playtime. Every child
and family receives tender loving care from a nursery
shepherd as they grow up through the developmentally and
age appropriate rooms. Each nursery room is designed to
meet the particular
needs of each age group. Because we value the safety of
our children, nursery tags are given to parents each week
and all lead caregivers have cleared background checks.
The Garden Seedlings
(3k-5k)
Lori
Deal ~ Area Leader for Seedlings
lori@riverstonewf.org
 Children
in 3 and 4 year old preschool as well as kindergarden
meet in the Garden Seedlings.
During the school year, a committed shepherd meets each
week with their flock to help the children learn God's
truth through Bible stories, age appropriate songs, games,
crafts and other hands-on activities. Just like in the
Garden Nursery,
safety policies and procedures are a high priority. Security
pick-up key chains are given to parents, and all leaders
and regular
volunteers have cleared background checks.
 
Lower
Elementary
(1st
- 3rd grade)
Haley
Watkins- Area leader for the sprouts
The
lower elementary bracket of The
Garden is made up of 1st - 3rd grades
and is called ~
The Garden Sprouts
Garden
Sprouts
 The
kindergarden Seedlings
move up and grow into Sprouts.
Each week The Garden
Sprouts
celebrate Jesus in a large group, where they worship
and learn a Bible story and a Biblical truth. In addition
to this corporate gathering, the children meet in their
cell groups with the same committed shepherd each week,
where they begin applying what they have learned. Biblical
truths and the application of those truths are taught
using age appropriate language and relevant activities
that meet their developmental level and understanding.
Time in the Sprouts
is filled with dramas, puppets, games, crafts,
and lots of fun! This age group also begins to experience
opportunities for outreach and fellowship a ctivities
with their peers.
Upper
Elementary
(4th-6th
grade)
Julie
Fabien ~ Co-Area Leader for the buds
Laura
Kirkland- Co-Area Leader for the buds
The
upper elementary age bracket of The
Garden is made up of 4th-6th grade students,
and is called The Garden
Buds.
Garden
Buds
The
Sprouts
grow, and move into The
Buds Area,
made up of 4th, 5th and 6th graders.
 The
Garden Buds
come together each week
for celebration, where they have intimate worship with
a live band and relevant Biblical teaching. After the
large group celebration, The
Buds gather in their cell groups, which
are divided by grade and gender. Once again, the children
have the same committed shepherd, and begin to apply the
truths they have learned in celebration to their everyday
experiences using relevant games and fun activities. The
Garden Buds also enjoy special activities
that encourage Christian friendships and promote leadership
development.
Just
for 6th graders
Julie
Fabien- Co-Area leader for The
Buds
The
6th graders are a special part of The
Buds Area in the Garden. 6th grade cell
groups meet on Sunday mornings at 9:00 am, along with
the other Buds for a portion of the year, and then move
on to the Student Ministry. In order for 6th graders to
experience a smooth transition into the Student Ministry,
these cell groups meet in the Garden from August through
February. During this time, the 6th graders are invited
to participate in special Middle School Nights with the
7th and 8th graders. 6th
graders will
begin meeting in their cell groups on Sunday evenings
at ACCESS after the Middle School Retreat
5-6:30 pm.
(For
more information on ACCESS, see the Student Ministry page)
6th
graders can get more information
At
the following Web Site
Riverstone
Student Minsitry Web Page
Leadership
Opportunities
(Adults
and Teens)
The
Garden
is primarily a volunteer run ministry. With dedicated
shepherds, support teams, and outreach teams, there are
many opportunities to serve God while investing in His
children. For more information about any of these leadership
opportunities for adults and teens, contact the Garden
office at 678.384.5211.
Shepherds
Each
cell group in the Garden
is led by a committed shepherd. Cell groups begin in our
nursery, and continue through 6th grade. Shepherd recruitment
and sign up begins in May of each year, and continues
through the summer months. Cell groups begin mid-August,
and continue through the end of May. Adults and teens
(7th grade and up) who have a personal relationship with
Jesus Christ are invited to seek information about this
service opportunity.
Support
Teams
The
Garden
has a team of dedicated volunteers who support the ministry
is various ways.
Area
Support Teams greet children, set up cell group
areas, handle materials for cell groups, and do some light
administrative work.
Garden
Greeters support the ministry by greeting and
signing in visiting children and their parents, sending
welcome cards, and keeping records of visitors.
Midweek
Materials Team meet weekly on Wednesday to help
prepare materials and the areas for Sunday morning.
Special
Event Teams vary in each area, and throughout
the year. Special event teams serve by planning and implementing
special events such as the 6th grade graduation breakfast,
Christmas caroling, Hang Time nights, and other special
nights in the Garden.
Hospitality
Teams support the
Garden's
goal to build community among shepherds, other volunteers,
and the leadership staff throughout the year. This team
plans and implements three community-building events in
the
Garden
each year. The team's planning includes invitations, a
meal or other refreshments, and decorations.
Outreach
Teams
The
Garden is a ministry of outreach. The first Sunday of
each month, the Garden children 3 years-5th grade participate
in an outreach/service project. On these special Outreach
Sundays, a dedicated team of volunteers plan, organize,
and lead the projects. There is an Outreach chairperson
for each area, and a team of volunteers who follow that
chairperson's leading. Guidance in finding and contacting
service organizations and ministries is given by the Garden
Leadership Team.
Leadership
Opportunities
(Children)
In
The Garden,
we believe that children are not just the church of tomorrow,
they are the church of today. One of the Garden's goals
is to grow leaders that will impact their communities
for the Kingdom of God. There are many opportunities for
children's leadership development in the Garden.
Are
you ready to grow as a leader?
Building
Blocks & BLTs
Being
an active member of the body of Christ is not dependent
on your age. For this reason, we have two different opportunities
for our kids to grow as Christian leaders. 1) Building
Blocks is
a leadership team that meets the fourth Sunday of each
month from 5-6:30.. This team is open to those in kindergarten
through second grade. Through the use of dance and other
artistic means this team will learn more about the character
of God and how God wants to grow them. 2) BLTs
(Buds Leadership Team) meets the second and fourth Sunday
of each month from 5-6:30. To be a part of this team,
you should be in third, fourth, or fifth grade.
Application
for these teams is made in the
fall of each year.
What
are we learning in the Garden?
In
January our 2k-5k children will be learning stories about
Jesus.
They
will learn that Jesus wants them to love others and be
friends,
that
He will help them when they are afraid,
that
nothing is to hard for Jesus,
that Jesus wants them to obey,
and
that Jesus loves the children
as
they hear stories from His life in a fun by the sea setting
through
an adapted Willow Creek Cirriculum.
The
1st - 6th graders theme for the winter is
"The Amazing Race- the Jesus Edition."
They will be studying the places Jesus taught and walked
along
with stories from His life.
The
will be learning more about who Jesus is as they study
these stories.
Winter
Bible verses:
January
Memory Verse for 2k class
"Jesus
said, 'let the little children come to me.' "
-Matthew
19:24
January
Memory Verse for 3k-5k
"Jesus
said,'let the little children come to me'."
-Matthew
19:24
January Memory Verse for 1st-6th grade
"The
Lord Your God is with you,
He
is mighty to save,
He
will take great delight in you,
He
will quiet you with His love,
He
will rejoice over you with singing."
-Zephaniah
3:17
Garden
Staff
Angela
Riess
Director
of Children's Ministry
garden@riverstonewf.org
Kessler
Dixon
Nursery
Area Leader & Childcare
childcare@riverstonewf.org
Lori
Deal
Seedling
Area Leader
lori@riverstonewf.org
Haley
Watkins
Sprouts
Area Leader
haley@riverstonewf.org
Laura
Kirkland
Bud
Co-Area Leader
laura@riverstonewf.org
Julie
Fabien
Buds
Co-Area-Leader
julie@riverstonewf.org
Jessica
Harvey
Celebration
Coordinator
jessica@riverstonewf.org
To
contact someone on the Garden Staff,
Call
678.384.5211 or email us at one of the
addresses
listed above.
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