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We are inviting all children to be a part of the excitement at our Vacation Bible School,
“LIFT OFF!  SOARING TO NEW HEIGHTS WITH GOD”.

With this hot air balloon-themed VBS, your children and grandchildren will become Sky Scouts and learn about the sport of hot air ballooning as well as connect what they learn to reach new heights with God.

The Bible stories presented at High Fly Bible Time illustrate the Flight Plans and encourage further exploration into the Bible.  Your children will extend their learnings through every activity:  making their own special memories in Pilot Projects, singing fun tunes at Sky Songs, experiencing science activities at the Launch Lab, participating in recreational activities at Rip Line Rec, and enjoying tasty snacks in the Cloud Cafe.  

These are the five Flight Plans for soaring to new heights with God:
 
            I Will Follow God            I Will Trust God
            I Will Listen to God            I Will Repent to God
            I Will Serve God

Come enjoy a high flying adventure with us on June 25th - 29th from 6:00 - 8:30pm.  Registration will start in June. 

It takes many, many hands to make our VBS program a success each year!  Please join us at this informational meeting to find out more about this year’s program.  Come for the meeting, and stay for dinner at 6pm!

If you are unable to attend, please contact Lara Norman-Kehe prior to this meeting date for more details.  Thank you!

The GO FISH concert
is just around the corner, on Sunday, April 22nd!  IF you don’t want to
have to purchase tickets at the venue, you will need to:  

• purchase your tickets from Lara this Wednesday or Sunday;
• pick them up at a local Christian bookstore;
• call or email Jesus Shack.

Tickets
are just $5/person  OR  $15/group of up to 5 people.  Volunteers will
get in for free (but you will need to purchase tickets for your
children).  Please look at this as a opportunity to invite friends or
family members to enjoy a wonderful day of children’s Christian music
& fun, too!  AND you can even sponsor a needy family to attend the
concert — just ask Lara how! Thank you very much to all the wonderful people who have volunteered to take a shift (or two) at the booths!!  Volunteers
will need to check in at the River Walk Park at 2pm, with a volunteer
meeting and prayer at 2:20.  Gates open to the public at 3pm.  Seats
are first come, first serve.  The concert will run from approximately 4

• 5:15pm.  Carnival booths will run from approximately 5 - 7:30pm.  

This is going to be a wonderful evening of fun & faith!  If you have questions, please contact Lara or Nancy!  Thank you!

On Sunday, April 22nd, “Families First: 
The Kern County Network of Churches” is holding the “Go Fish!”
Children’s Christian Concert at River Walk Park.  I am in charge of six
to eight carnival-type game booths following the concert. My plan is
to have one bounce house, plus some of the games we played at our
“Hero’s Unmasked” Halloween Party this year (such as “Goliath’s
Marshmallow Hurl”; “Bean the Giant”; “Daniel’s Mane Event”; and “Noah’s
Animal Round-Up”). 
 
I am in need of people who will volunteer to staff these booths for about 2 hours following the concert. 

It’s going to be a wonderful evening of fun and praise for the
children of Kern County — please let me know if you are willing to
lend a hand!  Thank you!!

- Lara

This summer (late July
or early August?) Nancy Bacon and Lara Norman-Kehe would like to have a
Dinner Theater fundraiser which would benefit our youth programs — and
be a fun fellowship activity, too!  We will, however, need a director
and 8 cast members (4 men, 4 women). 
 
Here’s a little “teaser”??????
 

 
The youth will be our servers and the Real Buddies will be making that yummy Marshmallow Salad!
 
Sounds fun, doesn’t it?!  Please contact Lara or Nancy to let us know if you would like to give help us put on the show!

The UCC General Synod is meeting in Hartford, Connecticut, June 21-26. There is a movement underway, across the nation, to get 1,000 youth to
this convention.  (Rachel and Jim Robinson met at a convention like
this years ago.  Ah..ÖAsk them about how cool it was.) There will be
worship, concerts, speakers, fellowship, and a chance to visit the
ìAmistadî tall ship and learn about the Amistad incident of 1839. We
will be staying at the University of Hartford in dormitory rooms. We
will need to know how many people are interested in going to determine
how much more fund-raising is required. So, if you are at all
interested, please email Nancy by February
20th.

More information can be obtained at www.ucc.org/synod/, then go to the 50 4 50 link for youth.

This trip will replace our annual work-trip, as we will be working in
Bakersfield instead, creating an ìAll Youth Builtî Habitat for Humanity
house. All youth can participate in this project. Youth going to the
General Synod will be required to commit some time to the build.
Stephanie Johnson and Michael Kapphahn can fill you in on what an
awesome project this will be. Many other youth groups are also
involved.

Finally, we will begin some contemporary worship services in the chapel
during Lent, especially for youth and young adults. These services
will be at 10:30am for several weeks. During that time we will also
begin holding confirmation classes after church on Sundays. Please let
Nancy know by February 20th if youíd like to participate in this
program entitled, ìJava & Jehovah or Juice Smoothies & Jesus.î 
This will be a creative time to learn more about the Bible, God, and
our churchís denomination. At the end of the course, you can make a
decision about whether you wish to participate in a ceremony confirming
you as a member of the church. Those who do not wish to become members
are still welcome to attend the classes, get to know each other and
your quirky leaders, and learn more in-depth information about
Christianity, while having some fun. Hope you all can come!

Please sign up your children for this year’s VBS program, Adventures of the Treasure Seekers. 
You’ll find registration forms in the narthex in a display case and/or
on the counter in the church office.  We encourage you to invite
other friends and family members to join us too!   Cost is $10/child or $20/family (”camperships” are available if this is a financial hardship). 

VBS Shirts:

If you would like your child to have a VBS shirt, please provide a
prewashed, light-colored t-shirt by Tuesday, 6/27.  (The iron-on
transfers that we will be using are not recommended for nylon, tightly
woven fabrics or garments that need to be dry cleaned.) 

VBS Mission Project:

Our mission project this year will be to send books to a preschool in
New Orleans which was destroyed in the hurricane and floods.  This
preschool was run out of the Central United Church of Christ in New Orleans, and the director of the preschool is Helen Smith-Green, whose home we worked on during our mission work trip there.
 
We will be collecting NEW or very gently used books (they should LOOK
new) for children who are 18 months - 5 years of age.  If you
would prefer, we can also take cash donations, which can be used to
purchase books or be put toward shipping costs.  Thank you!!

VBS Set Up: 

This Saturday, June 24th at 1pm, we will meet to make and set-up our
VBS props and backgrounds.  We will start with a pot-luck lunch in
the Fireside Room, so please bring a lunch item to share with the
group.  Many hands make light work, and we’d appreciate your
help.  If you have questions, please contact Lara Norman-Kehe at 836-2820.

VBS Props Wanted: 

This year’s theme is like an archeological dig site, so we can use the
following items for props:  shovels, trowels, wheelbarrows, paint
brushes, wooden folding rulers, metal dust pans, rope, magnifying
glasses, large tent or cabana, canteens, binoculars, lanterns, work
gloves, large ceramic pots or jars, plants, and fedora hats (Indiana
Jones style.)
 
If you have any of these items that we can borrow, please label them
with your name and leave them in Lara’s office at church on or before
this Saturday, June 24th.  Thank you!

A great group of crafters are finishing the last batch of rag dolls to send to the Rag Dolls 2 Love organization. We will be sending them over 75 dolls for needy children around the world.  Thatís awesome!

Upcoming Events???Mark Your Calendars

Wednesdays @ 6:45 - 8pm:  Real Buddies

 
Friday, March 31st @ 6 - 8pm:  Program Practice

Sunday, April 2nd @ 9am:  Easter Program

Saturday, May 13th:  Mother-Daughter Banquet

Saturday - Sunday, May 20 - 21st:  Family Retreat

Come to a Family Retreat in Tehachapi!

Woodward West is located in a rural setting in
Tehachapi.We will have use of  their  heated and air conditioned
dining facilities & cabins (sleeping 15 people/cabin), along with
use of  the swimming pool, tennis & basketball courts, bowling
alley, theater & campfire ring. [For more information]

more…

Looking ahead???..

May 20 -21    Family Retreat at Woodward West in Tehachapi

June 26-30    Vacation Bible School:  “Adventures of theTreasure Seeker”

The Easter Tree
We are beginning to work on our Easter program, called “The Easter Tree“,
which we will perform during the service on April 2nd. We need both
singers and speaker for this program, so please make sure to attend
Real Buddies on Wednesday nights at 6:45 p.m.!

Help Wanted:
I am in need of someone handy who could craft together our “Easter Tree“.  I have directions, if someone would please come forward make it.  Thank you!