Warm Winter Greetings,  

February is a month I enjoy telling my family that I love them in a fun way. One year, I cut out hearts and wrote them silly notes and taped them to their door each night before I went to bed. They weren’t long thoughtful notes just funny things that I loved about each of them. Valentine’s Day came and went, but those silly notes stayed taped to their doors for a long time. We often try really hard to be creative or we think we have to spend lots of money to make a moment special, but sometimes its just a silly note that reminds someone you think their laugh is the greatest sound, or you love they way they stick their tongue out when they are doing their homework that makes them feel loved. I challenge you to take time to make your family feel special this month. It is ok to light candles, eat on the good plates, and speak words of love over your kids when you are having chicken nuggets. We eat chocolate fondue together every valentines, and we each say one thing we love about everyone. Lindsey and I normally cry. The boys usually laugh, but they have occasionally been choked up to by the love fest too. It’s a Team Daack tradition, and we hope you have one too! 

Mr. Bill Logan is our Volunteer Spotlight. Mr. Bill has been serving in C2 Kids since 1992. He is great grandfather to Aiden and Asher Peck, two of our Surge Students. He even got to baptize his great grandson, Aiden last year. We all teared up as we watched. Bill’s favorite memory from C2 Kids is being in the gym full of kids and just enjoying all the activity. His favorite Bible Verse is,  “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 Mr. Bill told me that he has learned more about the Bible trying to teach it to kids, and Matt and I agree with him on this. A fun fact about Mr. Bill is that he likes cold Pizza! We are all so thankful to have him lead small group time in Surge!!! If you see him around this month, let him know how much you appreciate the way he is blessing our next generation.

Surge Parents, 
We just wrapped up our unit about Wise Choices. It was really good! Our new unit is about Peer Relationships. Each week we have a Bible verse to learn and a parent conversation starter for you to engage your kids in a God-centered conversation at home. We are also in the middle of our Super Bowl…“The Cereal Bowl!” So be prepared for a dress up day! Remember the verses are listed for the week we learn them so they are recited the following week.

February 5, 2023 – Love Everyone because God loves you.
The Final Four of our Cereal Bowl!
“…Love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you.” Matthew 5:44
Parent Conversation: Share some safe ways to be kind to someone who has treated you badly

February 12, 2023 – Good friends are loyal
The Cereal BowlWear your favorite team attire (Any Sport!!!)
“A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.” Proverbs 17:17
Parent Conversation: What do you think it means to be a loyal friend?

February 19, 2023 – Alive Sunday Surge in service for our youth service
“So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Romans 6:11

February 26, 2023 – I can have peace even if my family fights.
“So let us do all we can to live in peace. And let us work hard to build up one another.” Romans 14:19
Parent Conversation: What advice would you give to someone whose family is fighting?

If you would like to follow along with the Bible study we are doing in Surge, join us for the I can be a friend (click here) devotion. It is an 16-day plan on the YouVersion Bible App. These devotions are great ways to help kids establish a daily devotion time. Help them set a goals to complete this one.

Zoom Parents,
If you would like to follow along at home with the devotions your preschoolers are doing during Zoom, click this link to join “A test in the desert” plan on YouVersion. This month, we are learning that we can say no to sin, just like Jesus.This 8 day plan has songs and a memory verse for your preschooler to enjoy as they learn God’s truth.

Our Zoom memory verse for this month is,

“God, create a pure heart in me. …” Psalms 51:10

We have partnered with axis.org (click here)  to give parents an extra resource for those challenging questions that arise on our journey of training up our kids in the way they should go. An Axis Membership delivers trustworthy, gospel-centered resources on the topics that make parenting such a challenge in this smartphone, social media world. This site addresses culture, technology, faith, identity, and hundreds of other challenging  topics through a Gospel-centered lens, making life’s tough conversations just a bit easer. The church has already paid for the membership. You just need to log in and sign up to start taking advantage of all this helpful information

Some of you have heard me mention that Matt and I are participating in the Bible Recap (click here). It’s a reading plan and accompanying podcast that walks you chronologically through the Bible in a year. There are short videos from the Bible Project that introduce each Book of the Bible, followed by the Bible reading, and then wrapped up with the podcast that adds historical details to the reading. The host, Tara-Leigh  Cobble is guest hosting with Candace Cameron Bure on her  podcast (click here)  this year. I am loving it and learning so much. If you aren’t ready to take on the Bible Recap yet, start with Candace’s Podcast. It might even make you ready to join the Bible Recap!!!

Have a great February! Love your families well!!!

Jennifer Daack
Children and Families Pastor
“Direct your children onto the right path. and when they are older.they will not leave it.”  Proverbs 22:6