Remembering & Leaving

Tomorrow is our last day at Imago Dei Community. Below is the letter that was sent/given out to all the volunteers and families last week. This will be the last post for this blog. Thanks Imago Dei for the years of memories and ministry together for the sake of our children, our marriages and to glorify our King. Love, ~Karen

January 15, 2010

Dear Imago Dei Kids Parents & Volunteers,

As most of you know, my family is moving to Salt Lake City, Utah in February to help start a church with Kyle & Joy Costello and a team of people from Imago Dei Community. We’re excited about what God is going to do to build His church in Salt Lake, though we are very sad to leave Imago Dei, Portland, and our families and friends here.

Nine years ago we arrived in Portland and Imago Dei Community. God showed up in many ways then, and He has continually grown and blessed us. Among those blessings and growth has been my time pastoring children and families. What an amazing ministry!

When we arrived there were just a few families with kids, and we met in Schlatter Chapel. There was a clipboard that got passed around on Sundays so that people could sign up to watch the kids and play Veggie Tales in the basement. Gasp! We’ve come a long way in nine years.

One night at a leadership meeting, Rick asked us all to pray about what ministry we would like to start up. I knew immediately that children and families is where my heart was and where I wanted to serve – but I wasn’t a fan of children’s ministry. Rick asked me to go read my Bible and come back to him with all the ways God speaks about children in the Bible. I’m still so grateful for that response; I think most of the pastors from my past would have said, “Well, go make a really cool children’s ministry then!” We started with the Bible, and as I leave nine years later, the Bible is still where we base everything. Praise the Lord!

As I read, the theme that stuck out most to me in Scripture was that of integration. Children were a part of everything, a valued part of the church. Our vision statement was born out of that theme, and we’ve held onto it: As children belong to and are an integral part of our church body, we commit to coming alongside parents in the raising of them. Together our goal is to see kids come to know who Christ is, experience how He works in their life, and integrate them as important and valuable people in the life of the church.

We’ve worked diligently to create a place on Sundays and beyond that is truly safe for kids. Safe for them physically, emotionally and spiritually; safe for them to be who they are, to be part of the Imago Dei (image of God) and express themselves in that. Many teachers and leaders have been part of the process of forming kids’ hearts, teaching them the truth of scripture in creative ways and sharing their own faith journey with them. My memories of walking with you over the years are deep, and full of God’s power in how He has worked in your lives.

Many families have come through our doors, staying and growing as a family in Christ. I still remember the first Sunday when I wasn’t able to remember each name, each of your kids’ names any longer, and I cried. Being with you, watching you raise your children, crying with you over miscarriages and losses of life, celebrating with you at baby showers and baby dedications, praying with you over our “kid issues,” going with you to counselors or doctor appointments, sitting with you and your spouse in the middle of marital tension or reconciliation – these . . . these are the things that I will remember and miss the most. Doing life with you. And you doing life with me.

We have people, hundreds of people that care very much for our kids, for relationships with them and their parents and each other. These people are the face of Imago Dei to me and to you. Children have grown older and been baptized; parents have come to Christ; volunteers have discovered their gifting as a teacher or leader. We have all become more mature in Christ in these years of being church together.

I am leaving. I will be helping to start a new church and will meet new families and see Christ work again, and that is worth everything. But I will miss you. Leaving here is very hard for me, and though I am sad more often than I’d like right now, I leave grateful. So grateful in wonder at what God has done in all these years. Amazed at the Jr. High and High Schoolers I see who have grown up here, grown up under our care and teaching, our stories and crises, our being together and praising Him through it all. And I am amazed at how God has brought marriages back together, matured parents and brought many of you closer to Him through community with each other and with Him. Thank you, Imago Dei Kids, for allowing me to serve you and grow with you all these years. I cannot imagine a better experience to have spent in this decade of my life.

By God’s grace you are not left empty-handed, but with great people that you know and trust to continue on. Jeff Marsh is now Pastor of Families and will be overseeing all of nursery through high school, and parenting classes. Jeff is a good friend, father, pastor and leader. We’ve worked together for many years on staff and there isn’t a better person to pastor the families of Imago Dei.

Jen Taylor remains as an integral part of Imago Dei Kids. Jen has served faithfully with me for the entire nine years that I’ve been here. She started, taught and led elementary ministry for the first several years and most recently has been the leader and deacon of our entire front door ministry. Jen has a deep heart for children and is highly gifted. There isn’t anything Jen doesn’t know about Imago Dei Kids. With Jen, as well as with Jeff, I cannot imagine anyone more suited to carry on this ministry. She is a gift to us all and – other than me being bummed she isn’t coming to Salt Lake with us – I am overjoyed that she continues here in ministry to kids and families.

I will miss you all greatly. Continue on in faith as you raise your kids, support those that have kids and love one another. I look forward to hearing stories of what God is doing in you all in the months and years to come. I will visit often.

Love, thanks, peace to you, and glory be to God for His beautiful church,

~Karen Rogers

Former Pastor of Children and Families

Imago Dei Community

Observation of parents

Great blog post I just read on parenting here.

Advent Conspiracy Family Curriculum

It is here! Family curriculum to take your child through the story of Christ's birth as well as the Advent Conspiracy themes. Simpler ideas for younger children are at the back of each section. Blessings upon you as you lead your family through Advent. See link below.

~Karen


Advent Conspiracy Family Curriculum

Imago Dei announcements are online!

All Imago Dei announcements are online now - and in video! :) Check it out so you are in the know...

http://www.imagodeicommunity.com/article/spotlight/

Baby Dedication next Sunday!

Baby Dedication Sunday is just around the corner! October 25th during all services.

Dedicating your child to God is a public sign that you are seeking to raise your children in the ways of Christ. There is a preparatory class the Sunday before (this Sunday, the 18th! 9am service in rm 150 near the auditorium) to explain what baby dedication is and is not. All involved parents or guardians are asked to be present.

RSVP to Neisha (neisha@imagodeicommunity.com) if you’d like to participate!

Early Childhood curriculum snapshot

The preschool & 2's teachers got together last night to plan out the next 2 months of curriculum. We provide curriculum so it's not that they were working from scratch. But what they did is added to it and reworked it so that it reflected more of who we are as creative people made in the image of God and who response to God. Here is what they came up with. Here is what my 4 year old will be gleaning from the next 2 months. Thank you God for these people who care about the little things for little kids. There's nothing like young children "getting it" (learning about God) for the first time.

october



wk 1

Creation Day 1: Light & Dark Gen 1:1-5

Activity/Movement area: Blob

sensory: shadow play

Art: Light & Dark Painting

Need: black construction paper 8x11 & white paint (sponges for the 2's class)

Key Verse: Gen 1:3 God said, "Let there be light."



wk 2

Creation Day 2 Sky & Water Gen 1:6-8

Activity/Movement area: catching clouds with parachute/ bubbles

sensory: water

Art: Sky Collage

Need: blue construction paper

Key verse: Gen 1: 6-8 "God made the sky and water."



wk 3

Creation Day 3 Land, Plants and Sea Gen 1:9-13

Art: leaf rubs

Sensory: potting soil

Playdough - create things on land

Need: potting soil, printer paper,and coffee filters

Key Verse: Gen 1: 9-13 "God made the land, sea, and plants."



wk 4

Creation Day 4 Sun, Moon and Stars Gen 1:14-19

Movement: Moving Moons

Art: Sun & Moon Foam Balls

sensory: tin foil strips

Need: foam balls (talk to Jen about oriental trading), glitter, silver & yellow paint, flat pushpins, tissue paper- red , orange, & yellow

Key Verse: Gen. 1:16 "God made two great lights."



November

wk 1

Creation Day 5 Fish and Birds Gen 1:20-23

Movement: Bird walk

Dramatic Play: Bird Nests

Sensory Table: Eggs, worms

Art: Rainbow fish

Need: plastic eggs, packing strips paper, tissue paper white, blue construction paper in shape of a fish

Key Verse: Gen 1:20 "Let the water have fish and the sky have birds."



wk 2

Creation Day 6 Animals

Movement: Surprise

Dress up: Pet Vet

Art: Masks

Need: paper plates, construction paper brown, orange, and yellow

Key Verse: Gen 1: 24-25 " God made all animals"



wk 3

God made people so we can know Him/ Adam & Eve Gen 2:7, 20-23, 3:8

Movement: My Name

Art: Body Maps

Sensory: People

Need: butcher paper, crayons & markers, rubber bands

Key Verse: Gen 1:27 " God created man and women in His own image."



wk 4

God provides for us / The Garden Gen 2:8-15

water works

Art: My garden

Garden Scents

Need: koolaid (without sugar), & white card stock

Key Verse: Gen 2:15 "God put man in the garden to care for it."



wk 5-

Creation Celebration Gen 2:1-3

Art: Mural of Creation

Need: 11x17 white paper, Blue Paint

Key Verse: Gen 2:1 " The heavens and the earth were completed."

End of Summer Announcements!

• Today (Aug 30) is the last day of Summer Electives! It’s been one of our best summer’s ever as far as quality in teaching, line up/variety of classes, and involvement from staff, pastors and mature adults in our community. Kids have gotten a great view of the bigness of God and how He is at work in all aspects of life.
  

• Next Sunday (Sept 6) all elementary kids will be IN SERVICES with their parents. We will not have elementary ministry going on. Have fun worshipping together before back to school craziness begins.

• Regular Imago Dei Kids elementary ministry starts Sept 13th. 10 returning teachers are excited to serve and know your children this fall. Please take some time on the 13th to meet your child's teacher!!! Would be great to have a few more teachers to lead small groups or people that are great at leading all group games or being part of worship. Let Karen know if you are available. karen@imagodeicommunity.com

• Parent subs needed throughout the year. We are gathering a list of parents who can sub in for teachers throughout the year. If you are not able to be on a regular Imago Dei Kids rotation but could sub in from time to time to cover a teacher who needs a week off, please let us know. Jen@imagodeicommunity.com
  

• Sunday Sept 27th is our Fall Elementary Parent Meeting!!! It is during the 11am service in the Library. Please make this a priority to come and be together as parents and hear the vision of Imago Dei Kids and what we are teaching your child this year.