What is ADVENT?

Parents,

Are you looking for a way to explore the true meaning of Christmas and draw closer together as a family! Join the Family Ministry Team as we Countdown to Christmas using the Youversion Bible App on our smartphones and tablets. Simply, go to the Reading Plans and select Countdown to Christmas. This plan has short scripture readings and parent-child activities that have been created to help your family keep this Christmas season focused on Christ!

Have fun preparing the way for the Lord!

Andrea McWhirter

Join us for Christmas at Christ Journey

Sunday, December 23:

3pm | 4:30pm | 6pm

Monday, December 24:

3pm | 4:30pm | 6pm

Live Nativity and Special Christmas Activities for Preschoolers

Help us serve you better by letting us know which Christmas experience you will be attending.  Check in at ChristJourney.org/Christmas and be entered into our gift drawing.

The US Census Bureau shows 20.2% of Miami families below the poverty level. Many of us can relate to this statistic as loved ones and co-workers face the economy head on. The increasing need for food in South Florida is a very real issue in our community and within our walls at Christ Journey.

But here is the good news…

For the past 3 years, Christ Journey has collected over 175,00 pounds of food. That food has been sent to partners around Miami and globally. Last year, through Feed Miami, Christ Journey started its very own Feed Miami Food Pantry - which has been a service to Christ Journey and people in the community all year. Feed Miami is happening again this year and we hope you will ‘love with action’ as we collect and distribute food to Christ Journey families through Thanksgiving baskets, Christ Journey’s food pantry, locally through partners such as Open House Ministries and the Miami Rescue Missions, and globally through Food for the Poor.

Get involved by picking up reusable Feed Miami bags and a flyer in the breezeway and bringing back full bags of non-perishable foods during any weekend in November. Join us as we seek to feed the hungry not just in November, but also throughout the year! Visit feedmiami.com for more information.

We need your help! One quick and simple way to get involved is by donating bags of candy. You can drop off your candy donations the following two weekends ( Oct. 20/21 & Oct. 27/28) next to the check-in kiosks. Want to help out at Block Party? Click here to sign up and volunteer.

Event Parking: In an effort to be great neighbors, please do not park on the neighbor’s lawns.  There will be a parking team the day of the event to assist you.

Get your costumes ready . . . Block Party is only a few weeks away! One quick and simple way to get involved is by donating bags of candy. You can drop off your candy donations beginning this weekend, October 6th & 7th next to the check-in kiosks.

Join us on October 28th from 4-6pm for our annual BLOCK PARTY @ Christ Journey. There will be food, carnival games, trunk or treat, costume contest (no scary costumes, please) and much more!

We kick off our Feed Miami Food Drive at the Block Party. You will receive a free raffle ticket when you help us fill the Feed Miami Trunk by donating a bag of non-perishable food.

Want to help out at Block Party?  Click here to sign up and volunteer.

Looking for a FREE & FUN & FAMILY oriented event this Halloween? Then join us from 4-6p on Sunday, October 28, for our annual BLOCK PARTY @ Christ Journey. Carnival games, trunk or treat, costume contests (no scary costumes, please), candy and much more will be set-up in the Christ Journey parking lot. Want a free raffle ticket? Donate a bag with non-perishable food to Block Party and drop in the Feed Miami Van.  Get involved by donating bags of candy throughout the month of October.  This is a great opportunity to bring your family and friends to Christ Journey.

Want to join in on the fun?  Volunteer at Block Party!   Click here to sign up today.

Due to Tropical Storm Isaac, all weekend services and activities have been cancelled for August 25 & 26th.

Orange Weekend has been rescheduled for next weekend, September 1 & 2nd.
Please take note of our new service times:

Saturdays @ 6:00p - Discovery Land (Birth – PreK 4)
Sundays @ 9:30a, 11:00a, 12:30p - Discovery Land (Birth – PreK 4) & Highway 252 Elementary Ministry (Kinder – 5th Grade)

FamJamz (Family Production for Elementary Kids and Parents)
1st Sunday of the month @ 10:45a & 12:15p

Joining forces to make a greater impact!
Parents are encouraged to jump in and get involved. Visit Serve @ UBC.
to learn how you can serve and make an impact!

Welcome to a new year!

Saturdays @ 6:00p - Discovery Land (Birth – PreK 4)
Sundays @ 9:30a, 11:00a, 12:30p - Discovery Land (Birth – PreK 4) & Highway 252 Elementary Ministry (Kinder – 5th Grade)

FamJamz (Family Production for Elementary Kids and Parents)
1st Sunday of the month @ 10:45a & 12:15p

Joining forces to make a greater impact!
Parents are encouraged to jump in and get involved. Visit Serve @ UBC.
to learn how you can serve and make an impact!

As the new ministry year begins we want to let you know about some exciting changes that are happening in Family Ministry.

You’ve probably noticed all the renovation going on around your church in the Family Ministry areas. The facilities are getting a facelift, but Highway 252 and FamJamz are also undergoing some renovation for this coming year. We have decided to take an opportunity to make them greater in order to give more back to you - the parents. We believe that what happens in your home is more important than what happens here at church. We believe that it is our role to continue to partner with you and give you the tools that you can use to lead your kids spiritually. We want to help you make your faith a central part of your family’s life, and everything we do is for that purpose.

Here are the changes you can watch for on the weekends:

Starting September 2, FamJamz will be going to a once-a-month format; two 45-minute productions on the first Sunday of the month, 10:45a and 12:15p. That means that we will no longer offer FamJamz every week. Instead, during the rest of the month we’ll be providing something we are calling FamJamz Online! Short, fun, virtue-centered videos to help you keep talking about the virtue at home. In addition, we will be offering other online resources for everything your kids are learning in Highway 252 so it will be easier for you to bring those experiences home as well.

We are also offering new Highway 252 classes on Sundays. Beginning August 25/26, Highway 252 will be offered during the 12:30p services. However, Saturday attenders please make a note that we will no longer offer Highway 252 on Saturday nights at 6:00p. We will still have all the loving Discovery Land preschool classes but not Highway 252.

Also in the works is the creation of an Activity Room that will be open from 10:45a – 1:45p on Sunday mornings. The purpose of this room is to allow you an opportunity to serve in one of the many environments at church and provide a different experience for your kids during the hour that you serve. That way if you want to attend worship and also serve on Sunday mornings your kids don’t have to attend two hours of Highway 252.

We believe these are wonderful renovations and they are much more than just a new coat of paint. We see lots of benefits for our families, and we hope you do, too! Here are just a few of those benefits we are excited about: more intentional and useful resources for you, direct outreach to public schools, increased opportunities for elementary parents to serve, and so much more. So watch for these changes over the next few weeks. We’re excited, and we know that this is a great time to be part of Family Ministry at (soon to be) Christ Journey Church.

If you have further questions please feel free to contact me or a Family Ministry Team Member.

Warmly,

Andrea McWhirter
Executive Director of Family Ministry
UBC Miami soon to be Christ Journey Church
305-448-4425 x.240
ubcmiami.org

Dear Family Ministry Parents and Volunteers,

These are exciting days in the life of our church family: the adoption of a new operating name for our church, life changing camps for our kids, mission trips where families are serving together, and the exciting renovation of our Coral Gables campus. In each one of these opportunities it is our prayer that God would be glorified and more would come to find and follow Christ.

Thank you to all the parents and volunteers that have served this summer. We know it will take flexibility, prayer and patience while we work to create amazing spaces for our children and families.

Here’s what to expect the next couple of weeks:
This weekend - July 14/15
Preschool - check-in at the kiosks to receive your room assignment
Elementary - kids will go to “Big Church” and worship with their family
Special Discoveries - class will be open during the 11 am worship service
Middle School - students will meet in the Chapel

July 18-21 Kids Kamp 2012 @ Owaissa Bauer in Homestead, FL

July 21/22
Preschool - check-in at the kiosks to receive your room assignment
Elementary - kids will go to “Big Church” and worship with their family
Kids Kamp Reflections in the FamJamz Theater on Sun. July 22 @ 10:45
Special Discoveries - class will be open during the 11 am worship service
Middle School - students will meet in the student lounge (room 200)

Thank you for your attention and cooperation during this exciting time. Please let us know if we can assist you in anyway this summer.

Joyfully,

Andrea McWhirter
UBC Family Ministry
ubcmiami.org/families