The Grace Star Children's Church

The idea of a children’s church was birthed after some GMC members and Sunday School teachers attended a 5-day intensive Superkids programme in Alor Setar, Kedah in 2002. Upon their return, they met to discuss changing the traditional Sunday School style to children’s church format with the name “GRACE STAR”.

With blessings from the then Pastor-in-Charge and LCEC leaders, GRACE STAR started on 8 September 2002 catering to children aged 5 to 12 years. It is run by the church’s Children’s Ministry worker together with a team of dedicated and passionate church members, many of whom are still in this ministry today. Initially, the programme started from 9.00am-11.00am but in January 2003, the timing was changed to 11.00am-1.00pm.

The children in GRACE STAR are lovingly regarded as precious gems so it was decided that each level would be called gem names (Agate, Ruby, Jasper, Turquoise, Topaz, Amethyst, Chrysolite, Emerald and Sapphire). Even little toddlers aged 3 to 4 years have a place in GRACE STAR: they belong to “GRACE STAR JUNIOR”.

We have an average of about 80 children each week. Our weekly programme follows a format of praise and worship, learning a memory verse, a Bible lesson (where the children are sometimes roped in to act in skits to complement the Bible teaching) and being told a story based on the theme before dispersing into clusters for discussions or activities. Older children are taught to serve by collecting and counting the offering and being clickers during worship. In addition, we have Bible quizzes, group awards Sundays with games and prizes, special event Sundays like Resurrection Sunday, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Missions Sunday, Children’s Day and Christmas Sunday. In 2005 GRACE STAR also participated in the children’s version of 40 Days of Purpose. The children are also taught to think of others less fortunate than themselves: a trip to an orphanage in Kawal in 2005, adopting two children from Myanmar through World Vision and now supporting a 5-year old Cambodian boy through the Methodist Missions Society. To promote bonding, teachers and children have been on excursions to the Night Safari, Sentosa, Zoo and Farmart.

Grace Star and Grace Star Junior have their own Vision, Mission and Bible verse:

VISION:

Grow our children in Worship, Word and Witness with Fun! Fun! Fun!

Build a platform for the community to hear the Gospel.

Light up the world for Jesus!

MISSION:

Let’s start touching hearts with the Gospel of Jesus. Start from within, build our own foundation. Time to reach out, reach one more for Jesus!

VERSE:

Jesus said: “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14

It has been eight years since GRACE STAR and GRACE STAR JUNIOR began and we praise God for this ministry and for providing us with dedicated and faithful volunteers who are creative and blessed with various talents.

May we continue to seek God for His wisdom and guidance as we teach and minister to each child in the ministry.

GRACE STAR OUTREACH

Camp Bananarama was the outreach arm of Grace Star to bless the community with the goal of sharing the love of CHRIST through our services and actions.

It was a two full-day event held in Radin Mas Primary School from 2000-2001 and Blangah Rise Primary School from 2006-2009.

In Blangah Rise Primary School, we based our themes for each camp on the school’s motto “Be Steadfast” and the school’s values “Respect, Integrity, Self discipline, Empathy”. We focused on character education with the objectives of bringing out the positive traits of the children. Each year not only saw an increase in participants (from 79 in 2006 to 129 in 2009) but also received a resounding “YES” to the survey form question about joining the next year’s camp!

As a result of Camp Bananarama, two programmes were developed as follow-up events:

Tuition Programme for EM3 pupils of Radin Mas Primary School; and
GEAR-up (Get Excited About Reading) English Tuition Programme for Blangah Rise Primary School.

It was amazing to see the love, unity, commitment and dedication to the LORD among GMCians from the youth to adult volunteers who worked very hard behind the scenes to prepare the logistics for games, songs, object lessons, prizes, gift exchanges, food, drinks and transportation, and the support, understanding, prayers and donations in cash and kind.

Below is an extract of an email of thanks from Blangah Rise Primary School:

“Dear Liza and entourage!

Thank you so much for giving Blangahnites yet another wonderful and memorable start to their holidays! They were spoilt by so many treats, haha! I'm sure they had so much fun as attested to by some parents who had called to give their feedback.

I do apologize for the hiccups encountered and am very grateful for you and your team's patience. I hope this does not affect the relationship we have.

On behalf of the Blangah Rise community, from Principal to parents, we'd like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for taking time out from your very busy schedules to imagine, plan and create what has grown to become somewhat of a tradition.

Thank you. Hope all of you rest well!”

All glory and honour to GOD!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday's Routine

10.45 am	Pre-Service Prayers.
11.00 am	Grace Star Starts at Grace Star Junior Room(2nd floor).
12:00 pm	Class Cluster Time.
1.00 pm	See You Next Week. (Grace Star Junior for toddlers - 18 months to 48 months)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lessons Plans

Date	Lesson
05 Dec	Faith / Advent 2	Faith Makes Us Courageous / BB Sharity Gift Box
12 Dec	Faith / Advent 3	Faith In JESUS / Donation to Charity Home
19 Dec	Group Award / Advent 4	Fun Time / Mini Christmas Trees for Invitation
25 Dec	Christmas Day	Christmas Day CelebrationEvangelism
26 Dec	No Grace Star programme	GMC Christmas Combined Service

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

40 WAYS TO PRAY FOR YOUR CHILDREN - (25) For the courage of convictions

Dear GOD, convictions mean nothing unless there is the courage to stand up for them.
May my children "be strong and courageous"{Joshua 1:6}, standing up for treated unkindly and unjustly.

In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Methodist Missions Society -- Student Sponsorship

Pray,Write & Give to Vannet Try (Male, 5 years old as of 2004)

We will be collecting the sponsorship offering every Sunday in your cluster time.

You can also email: Aunty Liza at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call her at 6278 0996/9092 9198

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------