OCTOBER CALENDAR

Here is what is going on in the month of OCTOBER: 
Details for these events can be found below

• October 03: Affirmation of Baptism Retreat
• October 04: Childrens Ministry, Bible Sunday, 2nd Grade Bible Milestone
• October 07: Youth Ministry
• October 10: Fall Festival, Youth MInistry @ Valleyscare
• October 11: Childrens Ministry, Childrens Ministry @ Dehn's Pumpkins
• October 14: Youth Ministry (TENTATIVE)
• October 18: Childrens MInistry, Affirmation of Baptism Dinner/Rehearsal
• October 21: Youth Ministry
• October 25: Childrens MInistry SINGS in CHURCH, Faith Space, Affirmation of Baptism Milestone during Worship

2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR PLAN!

Here is the FULL LAYOUT for the 2026-2027 School Year as it stands right now.

As Pastor Ben and I work together we may see things that need to be changed. If and when changes occur, those will be communicated with as much prior warning as possible.

A blast was sent out with the full plan, AND registation forms - but if you did not see it, you can find it HERE

CHILDRENS MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS

The month of October brings our first FAITH SPACE of the School Year. Faith Space is used on Sundays when Miss Katie remains in Worship. On Faith Space Sundays we invite you forward for Kids Time and then you will be sent with a specific project instruction.

This month we will also be SINGING IN CHURCH (See details below)

OCTOBER SCHEDULE
* 04th: Regular Sunday

* 11th: Regular Sunday

* 18th: Regular Sunday

* 25th: Sing in Church AND Faith Space

MIDDLE SCHOOL MINISTRY

Our normal Wednesday Schedule will look like this

6:30 - 6:45 ~ Arrive/Decompress

6:45 - 7:15/7:30 ~ Faith Discussion/Activity

7:15/7:30 - 8:00 ~ Decompress and Depart

Please know that one of our main goals for Middle School Ministry is to create an environment where our young people are seen, known and loved.

Our OCTOBER SCHEDULE is as follows

* 07th: Regular Wednesday Schedule

* 14th: No Ministry (TENTATIVE)

* 21st: Regular Wednesday Schedule

* 28th: Regular Wednesday Schedule

HIGH SCHOOL MINISTRY

High School MInistry is changing it up this year and moving back to Wednesday nights (for now). Some of our time together will be spent in conversation/activity with the Middle School while some of our time will be spent with just High School.

Our normal Wedneday Schedule will look like this

6:30 - 6:45 ~ Arrive/Decompress

6:45 - 7:30 ~ Discussion/Activity Time

7:30 - 8:30 ~ Decompress/Depart

Please know that one of our main goals for High School Ministry is to create an environment where young people can come with their questions. They will be made to feel seen, known and loved.

Our OCTOBER SCHEDULE is as follows

* 07th: Regular Wednesday Schedule

* 14th: No Ministry (TENTATIVE)

* 21st: Regular Wednesday Schedule

* 28th: Regular Wednesday Schedule

AFFIRMATION OF BAPTISM

While most of this information only applies to those participating in the Milestone

However, we invite ALL of YOU to join with us on Sunday, October 25th during the 9:30 Worship. This is always a wonderful Sunday

For those participating in the Milestone, here are some important dates (more detailed information was sent to families)

* October 3rd - Affirmation of Baptism Retreat

* October 18th - Affirmation of Baptism Dinner/Rehearsal

* October 25th - Affirmation of Baptism Milestone (during Worship)

* ALL MONTH - Faith Interviews with Pastor Ben or Katie

POP UP KIDS CHOIR

You asked - We listened!

When asked what you would like to see here at POP, some of you mentioned a Kids Choir. While we don't have the capacity to have a full time Kids Choir, we DO have the capacity to do a POP-UP Kids Choir every once in awhile! 

SO - we are going to do just that in October. We will practice after Worship on Sunday the 11th and 18th and briefly BEFORE Worship on the 25th. We will then sing in Worship on the 25th.

We will be doing a Sunday School Sing Along that has a lot of standards. If you watch THIS LIVESTREAM and jump ahead to the Special Music to hear the song we will be singing.

BIBLE SUNDAY

When you brought your child forward for Baptism, we as a Church (or whichever Church your child was baptized at) made the promise to help you place in their hands the Holy Scripture. On Bible Sunday we are able to do just that.

Sunday, October 4th, we will be celebrating BIble Sunday as we present Bibles to various age groups.

We will be passing out 3 different Bibles to the different age groups, so when you arrive at Worship on Sunday, please grab the Bible (if you do not already have one) that is appropriate for your Child's age group

PreK - 1st: Spark Story Bible

2nd - 5th: Spark NRSV Bible

6th - 8th: CoLABorate Bible

We also ask that anyone in 2nd - 5th Grade who has NOT done our Bible Class to plan on sticking around after Worship for a short Bible Class. This class is designed to help your child understand WHY and HOW to use their new Bibles.

CATECHISM CONVERSATIONS

Much like the promise to place the Holy Scriptures in your child's hands - we as a Church also make a promise to you, to partner with you, to teach your Child the Lords Prayer, the Creed, the 10 Commandments and MORE.

During the month of October, we encourage you to grab a Catechism Conversation packet - based on your child's grade (PreK - 5th ONLY) and work through the activities provided in the packet.

FALL FESTIVAL - COMING SOON!

This year we are trying something NEW! We are taking the time and energy we put into a Kick-Off Sunday and the time and energy we normally put into Trunk-or-Treat and we are combining it into ONE BIG EVENT!

The event will be SATURDAY - OCTOBER 10th from 9:00 - 12:00.

There will be GAMES, DECORATED TRUNKS, CRAFTS, INFLATABLES, FOOD AND MORE!

Mark your calendars - invite your friends - share the FACEBOOK EVENT - and join us on the 10th

Also, if you are looking to HELP with this event, you can sign-up HERE

YOUTH MINISTRY @ VALLEYSCARE

All 6th-12th Graders AND their friends are invited to join us for a frightful night @ Valleyscare. We will meet at Church on Saturday, October 10th at 5:30 and be back between 10:30 and 11:00. The cost is $65 per participant and that covers the ticket AND transportation cost.

PLEASE NOTE: I need adults to cover both the Church policy AND Valleyscare's chaperone policy.

Please fill out the registration link by Thursday, October 8th so we can arrange transportation and order our tickets ahead of time.

ValleyScare Registration

CHILDRENS MINISTRY @ DEHN'S PUMPKINS

All Childrens Ministry families are invited to spend the day (from 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM) at Dehn's Pumpkin Patch with Miss Katie!

This is a great opportunity to build community with our Church family, but outside the Church building.

See on the 11th!

SCHEDULES AND MORE

Is your child involved in Sports? Music? Clubs?

If they are - send me their schedules and I will do my best to be there

Also - HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, if you are ever looking for ways to support one another - let me know as I would love to have a tag along at games, concerts, etc

UPCOMING NOVEMBER EVENTS

Here what is coming in NOVEMBER: Mark your calendars now and keep your eyes open for more information as it is released

• November 01st: Childrens Ministry
• November 04th: Youth Ministry
• November 08th: Childrens Ministry
• November 11th: Youth Ministry
• November 13th: Childrens Ministry Parents Night Out (TENTATIVE)
• November 14th: Youth Ministry Game Night (TENTATIVE)
• November 15th: Childrens MInistry
• November 18th: Youth Ministry
• November 22nd: Children Ministry
• November 25th: NO Youth Ministry due to Thanksgiving Holiday
• November 29th: Childrens MInistry/Program Rehearsal

CHURCHWIDE CALENDAR

Sunday, October 4th we will be welcoming Pastor Heidi Zimdars as our Guest Preacher. Pastor Ben will be on vacation

Sunday, October 18th we will be kicking off our Stewardship Drive.

We are currently raising money for NEW SCREENS in the Worship Center. If you would like to give, please give cash or check with the memo SCREENS on a Sunday morning!