Raise your hand if your kids have a 3 or 4 day weekend!  Yep most of us do!  So, if you are looking for a couple of quick ideas to help pass time with activities, I’ve got a couple.

For a craft that you can eat… here is a log cabin made out of pretzels:

What you need:  pretzels, frosting, crackers and a Rolo or something for a chimney.

Here is a cute patriotic parade stick:

What you need:

construction paper
red crepe paper streamer
white crepe paper streamer
stickers

How to make it:

1. Roll blue construction paper into a tight cone and tape closed.
2. Cut each crepe paper strip into 3 parts of equal length. Next, cut strips in
   half lengthwise, creating two thin strips from each regular strip. You should
   end up with six strips of each color.
3. Place a small piece of tape at the end of one of the red strips. Press the
   tape inside the top of the cone. Repeat this step using a white strip. Repeat
   for remaining strips, alternating between red and white, work your way around
   the top of the cone so that your streamers are equally distributed.
4. Decorate strips and cone with star stickers.

Whatever you have planned for your long weekend with your children, make it fun,
make it simple and make it together!!

~Lyna

JH Update:  We’re back in full swing and had an awesome time at the Swanson’s for the Super Bowl party!  Sorry about those Pats, Seth.   Confirmation is going really well, and Sunday afternoons are anything but dull!

Don’t forget a couple important upcoming dates and events:

                2/23 @ 8p-9:30p- Feed My Starving Children (Come help pack food; it’s awesome!)

                5/18-19 Sock Wars Lock-In!  This is going to be EPIC…and free…invite your friends today!

SH Update:  It’s a fun-filled, and busy spring for the SH students.  After an amazing Spaghetti lunch fundraiser for CHIC (Thank you to everyone who donated!), we rooted on the Giants to a victory in Super Bowl XLVI!

A lot of things ahead for SH:

2/17-20: OneLife Winter Retreat @ CPBC!  Meet at DG Covenant Church @ 9:30a on Friday the 17th.  We’ll be on the road by 10a!  We’ll be home (at DG Covenant) by 6p on Monday evening.

Registration: $200 (Checks payable to: DeerGrove Covenant Church)

Forms:  All students need DG release forms properly, and fully filled out in order to attend!  They also need skiing forms filled out before we leave if they plan on skiing. (Forms will be passed out on Sunday 2/12 at youth group, otherwise, they will need to be filled out and signed by a parent/guardian on Friday, 2/17).

Optional:  Skiing $31 (Checks payable to Bill Fish)

Optional: OneLife 2012 T-shirt $10 (Checks payable to: DeerGrove Covenant Church)

3/15 @ 8p-9:30p- Feed My Starving Children (Come help pack food; it’s awesome!)

3/18: Silent Auction CHIC Fundraiser.  Please sign up at youth group to help bring/serve food, help with set up, clean up, and make sure that the auction runs smoothly.

Don’t forget,

JH Confirmation: Sundays @ 9:15a-10a

SH Christian Formation: Sunday @ 9:15a-10a

JH Journey @ 4p-5:30p

SH Xtreme Impact @ 6p-8p

Please be in prayer for safety in upcoming travels, continued provision for CHIC, and that our students might continually be drawn to Christ and transformed by God’s love through the power of the Holy Spirit.

As always, please feel free to Contact Tom with any questions, concerns, thoughts, feedback, and even smart remarks.  Grace and peace. 

The word love is appears in the Bible about 550 times depending on what version you are reading!  That is a lot of love!  To honor the word love, and the upcoming holiday that also honors love, here are some crafts, recipes and ideas to make this Valentines day special  for you and your child.

Make it: Lollipop Flower Craft

*There is something irresistibly simple and lovely about this card, and your sweetheart is sure to be a sucker for the candy treat it hides.

Materials
Red and green construction paper or card stock
Scissors
Lollipops
Glue stick

Instructions
From red construction paper, cut out a heart that’s just larger than the lollipop candy and glue it to the wrapper.

1. For the leaves, fold the green paper in half and cut out a leaf shape, leaving the two sides attached at the seam.
   Unfold the double leaf shape, coat the entire inside surface with glue, and fold it back over the lollipop stem, pressing to secure.

Bake it:  Cupid Cupcakes Recipe

Cupid’s arrow hits the mark with these heart shaped cupcakes!  To create the heart shape, place a small marble or a 1/2 inch ball of aluminum foil between each liner and one side of the tin (kids love to help with this). This will push the paper into the batter to form the notch in the heart!!  You could use a regular cake mix and store bought frosting and this idea would still come out great!  If you are interested in making a cake from scratch, here is a great recipe!

*Ingredients FOR YELLOW CAKE

• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 3 large eggs (for a white cake, use 6 egg whites)
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. cream of tartar
• 1 1/3 cups buttermilk (or 1 cup buttermilk and 1/3 cup plain yogurt)

• 2 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• FOR BUTTERCREAM FROSTING
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 3 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp. light corn syrup
• 1 tbsp. milk

1. FOR CAKE: Preheat the oven to 350º. Butter and lightly flour your cake pans (see our list of pan sizes below). Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
2. Sift together the dry ingredients. Mix the buttermilk, vanilla extract and butter mixture into the dry ingredients, 1/3 at a time, scraping the bowl frequently. To create the heart shape, place a small marble or a 1/2-inch ball of aluminum foil between each liner and one side of the tin (a great job for kids). This will push the paper into the batter to form the notch in the heart. Pour into the prepared pans and bake according to the times listed below, but check for doneness a few minutes early or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cupcakes cool, then remove the marbles or foil balls. Serves 10 to 12.
3. FOR BAKING: Two 8- or 9-inch rounds or squares; bake for 20 to 35 minutes. One 13-by-9-by-2-inch pan; bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Two Bundt or ring pans; bake for 20 to 30 minutes. Two 12-cup cupcake tins; bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Two 6-inch half spheres (available at cake supply stores) or two 1 1/2-quart ovenproof bowls (stainless steel or Pyrex); bake for 30 minutes. Two rimmed 12- or 14-inch pizza pans; bake for 20 to 30 minutes. Five mini loaf pans; bake for 20 to 30 minutes.
4. FOR FROSTING: In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter until fluffy. Add the remaining ingredients and beat until smooth. Makes 4 cups.
5. For Chocolate Frosting, substitute 1/2 to 3/4 cup of cocoa powder for an equal amount of confectioners’ sugar. For, Lemon Frosting , substitute 1 teaspoon lemon extract for the vanilla extract and add the finely grated zest of 1 lemon. For Cream Cheese Frosting , substitute 4 ounces of cream cheese for 1/2 cup of butter and use lemon juice instead of milk. Beat in an additional 1 1/2 to 2 cups confectioners’ sugar and omit the light corn syrup. For Strawberry Or Raspberry Frosting , add 1/4 cup seedless strawberry or raspberry jam to the basic frosting recipe. Add an additional 1/2 cup of confectioners’ sugar and omit the light corn syrup.

Speak it:  St.Valentine’s story & Love

St. Valentine, for whom this holiday is named, was an actual historical figure. He was a Roman physician who was also a Christian priest during the days of the early church.  This was at a time when Christians were under tremendous persecution. There are actually a couple versions of the Valentine’s Day story.  One version, has it that Valentine was so loved by the children of the town that they would constantly write him notes speaking of their affection and thus the origin of exchanging valentines.

Spend time writing love notes or valentines to your kids.   You can put them in their lunch boxes, on their pillows or at the breakfast table.

God is Love

Here are two times that the Bible tells us about Love.  In 1 John 4:8 it says, “God is Love.”   There are many more passages in the Bible that speak of love and give us God’s definition of love as well.   The most well known verse is John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.“    This is an amazing love,  and all we have to do is accept His gift.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

*Craft and Recipe idea from Family fun magazine

Join us for the months of February and March as we explore the 7 miracles found in the Gospel of John. Each week, we will delve into the significance and impact that each miracle had on Kingdom living and experience the truth that our God is truly greater.

February 5th – Intro to John & EPIC Miracles
February 12th – First Miracle: Water to Wine (John 2:1-12)
February 19th – Second Miracle: Faith to Heal (John 4:43-54 )
February 26th –  Third Miracle: Jesus Heals, Man Walks (John 5:1-15)

March 4th – Fourth Miracle: 5,000 Fed (John 6:1-15)
March 11th – Fifth Miracle: Walk on Water (John 6:16-21)
March 18th – Sixth Miracle:  Blind Man Healed (John 9:1-34)
March 25th – Seventh Miracle: The Dead Arise (John 11:17-44)

Date: February 12th

Preacher: Pastor Melissa Wall

Date: February 19th

Preacher: Greg Asimakoupoulos

Date: February 26th

Preacher: Pastor Melissa Wall

Date: March 4th

Preacher: Pastor Melissa Wall

Date: March 11th

Preacher: Pastor Melissa Wall

Date: March 18th

Preacher: Pastor Melissa Wall