KID CITY
CITY LIFE CHURCH
Jesus loves the little children! They are precious in His sight. Let’s bring them to Him!
Children are a blessed legacy, responsibility, and hope. Our time, love, and care are well-invested in them. Let’s come alongside each other to raise them together as a community!
In Kid City, children (babies through 5th grade) learn about Jesus… the one who loves them and has big plans for their lives. Their imaginations are shaped by God’s Word. Kids develop healthy relationships with each other and the adults that serve on the Kid City team.
We meet during both the 9:15 a.m. and 11 a.m. services on Sunday morning.
Please feel free to reach out to The Mayor of Kid City, Sara VanderVelde. <[email protected]>
ANNOUNCEMENTS
KID CITY HAPPENINGS
MAY EVENTS
Photo and Flowers
Sunday, May 11:
Kids and their adult can come and take a photo and plant a flower in between services from 10:30-10:55.
Foster the Family Pajama Drive
May 25 | During Sunday Services:
May is Foster care awareness month. Kid City will be hosting their second annual pajama drive. Kids are encouraged to bring a new pair of pajamas to donate to a foster child’s first night bag. This bag will contain items that will bring comfort to a child spending their first night away from home. Here is an Amazon wishlist directly from FTF:https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1YH3GDWUNGJSG/ref=hz_ls_biz_ex
Foster the Family Family Fun Day
June 7, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.:
Gather your crew and lace up your sneakers. Foster the Family’s 3rd Annual 5K + Family Fun Day is here! Join us for a fun-filled day as we walk, run, and rally together to support vulnerable children and the families that care for them. For more information:https://www.fosterthefamily.org/grand-rapids-5k
Made For This Summer Outreach
June 9- July 28:
Kid City is revamping our Summer Life Group to include our neighborhood families!
Each week a family (or small group) will host an hour long program for kids in the neighborhood. It can be at the park or parking lot. We will use the themes of VBS and take a month to cover a theme. This allows families to serve in our neighborhood and for visiting kids to begin exploring biblical themes in a consistent way. We will have our main VBS the following week from August 4-7th and hope that our summer families will be fully engaged in this final program!
VBS 2025 – Made For This
August 4-7 6:00-8:00 p.m.:
Every child has a unique purpose in life and a place where they belong. We want to help them discover where they come from and why their life matters, through the fun of sports and arts in a playful, exploratory environment.
Unlike a traditional VBS where themes are changing and purpose might shift, Made For This is an intentional way to connect to the neighborhood each year in a way that remains familiar. We are intentionally shifting from a traditional VBS and will move into a yearly model of offering a Sports and Art camp annually. It will allow us to make long lasting connections in our neighborhood, and create the opportunity to offer camps throughout the year as opportunity arises. We are so excited for the direction the Lord is moving us in!
Kid City GLOW Party!
Kid City GLOW Party!
Kid City GLOW Party!
WHAT WE’RE TEACHING
MAY AT KID CITY
VERSE: “In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.“ – Exodus 15:13
Overview: We are continuing our study of the Israelites in the desert, awaiting the promised land. We will witness an established way to honor God through an official place for His spirit to dwell, and burnt offering. There will be a transfer of leadership from Moses to Joshua.
- Story 16: Fancy Tent and Foolish Cow – Exodus 32-34
- Story 17: 2 Goats – Leviticus 16
- Story 18: Big people, Little Faith – Numbers 13-14
- Story 19: You are Not the Boss – Numbers 16
PARENT RESOURCES
KID CITY’S CURRICULUM
BIGGEST STORY CURRICULUM
Kid City has decided to focus on bible study and journaling for 2025 and 2026 using a new curriculum. We are very excited to walk alongside families and disciple parents at church who will disciple their children at home. We will use a specific Bible each week to study vibrant stories from: creation to the fall of man and then redemption and the promise of a new home in Zion. Here are the links to the Bible, Family bible with discussion prompts, as well as verse cards we will use. These are simply tools you may use to follow along if you wish to at home. We will provide scripture references and you are more than able to follow along in any bible you already have at home!
- The Biggest Story Website: https://www.thebiggeststory.com/videos/
- The Biggest Story Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Q8MGBvEGSKvgi9fzMr71n
TIP OF THE MONTH
Gifted Kids
When we talk about the “gifts” kids have and how they can use them to serve others, have you ever noticed how certain kinds of gifts seem to get more attention than others? It’s easy to tell them they’re a good musician, athlete, public speaker, or even a good leader. But what about those not-so-obvious gifts? What are they, and how can we better recognize them in the kids we raise?
Tip & Resource Archive PDF
We have compiled a PDF of previous Tips & Resources posted on Kid City. This PDF will be updated as new tips/resources are posted (…so the old ones archived to the PDF continually). We hope you will be blessed by the wisdom of many!
Click the ‘hands’ image-button in this section to view/print/download the PDF.
REACH OUT
Meet the Mayor
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to the Children’s Ministry Director (aka The Mayor of Kid City), Sara VanderVelde, at [email protected].
