Looking Forward to Soccer Camp at The Church at West Creek

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings this week, The Church at West Creek is sponsoring a mini soccer camp for ages 5-13.  I am looking forward to helping with this especially because it will be my first children's ministry experience at this church.  I am kind of anxious to see how this one compares to the other sports camp experiences I've had at Parma Heights Baptist Church.  

Most of the campers are from the community and are pre-registered.  We are expecting 30 - 40 kids so check-in time is only 10 minutes.  They can start kicking the ball around as soon as they are checked in and then they'll be divided into two groups as evenly as possible by age.  Each day they'll have about 40 minutes to do four different drills.  At 7:00 they will get a light meal and a devotional with a gospel presentation.  After that, they will have a scrimmage game for about 20 minutes before pickup time at 8:00 p.m.  

I will be helping with set-up, registration and the meal so right there my role is different than in the past.  This camp is evening instead of morning or afternoon, and it's only three days instead of five days.  Obviously, it's only the one sport as opposed to 4-6 sports going on all at once.  They don't have any giveaways, but give the kids a meal instead of just snacks.  Everyone will be together for the devotional time.  The rain plan is to play in the rain as long as it's not thundering or lightening.  The forecast looks good though so hopefully it will be dry!  I think it will be a great time!  Still time to register ahead at TheChurchatWestcreek.org.

What are you looking forward to?     

Related Posts About Previous Sport Camp Experiences you might enjoy:

We Need a Vacation to Recover from Vacation

Soccer is Harder Than I Thought

Sunday Sharing:  How To Avoid Becoming Useless

On Vacation--Sports Camp

Being Flexible

Things I Learned This Week of Sports Camp

Share a Photo That Best Represents Your June

Sunday Sharing: How To Avoid Becoming Useless

My scripture highlight this week is from II Peter 1:5-7 from the Children's International Bible which says:

Because you have these blessings, you should try as much as you can to add these things to your lives: to your FAITH, add GOODNESS; and to your goodness, add KNOWLEDGE; and to your knowledge, add SELF-CONTROL; and to your self-control, add the ABILITY TO HOLD ON; and to your ability to hold on, add SERVICE FOR GOD; and to your service for God, add KINDNESS FOR YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST; and to this kindness, add LOVE. If all these things are in you and are growing, they will help you never to be useless. They all help your knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ make your lives better.

Oh, I had such a fun busy week when on vacation doing Sports Camp Monday through Thursday, coaching basketball in the morning, assisting soccer coaches (who I had in my Sunday School class when they were 5th graders) in the afternoon and helping set up for the family picnic on Thursday evening!  I was able to incorporate all of the above things mentioned in this scripture passage and definitely did not feel useless, just a bit old.  I was having such a good time and was so busy that I only got a few pictures, but thought you might enjoy seeing some of what my vacation looked like. 


We as a church put on this sports camp free of charge to show God's love to our community and get the opportunity to share the Good News about Jesus with them.  Many would never come into our church otherwise.  The final program this year were two jugglers and all the kids there who attended through the week received four juggling balls.  This year we had more kids than ever before and both morning and afternoon sessions were filled to capacity in all the sports!

I didn't get to visit many blogs this week, but it was kind of nice being outdoors and enjoying seeing people face-to-face for a change.  I sure hate to see my vacation come to an end.

WELCOME SUMMER!

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Being Flexible

Sometimes it does no good to plan ahead.  Sometimes what we think is going to happen doesn't, so we need to be flexible.  This is what we are told when we sign up to work in Sports Camp at our church.  Our best laid plans are always subject to change because we o not always know what God has in mind.

I was originally told I would be coaching first grade girls basketball so planned some games to play at the beginning during registration geared to that age level, such as Johnny Can't Cross My Ocean, Mother May I, Mr. Fox, Red Light, Green Light and Spud.  I touched base with my assistant coach and felt ready.

First thing I was told when I arrived was surprise--there's been a change.  I would now be coaching 5th grade boys instead of 1st grade girls.  OK.  We are short on men coaches this year but I assisted with 5th grade boys last year and have taught that age in Sunday School so felt comfortable with the new assignment.  Quickly, my mind is thinking of new presession games because what I had planned clearly would not be good now.

Monday went very well, better than I even expected as far as my morning session.  One even prayed for forgiveness and asked Jesus to be his Savior!

I volunteered as a blue shirt worker in the afternoon which is basically just to be available to assist coaches if needed, taking kids to first aid or the restroom.  I was assigned to 1st gr. boys soccer and had the pleasure to assist two of my former 5th grade boys I had in Sunday School and watch them coach soccer.  They even invited me to play to balance out teams for a little time, it was fun! 

We had a record attendance of children this year and for the first time had to close out some sports.  This outreach ministry into our community takes the whole church working together to make it happen. 

I look forward to another great day today and am excited to see what happens!  This is my idea of a fun vacation--I LOVE it!  What is your idea of a great vacation?

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Things I Learned This Week of Sports Camp-Part 25

I was one who took my vacation to do Sports Camp and be an assistant coach for flag football and I am so glad I did. The day flew by (unlike at work)and I learned a lot about keeping kids involved, encouraging them, teaching them different skills and I even learned what a sweep football play is and how to diagram plays. Some of the most fun was on the sidelines of our game just playing a "mini" game with those waiting to go in working some on skills and getting a better understanding of the game. We had over 600 children involved in our camps this week! Praise the Lord!!

Below is a video of just the flag football area that I worked in.


I got a great tan and enjoyed the picnic and awards celebration for all the campers and their families last night! Our key verse for the week is Philippians 4:13 which says, "I can do all things because Christ strengthens me." For our program we had the Victory Strength Team present amazing feats of strength: Gary "The Rock" Kanaga (The head of our Sports Camp) bench pressed 225 lbs. of 30 reps! Then at the end he broke threw a stack of 7 1" bricks with his bare hand! Greg "Mighty Mouse" Page weighing 160 did 13 squats at 500 lbs.! Gary "The Hulk" Bess did dead weight lifts of 600 lbs. 10 reps! Michale "Popeye" Kling did 10 reps of 135 lb. bar curls! It was remarkable and the kids loved it as the cheered them on.

This was a huge undertaking for our church to do, with planning and preparation going on for a whole year. This was a step of faith on the part of our church as a whole because it is the first time we've done this just using our own congregation. We also didn't know how many would come to football since we just added this sport. Our church family is extremely excited about this outreach ministry into our community and it is so much fun being a part of it.

The staff that worked both the morning and afternoon sessions enjoyed fellowship while eating lunch together that was provided for all of us at the church. It was also encouraging to me to find out that some of the boys I had in my 5th grade Sunday School class two years ago were helping as assistant coaches and even leading some of the devotions in their group.

For complete coverage of Sports Camp, visit the official blog of Parma Heights Baptist Church at http://phbaptist.blogspot.com/.

I've Been Tagged by Lady Java for Have You Ever?

What better time to have a "Have You Ever Tag" to usher in the new year. Thanks Lady Java for tagging me for this one:)

So here we go!!!

1. Have you ever been on TV?
Yes, when I was at an Cleveland Indians game with my mom and my best friend and sisters and brother we held up a large PEANUTS sign that said "Charlie Brown says Go Indians! It was about 4-5 feet long and about 3 feet high. It had several of the PEANUTS characters on it and we just put a strip of writing across the top.

2. Have you ever sung in public?
Yes, a long time ago when Pastor Lanpher organized a youth choir and convinced my mom that he wanted me to join in even if I couldn't carry a tune. I sang the alto part and enjoyed it, but don't know if he regretted his decision to encourage me to join or not. I really do sing off key and don't even know it. I did enjoy making a "joyful noise" to the Lord and sang out anyway. I think I was in Junior High school at the time. My mom warned him!

3. Have you ever dyed your hair blond?
Never.

4. Have you ever eaten frogs' legs?
No. I did almost try pig ears though at Lola's. It was listed under appetizers. I just thought it would be fun to taste them but I couldn't convince anyone to order them so I could just try a little one. (Has anyone tasted them?)

5. Have you ever received a present that you really hated?
Oh yeah, I can think of several, but probably the one I really hated most was a dress that I got from Christmas when I was little. I even let the person know right then and there. I was just being honest, hadn't learned to be tactful and still have some trouble with that. See my earlier post, "Warning, Tip For Parents."

6. Have you ever walked into a lamp post?
A lamp post, no, but I have walked into low tree branches and door jams quite often.

7. Have you ever cooked a meal by yourself for more than 15 people?
Does ordering pizza count? If not, then I have to say no and I seriously doubt I ever will.

8. Have you ever fallen or stumbled in front of others?
Yes, twice fairly recently even. Once when I was crossing the street to catch the bus, I fell right in the street while running for the bus. My umbrella tripped me. My feet were running left in the direction of the bus, but I was looking right for oncoming cars. Fortunately, I fell right in the middle of the street in the turn lane! Then I ran in front of the bus and it almost hit me because the driver didn't see me, but I made it even without any broken bones! (You can read about all the details at "Bus Adventure."

Another time I was going outside for lunch and was walking along reading a book, missed a step coming out of our building and sort of ran along to try to keep my balance and avoid falling which I was successful in doing, but not before Leaking in my pants in the process from the extra exertion. Of course people were all over the place. but no one said anything.

9. Have you ever done volunteer work?
Yes, quite a bit--it's so much fun and very rewarding and satisfying! My first volunteer work was helping kids do crafts in "Hobby Club" that our church had on Saturday mornings as an outreach for the neighborhood children. At that time we had a Pastor's wife that was really gifted in the are of making crafts, often useful things, out of . . . well, I guess junk. Stuff like cans, OJ containers, yarn, rocks, wallpaper samples, carpet samples, just about anything.

Then, I started helping in Vacation Bible School ("VBS") and the first time I ever taught was a first grade VBS class. I remember sewing some headbands to stick colored paper feathers in for them when they said their verses.

I liked teaching and started teaching a 3rd grade boys' class. I also played the piano for children's church. I've taught grades 3-12 for Sunday School, started a group called Whirlybirds for grades 4-6, directed the youth group for about 15 years with grades 5-12 and even while at Malone College, I taught a Bible Study for a few Jr. High girls.

I used vacation time to volunteer as a camp counselor at Beulah Beach for a couple weeks during summers before I got married. I started off with high schoolers but also did Jr. High and 10 and 11 yr. olds too. This was very fun, but very exhausting!

When the Billy Graham Crusade came to Cleveland, (I think it was in the 70s or 80s, I'm sure exactly when), I took some vacation time to volunteer to type the cards that were sent to area churches for follow-up on new believers. I wound up heading up that department and working until 4 a.m. This was a fun experience and I remember they had a LOT of food brought in for us to help us stay awake and energized.

I was one of the first who worked in the AWANA club ministry at church when it was first started. I was the secretary for all the groups. Later, I became a director for 3rd & 4th grade girls and boys, a leader for 5th & 6th grade boys, but my favorite position was Commander/Secretary. When we changed churches, I really missed AWANA so helped in Pioneer Girls for a couple years, it just wasn't as good though.

I joined the puppet team when Cindy started one at the Brooklyn Christian & Missionary Alliance Church and now currently do it with my husband at Parma Heights Baptist Church ("PHBC"). Most recently Gerard and I do VBS and Sports Camp for a couple weeks during the summer at PHBC. I teach the 5th grade boys Sunday School class.

Once I retire, I look forward to volunteering at a local animal shelter and perhaps the Cleveland Zoo in addition to church activities.

Sorry this is so long, but I hope you found some at least interesting. Okay now that I've done this, I am tagging....

Abelle at Only In Silence
Anne at Small Town Mommy
Carol at Carol's Thoughtful Spot
Tashabud at Tasha's Take
Beaded Tail
Mike at Rambling Stuff

Have fun and pass this along to four or five more. Any questions about any of my answers?