Richard Sims

Things are Cranking Up

Summer vacation is slowly winding down, and that means things at Tapestry are gearing up. UpStreet returns on August 10, along with a great video series called Fight Club, a 4-week series with 3 different speakers discussing the importance of family. Invite everyone you know to this series! Plus, we're working hard to get our Community Groups going this fall.

I had a great meeting with this guy the other day, and I am so pumped about what we're going to be doing in family ministry. Waumba Land is going strong, UpStreet is coming back, and you'll also be hearing more about our ministry to students in grades 6-12.

This Sunday, we close out Mythbusters with the messiest myth of all.  Great things are on the way!  I am pumped!

Andy's Life Timeline

So Andy has a project to do, and it calls for him to create a time-line of his life.  The first thing he has to do is figure out the key events, the most important times, in his life.  You know, things like "started talking,"  "started walking," "first day of school," "first Auburn-Alabama game," the really important stuff.

He gives me his list, and right below "Trip to Disney World" was something that really hit me..."Met Mr. Jonathon."  Andy was talking about Jonathon Burns, his small group leader at the church we attended while planning for Tapestry. Turns out that this happened on September 17, 2006.

Mr. Jonathon has obviously made a huge impact on Andy, not only on Sundays during small group, but even by coming to Cartersville to watch soccer and baseball games. To Andy, Mr. Jonathon is THE MAN!

At Tapestry, starting in Waumba Land and UpStreet, and coming in the future for both youth and adults, we'll major on small groups.  When a child graduates from the high school ministry they will understand that “I cannot survive outside of the context of community.”  It’s just wired into their system from preschool up.

My dream is that every child at Tapestry will list meeting their small group leader as one of the highlights of their life. And my goal is that years from now when your child leaves high school, they will search for a church where they can experience the same kind of community they experienced growing up.

Thanks Mr. Jonathon!  And thanks to all of you who faithfully serve week in and week out in Waumba Land and UpStreet at Tapestry!  You're not just babysitting.  You're making impressions that will last a lifetime.

Waumba Land

Among the parents of preschoolers who I've invited to Tapestry, and I've invited a lot of them, the number one question is, "Do you have something for my preschooler?"

And the answer is YES!  We have something AWESOME for your preschooler! But we don't have a nursery, and we don't have a baby-sitting service.  Let me explain...

Waumba Land (the word "waumba" is the Swahili word for Creator, so it's the "land of the Creator") is our small group environment for preschoolers 6 weeks through Pre-K.  It serves as our Foyer, Living Room and Kitchen environments for this age group. Dawn Crane and Melissa Moyers have done an incredible job leading this vital ministry!

There are three basics that we teach our preschoolers over and over again, three truths we want every preschooler to own for themselves by the time they enter kindergarten: God made me, God loves me, and Jesus wants to be my friend forever. This is what your preschooler is learning while you are in the worship service.

So, if you're a parent, bring your preschooler to Waumba Land.  And if you're a preschooler, bring your parent!

WE NEED HELP - Right now we're still in only one service on Sunday mornings, which means that some of our Waumba Land volunteers are missing worship every time we meet.  We need men and women who are willing to serve on a rotating basis to give everyone the opportunity to attend worship.  PLEASE visit www.tapestrychurchonline.com/teaminfo or send an e-mail to Dawn Crane or Melissa Moyers at waumbaland@tapestrychurchonline.com TODAY!

Opportunities in Waumba Land

Waumba Land, our ministry to children aged 6 weeks through Pre-K, will begin on October 21st!  Dawn Crane and Melissa Small are getting us organized, and we are pumped about this tremendous ministry and the impact it will make on the lives of our children.   There are plenty of opportunities to serve, such as behind-the-scenes people who gather supplies for each service, small group leaders, singers, Bible story tellers in large group time, and so much more! 

• To talk with Dawn or Melissa about Waumba Land, go here.
• To learn more about Waumba Land, visit the Tapestry website, click on "Families" and then go to either "Waumba Land" or "Volunteers."
• To let us know you'd definitely like to serve in Waumba Land, go here.

We want parents who attend Tapestry for the first time to respond with a "wow!" when they see what we do for their children in Waumba Land.  Please pray about what you can do to make that happen!