LOGOS

Pastor's Letter	What is LOGOS?	The Purpose of LOGOS
LOGOS Program Outline	Relationships	Fees
Parent Participation	Discipline	Visitors
Schedule		Calendar

New for 2009 - LOGOS Expands to Include High School Students! This is the first year that the LOGOS program will expand to include high school students. Their Bible Study will be focused on the book of Daniel, where they will learn principles to apply to their lives. Daniel is chosen as an example because he purposefully obeyed God, and prayed and studied scripture regularly. We also learn that Daniel picked friends that would form a group for encouragement and support. Through his actions, Daniel’s life became a powerful example for God, and we believe yours can too! Pastor's Letter: Dear Friends, Welcome to LOGOS! We at Community Presbyterian Church are thrilled to offer our community this exciting program for youth and children. We see LOGOS as an opportunity of enriching the faith of families and especially of children through a program that builds relationships with Jesus Christ, the Church, and the larger community. LOGOS is founded on the belief that we all -- young and old -- are children of God. We live out the meaning of that truth at school, work, home, and especially through LOGOS. Every aspect of LOGOS shows in practical ways what being a Child of God means. Through Bible Study, Fellowship, Food, and Fun, LOGOS participants experience, first hand, God's love in the family of God. Worship Skills are intended to help children understand and become a vital part of the Community's worship on Sundays. There, the children put into practice what they learn in Bible Study and Worship Skills, while experiencing being part of the larger Body of Christ. It is our hope you will make worship an important spiritual foundation for your children affirming God is central to life. LOGOS is primarily for children and youth, however, parents who commit to helping this program work will witness the enriching effects of LOGOS on the faith of their children. Many adults of our Congregation will invest in the faith development of your children by building relationships with them and showing God's Love in the context of this program. Most of what you will need to know is included in this introduction. If you have any questions, please call. We are here for you. We care about children and look forward to working with you in creating a weekly time where loving God, laughing, learning, singing, eating, and being part of a multi-generational Christian Community can happen. All of this can occur only through prayer, preparation, and many people who pour their lives and time into serving God's Children. Thank you for your interest in this joyous adventure. Yours in Christ, Glen A. Thorp, Pastor Top What is LOGOS? Over a period of about thirty-five years, the LOGOS system of Christian nurture has been the primary vehicle for midweek ministry among children and youth around our nation. "LOGOS" is Greek for "Word" as used in the Gospel of John 1:14 "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" -- thus LOGOS refers to Christ. LOGOS is found in approximately 4,000 churches in the United States, representing over 25 denominations. The Program is also found in Russia, Japan, and Canada. This four-part program includes Bible Study, recreation, worship skills and dinner (family time). LOGOS is "the theology and practice of Christian relationships in a disciplined mid-week context". This "two-rail" design enables not only the teaching aspect of our Christian faith to take place, but also an arena of practicing and living out that faith. We believe that the Christian faith is, in fact, more "caught" than taught. Top The Purpose of LOGOS The purpose of the LOGOS system of Christian nurture is four-fold: To create an understanding and desire for accepting Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; To develop intelligent, active, and loyal membership and leadership in the church; To give worthwhile study, wholesome recreation and opportunities for service, all bound up in a true Christian fellowship; To develop the kind of Christians who are able and willing to communicate their faith and to assume personal responsibility in the building up of God's kingdom on earth. Top LOGOS Program Outline Bible Study Bible Study provides the foundation upon which the rest of the program is designed. To build Christian relationships, and to create an arena in which Christian community can be experienced, everyone needs to know and understand the Bible. Along with regular attendance in Church School and other church programs, the LOGOS Program strives to create biblically literate youth and children who apply what they have learned in Bible study to all aspects of their life. Worship Skills The experience of corporate worship is at the center of our life together as a Christian community. To prepare youth and children to participate regularly in worship with the congregation each Sunday, this portion of the program not only teaches about worship, but provides ways for our young people to lead the congregation in worship. (For purposes of this program, "Worship" means gathering: a) to acknowledge God's presence in the world and in our lives, b) to respond to God's redemptive action in Jesus Christ, and c) to offer ourselves to God's service in the world.) Activities A variety of activities is offered every week to provide the opportunity for self discovery as young people participate in playing together, doing crafts, or exploring special interests with members of the congregation. In a non-competitive environment, we learn to play and have great fun at the expense of no one. Family Time/Dinner Hour During the dinner hour a unique sense of the family of God develops as LOGOS members and adult "table parents" share a meal every week. The meal is served family style giving everyone the opportunity to serve one another. A caring "family" is created at each table as table members share important events in their lives and enjoy family fun time together. Top Relationships The LOGOS program is the theology and practice of Christian relationships in a disciplined, four part, mid-week context. This program expresses the conviction that Christian relationships are best learned when there is time to practice faith together, and when those relationships are experienced in the context of a Christian community. We believe that: Relationships must be informed, refined, renewed, and kept fresh. Bible Study provides that kind of input. Relationships grow when we have time to delight in fun and creativity together. Recreation provides that kind of time. Relationships deepen with the experience of table fellowship. This is the reason for Family Time/Dinner Hour. Relationships are enriched when each person's relationship to Christ is renewed and nurtured in weekly worship, and when people share in service to others. Worship Skills provides opportunity to express love for God together, and to serve the Church in a meaningful way, often through music. True knowledge of God most often travels a relational bridge, and the four parts of this program provide ways for rich and meaningful relationships to develop. Top Fees The cost of the LOGOS program includes a monetary fee PLUS a commitment of time from at least one parent of each registrant. The fee includes dinner each week, the student's study book, and craft/recreation materials. Semester 1: October 14, 2009 - January 27, 2010 Semester 2: February 3, 2010 - May 5, 2010 FEE PER SEMESTER: For one child per family                       $30.00 For two children per family                   $50.00 For three or more children per family     $70.00 NO STUDENT WILL BE TURNED AWAY. Financial assistance is available when needed. Please contact one of the directors, pastor, or church office. Top Parent Participation The LOGOS Program enables parents to fulfill a portion of the basic vows required of them when they presented their children for baptism. Parents, in addition to fulfilling their assigned LOGOS commitment, are to assist their children with assignments, encourage their faith and regular participation, and further their growth in the Christian faith. ACTIVE PARTICIPATION BY AT LEAST ONE PARENT OF EVERY CHILD IN LOGOS IS REQUIRED. Since the staff is largely voluntary, part-time service by a large number of people is essential to keep the many activities going. At least as important, however, is the "morale-boosting" effect of the parents' physical presence and visible support of the program from time to time. This is a vital element in the successful operation of LOGOS. At the time of registration, either one or both parents (or a substitute parent) should sign up for participation in one or more of the following areas of service. A. Kitchen & Dining Room The volunteer staff will be assisting in the following ways: Snack set-up and clean-up, dinner preparation, set-up, clean-up. B. Table Parents Table parents are present each week for the LOGOS dinner hour. Each Table Parent is responsible for the supervision of a table, and functions as host, disciplinarian, teacher, and friend. Table Parents should be in the dining room approximately 15 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE DINNER HOUR and remain until dinner hour dismissal time. C. Recreation/Craft leaders and helpers D. Assistant Bible teachers E. Music assistants Top Discipline Cooperation with all members of the staff should be stressed by the parents at home. General behavior at LOGOS should reflect Christian concern for others. Courtesy is expected at all times, whether at work or play. During Family Time (Dinner), good table manners are a must: "Please" and "Thank you" are expected. Unpleasant eating habits will be corrected and boisterous behavior will not be tolerated. The Table Parent functions as host, disciplinarian, teacher, and friend, and will be treated with respect and courtesy. Table Parents assign serving and clean-up duties on a rotating basis at their respective tables. The signal for silence - at table and in group situations - is an up-raised hand. This courteous quiet time will be maintained during the after-dinner program and whenever someone is addressing the group. If a young person's behavior becomes disruptive and intolerable for the group, she/he will be directed to the Comforter where a "one-on-one" conversation will take place in which both will seek to identify the difficulty, resolve it, and make possible the return of the young person to the group. PARENTS: Questions about discipline should be referred to one of the Directors. Disciplinary problems will be dealt with as quickly and creatively as possible, as they are detrimental to the well-being of other students. In the LOGOS Program, there is only one rule: Everyone is to treat everyone else as a Child of God. No one has the right to treat anyone else as if they do not matter. Top Visitors LOGOS members are ENCOURAGED to invite visitors. The following steps need to be taken when bringing visitors: The church office needs to be informed in advance so meals are available. Upon arrival, the visitor will be registered and a fee of $3 will be collected to cover the meal costs. Visitors are expected to stay with the student who brings them throughout the scheduled program. Visitors may attend LOGOS three times during a single semester. If a visitor wishes to enroll in the LOGOS Program she/he should contact the Director and arrange to register. Top Schedule 3:45 4:00 - 4:30 4:30 - 5:15 5:15 - 6:00 6:00 - 7:00 Snacks Recreation Music Bible Study Family Time (Dinner) Top