2024 God’s Garden

God’s Garden Children’s Ministry 2024
End of 2023-2024 Sunday School Year
Teachers
Sacred Seedlings (nursery): Mari Fujii, Kellie Nunokawa, Christine Ozawa and Mari Visitacion
Super Sprouts (preschool-K): Karen Chou, Mary Asano and Leighton Horio
Best Buds (1st-2nd): Kiyomi Yanai, Lisa Bantilan and Jayne Williams
Giving Tree (3rd-5th): Jim Mar, Rob Hikido, Clarissa Johnston-Abril and Hatty Lin

January 2024
            
February 2024
• Feb 9: Valentine’s Day Party for God’s Garden
We had a potluck dinner, games and crafts for the children.
• Feb 29: God’s Garden Teachers Meeting over Zoom
 
March 2024
* March 24: Palm Procession and Song
The children did a Palm Procession into the Sanctuary and then sang “Hosanna Rock” with the band.
• March 31: Easter Egg Hunt at Issei Memorial Building
 
May 2024
• May 12: Mother’s Day
God’s Garden children, CAF and MYF youth made gifts for the women at Wesley. The children passed out l carnations to the women after service. There was no Sunday School as the teachers get Mother’s Day off from teaching.
• May 19: Last Day of Sunday School
No Sunday school during Memorial weekend. And some schools ended this last week of May.
• May 31: San Jose Giants Outing
 
June 2024
June 2: Graduation Sunday

June 9: Summer Sunday School
Fruits of the Spirit activities with children.
 
July 2024
July 7: Summer Sunday School
Activities for God’s Garden, CAF and MYF. Last day with Kasper as MYF Director.
 
Start of 2024-2025 Sunday School Year
 
Teachers
Sacred Seedlings (nursery): Mari Fujii,  Kellie Nunokawa, Christine Ozawa and Mika Visitacion
Super Sprouts/Best Buds (preschool-1st): Mary Asano, Lisa Bantilan, Karen Chou,  Jayne Williams and Kiyomi Yanai (Leighton Horio taking a break)
Giving Tree (2nd-5th): Jim Mar, Rob Hikido and Clarissa Johnston-Abril
 
We changed the grade organization in the classrooms to even out the number of children in the classrooms. We have more children in the preschool-2nd grades and fewer in 3rd-5th grades. We decided to change the Super Sprouts/Best Bud class to include preschool through 1st grade children and Giving Tree class to include 2nd through 5th grade students.
For our curriculum this year, we changed to a new curriculum put out by Cokesbury: Big Faith. This new curriculum seems to be a better fit for our children’s ministry. So far it’s working out great. We continue to use Amplify Media streaming service to access videos.

Aug 2024 
  • Aug 5: God’s Garden Teacher’s Meeting
  • Aug 18: Rally Sunday
We started Sunday school earlier this year since most schools are now starting earlier and ending earlier. We wanted to get as many Sundays with the children as possible.
We welcomed back all the children, youth and teachers.. Rev John blessed their backpacks and we distributed a Bible to our one 3rd grader. After service, there was a Wesley Fellowship Lunch which Children and Youth Ministries hosted.
 
Sept 2024
• Sept 8: Back-To-School BBQ Picnic
Held a picnic at Bramhall Park in Willow Glen for Children and Youth Ministries  families. We had about 50-60 people attend. Invited Kids Camp families and a good number of them attended.
 
• Sept 15: ERT Training meeting for teachers. Also a teachers meeting.
• Sept 22: Started Meet Your Bible classes with 3rd and 4th graders. Combined the two grades since we had only one 3rd grader last year, and one this year. Will have 4 classes in total: Sept 22, Sept 29, Oct 13 and TBD.
 
Oct 2023 [upcoming]
Oct 27: Halloween Party for God’s Garden

Nov 2023
Thanksgiving activities
 
Dec 2023
Dec 15: Christmas Play and songs