CLOSE ENCOUNTERS CLUB is a midweek kids club where students kindergarten-grade 6 learn how to live the Christian life. They experience a series of Close Encounters with God's Book through music, learning/activity centers, crafts and games. For 90 minutes each week students enter a world where the Bible comes alive. They develop a sense of "belonging" to a special group and make friends while bringing friends into a safe environment.
Sweatshirts/T-Shirts for kids and leaders are offered in a variety of colors at affordable prices!
A DAY AT CECLUB: Students arrive and begin CEClub with a light snack (or meal), table games and announcements. They divide into broadly graded groups and travel to twenty minute activity centers for Bible stories, crafts, themed activities or bumping into someone from the Bible. Everyone gathers to end CEClub with a rousing thirty minute Praise and Worship music time.
A YEAR AT CECLUB: CLOSE ENCOUNTERS CLUB is set up in trimesters. (If your church decides to have one or perhaps two sessions during the school year, the program will still work.) Each trimester is twelve weeks in length and includes FAMILY NIGHT DINNER, 10 WEEKS OF CECLUB and SHOW OFF NIGHT to end the session. The program may run with the school year with ample vacation time to recharge the staff before the next trimester begins.
FAMILY NIGHT DINNER: Parents, grandparents, aunt and uncles, siblings, friends, students and leaders gather for a festive covered dish dinner and introduction to the current theme. Ask for volunteer help from this group!
SHOW OFF NIGHT: This event is held on Week #12 of each trimester. This is an opportunity for CEClub kids to show their families and friends what they have learned, sing the songs and gather much like a monthly Cub Scout Pack Meeting.
SNACK AND YAK: The first twenty minutes of CEClub is filled with good food, fun and games with teen and adult leaders interacting with the gang.
THE LEARNING CENTER: This twenty minute Bible time changes theme with each series. The complete curriculum offers a six year plan to guarantee students kindergarten through grade six cover Bible subjects from Genesis through Revelation and spend time each week studying issues that relate to living a Christian life in today's world. Each year begins with an Old Testament series, moves on to a New Testament theme and ends the school year talking about relationships.
THE SURPRISE SHOPPE: This twenty minute adventure gets students involved in an active way with the daily theme. They may make a craft, play a game or meet a Bible character. Some sessions extend the theme by creating a GARDEN OF EDEN, JOYFUL JAILHOUSE JAMBOREE, BUILDING A CHAPEL, VISITING DAVE'S CAVE or other surprising adventures.
CLOSENCOUNTERSINGERS: This thirty minute music session encourages praise and worship and may be the start of a great kids' choir. We offer great music options for each theme but you can use your own music too!
THE THEMES MAY BE USED IN ORDER OR OUT OF ORDER. USE ONE, TWO, THREE...OR ALL EIGHTEEN! MAKE YOUR CECLUB A MID-WEEK ADVENTURE, SUNDAY SCHOOL CURRICULUM, CHILDREN'S CHURCH PROGRAM OR SUMMER OPTION. CHOOSE THE SPOT AND CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WILL FILL THE NEED! CALL ELLEN AT 1-888-CEMLIFE TO GET QUESTIONS ANSWERED!
ALSO AVAILABLE: Introductory packet of information about the club and reasons to begin a children's ministry.
