UPDATE: We sold out our original block of rooms. I called the lodge today, 1/4/2012, and they have opened up 5 more rooms to our group at the group rate. If you plan to attend, please book your room. If this new block sells out, let me know and I will try to get even more. Scott Wylie

 We have been offered a discounted rate to the Great Wolf Lodge in Concord on Tuesday night, January 31. The rate will be $149, plus tax. For that rate, you will receive one family suite that sleeps six, and up to 6 wristbands for admission into the water park. You will be able to use the water park for two days – from 1:00PM on January 31 until the park closes on the departure day of February 1.

For information on the resort, please visit their website.

To book a room at this rate:

Call 866-944-9653, book a “Standard Suite” and identify yourself as a member of the group with code 1201COLO .

Book online and use the group code 1201COLO .

In either case, be sure you are booking into the Concord location for January 31, 2012.

I realize that some of you attend other churches or are otherwise not available on Sunday evenings. However, I want to make you aware of a 6 week class Jim Boland and I will be leading on the topic of “Building Faith At Home.” This class will focus on the importance of family in a child’s faith development, and will offer practice help for parents in creating a home environment that draws children toward God. We begin this Sunday, January 8, at 6PM. We will meet in a new room called “The Gallery” which is directly opposite the doors to the Chapel. (This room was formerly a lobby area, right outside the Chapel and directly across the Courtyard from the CBC library.

Your children can enroll in Colonial’s AWANA program, or if they are old enough to sit through it and you want them to participate, they can be in the class with you.

Course Outline:

• Week 1: “Set The Right Goal“ (Move your focus from behavior that conforms to faith that transforms.)
• Week 2: “Build a Legacy“ (Build your own faith, because you pass on what you are.)
• Week 3: “Increase The Likelihood“ (Train up your child for when he is old)
• Week 4: “Provide Biblical Lenses“ (Don’t be conformed to the world, but redefine “normal” with biblical categories.)
• Week 5: “Establish an Environment Part 1“ (Creating a home where faith can flourish.)
• Week 6: “Establish an Environment Part 2“ (Creating a home where faith can flourish.)

The Speak Out speech and debate group is hosting a practice tournament on Saturday, January 14th, at Colonial Baptist Church. We would LOVE to have lots of you come to give valuable feedback to our students as they prepare for competition this semester. Judging at speech and debate tournaments is always a rewarding experience, and a good way to learn more about speech and debate if it’s something you are considering for your students’ future. Your children who can sit through church, for example, are more than welcome to attend with you. There are certain events they would likely find most entertaining!

Please consider serving as a volunteer Speech and Debate judge. This practice tournament will be helping over 52 students as they prepare to compete in upcoming NCFCA sanctioned speech and debate tournaments. We need over 50 volunteers to serve, and your service will help us offer these students valuable feedback and encouragement. No experience in either speech or debate is necessary. All we need is your investment of time.

Judging requires a commitment of approximately 3 hours, and this time will include a brief judge orientation and refreshments. You are welcome to judge one or more rounds as your schedule allows.

For further information and to sign up for this opportunity please go to http://www.ncfcaregistration.com/NCFCAJudgeSelection.aspx?Region=9

If you have any questions, please contact Sue Gray at Hope2kidz@gmail.com.