North Liberty Christian Church Children's Ministry

01/09/2026

Camp Retreat for all of our 2nd - 5th graders.

We have a brand new event for kids in grades 2nd-5th in March. A weekend full of fun, friends, and God. Spread the word. Invite your friends and family. Come an be a part of an exciting weekend!

For more information visit www.michianacamp.org

12/17/2025

12/11/2025

12/11/2025

Celebrating Jesus with our annual NLCC kids Christmas party. Much Merriment was had and sugar…

12/09/2025

Santa Flambé and the Fire Extinguisher of Christmas

In a classic Calvin & Hobbes strip, Calvin’s parents finally sit down by the fire, weary from all the Christmas busyness — wrapping, baking, decorating, keeping Calvin alive another day. The house is quiet. They take a deep breath, ready to savor the peace of the season. Then Calvin bursts in, waving a fire extinguisher, shouting, “What’s this??? Santa Flambé!” So much for peace and quiet.

Isn’t that Christmas with kids? Just when you think you’ve carved out a serene, Hallmark moment — a candlelit cup of cocoa, maybe a soft carol playing, and all of a sudden chaos erupts. Someone spills hot chocolate, the dog eats the bow off the last present, or your “Silent Night” ends with not-so-silent screams over who gets the last cookie.

And yet… this is exactly where God chose to enter the story.
Not in a serene, snow-globe scene.
But into a noisy, crowded Bethlehem.
A stable filled with animals, straw, dirt, smells, and interruptions.

Luke 2:11-12 (NIV) says:

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

A baby in a manger — not exactly peaceful or polished.
God wasn’t waiting for us to create perfect stillness before showing up.
He entered our mess — the real-life, fire-extinguisher kind of Christmas — to remind us that His peace isn’t the absence of chaos, but His presence in it.

If your Christmas feels like Calvin just ran through it with a fire extinguisher, take heart. You don’t have to chase perfect moments to find Jesus. He’s right there in the living room noise, the sugar-fueled energy, the imperfect traditions — and even in the laughter that erupts when things don’t go as planned.

So this year, pause — maybe by the fireplace, maybe in the car line, maybe in the middle of the mess — and whisper:
“Lord, thank You for coming into this kind of world.
Mine. Loud, messy, joyful, and real.”

Because that’s the miracle of Christmas:
God with us — even when Santa’s on fire.

12/04/2025

12 Single Parent Christmas Traditions
Abby Watts

When my sons were one and three, we were living with my parents. It was the first Christmas after my divorce, and it looked nothing like the Christmases I had always imagined. It was easy to feel sorry for myself. The advice I kept hearing was, “Create your own traditions!” But single-parent Christmas traditions aren’t all that easy to come by and are even harder to keep up.

Even Christmas countdowns are tough. Since my kids are only with me for half of their time, I find myself opening half the Advent calendar doors (and yes, eating the mediocre chocolate) myself. So I’ve brainstormed some ideas to help us all out. Here are 12 Christmas traditions that single moms can totally pull off.
https://www.imom.com/single-parent-christmas-traditions/

12/02/2025

7 Ways to Get to Christmas Without a Total Meltdown
Carey Nieuwhof

Instagram lies. Well, at least I’m sure it does at some point over Christmas.

When I see people posting pictures of how wonderful setting up the tree is and how magical the decorating was (okay, okay, I’ve done this…I’m guilty), it reminds me how often that process has not been an Instagrammable moment for me over the years.

I would routinely be WAY overambitious in thinking I could accomplish both the outdoor decorating and putting up the tree in about 35 minutes flat, only to be incredibly frustrated when the process took far longer than the twelve days of Christmas themselves.

You know, the realization that the lights that worked last year when you put them away, mysteriously broke in July and didn’t bother to tell anyone? Or the tree topper that toppled you over the chair you were standing on? That’s what I’m talking about.

It was in those moments that my Christmas spirit would evaporate. Got moments like that in your family?

We all know that Christmas creates incredible pressure, and your family ends up caving under the weigh of expectation. How do you fix that?

I’m learning, year by year, what I need to do to make sure the prep for Christmas doesn’t kill Christmas.

Here’s are some holiday tips that can make your holiday more peaceful all around.

1. Create realistic expectations
If the secret to happiness is low expectations, then set realistic expectations for the holidays. Take your expectations and cut them in half. You might find some joy in the process.

2. Set a reasonable pace
When I was in school, my last exam would finish on December 23rd. I’d have 24 hours to get everything ready. I’d run into Christmas exhausted. Now, theoretically, I could start preparing in July. But I still tend to leave it too late. A sustainable pace creates a sustainable peace. And who doesn’t need that?

3. Expect the unexpected
I don’t like surprises, but Christmas is full of them. If you expect surprise guests, surprise commitments, surprise interruptions and surprise expenses, you won’t be as a surprised. And you’ll be much more gracious.

4. Agree on a budget
Peace on earth is one thing. Peace in January is another. If you agree on a budget for everything and everyone ahead of time, you will significantly reduce your stress before Christmas.

5. Say no
You don’t have to go to every Christmas party or send cards to everyone you know. When you say no to the less important things, you’re saying yes to what matters most.

6. Rest
Someone once said 70% of discipleship is a good night’s sleep. There’s some truth in that. If you’re rattled, frazzled and angry, go to bed. You are at your most kind when you’re at your most rested.

7. Prioritize time with God
Unfortunately, one of the great omissions of the Christmas season is peoples’ personal time with God. The very reason we’re doing all of this is to celebrate someone who loves you.

So love Him back. Start your day with God, and you’re far more likely to remember Him in all your moments.

When I following these seven guidelines, Christmas is so much better.
But it’s not just better for me, it’s significantly better for everyone else too. And then you might have something to Instagram about.