CEC is a club that teaches children from kindergarten through grade five how to live the Christian life. They will experience a series of CLOSE ENCOUNTERS with God's Book through music, learning times, activities, crafts and snacks. The children enter into a world where the Bible comes alive. They will have a sense of "belonging" to a special club and will make friends and bring friends into a safe and exciting environment.

The CLOSE ENCOUNTERS CLUB meets on Wednesdays from 6:30 - 7:35 PM for children in kindergarten thru 5th grade.

The first 11 week session begins the first Wednesday after Labor Day and ends the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. The second 11 week session begins the first Wednesday after New Years and ends the Wednesday before Holy Week.

The first 200 points will go for a Close Encounter's shirt. After that the points can be used in the Close Encounter's Store. Sweat shirts are available for $15.00. Checks for the sweatshirts should be written to "Close Encounter's Ministries."

The church mouse - to be hugged again and again.

To encourage attendance and performance. Club members are issued a ticket each week for attendance, Bible memory and other notable accomplishments. They may save their tickets to "spend" at the store when it opens twice a quarter.

Members receive points by:
Attending CEC ------------------------------------------------ 5 points
Attending Sunday School ----------------------------------- 15 points
Attending Sunday Worship ---------------------------------- 15 points
Attending Celestial Choir 5 points / performance -------- 10 points
Attending Hand chime practice 5 points / performance - 10 points
Memorize Bible verse ---------------------------------------- 15 points
Wear CEC shirt ------------------------------------------------ 5 points
Wear Belt of Truth --------------------------------------------- 5 points
Bring a friend for the first time ------------------------------- 10 points
Bring friend three times in a row ----------------------------- 25 points
Attend 5 meetings in a row ------------------------------------ 25 points

The first 200 points will be used for a CEC tee shirt which the children will wear to all CEC meetings. Additional shirts will be sold for $5.00. Sweat shirts may be purchased for $15.00.

The children will receive a ticket worth 25 cents when they get 25 points. The ticket will be placed in their envelope and kept for them until the CEC store is opened. They can then spend their tickets on small items or save the tickets for larger items.

Parents are an integral part of the leadership of CEC. We neeed you! If your child is a member, please involve yourself on a weekly basis. Offer to help when you are able and support the program leaders with prayer and encouragement. If possible, become a leader yourself. Question your children about CEC activities. Help them learn at home.

If you have committed yourself to CEC and the Kids, read through the materials. When assigned a position, do your job with a sense of responsibility and joy! Your cheerful attitude will be caught by the other leaders and by the children. Put your faith on your face! It will communicate volumes. The length of your leadership will be 12 weeks.

In the Sanctuary children and adult friends sing songs, repeat Ephesians 6:13-17 and children share what they have learned during the week with their adult friends. This is also a time for announcements and presenting awards.

Each week the children will have learning experiences called CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WITH... There will be a variety of quiet learning activities from stories to memory verses to discussions about hot issues kids face every day. The goal will be to teach the students something abiut the Bible that they never knew before.

Some weeks the students will play a game or see a video. They may meet a Bible character or a table of crafts may await them. Who knows?

Leaders and children gather in Schell Hall for a snack; the singing of the CEC song; and a closing prayer.