May 2025
“A flourishing, thriving garden”
Watch the Formation Intro video with Laura Hunter for an overview of this month. May is busy at ATS, and this month’s spiritual practice will help you to slow down long enough to focus on God’s help and the gift of family. Look for this topic in your curriculum this month. (5 minutes)
Watch the Formation Intro video with Laura Hunter for an overview of this month. May is busy at ATS, and this month’s spiritual practice will help you to slow down long enough to focus on God’s help and the gift of family. Look for this topic in your curriculum this month. (5 minutes)
Family Interaction Plan
You may use this four-week format or develop your family plan for this month. The Growing Families program is designed to use one or more days each week, but you can find your family rhythm. We’ve given you the approximate participation time to interact with the program each week.
Week 1 (May 1 -3)
- Watch the Formation Video with Laura Hunter for an Introduction to this month’s curriculum. (8 minutes)
- What’s God’s Big Idea for May? Our spiritual practice is savoring. Before you eat your snack this month, look at the curriculum page for instructions. There are three different activities. Plan a time to go through each section. (10 – 15 minutes each) Your snack bag is for part 2 – slowing down and savoring the present.
- Read over Measuring Our Family’s Growth in your curriculum pages and savor the moments of family connection. While you’re at it, use your growth chart to see how much your children have grown physically this year.
Week 2 (May 4 – 10)
- Use your game board to see how well you remember what happens in God’s Story.
- Parents: watch Dr. Stratton’s video about setting goals for your family and use the corresponding worksheet. This is a great exercise as you complete the Growing Families cohort. What goals will you set to continue your new Rule of Life and Family Discipleship Plan?
- If you haven’t started Savoring yet this month, start now.
Week 3 (May 11 – 17)
- Sunday, May 11th, is our last Growing Families dinner. Come ready to enjoy time together. You will receive a special book as a gift this evening. Please let us know if you cannot attend the dinner.
- Take some quiet time to begin reading the book ‘Breathe’. Two special church year celebrations are coming up. May 29th is Ascension Day, and June 8th is Pentecost. This book will help you discuss and celebrate these important events in God’s story.
Week 4 (May 18 – 24)
- Does your family want to experience a mission/service project sometime between May and December 2025? We will reimburse you for food, lodging, and travel up to $500.00. Talk to our Growing Families Team about your options. We have some great ideas!
- We will send you a digital Exit Survey for each family member to be completed by the end of the month.
Family Interaction Plan
You may use this four-week format or develop your family plan for this month. The Growing Families program is designed to use one or more days each week, but you can find your family rhythm. We’ve given you the approximate participation time to interact with the program each week.
Week 1 (May 1 -3)
- Watch the Formation Video with Laura Hunter for an Introduction to this month’s curriculum. (8 minutes)
- What’s God’s Big Idea for May? Our spiritual practice is savoring. Before you eat your snack this month, look at the curriculum page for instructions. There are three different activities. Plan a time to go through each section. (10 – 15 minutes each) Your snack bag is for part 2 – slowing down and savoring the present.
- Read over Measuring Our Family’s Growth in your curriculum pages and savor the moments of family connection. While you’re at it, use your growth chart to see how much your children have grown physically this year.
Week 2 (May 4 – 10)
- Use your game board to see how well you remember what happens in God’s Story.
- Parents: watch Dr. Stratton’s video about setting goals for your family and use the corresponding worksheet. This is a great exercise as you complete the Growing Families cohort. What goals will you set to continue your new Rule of Life and Family Discipleship Plan?
- If you haven’t started Savoring yet this month, start now.
Week 3 (May 11 – 17)
- Sunday, May 11th, is our last Growing Families dinner. Come ready to enjoy time together. You will receive a special book as a gift this evening. Please let us know if you cannot attend the dinner.
- Take some quiet time to begin reading the book ‘Breathe’. Two special church year celebrations are coming up. May 29th is Ascension Day, and June 8th is Pentecost. This book will help you discuss and celebrate these important events in God’s story.
Week 4 (May 18 – 24)
- Does your family want to experience a mission/service project sometime between May and December 2025? We will reimburse you for food, lodging, and travel up to $500.00. Talk to our Growing Families Team about your options. We have some great ideas!
- We will send you a digital Exit Survey for each family member to be completed by the end of the month.
VERSE OF THE MONTH
“The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.”
Psalm 126:3 NIV
“The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.”
Psalm 126:3 NIV
Parent Lesson
Watch Dr. Stratton’s video as he shares how to set goals for your family. Please use this process to plan how to continue the weekly family time you experienced in Growing Families. Parents, after you discuss your goals, bring your children into the discussion. Let them have some ownership in the goals you set as a family. (13 minutes)
Next
Steps
Use your checklist inside your monthly bag to help you keep track of what you have completed.
Use your checklist inside your monthly bag to help you keep track of what you have completed.
