Archive for the This & That Category
Posted on September 1, 2010 by The Tapestry Team
On Saturday, October 23, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, Tapestry will host the 2010 Tapestry Adoption & Foster Care Conference at Irving Bible Church. This year’s keynote speaker will be Sherrie Eldridge, author of several books including Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew. Similar to past Tapestry conferences, this year’s conference will feature a wide array of adoption and foster care related breakout sessions. In addition, the 2010 Tapestry Conference will include an adoptee track (for adoptees ages 18 years and older) designed to help adoptees explore the unique journey they experience into adulthood and beyond.
The Tapestry Conference website (www.tapestryconference.org) will be up and running by the time online registration begins on Tuesday, September 7th. For now, however, you can find out more details about this free conference, including a detailed schedule and the line-up of breakout sessions, by clicking here.
We hope that you will join us for the 2010 Tapestry Adoption & Foster Care Conference. Be sure to register as soon as possible once online registration opens on September 7th, as space (in particular childcare space) is very limited.
Posted on August 25, 2010 by The Tapestry Team
Over the past five years Tapestry has had the privilege of walking alongside countless families and individuals as they travel the adoption and foster care journey. Maybe you are one of the families that God has blessed in some way through this ministry — or maybe you are a part of an adoption or foster care ministry at another church that Tapestry has helped. Whatever the case, we would love to hear your story as we celebrate 5 years of ministry in September.
So would you do us a huge favor? If Tapestry has impacted or blessed your family or your church ministry in some way please share your story with us. You can do so by commenting on our blog or emailing us at tapestry@irvingbible.org. It doesn’t need to be long or even very detailed, just whatever you want to share. It will be a huge encouragement to us and will also allow us to share some of these stories of how God has used the ministry at our upcoming 5 years of ministry celebration on Saturday, September 18th.
Speaking of the 5 year celebration, if you haven’t already please make plans to join us on Saturday, September 18. Doors open at 6:15 pm with dinner and the program starting promptly at 6:35 pm. Adults will enjoy dinner followed by great stories, videos and a chance to hear about where Tapestry has been and a glimpse at what lies ahead. In addition, the evening will feature the opportunity to bid on some exciting raffle packages as well as other opportunities to support Tapestry. The evening is completely free but space is limited, so make plans to join us and register now! Click here for more details or for questions contact Amy Monroe at tapestry@irvingbible.org.
Posted on August 3, 2010 by The Tapestry Team
Over the past five years Tapestry has had the privilege of walking alongside countless families and individuals as they travel the adoption and foster care journey. During this time, God has blessed the ministry in so many amazing ways. From our first large group event with twenty adults in attendance, we have seen God use this ministry to serve thousands of people and help literally hundreds of churches nationwide as they launch and grow similar ministries. We think this is worth celebrating – so we are throwing a party!
Make plans to join us on Saturday, September 18. Doors open at 6:15 pm with dinner and the program starting promptly at 6:35 pm. Adults will enjoy dinner followed by great stories, videos and a chance to hear about where Tapestry has been and a glimpse at what lies ahead. In addition, the evening will feature the opportunity to bid on some exciting raffle packages as well as other opportunities to support Tapestry. Childcare for children through 5th grade will be available, with lots of fun activities planned for the kids.
The evening is completely free but space is limited, so make plans to join us and register now!
Click here for more details or for questions contact Amy Monroe at tapestry@irvingbible.org.
Posted on July 22, 2010 by The Tapestry Team
On Saturday, Setpember 18, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, Tapestry is throwing a party to celebrate five years of ministry. This evening will include dinner and great stories, videos and more for the adults, as we look back at what God has done among our community of families and dream about what lies ahead. We also have lots of fun and games planned for all the kids.
Tapestry only “turns 5” once, so you will not want to miss this celebration. The entire evening will be free of charge and childcare and children’s activities will be available for ages 0 to 12 with advanced registration (at least 48 hours before the event).
More details to come soon, but go ahead and mark your calendars now.
Posted on July 12, 2010 by The Tapestry Team
Tapestry will host its annual family summer fun event at Bedford Splash Water Park on Sunday evening, July 18, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. This annual event is tons of fun for all families and is a great chance to swim and play at Bedford Splash.
The water park has pools, water slides and attractions for all ages, and best of all we will have the entire park all to ourselves. Everyone is invited and you don’t need to register — just show up. Best of all, the event is completely free. Limited concessions (i.e., snacks only) will be available for purchase, but families are welcome to bring their own snacks or a picnic dinner. Life guards will be on duty.
For more information about the venue and directions go to www.bedfordsplash.com, or email us at tapestry@irvingbible.org. We look forward to seeing your family next Sunday night!
Posted on July 6, 2010 by The Tapestry Team
Carla Barnhill wrote a very informative article in the July 2010 issue Christianity Today that captures well how God is working through local churches across the country to serve, educate and support adoptive and foster families. In fact, she points to what is happening at Tapestry at Irving Bible Church as a good example of how churches can become involved in many different ways to serve the needs of children and families touched by adoption and foster care.
“From megachurches like Saddleback Church in Orange County, California, and Christ Community Church in Franklin, Tennessee, to small congregations like First Baptist Church in Cambridge, Minnesota, U.S. churches are launching orphan care ministries, most of them lay-led. One such ministry, Tapestry, began in 2000 when a few adoption-hopeful couples at Irving Bible Church in North Texas began meeting. Launched by Michael and Amy Monroe, Tapestry has become a cultural juggernaut at Irving Bible and in the wider community. It helps adoptive families wade through the endless amounts of paperwork, home visits, and assessments, and, after a child arrives, provides education and connects families to support groups.” — Churches Adopt Adoption, Christianity Today (July 2010)
Read the entire article and join with us in celebrating what God is already doing in so many local churches. Also, if your church is interested in starting an adoption, foster care or global orphan care ministry, check out some of the resources we have on the Tapestry website or send us an email at tapestry@irvingbible.org. We would love to help you and your church get involved in whatever way God is leading.
Posted on May 5, 2010 by The Tapestry Team
Introducing the Created To Connect: A Christian’s Guide to The Connected Child.
This study guide, created by Dr. Karyn Purvis and Michael & Amy Monroe, is designed to help illuminate the biblical principles that serve as the foundation for the philosophy and interventions detailed in Dr. Purvis’ book, The Connected Child. Together with the book, the study guide is a great tool to help adoptive and foster parents better understand how to build strong and lasting connections with their children, and is ideal for use in small groups as well as by individuals or couples.
Visit the Empowered To Connect website to download and print the entire (76 page) study guide, or view and print it chapter-by-chapter. There is no charge for this or any of the Empowered To Connect resources, but be sure to let other adoptive and foster parents know about this new study guide.
Posted on May 3, 2010 by The Tapestry Team
“Just wanted to say thanks again for letting our family participate in your event today. Such a blessing to our family. The kids wanted to send this picture to ya’ll to say thanks for the flip flops. Another answered prayer. Who knew? God knew!” — The Stotler Family
This past Saturday over two dozen volunteers came together at Irving Bible Church as part of the city-wide Go & Be effort to help Tapestry host another Foster Family Fun Fest for over 60 area foster children and their foster parents. The event was filled with games, crafts, clowns and lots of other fun activities — including a larger than life water balloon launcher. In addition, IBC’s children ministry had recently collected over 350 pairs of flip flops to give to foster children, so each child who attended the fun fest got to take home some new flip flops.
Based on the laughter and smiles, it was clear that everyone — the kids, the parents and the volunteers — had a great time.
Posted on April 19, 2010 by The Tapestry Team
Mark your calendars now for Tapestry’s next Foster Family Fun Fest at IBC on Saturday, May 1, 3:00 to 5:00 pm.
This free event will include games, activities and snacks focused on ages 3 to 10 — but siblings are welcome. The event is open to all foster and foster/adopt families. In addition, all kids in care will get to “shop” for a free pair of flip flops at the end of the event, provided by IBC’s Children’s Ministry.
If you plan to attend please email us as soon as possible, and please include the names and ages of the children who will be attending so we can be sure to have plenty of everything for everyone. Parents must attend with their children.
For more information or to let us know you and your kids are coming contact Amy Monroe at tapestry@irvingbible.org.
Posted on April 15, 2010 by The Tapestry Team
During the month of April Tapestry is partnering with the Children’s Ministry at Irving Bible Church to collect flip flops and sandals for children in foster care. It’s just a fun way to help raise awareness of the needs of children in foster careas well as the many ways that people can love and serve them.
Just bring a pair (or two) of new flip-flops or sandals for a boy or girl of any age, from toddler to pre-teen, to Irving Bible Church on Sunday or at any Tapestry event or small group during the month of April. Help us put flip flops on the feet . . . and smiles on the faces of children in foster care.
But that’s not all you can do! Here are just a few ways you can get involved to love and serve children in our area who are in foster care:
- Pray for children in foster care who are waiting for a forever family. Click here for a prayer guide and a few of the children that we are currently praying for.
- Donate to the Tapestry Kid’s Closet. Donations can be made in the Kids Closet box in the Town Square at IBC. Click here for a list of items that we currently need.
- Attend the upcoming Foster/Adopt Information Meeting on Sunday, May 2, from 1:30 to 3:00 pm, at IBC to learn more about becoming a foster, adoptive or respite care parent.
- Foster/adopt training classes will be offered at IBC starting May 4 for those who are ready to move forward — click here for more details about the training.
- Donate a $10 Wal-Mart gift card to help us provide framed pictures and photo albums for sibling groups that have been separated while in foster care. Gift cards will be collected at the Tapestry event on Saturday, April 17.
- Help us buy adoption related books for CPS workers to use as they prepare children in foster care to transition to their adoptive families. The books are $10 each and donations will be collected at the Tapestry event on Saturday, April 17.
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