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Greetings Parents,
October has been a busy month at PPC and we have been blessed to see so many of you, and so many visitors, on a regular basis.
November and December also promise to be wonderful months, filled with lots of family friendly activities. Please read this newsletter carefully so that you don't miss out on fun activities in the coming weeks including a trip to Butler's Orchard and preparations for the Children's Christmas Pageant, etc.
As always, let me know if you have any questions.
In Christ,
Kendra
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6TH-All Saints Sunday
- 9:00am-Children's Choir (K-5)
- 9:45am-Christian Education for All Ages
- 11:00am-Worship, including Children's Worship, Communion, and an anthem by the Children's Choir
- 12:00pm-Fellowship
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13TH-Stewardship Commitment Sunday
Please return Children's Christmas Pageant Registrations by today.
- 9:00am-Children's Choir (K-5)
- 9:45am-Christian Education for All Ages
- 11:00am-Worship, including Children's Worship
- 12:00pm-Fellowship
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20TH
- 9:00am-Children's Choir (K-5)
- 9:45am-Christian Education for All Ages
- 11:00am-Worship, including Children's Worship
- 12:00pm-Fellowship
- 12:15pm-Lunch and Trip to Butler's Orchard
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27TH-First Sunday of Advent
- 9:00am-Children's Choir (K-5)
- 9:45am-Christian Education for All Ages
- 11:00am-Worship, including Children's Worship & Communion
- 12:00pm-Fellowship
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THIS MONTH DURING THE CHRISTIAN EDUCATION HOUR
We want you to know what your children will be covering each week in their classes so that you can talk with them about what they learned and reinforce the lesson throughout the week. Accordingly, please note that the children's classes are scheduled to cover the following Bible stories this month:
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6TH
In the preschool class:
Participants will be exploring the story Joseph's dreams
In the lower elementary and the upper elementary classes:
Participants will be exploring the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13TH
In the preschool class:
Participants will be exploring the story of Pharaoh's dreams
In the lower elementary and the upper elementary classes:
Participants will be exploring the story of Jonah and God
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20TH
In the preschool class:
Participants will be exploring the story of how Joseph takes care of the people
In the lower elementary and the upper elementary classes:
Participants will be exploring the story of Esther and Mordecai
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27TH
In the preschool class:
Participants will be exploring the story of how Jacob's family moves to Egypt
In the lower elementary and the upper elementary classes:
Participants will be exploring Isaiah's dream of a place for all people
Please note that your children's teachers may need to adjust lessons on occasion for various reasons so this list may sometimes differ from what the teachers actually cover each week.
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THIS MONTH'S FAMILY EVENT
Each month we will be highlighting a special "family" event. Once a month, we'll invite the entire PPC family, but particularly families with children, to come together for a special time of fellowship and fun.
This month's special event is a trip to
BUTLER'S ORCHARD HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE.
Plan now to join us on Sunday, Nov. 20th following worship. We'll have lunch together and then drive up to Butler's Orchard in Germantown (~30 minutes from PPC). Butler's Orchard Holiday Open House includes the opportunity to take a hayride through the Christmas trees, roast marshmallows over an open fire, listen to live music, and enjoy hot apple cider and hot chocolate.
Members and friends of PPC, young and old, are all invited.
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SERVE/ USHER AS A FAMILY
Have you wondered how you can serve at PPC as a family?
Family ushering is just such an opportunity. On the 2nd Sunday of every month we offer the chance for families to usher together. The only skills needed are the ability to pass out bulletins and to pass the offering plates from one row to the next (and "training" and/or further instructions are always available for those who are willing, but feel that a bit more guidance would be helpful).
You can serve in this way as a whole family, or make it a mother-daughter, father-son, mother-son, or father-daughter activity. If you are willing to serve one Sunday a year or more, please let us know. You can contact Kendra or John Sohl (usher coordinator). Soon, we will also be offering the opportunity to sign-up online using volunteerspot.com.
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CHILDREN'S CHOIR UPDATE
Don't forget, the Children's Choir for children in kindergarten-grade 5 rehearses every Sunday morning from 9:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.
We have fun learning about God; we learn to read and sing music about God; we learn about melody and rhythm; and we learn about the church, too.
If you haven't joined us yet... it is not too late! Come see what you're missing!
The Children's Choir will be sharing their wonderful music in worship on Nov. 6th.
Tom Andrew
Director Of Music
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BOOK RECOMMENDATION
Each month, I'll try to recommend at least one book that would be good to add to your home library or check out from the library for a bit.
This month I encourage you to check out The Family Story Bible While this story Bible is now over 10 years old (published originally in 1997), it is still among the best story Bibles available for children (and families) today.
It features:
Stories of both the men and women of the Bible
A comprehensive selection from both the Old and New Testaments
Inclusive language for God
Over 570 colorful illustrations brimming with energy and joy
Favorite biblical stories, told in an engaging and contemporary way
Stories form parts of the Bible often ignored in children's Bibles, such as the prophets, wisdom literature, and letters of the early church.
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CHRISTIAN RITUALS FOR THE HOME
Each month, I'll offer one idea on how to model your Christian faith in the home. Sometimes this will relate to the celebration of a particular holiday, and sometimes this will just be a general suggestion.
This month's suggestion for the home is:
REVIVE OR START A NEW "THANKSGIVING" ACTIVITY ON THANKSGIVING
Celebrate families and togetherness this Thanksgiving Day with some time-honored traditions, which give us a sense of family identity and meaningfulness that can last for generations. Here are some ideas for starting new family traditions - and for reviving the old ones:
- Make a small booklet or a mini scrapbook album (which you can either make or purchase.) Write "Five Things I'm Thankful For" and keep it out on the table during your Thanksgiving celebration. Each guest can come and record thoughts and insights. Other themes to try: or "Five Wishes for my Family and Friends." An even simpler approach would be to put one sheet of card stock out for each year - and combine them together over the years in a Thanksgiving Gratitude Scrapbook.
- Make a Gratitude Circle. Before the Thanksgiving meal, everyone stands and holds hands in a circle. Guests each take a turn sharing what they are grateful for. Or - if your guests are on the shy side - ask everyone to write down their blessings on a piece of paper, which you can read before or after dinner.
- Designate a particular tablecloth for your family Thanksgiving celebrations. Provide fabric markers where guests can record their "gratitudes" or special prayers for the year ahead. Ask your guests to sign and date each message, as you'll be using the same tablecloth year after year.
- Make a hostess gift for the person who is cooking this year. Purchase an apron or a t-shirt or a gift album with sentiments of thanks from each guest. Present the gift after dinner.
- Show your gratitude to an unsung hero. Get together with your family and decide on a person or a group in your community who could use an extra pat on the back, ie. firefighters, soldiers, police officers, volunteers. Put together a special plate of goodies and deliver it (or pack it up for shipping) as a family.
- Give thanks by passing on your blessings by donating to a local food bank or agency that works to end hunger in this country and abroad. Consider donating $5, $10, $15, etc. for every different type of food on your Thanksgiving table.
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 CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS PAGEANT
On Sunday, December 18th at 5pm we will be blessed to hear the Christmas story as told by The Fumbly Bumbly Angels. The Fumbly Bumbly Angels are four delightful angels who yearn to sing in the glorious heavenly choir, but discover their debut will be for a few ragged shepherds on a Bethlehem hillside. As the story unfolds through drama, musical anthems, and congregational carols, participants and congregants alike gain an enjoyable new perspective of Jesus' birth.
Children age 3 through grade 5 are invited to participate in the pageant. Parents should have received detailed information in the mail about this exciting performance and how your children can be involved including a participant registration flyer that needs to be returned by Sunday, Nov. 13. The registration flyer is also available on the PPC website.
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Please feel free to contact me at any time if you have questions, concerns, or ideas for the future! I'm here to support you and help you nurture your children in Christian faith!
Grace and peace,
Kendra Grams
Associate for Spiritual Development for Youth and Children
kendra@potomacpresbyterian.org
301-299-6007
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