Sunday, December 3, 2023

The First Sunday in Advent

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• An Introduction to Godly Play

• About the Episcopal Children's Curriculum

• Church School @ Christ Church Needham

• Church School Wish List

• Wiggles & Wonder, Bird's weekly formation Substack

Dear Church School Families,

The First Sunday in Advent is here and a funny piece of my work is attending to the split blue/purple liturgical colors used here at Christ Church. Let me tell you: it's an unusual set-up.

In Godly Play, we know both of these are common colors, but purple tends to dominate – it has better teaching language and it fosters a particular set of repetitive associations within in our classroom. Still, the purple-blue debates are hardly an important piece of Advent, even if I'm repainting our Godly Play cards!

This Sunday, we will begin lighting the Advent wreath here at Christ Church, and we'll have an opportunity to make our own at our Advent Tree Lighting. We'll sing and celebrate and even learn a little bit about St. Nicholas, whose feast day is just around the corner on December 6th. And, I hope, we'll find places to slow down, too. This is a season of preparation. Let us pause and be present to it.

December 3 (Advent I):

• Godly Play & ECC meet
• Bible Presentations for ECC participants at 10AM Worship
• Christmas Pageant Music Rehearsals during Coffee Hour
• Pageant Sign-Ups here or in Upper Parish Hall
• Advent Tree Lighting & Party, 5-6:30PM

Saturday December 9:

• Advent Quiet Morning (for grown-ups) w/Bird, 9am - 12pm – see event link for details, RSVP by email to Bird

December 10 (Advent II):

• Godly Play meets in Chapel
• Pageant Music Rehearsal during Coffee Hour

December 19 (Advent III):

• Godly Play & ECC meet
• Pageant Music Rehearsal & Costume pick up following worship
• Epiphany supplies available for pick-up

December 24 (Advent IV - Christmas Eve):

• No Church School
• Christmas Pageant at 4PM: see information below about costumes, arrival time, etc.

Godly Play: Advent I: The Prophets



Download a copy of the Godly Play Parent Pages here

On the first Sunday in Advent, we remember the Prophets, who pointed the way to Bethlehem. They didn't know what would happen there or when, but they knew it would be important.

The Advent story has a great deal of exposition compared to other Godly Play stories. We talk all about the distractions of this season, the hurry and stress that comes with the secular parts of the holidays. But the Church knew that we needed time to get ready, and so they gave us the four weeks of Advent to do so. And so it is time to begin to get ready.

ECC: The Reign Of God Is Near

In the same manner as Godly Play, the ECC class will begin preparing for Advent this week, though with different types of stories. Instead, we'll spend some time approaching both the literature of prophecy that told us God's kingdom would come and the Gospel texts that bring us closer to that fulfillment. Plus, this week's resources include a history of Advent Wreaths!

Don't forget that regular participants in ECC will receive their Bibles during worship this Sunday! It's been a very special journey and I look forward to repeating it with more young people as we continue to develop our Biblical literacy skills.

Christmas Pageant Announcements: The Abridged Version

Seeking Costumes:

Do you have any animal or angel costumes that your children have outgrown or anything that would be useful for kings or shepherds, all donations would be gratefully accepted. Please reach out via email to Nancy Sterling at NJSterling@MLStrategies.com

Sign Up For The Christmas Pageant!

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever returns this year on Christmas Eve (Sunday December 24th) at 4 p.m. Adults as well as children are welcome and visitors are welcome - the Christmas story is a story for everyone! Sign up online here.

About Pageant Music:

All of our young pageant participants are invited to join us during coffee hour each Sunday for music rehearsals with Mary Jordice. We'll be supported by the adult choir during the pageant.

Costume Pick Up: Sunday, December 19th after the 10am worship in the Jerusalem Room

Pageant Rehearsal/Drop Off:

Because of the greater emphasis on music, so we ask participants to arrive at 3pm for a choral warm up and mini-rehearsal; we will meet downstairs in the Jerusalem Room.

Costume pick up will take place on Sunday, December 19th after the 10am worship in the Jerusalem Room (downstairs from office or main Sanctuary on the middle floor of the church). Looking forward to seeing everyone and having great participation. In addition to parishioners visitors are welcome to sign up. Contact Nancy Sterling (nsterling@mintz.com) with questions