Hello Families!
***Volunteers needed for this Sunday for Children's Church and for Advent Event (November 28). Please sign up below!***
November is the month that we Americans take a moment or a day to think about what we are grateful for in our lives. The practice of gratitude needs more than a day or even a month. Practice indicates repetition; it takes daily practice to build up the gratitude muscle. It has been scientifically proven to make us more joyful, it brings us deeper into our relationship with God, it makes us more giving and forgiving, and it improves our relationships with others too!
One of my favorite mottos is: “We don’t know what we don’t know.” For kids to practice gratitude and actually internalize it, we have to instruct them about what they have—help them notice what can easily be taken for granted because it is their normal. Teach them that they were born into a family, a country, a way of living that most people in the world do not have. We have to talk more about our abundance and less about our scarcity. And then show them some ways to show their gratitude – noticing their many gifts and blessings, serving and being in relationship with people in need, sharing from our abundance, telling God and others how grateful they are. We need to remind them that they have the power to change people’s day or even their lives with a smile or kind word or a helping hand.
For the last three weeks, we have been talking about how gratitude can make you “a cheerful giver,” a Ba-BOOM-Ba giver (ask your kids!), a “no-strings-attached” giver of our time, talent, and treasure leading up to Commitment Sunday. Along with our Bible stories (the Widow’s Mite, the Good Samaritan, and Zacchaeus), we have read Rainbow Fish, The Giving Tree, Four Feet & Two Sandals to see examples of selfless giving and sacrificial love. We have learned about our four core ministries, what they do to help others, and how we can give our money and time to help in these areas. We have also talked about where all the offertory and pledge monies go—most kids think that Mrs. Kimmell and I are only there on the days that they see us and are super surprised to know that we get a salary for our work! The kids came up with other costs of running a church such as keeping our buildings in good shape, paying salaries, other outreach ministries outside of our four core ministries, “the cool renovation and furniture of our space,” printing and mailing costs, security, and yes, even keeping the lights, water, and heat on!
Only after talking about all of this, did they decide what their commitment to the church would be. Some said that they would come to church each week (“unless I’m really tired”), some said they would help collect underwear and shoes for Threads, and some said that they would give part of their allowance each week. And then we processed down with the adult pledges, waving our promises to be a cheerful giver.
Ask your child about their pledge. Share with them how you pledge your time, talent, and treasure (not the amount, but the fact that you do). Make a list of ways that the family can give from their abundance through service to those in need. Remember that gratitude, like faith, is more caught than taught, so create a practice of gratitude with your family that will continue on throughout the year.
Here is a great article for ideas on how to respond to ingratitude and some questions to ask kids:
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Children's Church with Holy Eucharist
Sundays at 9:00 a.m. on the 2nd Floor of Pritchett Children's Center
Now that the weather has turned windy and cold, we will gather in our usual spot in Kenan Commons at 8:45 a.m., then process into the Children's Chapel at 9:00 a.m. for our service.
This Sunday, we have Children's Church with Holy Eucharist and Sarah Stewart is presiding. This means we will not come to the "big church" at the Peace/ Announcements like we usually do.
Parents are welcome to attend anytime with your kids!
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K-5th Grade Formation
Sundays at 10:20 a.m. on the 2nd Floor of Pritchett Children's Center
K-1st grade meets in The Hollow, 2nd-3rd meets in The Bird’s Nest, and Club 45 meets in The Clubhouse on the 2nd floor of Pritchett.
Dress warmly in layers as you may take an adventure outdoors at any time! We will be masked and distanced and will not be able to have snacks during class indoors. Please have your children finish their doughnut if they get one before coming inside for class. Remember, Club 45 will get a doughnut at the end of class each week.
Children will be spaced as close to three feet apart as possible and masked. Help us by reminding your kids to keep their distance and keep their masks on.
*If you haven't already, please make sure that your children are registered for the 2021-22 program year.* Register here >>
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Advent Event
Sunday, November 28, 10:20-11:05 a.m., in Ellis Hall
Advent Event is back! We can’t wait to mark the start of a new church season together as we get ready for Christ’s birth, entering this season with calm and joyful frame of mind.
Unlike Lent where we do a lot of self-reflection, Advent is a time of preparing, waiting with excitement, acting with hope and good will. We'll make crafts and Advent wreaths to celebrate the season.
Sign Up to Make an Advent Wreath
If you'd like to make an Advent wreath, please sign up ahead of time so we know how many supplies to purchase. The cost is $20 per wreath-making kit. Feel free to bring greenery from your yard to add our wreath-making supplies. Order a wreath-making kit >>
Sign Up to Volunteer
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Save the Date: Farewell Celebration for the Rev. Zack Nyein
Sunday, December 5 from 10:20-11:05 a.m. in Ellis Hall
Please join us in celebrating the ministry of Zack Nyein, our Associate Rector for Youth and Children’s Ministries and Community Engagement.
Help us send Zack off in style as he prepares to move to New York City to serve at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church.
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"Meant to Be Mothers of God": An Advent Women's Retreat
Sunday, December 5 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. in the church
Join women of all ages (ages 18 and older) for an Advent evening of reflection, renewal, and rest as we contemplate God’s Incarnation. This retreat is hosted by members of our St. Cecilia’s young women’s group and All Saints’ Labyrinth Ministry, inspired by Meister Eckhart’s observation, “We are all meant to be mothers of God, for God is always wanting to be born.”
Please plan to invite a friend and register online by Sunday, December 5!
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Save the Date for the Christmas Pageant!
Sunday, December 19 at the 9:00 a.m. service in the church
We will have our traditional Christmas Pageant in the church!
Our 4th and 5th graders will be the actors and all of the younger children are invited to dress up as someone or something that might have been present at the birth of Christ.
We have tons of costumes that kids can choose from or you can create your own. More news to follow!
We are getting ready to call 4th and 5th grade families for roles in the Christmas pageant to see if you will be in town. We have to get the names pretty quickly for printing bulletins, so please keep an eye out for a text, email, or call.
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Teachers
K-1st Leaders: Sarah Bryant, Kathy Compton, Laura Gandy, Anne Elzemeyer, Elinor Hitt, and Beth Frilingos
Curriculum: The Fruits of the Spirit
2nd-3rd Leaders: Danny Johnson, Sue Bess, Sintra Constant, Meg Fogel, Ashley Thompson
Curriculum: The Fruits of the Spirit
Club 45 Leaders: Jack Norton, Tim Frilingos, Julia Wilson, Steve Davis, Emily Pheil, Emi and Michael Gragnani (subs)
Curriculum: Connect
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K-1st and 2nd-3rd
11/21 Faithfulness:Daniel in Lion’s Den
11/28 Advent Adventure (no class)
12/5 Gentleness: Love your Enemies
12/12 Self-Control: David/Saul in Cave
12/19 Christmas Pageant (no class)
12/26 Sabbath Sunday (no class)
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Club 45
11/21 Covenant
11/28 Advent Adventure (no class)
12/5 Jacob & Esau
12/12 Jacob to Israel
12/19 Christmas Pageant (no class)
12/26 Sabbath Sunday (no class)
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***Please Note Our Sabbath Sundays (No Children’s Formation)***
November 28, December 19, and December 26
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Here are a few things that help make formation run smoothly for teachers:
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Know that your children will get a snack at the end of class and there are some traditions embedded here. Club 45 gets glazed doughnuts (so please tell your child NOT to get one before class). K-1st and 2nd-3rd will begin getting their favorite popcorn again (up to you about a donut before class, but they should finish it before coming to class). There will be water available in the courtyard and on the playground.
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Have your child go to the bathroom before joining class. Since bathrooms are a good bit away from their site, an adult has to go with the K-3rd graders.
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Please walk your child to their site for the next couple of weeks, so that we make sure they get to the right spot. A few were wondering around last week. By the end of October, only K-1st will need to be walked directly to tent and signed in by parents. The rest of the children can be watched from courtyard as they go to their site by then.
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Pick-up happens promptly at 11:05 a.m. as teachers need to clean up and leave. K-1st and 2nd-3rd parents should pick up kids from the site. Teachers may have something to share with you about the class and we want to make sure all kids have gotten back to their parents. Club 45 may meet parents in the courtyard.
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Please Register for the 2021-22 Program Year
If you haven't already, please don't forget to register on Realm for Little Saints, Children's Ministries, and Children's Choirs.
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Kathy Roberts
Director of Children's Ministries
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For more information contact Kathy Roberts
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