Children's Ministries Update | October 14, 2021

Hello Families!

Fall is a great time to be intentional about how things are going in your family and home. New routines, new classes, new developmental jumps all can cause ripples in our fine-tuned family systems. Take a few minutes to look at your rules and routines. Do they need to be loosened as your children have matured or maybe they need to be strengthened? Do the kids need to add in some more chores or responsibilities for their age, do they need to make their own lunches now, can they handle a new piece of technology? What family traditions could use an overhaul or update?

When we are intentional in our approach to parenting, it can take away some of the not-so-great decisions we make on the spot when we aren’t prepared. If we just schedule in a tune up to see what needs fixing, we can avoid a major breakdown later. Here are a few areas to check:

We do spring cleaning in our homes. Maybe fall cleaning should be on our social media homes. Check out this website for some great articles on how to keep kids safe online. Also Common Sense Media has great tools and examples of contracts with kids and their electronics. I will have some copies of the Social Media Cleaning Checklist with me this Sunday if you would like one.
Ever wonder if you should be getting help for your child? Is their issue outside of the norm of what other kids are going through? Here are some great questions to ask to see if you need to take more action for your child. And here is a guide to developmental milestones for every age.
Have you had a safety talk with your kids lately? How would they get out of the house if there was a fire? What should they do? How would they react to someone offering them candy or to pet their animal at the park? What should they do if someone they don’t know asks them to come help them with something at their car? What should they do if someone is bullying them online? Practice builds muscle memory and you can do that without scaring kids. They actually feel more confident and empowered. You could work on making a map for fire escape at home just as they practice at school. Get them to teach you what they do there. Hang the map in a prominent place (by the door or on the fridge). Before heading to the park or to a fair, go over safety rules, what to do if lost, etc. and have them practice with you. Ending with an empowering statement like, “Wow, you are so ready to take care of yourself and stay safe.”

What other areas of family life might need some dusting off or refreshing? Are you saying prayers with your children at bedtime and before dinner? Are you sharing what you are grateful for? Are you finding ways to serve others together? Have fun cleaning out your “family routines closet” and celebrate the things that are working that you want to keep.

Peace to you,

Kathy

This Sunday, October 17

Children's Church with Holy Eucharist

8:40 a.m. Gathering time
9:00 a.m. Worship service
Masked and distanced

We meet outside under the tent next to the chapel stairs (rain location: Ellis Hall), all masked and distanced. Sometimes we go on adventures around the campus (the magnolia tree, the fountain, the lawn, etc.), just as Jesus and his disciples traveled around to spread God's Word.

We're having Holy Eucharist so children will not join their parents in the main church during the announcements like we usually do. Parents are welcome to come join us during the Peace or pick up your children from the tent as you exit the service in the main church.

K-5th Grade Formation

10:20-11:05 a.m.
Masked and distanced

Club 45 will meet in space by the chapel stairs (under the tent), 2nd and 3rd graders will meet inside the playground towards the left, and K-1st will meet inside the playground towards the tricycle pad.

Photos: Pride Sunday

Pride Sunday!

Last Sunday was our annual celebration of Pride Sunday. Take a look at all of the wonderful photos.

View more photos

MAC Race for Midtown 5K Walk/Run

The MAC Race for Midtown is Back!

Saturday, October 30 at 8:30 a.m. in Piedmont Park

Join us for a 5K through Piedmont Park to benefit Midtown Assistance Center (MAC), one of our four core service ministries. MAC provides emergency assistance to help prevent homelessness and hunger.

The race course this year is once again inside the park; parking is available in the lot next to Park Tavern.

The cost is $35 per person; please sign up online.

Reminders

Here are a few things that help make formation run smoothly for teachers:

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.
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.
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.
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.