Welcome to our new Children, Youth, and Family Newsletter! Here's what you can expect to find in this monthly email:
  • A letter from the Rev. Brin Bon, Priest for Children, Youth and Families.
  • Information about upcoming events for you and your family.
  • Ways to get more involved in your church community, and more.

In order to give you a break and reduce the number of emails in your inbox, this email will go out just once a month. Our hope is that you will have all the info you need to get plugged in for the month ahead and can add events to your calendar so that your kids can join us as often as possible. 
Facing God together!

One of the things I hear frequently from families at church is regret (or sometimes guilt) that their kids can't participate in more of our activities, especially during the week. As a parent, myself, I understand why it's so difficult to get to church on a Wednesday evening or a Sunday afternoon. Right now my youngest is in the school play, which has rehearsals four afternoons a week. She also takes drum lessons, belongs to multiple clubs, and has an active social life for which I am often her chauffeur! And, while my older sons are now in their 20s, I remember well the days when we had children in elementary, middle, and high school (if you're in this stage it's rough but it does get better, so hang in there!). 

I want to start by honoring all that you do for your children already. So pause for a minute, take a deep breath, and remind yourself that you are a good and loving parent. Second, I want to relieve you of any guilt you might feel that you can't do "more" at church. It is quite possibly the case that you and your kids don't need "more," even if it is at church. 

Church isn't like the other obligations and responsibilities you have. Our primary purpose is to help you and your family know and worship God. It's different because it's totally optional, offers you little to no upward mobility, doesn't increase your social or economic prospects, and in this day and age is downright counter-cultural. We offer Christian formation so that you and your kids can grow in the knowledge and love of God. We offer social activities so you can come to know the love of a community that values you simply because you are a child of God, not because you're smart, perform well, or are popular. And we engage in ministries of service because we are told that we are supposed to love God and love our neighbors as ourselves. Yes, we hope you come to and benefit from these offerings, but we do them because we love God and want you and your kids to love God, too. In a nut shell, we come to church not to face each other, but to face God together.  

Our classes and programs are wonderful but they should not obscure the fact that the most important thing any church can offer is worship of the living God. If the only thing you can participate in is Sunday worship I hope you know how important what you are doing truly is. Know, too, that God doesn't require combed hair, clean faces, or your Sunday best. And if you get really Old Testament about it, you barely even have to want to be there. Just show up and let God do the rest – for you and for your kids. 

As you will see below, we do have much to offer, but as your church home, we will be here for you when you need us whether you come all the time or only once a year (or less). Note, too, that we offer 6 worship services every Sunday where you and your family are always welcome.

Yours in Christ,
PLEASE NOTE:
In order to give our fabulous teachers a little Fall Break, we will not offer Godly Play, Edge Bible Study, or Middle School Bible Study on Sunday, October 8.
SUNDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDIES
Sundays | 10:15-11:05a*
Edge Bible Study, Windsor, Edge Room
Middle School Bible Study, Windsor, Youth Corner
Middle School Bible Study is back and we've added a Bible Study just for our Edge Kids, too! Students in both classes will find a fun and interactive opportunity to learn about the Bible and explore their faith together on Sunday mornings. Our fall series in focused on following Jesus. The second part of this will begin on Sunday, October 15 with a focus on loving God, your neighbor, and even your enemy.
NOTE: The Fall session will end on November 12 and our Winter session with start on January 7, 2024. 
*Students will be let out at the Peace so they can rejoin you for Holy Eucharist
GODLY PLAY
Sundays | 10:15-11:05a*, Windsor, Education Center, 2nd floor
Godly Play is also back for the program year with two classrooms open for kids 3 years (and potty trained) through 2nd grade. In October, children will be learning about the Ark and the Flood, The Great Family, and the Exodus. These are all foundational stories from the Old Testament that introduce kids to Noah, Abraham and Sarah, and Moses and the Israelite people. In all of these stories, God makes a promise (aka a "covenant") to be present with God's people as they do difficult things. If you have a chance to discuss this with your kids, this is a good opportunity to reinforce the message of God's abiding presence with us even now, which is given to us through the gift of the Holy Spirit. 
*Pick kids up during the Peace so they can rejoin you for Holy Eucharist.
I want to say a special thanks to all the teachers who make this ministry to our children possible. We have over 20 parents who serve as Story Tellers, Door Keepers, activity assistants, Bible Study leaders, and other support. We could not do it without you!

I would love to recruit a handful of parents to help lead our Middle School Bible Study, so if this is something you might be willing to do once a month during our program year, please let me know.
PLEASE NOTE:
We will not meet on October 4, so all can participate in the Blessing of the Animals.
EDGE KIDS
Wednesdays | 5:00p-6:00a
Edge Group, Windsor, Edge Room
Edge Kids meets for fun, fellowship, and a snack. We hope the later time makes it easier for you to come after school during the week. 
YOUTH GROUP
Wednesdays | 6:00p-7:30a
Youth Group, Windsor, Youth Corner
Students should go through the food line and bring their plates up to the Youth Corner when they get here. You do not have to pay for this meal, but it is helpful to know how many meals to plan on each week. Let us know they're coming each week by using the poll on our GroupMe group. You can join the group HERE. Our program starts at 6:30p and includes a chance to check in with each other, discuss and brief topic related to growing in our faith, hang out with friends, and ends with a candle lit service of Compline to wind down the evening. We are finished at 7:30p.
BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS
Wednesday, October 4
Dinner | 5:00p-7:00p, Windsor, PLC
Animal Blessing | 6:00p, the common
Tomorrow is the Feast of St. Francis and our Annual Blessing of the Animals. Bring your furry-friends (or just a photo of them) to a short, interactive service celebrating our pets and the importance of them in our lives. Each pet will have the opportunity to be blessed by one of our priests and will be given a St. Francis medal and certificate commemorating this special day. We will also offer special prayers for the pets we have loved and lost. 
COMMUNION INSTRUCTION
Sunday, October 15, 22, 29, and November 5 | 12:00p–1:00p, Windsor, Education Center, 2nd floor
Our Communion Instruction classes are starting on Sunday, October 15. This four-session class will engage kids in 2nd grade and up in a fun and informative exploration of the sacraments, Holy Eucharist, the liturgy, and will help to answer the age-old question: "Why should I go to church?" We will celebrate our learning with an Instructed Eucharist led by our young students in the 9:15a Early Church service on Sunday, November 12. Register HERE.
"THE FAMILY FIRM" PARENT BOOK GROUP
Wednesdays, October 18, 25, & November 1 | 6:30-7:30p
Windsor, Administration Building, 2nd Floor Lounge
Beginning on Wednesday, October 18, I'd love for you to join me for a three-week series exploring the book, "The Family Firm," by economist Emily Oster. At its heart, this book is about decision making which Oster encourages should be "values driven" and "mission-first" so that how you and your kids spend your time reflects what is most important to your family. Of course, the church also has some things to say about values and mission, so our conversation will focus on an exploration of how the church can support parents as they raise children of faith. Register HERE.
TRUNK OR TREAT AT THE HILL
Sunday, October 29
Trunk Decorating | 4:30p
Festivities and dinner | 5:30p
Trunk or Treating | 6:00p-7:00p
Rounding out the month is our 2nd Annual Trunk or Treat at the Hill. This is such a fun way to celebrate Halloween, especially with young kids. Kids of all ages are invited to dress up as their favorite characters and to go trunk to trunk collecting candy. We'll have dinner, music, a cake walk, face painting, and crafts. 

We need lots of volunteers to make this happen!
Can you decorate a trunk? Drop off candy in the church office? Help set-up or clean-up? Donate a cake or cupcakes? Provide hospitality to our many guest and neighbors? If so, please sign up HERE. We'd especially love to have our Youth Volunteers to help and this definitely counts toward their Service Hours, so please share this with your high school students and their friends. 
WEDNESDAYS ON WINDSOR: FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT
Wednesday, November 1
Dinner | 5:00p-7:00p, Windsor, PLC
Movie: 'The Book of Life' | 6:00p, PLC
Looking ahead, we will have a Family Movie Night and dinner on Wednesday, November 1. This is important for two reasons: First, it's a fun activity for big and little kids (we'll be watching "The Book of Life"!). Second, this will be our first fundraiser of the year for the Summer Youth Retreat. All proceeds will go toward scholarship for students and to help offset the cost for our parent chaperones to join us. Over the course of the year, we want to raise nearly $3000 for this fund. 

You can help by donating individually packaged chips, candies, and beverages in the Admin Building for us to sell (please drop them off anytime before Monday, October 30). Second, you can come to the movie and pick up a treat for yourself while you're there. If you have a student in 6-12th grade who would be willing to help us run the concession booth, or if you would be willing to take a shift assisting our youth, please sign up HERE.
If you've made it this far, congratulations! Give yourself a pat on the back. If you have questions about any of this, or feedback about our newsletter, feel free to reach out to the Rev. Brin Bon, our Priest for Children, Youth & Families, or Jessica Riels, our Director of Programs. In next month's newsletter we will have information about
  • November 12: Confirmation info session
  • November 12 or 13: Summer Youth Retreat info sessions
  • November 19: Thanksgiving service opportunities
  • November 26: Advent wreathe making
  • December 3: Advent Snow Day
  • and, of course, Christmas Eve!

Until then, I hope you get to enjoy some cooler fall weather!