Happy Advent!
As we come to the 4th week of Advent this Sunday, we will light the candle of Love. That seems fitting for the day that the children tell the story of Jesus’ birth in our Christmas Pageant at the 9:00 a.m. service.
We have jokingly called this the No-Stress Christmas Pageant and the Unrehearsed Christmas Pageant through the years, but what if we renamed it the Christmas Pageant: Lovingly Told by God’s Children? You see, the 4th and 5th graders can’t wait until it is their turn to lead the younger kids in stepping into the story of our Savior’s birth. A story that turns all our expectations upside-down, pointing to how Jesus will do the same throughout His ministry.
We do actually practice a bit the morning of the pageant, but it is more about actually stepping into the characters’ lives and feeling what they might have felt. I wonder what the shepherds felt when the angel appeared to them? Fear, honor, shock? And the angels were pretty busy during these days calming EVERYONE down – Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the magi and more. I wonder what they were feeling? Excitement, overloaded, nervous? The kids love sharing how they think their characters would have acted and what it might have felt like to be present for this sacred moment.
So as you see all the cute pageant characters coming forth on Sunday, put yourself in their shoes. Wonder what you would have felt being there for this holy moment. Wonder what you are feeling today in this holy moment. Wonder what it will feel like in the holy moment of our Savior’s return.
More The Story Of Christmas Videos:
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The Christmas Pageant!
Sunday, December 19 at the 9:00 a.m. service in the church
We are so excited to have our traditional, non-rehearsed, low-stress Christmas Pageant in the church! All children of any age are invited to become part of the story of Jesus’ birth and celebrate the hope and everlasting love of God.
Here's the plan for Sunday:
We have tons of costumes that kids can choose from or you can create your own.
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8:15-8:45: Meet up on the 2nd floor of the Pritchett Center to get a costume.
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9:00: During the pageant service, follow the story in the bulletin for when your child should come up to join the story.
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After the pageant service: Please go directly to Ellis Hall, take off costumes, and put them in the correct labelled tub/clothes rack (i.e. "angels").
4th and 5th graders (main characters) will meet at 8:00 a.m. on the 2nd floor of Pritchett to dress and run through where and when they will enter. Then they will come with me over to the church to get ready.
Parents, please volunteer to help:
Watch online:
Children's Church and Children's Formation Takes a Break:
Please note: We do not have Children's Church and Children's Formation classes this Sunday, December 19. We'll take a break for the holidays and meet again on Sunday, January 9!
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Caroling with the Saints at the MARTA Station
Wednesday, December 22 at 5:00 p.m. at the North Ave MARTA Station and Kennedy Courtyard
Deck the halls with boughs on MARTA! Singers of all ages and abilities are invited to attend our annual Caroling with the Saints event!
We'll meet in the courtyard at 5:00 p.m. and then cross the street to serenade the lucky commuters at the North Ave MARTA Station. After we're finished caroling, we'll celebrate the season with cookies and a hot cocoa bar in the courtyard.
Festive Christmas attire is welcome and ugly sweaters are encouraged!
(Please note: We do not have Wednesday Night Supper or Children's Choir Rehearsals on Wednesday, December 22.)
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Christmas at All Saints'
We are thrilled to celebrate Christmas together in the church this year! We hope you’ll join us—whether you are near or far, online or in-person—as we celebrate Jesus Christ's birth on this holy night.
Christmas Eve Services
Friday, December 24
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1:00 p.m.* | A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols with the All Saints’ Schola
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3:00 p.m.* | Christmas Eve Festival Worship with the All Saints’ Children’s Choirs
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5:00 p.m. | Christmas Eve Festival Worship with the All Saints’ Youth Choirs
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7:00* and 10:00 p.m. | Christmas Eve: Holy Eucharist, Rite II with the All Saints’ Parish Choir
*The services at 1:00, 3:00, and 7:00 p.m. will be livestreamed to our website and Facebook page.
The nursery is open for the 3:00, 5:00, and 7:00 p.m. services on Christmas Eve.
Christmas Day
Saturday, December 25
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10:00 a.m. | Christmas Day: Holy Eucharist, Rite II
The nursery is closed on Christmas Day.
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Adjusted Worship Schedule on Sunday, December 26
On Sunday, December 26, we will combine the 9:00 and 11:15 a.m. worship services into one 10:00 a.m. service in the church. This service will be in-person only (it will not be livestreamed) and the nursery will be closed. Please note: we will also have our usual 8:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. services in the chapel.
***The nursery will re-open on Sunday, January 2, 2022***
**Children’s Church, and Children’s Formation all take a break until Sunday, January 9, 2022. See you in the New Year!**
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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
12/19 Christmas Pageant (no class)
12/26 Sabbath Sunday (no class)
1/2 Sabbath Sunday (no class)
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Club 45
12/19 Christmas Pageant (no class)
12/26 Sabbath Sunday (no class)
1/2 Sabbath Sunday (no class)
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***Please Note Our Sabbath Sundays***
No Children’s Formation and Children's Church
December 19, December 26, and January 2
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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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