Dear All Saints' Parents and Families,
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Gratitude is a skill that is taught and caught.
We may remember our own parents prompting us with, “What do you say?” when someone gave us a gift or helped us with a task.
Young kids are egocentric until about the 2nd or 3rd grade when they start to realize there is a lot more to the world than just them! This is all part of the natural developmental process, but we can start teaching them very early in life to be thankful, empathetic, and considerate. We can help them start to develop those muscles of gratitude and empathy by modeling it, providing opportunities to practice it, as well as by talking about it with our children when we see it in stories, TV, movies, books, and in our daily lives.
On Wednesday nights, we have started a small practice where the kids walk up to the adult who is handing out the snack, look them in the eyes, and ask, “May I please have a snack?” and then respond with, “Thank you,” when they get one. There is a lot of humor surrounding this exchange, but they have quickly caught on and they clearly understand the expectations. Expectations and humor are key to teaching most skills with kids.
We're going to add a new element to our Wednesday nights, which you will receive from Karol in her next email: a "Communal Dining Expectations" list to help with self-control and gratitude at Wednesday Night Supper in Ellis Hall. The list includes things like thanking the chefs and caterers for dinner, our sextons for cleaning up after us, our volunteers who spend time at the sign-in desk, etc. Also, cleaning up our dishes when we're all finished, taking small portions first time through (to reduce food waste – everyone can always go back for seconds), and using indoor voices AND feet.
Even if you aren’t here on Wednesday nights, you might also start a gratitude practice at your own dining tables. Does anyone ever thank the “cook” for meals at your house? Maybe that is the new expectation at the end of dinner. My husband always thanks me when I cook, I thank him when he cooks, and this modeling helped our kids to join in!
Depending on your child’s age and temperament, you might need to list specific expectations along with the more subtle modeling as mentioned above. Make a list that describes what you want to happen and why – often it has to do with living our our values (respect, gratitude, love, etc.).
Also,
click here
for a great question guide to ask kids to help build their gratitude muscles.
I am so grateful for each of you, your children, and our journey together in faith and family.
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Little Saints' Luncheon
Sunday, November 17
12:15 p.m. in Ellis Hall
If you have a child in the nursery, please join us for lunch and playtime this Sunday after the 11:15 a.m. worship service!.
It can be difficult to meet folks when you are shepherding small humans (some joyful and some not so much!) into nursery care right before church or picking them up and running to lunch. Let’s take a breath and sit with and enjoy each other over a meal.
We'll have a very simple lunch, you can bring an easy dessert or cookies, and we'll let the kid
s play while we
socialize and get to know other families who are in similar stages on this wonderful parenting journey.
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During our
Children’s Church
time this past week, we talked about some of the crazy stories we hear in the Bible (in last week’s reading, Sadducees asked, “Whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had married her."). We wondered why these stories were told, what Jesus was saying when he answered with more questions (the kids said that he wanted us to dig deeper and think harder!), and how many times he turned things upside down for the rule-followers (the first shall be last…sitting down to eat with the “lowly”…etc). They decided that God’s rules are important, but when Jesus was born, love became the most important thing to do. We even talked about how if we are all born in God’s image, there must be female and male in God, mother and father. (One of the girls asked, “Does God look like a man or a woman? How big is God? Why do we always say 'Our Father, who art in heaven'?). As you can see, we do some powerful, deep thinking in Children’s Church! And I am surrounded by young theologians that are thinking about their faith! Come join us sometime and you will be stretched!
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Little Saints’ Church
is also thriving as we learn to pray, sing new songs ("This Little Light of Mine"), and hear how God loves us and how we can love others. I would love to have more parents volunteer to lead the 15-minute service. Amy Gaynor, a parishioner with older kids, has been taking the lead with her daughters for several weeks. They are great and love being with the kids, but we also need to spread the wealth! Amy will teach you what she does, along with our nursery director, Shawnne Smith. It is great fun and a chance to get to meet your child’s peers. Sign up below for a date (scroll down to "Reminders") and I will send you the lesson.
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Club 45
and our
GROW
classes are all making, playing, learning, and connecting around our faith stories. You should be getting an email each week with a recap and some pictures of what’s happening. This is a whole new structure as a direct result of our work with our consultants last year and we are seeing a huge difference in our programming. I am so very thankful for our team of teachers this year. They are amazing and tireless! In the spirit of Thanksgiving, maybe ask your child send their teacher a note of thanks for their ministry of time and relationship.
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PLEASE VOLUNTEER!
Sign up to help with Little Saints’ and/or Children’s Church!
Please
take a minute to sign up for a Sunday or more if your child/ children attend our children's services. The Little Saints’ service is led by parents (Shawnne will help you!) and Children’s Church is led by me (Kathy) and Karol with parent assistance.
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Registration
If you haven't already, please register your children for Children's Formation and Children's Choirs for the 2019-2020 program year.
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Lots of fun things coming up...mark your calendars!
- Tuesday, November 26 at 4:30-7:00 p.m. (come for any amount of time!)
- Give away Blessing Bags with toiletries and warm clothing at Covenant Community's Thanksgiving Dinner
- Sunday, December 1 at 10:20-11:05 a.m.
- Advent Adventure and Festival!
- If you can volunteer to help, please email me at kroberts@allsaintsatlanta.org.
- Wednesday, December 4 at 6:05 p.m. (with supper at 5:00 p.m. or 6:45 p.m.)
- St. Nicholas Supper and Celebration (click here to RSVP)
- The start of our Shoe Collection for Threads and Midtown Assistance Center!
- Sunday, December 8 at 10:20 a.m.
- Parenting with God: Continuing the Journey (an extra class!)
- Wednesday, December 18 at 5:00 p.m.
- Caroling at the North Ave MARTA Station
- Sunday, December 22 at 9:00 a.m. (arrive between 8:00-8:45 a.m.)
- Come As You Are Christmas Pageant
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Youth Christmas Tree Fundraiser
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Don't forget to order your high-quality Christmas wreaths and trees (Fraser Firs), fresh-cut from Berry's Tree Farm in Covington! Pick up will be in the lower parking deck at All Saints' from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on December 7 and 8.
Please feel free to share with family and friends, and let them know that the proceeds support our youth ministry, particularly the youth pilgrimage to England this summer.
The deadline to order is November 17!
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Kathy Roberts
Director of Children's Ministries
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For more information email Kathy Roberts
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