A Note From Tabi

Hi Saint Anne’s families!

How are you?! I have been BUSY. Shocker, I know. 😂

We have officially reached what I’m calling the last big prep week before the new program year begins. Teams have been made, schedules have been sent, curriculum has been written, supplies are being gathered, and now we basically just stare at the calendar and wait for the big day.

We will not have Formation or EYC this Sunday because of the Labor Day weekend. Labor Day is basically my last little break before we begin the marathon that is a new school year, so I plan to enjoy it before the calendar starts coming for me.

This summer, during our Growing with God chapel series, I was really impressed by how much our children know about Scripture. Last Sunday, we wrapped up the series by asking them to share their favorite Bible stories. And they didn’t just give us titles. Oh no. They gave us the WHOLE story. We heard all about Noah’s Ark, Moses, the birth of Jesus, and more. Our kids knew their stuff!

So where do we go from there?

During that conversation, we started asking the kids what questions they would ask God. Suddenly, everyone had something to say. Lots of questions. Lots of wondering.

And that got me thinking about a book I’ve been exploring called Wonder: 52 Conversations to Help Kids Fall in Love with Scripture by Meredith Miller. The book is built around helping kids and grown-ups talk about Scripture together, ask questions, and explore the parts of Bible stories that make us curious.

It became pretty clear to me: this year, we need to wonder.

Our kids know many of the stories. Now we can ask bigger questions. How did the people in the story feel? Why did God make that choice? What would we have done? What does this story tell us about God?

And, of course, the questions that really matter.

Like... what did Jonah eat for dinner inside the whale?

We may not have answers to every question, and that’s okay. Faith gives us room to ask, think, talk, and wonder together.

Our new chapel series will begin this week, and I’m really excited about it. I also recommend parents grab a copy of Wonder for home. It’s a great resource for those moments when a simple dinner-table question suddenly turns into a surprise seminary lecture and you’re thinking, “I was literally just trying to eat my tacos.” The book includes background information and conversation prompts designed to help grown-ups talk through those big Scripture questions with kids.

And then... the calendar gets BUSY.

Our POLO: Parents of Little Ones group kicks off on Saturday, September 12 at 11:00am with our annual Picnic on the Playground! Families with little ones are invited to join us on the Big Playground, meet other Saint Anne’s families, and bring your favorite picnic snacks. It’s casual, easy, and a great way to connect.

Then comes KICKOFF SUNDAY on September 13!

We are so close to Kickoff Sunday I can already taste the fried chicken.

Join us for breakfast at 8:45am, followed by Sunday School from 9:15–10:15am. After the 10:30am service, we’ll head to the Parish Hall for our annual parish picnic.

We also officially launch our new Growing Saints Badge Program that morning!

Growing Saints is a way for us to celebrate the many ways our children grow in their faith and become part of the life of Saint Anne’s. Kids will earn badges throughout the year for things like learning the Lord’s Prayer, finding Scripture in the Bible, serving in worship, welcoming others, participating in church life, and practicing the habits that help us grow together as a community.

It’s not a race, and the goal is definitely not to collect every badge. The badges simply give us another way to notice and celebrate the things our kids are learning and the ways they belong here.

On Kickoff Sunday, children will receive their Growing Saints sash and their first badge, so you definitely don’t want to miss it!

There are so many fun new things coming this year and so many new ways for our children and youth to learn, grow, ask questions, serve, and fall in love with their faith.

Okay. I’m exhausted just writing all of that.



I’m going to go take a nap before the chaos... I mean FUN... officially begins.

Enjoy your Labor Day weekend, and I’ll see you Sunday!

Blessings,

Tabi ✨