Children's Ministries Update

Hello Families!

As I was looking for an image of Holy Week, it occurred to me that we have many images for the many stories that happened during this week. But there may be stories that you don't usually read. For example, some call Holy Wednesday - Spy Wednesday because it is the day that Judas made a deal with the chief priest to turn over Jesus in exchange for 30 pieces of silver. And we all know about palms being spread on the road for Jesus to cross upon, but what about garments being spread before the donkeys feet too? Or the story of Mary annointing Jesus' feet with fragrant oil, or Jesus and the Fig Tree, or when Jesus turned over the moneychangers tables in the Temple.

Pick some of these stories to read aloud to your kids this Holy Week. Have them draw an image for the story or take a picture of something that symbolizes what they heard in the story. Put everyone's pictures together to make a family Holy Week book. Ask them "curious " questions: Would you lay down your 2023 National Champions T-shirt for a donkey to walk on? Why would people lay down their shirts or cloaks? Why would Jesus wash people's dirty feet? Have fun with it.

And try to make it to Maundy Thursday service in Ellis Hall with Agape Meal and Footwashing. It is my favorite service of the year and we remember 3 things that Jesus taught his disciples that night:

The meal together - we recreate this meal every Sunday when we have the Eucharist and share the body and blood of Christ, just as Jesus showed us.
The act of servanthood - Jesus washes his disciples feet to teach them how to teach others to follow in His way. A reminder that we are here to serve others.
The Great Commandment - Maundy is derived from the Latin word for "command," and refers to Jesus' commandment to the disciples to "Love one another as I have loved you.

It was and is a powerful night.

Here are a few videos and crafts to help dive deeper into Holy Week and an old video telling the story of Holy Week - we filmed this in 2021 when we were all home. I know lots of you are gone on Spring Break this next week, so maybe these will bring a little bit of All Saints with you! Safe travels if you are gone and hope to see the rest of you here at some point.

Palm Sunday by Crossroads Kids , Palm Sunday by Saddleback Kids

Last Supper by Crossroads Kids , Last Supper by Saddleback Kids

Jesus Washes the Disciples' Feet

Children's Holy Week Walk

Holy Week Stories and Crafts

Peace,

Kathy

This Sunday, March 31

Nursery : 8:30-12:30

1st fl. of the Pritchett Center

Children's Church: Join us in courtyard or front steps of church for processesion with palms and noisemakers. Donkey will be on the grass at 8:15ish for pics and will join us towards the end of procession. Then we will enter Ellis Hall for the service with your family.

Children's Formation: 10:20-11:05

2nd fl of the Pritchett Center

If you missed last week's Formation class with Elizabeth Corrie, here is the link to the presentation:

Being the Adults our Youth Want and Need

It was a great discussion that we hope to continue in the future. Meanwhile, if you think you have a gift to share with our Youth and Children, send Hope Westervelt or myself a message. And if you are not sure what you could do, give us a call and we can help you find a way into relationship with our kids.

Palm Sunday is this Sunday

Meet Lester the Donkey

Palm Sunday is April 2nd and Lester, the Jerusalem Donkey, will be here to help us celebrate. Come early for pictures with Lester - 8:15-8:45 on the grass in the Kennedy Courtyard. Kids will lead the procession around our block waving palms, ringing noisemakers, and shouting Hosanna! In Hebrew, Hosanna is a cry of praise meaning "Pray, save us". Then the kids will enter Ellis Hall and continue waving palms as we circle Ellis Hall while you find a seat until the hymn is over. Kids will then find you, so wave of stand until they see you.

Holy Week Speaker Series

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

12:00-1:00

Join us for a simple lunch, or bring your own, and hear our Holy Week Series speakers discuss Resilience, Compassion and our Mental Health.

You can sign up on Realm

Maundy Thursday Service, Agape Meal, and Footwashing

Thursday, April 6th, 5:30-7:00

Come eat, worship and serve each other at the Maundy Thursday service where Jesus performed the first communion that we remember each week in our service. After sharing the meal with his disciples, Jesus showed them how to serve others by washing their feet. We will all bring a dish to add to the Agape meal to share with each other. All ages are welcome, so bring your family to this wonderful celebration. Sign up to join us

on Realm .

Good Friday

Come pray together as we mark the journey to the cross and the death of our Lord, Jesus Christ. After the service, there will be a walk through Midtown where we pause and listen to the Stations of the Cross - events that happened to Christ along the road to Golgotha - and connect those stations to events, places, and people in our lives today.

You are welcome to come to either or both.

EASTER DAY!!!

Alleluia! The Lord is Risen!

The Lord is Risen indeed! Come celebrate the most important day in our liturgical year with your whole family. It is important that our kids, and we, remember that the crucifixion is not the end of the story. On this day, we are given the gift of new life, an everlasting life with God, through the unfathomable love of Jesus Christ. The Episcopal Catechism notes that “By his resurrection, Jesus overcame death and opened for us the way of eternal life” (BCP, p. 850). Easter proclaims the truth that we are resurrection people.

"Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song." ~ Pope John Paul II. Apr 6, 2021

Nursery/Little Saints' Easter Egg Hunt

Babies-PreK and their Families

between services (around 10:20) on the Playground

Bring your basket!

Calling all Little Saints' families to join us for an Easter Egg hunt after the 9:00 service. The older kids will be getting some goodies in the courtyard before the 9:00 and 11:15 services, but we wanted to change up our usual "during the service Nursery egg hunt" to include the parents. Bring your baskets and bonnets and meet us in the nursery. Invite any older siblings to help their young sibs hunt, but remind them that they get their Easter surprises at the Big Kids table in the courtyard.

Any parents that are willing to help hide eggs a few minutes before the hunt, please email Kathy Roberts by next Wednesday. We encourage you to open the eggs with your child to make sure that the candies and gifts are appropriate for them.