Children’s Ministry update
A different kind of pageant…
In an attempt to simplify everyone’s Advent, we are having a simple “pick-up” pageant on Christmas Eve at 3:00 pm.
• Children may dress as shepherds, angels, or animals. Use costume pieces from home or come to the church between 2:15 and 2:45 to use our costumes.
• Children will sit with their families and come forward during a carol, as indicated in the bulletin. If a child is shy, an adult may escort them forward. Everyone will stay near the altar, surrounding Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus until a final carol is sung.
• After the pageant, they will return to sit with their families while the service continues with a simple eucharist.
• After the service, please return any borrowed costume pieces to the Old Parish Hall.
Volunteers are needed to help hand out costumes before the service and/or to put costumes away. If you can come a bit early, you can get your child decked out and then help others. If you can help, please email Caroline at [email protected]
December events and schedule
December 1
9:15 a.m.
Children will make a family Advent wreath to take home along with an information sheet about the wreath and its use.
10:10 a.m.
Regular Children’s Church, worship and singing
December 8
9:15 a.m.
Regular Sunday School and Children’s Church
11:30 a.m.
Gingerbread house decoration. Come decorate an already-made house. Registration required, please email Caroline or sign up at the table in the Old Parish Hall. Please bring a bag of candy to share for decorating.
December 15
Regular Sunday School and Children’s Church
December 22
9:15
All-parish breakfast in the New Parish Hall
Children’s ornament-making in the conference room (beside the New Parish Hall)
No regular Sunday School or Children’s Church
December 29
No Sunday School or Children’s Church
Sunday School themes
During November, we have learned about the Bible—how special it is, how it is a library of many books, and how to find passages in our Bibles.
We have learned about the gestures we see in church—what it means when someone bows their head, crosses themself, or reaches out a hand at the Peace. We also learned about what the priest’s gestures mean during the Eucharist—how the Holy Spirit is called, and how we offer our lives to God.
We have talked about prayer and especially the Lord’s Prayer and have learned about the seasons of the church year.
In December, we will learn more about the season of Advent and will make Advent wreaths. We’ll hear about the prophets and their beautiful words about the Messiah. We’ll hear the story of the Annunciation and the birth of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke. We’ll tell the children about this year’s Christmas pageant and learn the refrain of “Go tell it on the mountain.”
During the Children’s Church time, we have continued to gather at our prayer table for a quiet time of prayer and worship. If we have a few extra moments, we review the day’s theme and lesson. The children’s reverent focus and their prayers and comments are lovely.
Thank you to our wonderful volunteers!
And thank you to everyone for supporting your children’s spiritual lives!