April 1, 2017 
Calvary Children's & Youth Ministries Newsletter

CALVARY EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Children's & Youth Ministries Newsletter
Click here  to email Rev. Dr. Judith Lee

Click  here for our  Current CYM Calendar

The week of April 9-16 is the holiest week of the Christian Calendar. This is also spring vacation week for many of our schools, which allows for some flexibility in our schedules to set aside quiet time to think about the meaning of this holiday. Spring vacation is my favorite because in this region we can literally see spring arrive day by day, and yet it's still chilly enough to have some cozy evenings by the fire. Whether you are out of town with friends, catching up on errands and doctors' appointments, enjoying some unstructured family time, or arranging for your children to hang out with their friends, this week marks the beginning of a new season. Paul reminds us in his second letter to the Christians at Corinth:  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things have passed away, and look, new things have come (5:17). 

Here are some ideas of how to prepare for this "new creation":
  • Wednesday of Holy Week is traditionally a day for housecleaning. Set aside some time on Wednesday April 12th for family cleaning day, perhaps setting aside clothing, toys, books, or household goods to donate.
  • Maundy Thursday (April 13th) begins the solemn 3-day preparation for Easter. On this day we remember the Last Supper. Plan a new family meal. Together, look through cookbooks and plan a meal that includes all new recipes, including an appetizer, entrée, side dishes, salad, bread, and dessert. Allow each family member to be in charge of one of the recipes, with parental help for younger children. Children may even create Easter place mats that tell the Easter story.
  • Good Friday (April 14th) Arrange for the afternoon to be spent in quiet play, or spend the afternoon outdoors in a spot you've never visited before. Take pictures of flowers, vegetation, insects, or animals you've never seen before.
  • Holy Saturday (April 15th) - Plant some seeds in the garden (outside or inside). Write a note to a new friend. 
  • Easter Day (April 16th) - Arrange to get up in time to watch the sunrise. Church services at Calvary will be at 9 am and at 11 am. We will not have nursery care because children of all ages are welcome in our worship as we all make a joyful noise together!
April 22nd & 23rd - Earth Day Celebrations. On Saturday at 6 pm we will join with Congregation Shi'r Shalom for an interfaith celebration of thanksgiving for the beauty of our creation. On Sunday, we will have a special observance of Earth Day in Children's Chapel and in the service.
 
Sunday May 7th - Family Chapel 9:15 am. This is our opportunity to talk about what will be most beneficial to your family next year as you get ready to present ideas to your new Rector. What would you like to see in Sunday School? What schedule will work best for you and your family? What events have been most meaningful? What can we be doing better? Your teachers spend a lot of time thinking and planning for Sundays, but you know best how we can help your children grow in their love for Jesus. Your children may play or join the conversation, and then we will pray and sing together.   

Judith+

Teacher's Reflection - Ellie Yuhasz 

Both Carol Mayo and I are not new to Calvary, we are new to the Calvary Sunday School team. We have also worked with children at Heim Elementary School for many years. We have very fond memories of our own Sunday School experiences which were rich with music and song. Realizing the importance of music and song in our Christian journey, we hoped to bring this into our Sunday School. We believe singing:
  • Is a way to praise the Lord in a private and/or a communal manner and can be an emotional bonding experience
  • Helps children learn and remember information, concepts and feelings that are associated with their music
  • The songs we learn can be revisited throughout a lifetime - in times of joy, and even provide comfort in times of need and sadness.
Both Carol and I have enjoyed our music experience with your children and watching them enjoy the experience of music in their wonderful Sunday School journey.

We hope you will join our children in learning, singing, and enjoying their music. Feel free to join us on Sunday morning at 9:30. We can always use another spirited voice.

Our songs can be found each month in the Sunday School Newsletter.

Eastertide Song


From April 23rd - June 4th, our children will celebrate the resurrection by learning the traditional song, "Praise him, praise him." You can listen to a version of this song on YouTube. Here are the words:

                     Praise him, praise him
 
                   Praise him in the morning,
                     Praise him in the noontime.
                     Praise him, praise him.
                     Praise him when the sun goes down.
 
Nursery (infant - 3 years) 

Beginners Class (Pre-K & K)  - April Message
 
The beginner class has been talking at length about the idea of baptism and what it means to be baptized in the church. We have done a field trip to look at the baptismal font and also played at baptizing a baby doll in class! Currently we are talking about when Jesus went to Jerusalem and will continue to talk about the celebration of Easter.

Our class is looking forward to the activities to prepare for Palm Sunday and the Last Supper event in the next few weeks. We are very happy to welcome new friends to our class! 

Dr. Sarah English

Primary Class (Grades 1-3) - April Message

During the first two Sundays in April all of our Sunday school classes will meet together for special events. On the 2nd, after Children's Chapel, the children will have the opportunity to make Lenten Crafts. They will learn how to make Palm crosses that will be handed out on Palm Sunday. There will be sun catchers to make and other crafts. On Palm Sunday after their time in Children's Chapel the students will break bread together during a Passover "Last Supper." 

The children will have a a chance to get to know one another better during these group activity Sundays. It's an important time in their spiritual education to develop a sense of community here at Calvary.

It's also important for the children to see their parents volunteering to help during these special events. As Benjamin Franklin said, "A good example is the best sermon." 
Thank you to all who have stepped up to help out our Children's Youth Ministry.
 
There won't be any classes on Easter Sunday so we can all worship together and celebrate with our families.
 
Cinda Stone

Intermediate (Grades 4-6) - April  Message

Easter is coming!  During the season of Lent, our focus is on the character and ministry of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
 
Following his birth, Mary and Joseph presented Jesus in the temple according to Jewish tradition. There, two elderly, faithful worshippers of God, Simeon and Anna, recognized Jesus as "the one through whom God would bring salvation to all people"  [Luke 2:31]. Jesus would be the source of redemption.
 
We next see Jesus at the age of twelve, in the temple asking questions of the religious leaders and teachers of the Law. He amazed them. How discerning he was!
 
Eighteen years later, Jesus is baptized, and filled with the Holy Spirit. His ministry begins, as Jesus is tempted by Satan, overcomes His enemy, and begins three years of teaching, preaching and healing.

Jesus came to bring newness of life. Life under the reign of God is a constant process in which all things are being made new. Jesus' whole ministry was marked by humility.
 
Jesus described how we are to behave toward other people if we wish to enter the Kingdom of God. We learn that Jesus' ethic is just the opposite of our natural tendencies.

Mr. Mayer

Junior High Youth (Grades 7-9) - April Message

For many of us in the Junior Youth Class, making palm crosses the week before Palm Sunday is a familiar Sunday School tradition. Our hands quickly relearn how to twist the supple and freshly fragrant palm fronds into crosses, some embellished with intricately woven knots and bows. The palm crosses represent Jesus' journey through Holy Week, reminding us of both His triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday as well as His harrowing crucifixion on Good Friday. The palm crosses we make will be distributed to the congregation on Palm Sunday and blessed with other palm branches. You may bring yours back to the church next year to be burned to ashes for Ash Wednesday. May you and your family experience God's love and blessings all through Holy Week and Easter!
 
Emily  Sityar


The Choristers of Calvary
A New Community Youth Choir Program


Boys and Girls, 3rd Grade and up

Tuesdays - 4:30 - 6:30pm
Rehearsal 4:30-5:45pm
Choral Evensong 6:00-6:30pm

March 7 - June 11, 2017

World-class music education and after school program
No Sunday morning commitment; scholarship provided to all choristers covers the cost of workbooks, vestments, and music. Open to all community members. For more information contact:
[email protected] or 716-633-7800



I will go to the altar of God / To the God of my joy and gladness.

Acolytes actively assist the clergy in leading the worship of God. Acolytes often find their service is not only fun, but also spiritually fulfilling. They learn to serve with dignity, humility, and care, always with love of Christ. We welcome you to this ministry if you are in 4th grade or higher. We work with your schedule: it's not an "every Sunday" commitment, and you will get training and practice so that you will feel comfortable at the altar. To see the current acolyte schedule click here
If you and your parents would like to learn more please contact Doug Sandburg II at: [email protected]


They are like trees planted by streams of water,
bearing fruit in due season, with leaves that do not wither; everything they do shall prosper. [Psalm 1:3]
 | Calvary Episcopal Church | 716-633-7800| [email protected]  | www.calvaryepiscopal.net
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