Dear All Saints' Parents and Families,
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People often wonder if they should bring their children to the events taking place during Holy Week. What you should know is that we are following along with the story of Holy Week in Children’s Church and Formation, so they already know what is happening and they hear these stories each year. Every child is different, but I think that there are riches to be gained by attending these services together as a family and then talking about the stories with each other. An experiential approach to the stories is often much more meaningful to children (and adults!) and helps to make sense of the week. So look at your schedule and choose the worship services and events that might work for your family to join us in this walk of faith. I will have a "Passport to Holy Week" (with the 5 destinations listed below) in the lobby of Ellis Hall on Palm Sunday for you to take with you to help make this week an intentional journey together.
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On
Sunday, April 14 at the 9:00 a.m. worship service
in Ellis Hall, we will be singing "Hosanna!" as we wave the palms before we hear the Reading of the Passion. Jesus chose to ride a donkey into town, a symbol of humility and peace, instead of a horse, the symbol of majesty and war. He was a heavenly king, not an earthly one.
We may have rain that morning, so come a little early with your umbrellas to see our live donkey at 8:15 a.m. We will have formation after the service.
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Two: Stations of the Cross for All Ages
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On
Wednesday, April 17 at 6:15 p.m.
, we will meet outside of Ellis Hall to travel through the stories of Holy Week as we travel through our campus to learn about the stations of the cross in a new way with interactive and sensory experiences. Kids often experience the joy of Palm Sunday and jump to the joy of Easter without understanding the meaning of Holy Week. This experience is kid-friendly, while also telling the whole story of Jesus' walk to the cross. Please let me know if you have questions.
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Three: Maundy Thursday: Agape Supper and Footwashing
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On
Thursday, April 18 at 5:30 p.m.
, w
e will host a simple Mediterranean-style Agape Supper. We will provide soup and everyone is encouraged to bring breads, cheeses, or olives to share. After the meal, there will be a chance to take part in the holy ministry of footwashing, which is one of the ways that Jesus showed us how to love one another.
This is a great opportunity to bring your children to a wonderful cross-generational gathering. We have talked about the story, but you could read the story to them from a children’s Bible before the service. It is an amazing sight to see children washing the feet of others, experiencing servanthood. Please RSVP below so that we know how many people to expect for dinner.
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Four: Holy Saturday: In the Garden, A Vigil for the City
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On
Saturday, April 20 at 7:30 p.m.
, we will welcome the Resurrection light as it breaks into the darkness of night during our Saturday evening vigil. Join us in the midst of our city in Piedmont Park as we unite our hearts to the earliest followers of Jesus in an ancient service of story and song, shadows and light, creatively imagined for our time and place. This is another great opportunity for families to experience a holy night of song and prayer together.
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On
Sunday, April 21
, join us for one of our Easter services:
6:00 a.m.
The Great Vigil of Easter and Festal Holy Eucharist Rite II with the All Saints’ Choir ● Church (begins in the courtyard, weather permitting)
8:00 a.m.
Holy Eucharist Rite I ● Chapel
9:00 a.m.
Festal Holy Eucharist Rite II with the Youth Choir ● Ellis Hall
9:00 a.m.
Festal Holy Eucharist Rite II with the All Saints’ Choir ● Church
11:15 a.m.
Festal Holy Eucharist Rite II with the All Saints’ Choir ● Church
5:30 p.m.
Holy Eucharist Rite II ● Chapel
There will be a craft table in front of Ellis Hall for the kids while you wait to go into the church.
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In Children’s Church last week, we learned what nard actually is and got a spray of perfume on our arms, filling the chapel with the smell, much like the expensive perform Mary put on Jesus’ feet filled the house they were in for dinner. To clean his dirty feet and then wipe it with her own hair seemed gross at first to most of us, until we dived deeper into the story. What is the greatest gift you would give someone? How would you show them that you care for them?
We continued the discussion as we took our grudges outside to burn them and watch them turn into ashes and smoke. We talked about how the smoke and ashes remind us to LIGMO (Let It Go, Move On) – you can’t hang on to it any longer. The kids went home with a “big Band-Aid” to remind them to forgive and heal broken relationships. We made the connection with Jesus dying on the cross to heal our broken relationship with God and how we were given the greatest gift of eternal life. The kids wrote down some gifts they could give from their hearts to the world.
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Better the Block & Children's Altar Guild
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On
Saturday, April 13
, drop by anytime between 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 pm., and join parishioners young and old as we get our campus cleaned up for Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and Easter. Bring gloves, garden tools, a water bottle, and sunscreen. We will also have a crew clean up the second floor of the Pritchett Children's Center, including the chapel, the art room, and common spaces. I will have brooms, dustpans, clothes to dust, new altar clothes, hairdryers to get wax off of torches, etc. I will also provide lemonade and snacks, but please bring a bagged lunch if you are staying for the whole time.
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Stone Mountain Hike and Picnic for Connect
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On
Saturday, April 27 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
, join other All Saints' families with 4th and 5th grade children for a hike up Stone Mountain. Pack sunscreen, water, a frisbee, a hacky sack (or other outdoor games) and a picnic lunch to enjoy at top together. We'll meet in the church parking lot at 10:00 a.m. to carpool there; it costs $15 per car to get into the park. Please email me at
kroberts@allsaintsatlanta.org
to let me know you're coming and how many people you're bringing with you.
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On
Sunday, April 28 at 2:00 p.m.
, walk a 5K with a group from our parish to raise awareness and funds for the Atlanta Community Food Bank and other local non-profits that support people in need of food assistance. We walked as a small group last year and had a blast! We would love to have a bigger team this year. Sign up at
hungerwalkrun.org
and select our church as your team.
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Vacation
Bible
School Registration is OPEN! Sign up by April 15
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VBS is
Monday, June 10 through Friday, June 14
this year. We would like to know how many children are coming by April 15 so that we can order enough supplies (they often run out). I also encourage you to invite a neighbor or friend to join your child for the week.
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Help Teach Our Children on Sundays
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We ask you to prayerfully consider teaching our kids for a few Sundays. We are in need of teachers for the formation hour and request that everyone step up to help as part of your ministry to the church. I will be there to assist and will have everything ready for you to teach. Please sign up below:
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Saturday, April 13
- Better the Block & Children's Altar Guild from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 14
- Palm Sunday Worship for All Ages in Ellis Hall at 9:00 a.m. (no Children's Church)
- Come early to get your picture taken with the donkey!
- Children's Formation from 10:20 to 11:05 a.m.
- Spark: Holy Week
- Connect: The Body of Christ
Monday, April 15 through Wednesday, April 17
Wednesday, April 17
- Stations of the Cross for All Ages at 6:15 p.m., meet outside of Ellis Hall
Thursday, April 18
- Maundy Thursday: Agape Supper and Footwashing at 5:30 p.m. in Ellis Hall
Saturday, April 20
- In the Garden: A Vigil for the City at 7:30 p.m. at Clara Meer Dock at Piedmont Park
Sunday, April 21
- Easter Sunday Worship for All Ages in Ellis Hall at 9:00 a.m. (no Children's Church)
- Children will help carry the Alleluia Banner
- There will be Easter-themed crafts in the courtyard while you wait to get into the service
Saturday, April 27
- Stone Mountain Hike and Picnic for Connect from approximately 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 28
- Children's Church at 9:00 a.m., gathering at 8:45 a.m.
- Children's Formation from 10:20 to 11:05 a.m.
- Spark: The Storm
- Connect: Persecution
- Hunger Walk Run with All Saints' families from approximately 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
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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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