Spiritual Beginnings
November 17th
10:15 - 11:00
Cooper Chapel

When should a person be baptized? What happens in baptism? How should godparents or sponsors be chosen, and what exactly are they being asked to do? These questions and more are explored in this quarterly class, open to anyone who would like to learn more about baptism. Registration at christepiscopalchurch.org is encouraged but not required.
St. Nicholas Day Service and Toy Drive
Dec. 4th, 5:30 pm worship
Main Church

The true story of Santa Claus begins with St. Nicholas, the 3rd century Bishop of Myra and patron saint of children. Everyone is invited to this special service of Holy Eucharist.  

We'll begin our Advent season by focusing more on giving than receiving.   All are invited to bring donations of new and like-new toys, which will be collected in the church narthex and distributed to local agencies including St. Mary's, Operation New Hope, and YoungLives. 

Kids, leave your shoes outside the church doors for a surprise!  

Join us after the service for a festive holiday dinner. 

(Parents, this will be the start of a new tradition focusing on the generous and loving example of St. Nicholas. We promise there won't be any Santa Claus spoilers. Santa Claus will not be present for photos.) 

Night of the Holy Family
Dec. 18th, 5:30 pm worship 
Main Church

All are invited to come together for a special bilingual worship service celebrating the Holy Family, followed by a festive multicultural dinner in the Westbury Hall Dining Room.  Dinner will include a display of crèches (nativity sets) from around the world and a Godly Play story told in both English and Spanish.  This will be a family friendly evening for everyone.  Join your whole church family as we prepare our hearts for the joy and wonder of Christmas.  

Do you have a tabletop crèche from another country?  If so, please email Catherine Montgomery to participate in the display.  
Sunday School
Christian formation for Children Age 3 - 5th grade
Sundays, 10:15 - 11:00
Blacker Hall, Second Floor

Children are welcome to join us at any time during the year, as they are able.  Parents usually attend the Village Small Group for Parents or the Clergy Forum during the Sunday School "hour." 

Newcomers and visitors are always welcome. 
 


Primary Godly Play A
Age 3 (before 8/18/2019 fully potty trained) through Pre-K 4
Blacker Hall - Room 216

Primary Godly Play B
Pre-K 5 and Kindergarten
Blacker Hall - Room 215

November 3: The Prophets
Together we wondered about the prophets, who come so close to God, and God comes so close them, that they know what God wants them to say or do.  Who are today's prophets?  

November 10: Jonah, The Backward Prophet
We'll wonder together about Jonah, who did everything wrong.  Yet, somehow everything turned out okay, except perhaps his relationship with God.  What may have happened to Jonah next?

November 17: The Greatest Parable, Part 1
Our primary classes will hear the first part of this story that presents Jesus' public ministry as a window through which God can be glimpsed passing by. Like a parable, Jesus' life both hides and reveals the divinity and humanity of Jesus.

November 24: Advent I
Our primary classes will begin a special telling of the Christmas story in four parts, beginning with the prophets who pointed the way to Bethlehem.


Intermediate Godly Play C
1st Grade
Blacker Hall - Room 205

Intermediate Godly Play D
2nd Grade
Blacker Hall - Room 206
  
November 3: The Ark and the Temple
The story of the temple in Jerusalem, built by Solomon, where the ark would be kept. God was in that place, but there is no place that can contain God. 

November 10: The Exile and the Return
Wondering together about the discovery of God's people that God was not just in the temple in Jerusalem, but everywhere - even in a foreign and strange land.   

November 17: The Prophets

November 24: The Story of Isaiah
The story of Isaiah presents prophecies of destruction, of hope, and of a new creation.  The children will wonder together about Isaiah's vision that a child would be born to show the way, a child called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."


Weaving God's Promises
BH 211: Weaving God's Promises - 3rd Grade
BH 213: Weaving God's Promises - 4th Grade
BH 212: Weaving God's Promises - 5th Grade


This Episcopal curriculum is organized in a three year cycle - Weaving Our Faith, Weaving Together the Family of God, and Weaving God's Beloved Community. Drawing from the best of both Godly Play and Youth Ministry, these in-between years will be rich with learning, holy conversation, prayer, community, fun, and of course, love.

This year is Weaving Together the Family of God, for children in all three upper elementary grades. As we experience stories from the Old and New Testaments, we'll explore how we became God's people and part of the household of God, the Communion of Saints. We'll discuss matters of identity, as we hear stories of how people have been transformed by their encounters with Jesus, and we'll learn about the saints of the church.

November 3: Jeremiah
The kids explored stories of of Jeremiah, who was called to be a prophet around the age of 15. Jeremiah shows us that following
God and speaking God's word can be very difficult. But he gave people a new understanding of the possibility of a personal
relationship with God.

November 10: Amos and Micah
We'll explore these two prophets' passionate outcries against Israel on behalf of God and the poor and oppressed. Their messages corresponds to our baptismal covenant - "Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself? Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being? I will, with God's help."

November 17: Daniel
The main theme in the book of Daniel is that God's steadfast love does not change and is reliable even in painful and challenging times. Daniel also tells us that because God is so faithful to us, we should remain faithful to God, even in the face of temptations
and hardship.

November 24: Jonah
The book of Jonah is often laughed at, for it is one of the funniest stories in the Bible, but it is also one of the most important books of the Old Testament. It contains a very important message: that there is no greater mystery than the mercy of God, and that mercy is offered to all.


Village Small Group for Parents
Sundays, 10:15 - 11:00
Parish Center Rooms 112-113

The Village Small Group for Parents provides a self-led space for fellowship, support and spiritual growth. The group, coordinated by church members Melissa and Thomas Johnson, chooses their own content (book studies, parenting topics, conversation starters, or just a place to connect and talk freely).   Parents come alone or with partners/spouses, and newcomers are always welcome!  

For more information or to be added to the Village email list, please contact Melissa Johnson.  

Family Volunteer Opportunity
Wednesday Night Church Suppers, 6:00 pm
Parish Center Dining Room

Families at Christ Church ask us all the time how they can serve others together, hoping to give back and instill a spirit of generosity in their children. Serving dinner on Wednesday evenings in our parish hall is a great way to do just that, and Chef Vanessa makes it easy! If your child is tall enough to see over the chafing dish, that's old enough to help! 


Wednesday night suppers provide a great break in the week, and a chance to connect with friends. Chef Vanessa and a volunteer crew prepare and serve dinner most Wednesdays. There's always a kid-friendly option and you can't beat the price -- $5 per child, $7 per adult, $25 family maximum. All ages are welcome, and the nursery is also open if little ones need extra care or entertainment (four months - kindergarten).


November Menu

November 6th
Chicken with pierogies
Chicken tenders for kids

November 13th
Beef stroganoff
Cheeseburgers for kids
 
November 20th
Taco bar
 
November 27th
Dinner will not be served (Thanksgiving break)

Children's Choirs
Wednesday Rehearsals
Room 5 (next to the Cooper Chapel)

Make a joyful noise!  New singers are always welcome!   

Voices of Praise (Age 3- kindergarten)
1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. and/or 4:15 - 4:45 p.m.

Children's Choir (Grades 1-3) 
5:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Youth Choir (Grades 4-8) 
6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

For more information contact Stephanie Bennie.

Godparent Sunday
January 12
9:00 a.m. traditional and Jordan worship services

Save the date!  Everyone, please invite your godchildren and your godparents to worship on January 12th, followed by a special breakfast in Westbury Hall!  All are welcome to this celebration of the special relationship between godparent and godchild. Formation classes will not meet meet this day so that everyone can participate. 

Thank you to all who joined us for our Family Ministry speaker event with author Kate Ott.  Discounted copies of Sex + Faith are still available.  Click here to purchase the book, and it will be placed in the church office for for pick up.  

Talking with your child about sex can be scary!  But it doesn't need to be.  Sex + Faith helps parents incorporate their faith values with practical information so they can answer questions, and discuss sex positively at each stage of childhood.   
For more information about family life at Christ Church contact:

Catherine Montgomery
Director of Children's Christian Formation and Family Ministries
(904) 285-7390 ext. 227 - office
(904) 878-3357 - cell
STAY CONNECTED - "Like" the CEC Children's Formation Facebook Page
 I want their hearts to be encouraged and united in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding  and have the knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ himself,  in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
 
Colossians 2:2-3 (NRSV)