Parent Link: Empowering Parents to Build Christian Families
July 17, 2019
Prayer for the Care of Children

Almighty God, heavenly Father, you have blessed us with the joy and care of children: Give us calm strength and patient wisdom as we bring them up, that we may teach them to love whatever is just and true and good, following the example of our Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen ( BCP #46, p. 829)
Information, updates and links to keep Parent Link subscribers and CSMSG parishioners current
on Parent Link events and resources(articles, book reviews, podcasts, websites, etc)
I f research showed you there were five things you could do to turn a marriage around or to keep a marriage strong, and that they were easy and free, what would you do? Shaunti Feldhahn spent years interviewing couples to find the ones who had the happiest marriages. Her purpose was to ask them their secrets, and pass them along to others. The research in her recent book,  The Surprising Secrets of Highly Happy Marriages , is thorough and her findings are a game-changer. She took the five most common actions of the happiest couples and compiled them in a list she calls the “Fantastic Five” (for him and for her). Read this article HERE.
Make Date-Night Matter This Summer!
" Created for Connection" led by Nick Symon, MA, LPC of Three Cord Counseling began last night. Nick is an EFT trained counselor who leads couples in learning how we might create deeper, loving connections with our spouses. This workshop will allow couples to work collaboratively with trained counselors to deepen the emotional bond of your marriage. If you are interested in joining in, please sign up online.

Future classes will be held on Wednesday July 24, 31 and Aug 7 from 6:30 - 8:00 pm. Dinner is served at 6:00 pm, please let Marty know if you want to join for dinner. Cost is $30 for book and materials. Spaces are limited. Sign-up HERE , or e-mail marty@csmsg.org. 
Timothy's Going Away...

Please join us on Sunday, July 28 after the 10:00 am service
for BBQ as we bid Timothy farewell and GOOD LUCK!
Please RSVP HERE for a headcount for lunch.
CSMSG GRANDPARENTS OF PARENT LINK

The Grandparents of Parent Link met on Sunday, June 16, to say our prayers and share our stories. We also shared a story told by Bishop Claude E. Payne about one of his personal “spiritual treasures”, the deep and lasting spiritual impact on him of taking part, as a teenager, in his church’s tradition of delivering the Easter altar flowers to elderly shut-ins. Bishop Payne’s story called to mind this story told by Pat and Larry Sewell:

This past Easter, our daughter, Stephanie, her husband, and their three sons traveled from their home in New York City to join us in Fort Scott, Kansas (Larry’s hometown) to spend Easter with Larry’s 96-year-old mother, the Great Grandmother of our grandchildren. We all—four generations of our family—attended Easter Services together at Great Grannie’s church. After church services, we picked up several Easter lilies from the altar (that we had purchased) and delivered them to Great Grannie’s nursing home and the Fort Scott National Cemetery, where our grandchildren placed them on the graves of Pat’s parents (see photo above) and Larry’s father and grandparents. 

The Prayer for Grandparents that we read at every meeting says in part: “Lord Jesus, help families and society to value the presence and role of grandparents. May they never be ignored or excluded, but always encounter respect and love. Help them to live serenely and to feel welcomed in all the years of life which you give them. Amen” (Adapted from the Universal Prayer for Grandparents, written especially for the Catholic Grandparents Association by Pope Benedict XVI in 2008).

The Grandparents of Parent Link are on holiday in July, and will next meet on Sunday, August 18, from 11:15 to Noon in the Wydown Meeting Room. All are welcome, including non-grandparents who serve like grandparents in nurturing the spiritual lives of children. For more information about his group, please contact Bruce Springer, Barb Smith, Tim Smith, or Pam Koprowski.

Focus Group Participants Needed

Faithfully Forward, CSMSG's strategic planning committee, is interested in your views about our church. Please join us for one of our upcoming focus group meetings:

  • July 7 after the 10 am service
  • July 28 after the 8 am service
  • August 11 after the 10 am service
  • August 25 after the 8 am service
  • September 4 at 6 pm
  • September 18 at 6 pm

All meetings will be held in the Sverdrup Room.  RSVP HERE
Parent Link Steering Committee
If you have any ideas for events or speakers for Parent Link, please contact one of the folks listed below, or Marty Chapman. We welcome your input!
0 - 5 Years Old: Will and Lucky Springer
Elementary Age: Caroline Springer
Middle School: Terese Portell; Kim Whittle
High School: Marya Strand; Kim Whittle
College and Beyond: Jerilynn Palmer; Janet Peterson
Grandparent Link: Pam Koprowski; Barb & Tim Smith; Bruce Springer
How do I keep up with the latest going on with the CSMSG Parent Link? Follow us on  CSMSG Parent Link Facebook page and Instagram . This CSMSG Parent Link Update is published monthly. The Parent Link webpage is updated frequently with service opportunities and new resources.
Volunteer Opportunities:

INTERGENERATIONAL SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES AT CSMSG
- Volunteers Needed Cooking Breakfast
Volunteers are needed to cook breakfast at Gateway 180 Shelter. It's a great way for the whole family to serve our community! Click HERE Shelter Sign Up Genius to sign up to volunteer on a Sunday morning.
-Hunger Ministry Saturday Sandwich Making   - 3rd Saturday of every month; Join volunteers of all ages to make sandwiches to donate to Gateway 180 Homeless Shelter. Contact Allison Wiedle to volunteer, or just show up!
-Youth Ministry - There are many ways to serve by volunteering with the YM. Contact Marty Chapman at Marty Chapman if you are interested to discuss options.