Children's Ministries Update | January 24, 2020

January 24, 2020

Dear All Saints' Parents and Families,

“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”

I am overflowing! Just finished the Rooted in Jesus Forma conference that was here all week and I am walking on air! If you were lucky enough to come to one of the classes or one of the services, you may understand what I am talking about. If you weren’t able to come, go to our website and take a look.

There are many different ways to worship and our Episcopal Church is very broad and diverse. All of that diversity was here in Atlanta this week and we honored all ways, all praise, and all the saints! This conference is one of the rare times that I get to put myself into a different world, a different way of praising God, with different music, different voices, and different languages. And it was GOOD.

The sermon today at our closing ceremony was energizing and life-giving. One point in particular hit home with me. Our preacher, Rev. Mark Jefferson, spoke about a plant he had that was starting to wither and die. His friend said, ‘Your plant is pot-bound. Its roots have no way to grow. The size of the pot is hindering its growth.’ He tried to get the plant out and had to hit it hard a few times before it was freed, only to show ravaged, gnarled roots that had wrapped around themselves, slowly strangling itself. When he finally was able to shake all the dirt away and free the roots and plant it outside, the plant revived and began to flourish.

This is a very simplified version of the sermon and does not do it justice, but you get the picture. We can become pot-bound in our faith and our journey with Jesus. We strangle and impede our own growth when we stay in our own little world, inside our churches, away from the world. We cease to grow when tradition becomes more important than relationships and loving one another

I am breaking out of my comfortable pot because there is just so much more outside of it!

See you all on Sunday,

Kathy

Coming Up: Pajama Sunday

On Sunday, March 8 , we will spring forward but stay in our pajamas for Children’s Church and Formation – it might make it easier to get to church on time! Wear your PJ’s, robe, slippers and bring a lovey with you. We will have bagels and cream cheese and jelly before 9:00 a.m. when our service starts with a “bedtime story” from the Bible.

Save the Date(s)

Vacation Bible School 2020!

As you start filling out those camp registrations, please save June 8-12 for Vacation Bible School. More information to come in February.

Parenting with God Series

Also, please save the dates for our winter/ spring Parenting with God Series! Join fellow parents and me to share and learn no matter where you are on the parenting journey.

Our discussion will continue to be guided by the book, Bless This Mess by the Rev. Molly Baskette and Ellen O’Donnell, PhD. You might want to order a copy if you don't already have one.

Dates : Sundays, March 8, April 19, May 10, and May 17

Time : 10:20—11:05 a.m.

Location : Ross Room, 3rd Floor, Parish House

Reminders

PLEASE VOLUNTEER!

It's a new year and we have many volunteer spaces available from January through May. Please take a minute to sign up to help with Little Saints’ and/or Children’s Church! The Little Saints’ service is led by parents (Shawnne will help you!) and Children’s Church is led by me (Kathy) and Karol with parent assistance.

Registration

If you haven't already, please register your children for Children's Formation and Children's Choirs for the 2019-2020 program year.

Last Sunday

2020 Peace Prayer Walk

During Children's Formation last week, we walked around the 2nd Floor and looked out of the windows in each direction as we talked about Martin Luther King and his teachings:

West (toward the Varsity and GA Tech): We talked about love and loving our neighbors as ourselves .

South (toward the Capitol and Courthouse/Jail): We talked about justice and what is just and unjust. We gave different scenarios and talked about whether they were just or not.

East (toward Marta and the dark tunnel): We talked about peace . We talked about people going through tunnels of darkness in their lives and how we can help and pray for them. We did a "button prayer" and prayed for as many people going through tough times (soldiers, homeless on this cold day, sick, etc.) as the number of holes on their buttons.

North (the construction site): We talked about hope , what we can build with our faith, what work we will do, and how setting goals for action brings hope. We wrote prayers of hope for things on bright colored paper and put them in our cross symbolizing taking all our hopes and prayers to God.

They left with a piece of puzzle and a MLK quote card reminding them to be a Piece of the Peace and Be a Peacemaker .