Children & Youth Ministries Newsletter |
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Reflection of the Month
Last summer there was much uncertainty about how we would “do” Sunday School in the midst of a pandemic. Families with young children faced many challenges and stress. For some families, online Sunday School would have been an additional burden, so acting in their child’s best interests, they opted to take a break from Sunday School. We also considered not offering any Sunday School at all this year. But other families were committed to keeping some form of children’s worship and faith formation, so we developed a monthly Zoom Sunday School format. We missed the vibrancy, intimacy, and spontaneity of being together with all of you, and we hope that many families and children will return to Calvary next year. But for this reflection, let’s celebrate positive highlights by counting all of CYM’s blessings of this year.
First, I would like to acknowledge all those who helped put together our Sunday School program this year. Many thanks to the following people:
- Fr. Robert who preached a Children’s Sermon on the last Sunday of the month, so that we could replay his sermon during our Zoom meeting, and who implemented intergenerational components to the Mardi Gras celebration and Good Friday service;
- Deacon Mona, who has taken over the sermons since the 10 a.m. service now conflicts with our meeting time;
- Lora Bunting, who played the piano at home and led us in singing the hymns which often form children’s strongest memories of Sunday School;
- Patty Rooss, Sue Schroeder, Deacon Mona, and Natalie Bottomley, who helped me plan and present our sessions and Christmas Skit;
- Alice Brown, who has been so helpful with technology, content, and organization;
- Cinda Stone, who put together craft and goody bags for Advent, Lent, and Easter, and Jen Howell, who did the same for Mardi Gras;
- Doug Sandburg, who created the Family Advent/Christmas Adventure;
- Sunday School parents, who made time to get their children to our meetings (sometimes even when they were sick), helped with their homework, and provided much feedback and support for our program;
- and Sunday School students, whose participation, observations, artwork, role-playing, and expressive faces have made our meetings fun and memorable.
Second, I am grateful for the technology that made our program possible this year. It’s unfortunate that not everyone could join us, and yes, there have been glitches during Zoom as we muddled through with inadequate bandwidth or forgot to unmute ourselves. But there were benefits to our online platform. For example, Zoom allowed Esmée and Michael’s grandparents from Great Britain to watch their live performance at our Christmas Skit. Online Sunday School also gave us access to wonderful videos of bible stories (such as the Lego Easter story), so that gospel readings became accessible and interesting to children of all ages. Screensharing allowed us close-up views of children’s imaginative drawings and photos of baby Scarlett, Halloween costumes, Christmas decorations, and Shrove Tuesday pancakes decorated as Mardi Gras masks.
Third, I am grateful to God for being present in our midst. We opened each meeting with the mantra, “Be still and know that God is here,” and I left our meetings feeling revitalized by the faith and fellowship that we shared. Thank you, Lord, for staying with us during these trying times and for manifesting your Holy Spirit through the sermons, the music, the prayers, and our interactions with one another. We have one more Zoom Sunday School meeting on May 23, Pentecost Sunday. Everyone is welcome to join us!
Peace and blessings,
Emily Sityar
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In This Issue
Upcoming Events in May
April Zoom Sunday School
Planning for Fall 2021 Sunday School
Planners and Organizers Needed for Welcome Back Brunch
For Mother's Day
Celebrating Pentecost at Home
Applications for Scholarships
A Prayer for Memorial Day
CYM Bottle & Can Drive
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Upcoming Events in May
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5/3, 7 p.m. - CYM General Meeting by Zoom.
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5/5, 3 p.m. - Fellowship Committee Meeting by Zoom to plan 9/12 Welcome Back Brunch.
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5/9 - Mother’s Day; Calvary in-person services resume at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Read Calvary's plan here.
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5/23 - Pentecost Sunday; 10 a.m. Zoom Sunday School. In-person Nursery Care for the 10 a.m. service resumes; pre-registration will be required.
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April Zoom Sunday School
Thanks to everyone who participated in our Good Shepherd Sunday Zoom Sunday School on April 25, especially our candle lighters, prayer leaders, readers, musicians/singers, illustrators, and commenters. Here’s a link to the meeting’s slideshow. We watched Organic Farm Fun’s video, Good Shepherd’s Children’s Story, and Deacon Mona preached Children’s Sermon about how Jesus is the Good Shepherd who cares for every one of us. Students shared their stories and drawings of how they are cared for and how they can show they care. In honor of Earth Day (4/22), students also came up with several excellent suggestions for how we can take care of our planet.
Our last Zoom Sunday School will be on May 23, Pentecost Sunday at 10 am. The optional homework for that Sunday is as follows:
Pentecost is the birth of the church. Since the pandemic began, we have not been able to go to church as freely as before, but we can still live out our faith. Using words and/or pictures, show how we can worship God and practice our faith in our daily life.
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Planning for Fall 2021 Sunday School
Come join us for our next CYM General meeting on May 3rd at 7 p.m. on Zoom. We will discuss some end-of-year activities and plan for Sunday School next fall.
Are you interested in volunteering in Sunday School next fall? Please consider teaching the Intermediate Class (Grades 4 to 6), leading Children’s Chapel, or serving as an occasional substitute for teachers, assistants, and/or Children’s Chapel leaders. If someone would prefer to teach the Beginner Class (PreK to K), Natalie Bottomley has said she is willing to switch to teaching the Intermediate class. Many thanks to all the volunteers who have recommitted to serving in Sunday School.
Here’s an overview for CYM and the Sunday School team:
CYM Chair: Doug Sandburg I
Co-chair of CYM: (position open)
Nursery: Kelly Blackey
Children’s Chapel Music Leaders: Carol Mayo, Lora Bunting
Children’s Chapel Leader: Fr. Robert Harvey, Deacon Mona Gaddis
Beginner’s Class: Natalie Bottomley, Andria McCarthy
Primary Class: Cinda Stone, Wes Stone, Jency John
Intermediate Class: (2 positions open)
Substitutes: Sue Schroeder, Patty Rooss, (others needed)
All Sunday School volunteers will need to take online Safe Church training and be vaccinated fully for Covid-19. Please contact Fr. Robert or Doug Sandburg if you would like to join the Sunday School team.
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Planners & Organizers Needed
for Welcome Back Brunch, September 12
The Fellowship Committee is planning a parish-wide Welcome Back brunch for Sunday, September 12. If you wish to help organize children-centered activities for the event, please come to the Fellowship meeting on May 5 at 3 p.m. In the fall of 2019, Calvary CYM rented some mini golf stations for the Welcome Back Celebration and provided popsicles for snacks that kids and grown-ups enjoyed. New ideas welcome!
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For Mother’s Day
The following two prayers are taken from the Mothers Prayers booklet. Calvary’s Mothers Prayers group meets monthly, uniting mothers to pray with one another and place the names of their children into a basket at the foot of the cross offering them into Jesus’ care. The next Mothers Prayers meeting will be on May 24 at 7 pm. Contact Tina Reynolds tina.reynolds@gmail.com to join the group.
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Prayer of Thanksgiving for Motherhood
Thank you dear Lord
for the gift of motherhood.
This is such a blessed and a dignified vocation.
Lord, we often forget
Just how much you trust us,
by giving one of your precious children
into our care.
Please help us always to appreciate
the importance of being a mother. Amen
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A Prayer for Mothers
Lord, give me your eyes
to see you in my children,
your heart to love them
and your gentleness to help them grow.
Give me your wisdom to guide them,
and your strength when I need to let them go. Amen
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Celebrating Pentecost at Home
Pentecost is May 23 this year. Here is blog post from growchristians.org with suggestions for how to celebrate Pentecost at home. It includes links for a free coloring sheet, a brief prayer service, a Pentecost playlist on Spotify, and crafts such as flame painting with forks, a Pentecost windsock, and Pentecost doves.
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Applications for Post-Secondary Scholarships
Calvary’s Scholarship Committee will be entertaining scholarship applications in May again, deadline is May 31. If you know someone who would be interested, tell them to keep an eye out for parish announcements. Everything will be done by email, Zoom, and telephone. For more information, contact Mary Bashore by phone 691-6714 or email (mrybash@gmail.com).
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A Prayer for Memorial Day
O Judge of the nations, we remember before you with grateful hearts the men and women of our country who in the day of decision ventured much for the liberties we now enjoy. Grant that we may not rest until all the people of this land share the benefits of true freedom and gladly accept its disciplines. This we ask in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
-Book of Common Prayer, p. 839
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CYM Bottle & Can Drive
Please continue to bring your redeemable beverage bottles and cans to The Millersport Recycling Bottle & Can Redemption Center at 803 Millersport Highway and credit your refund to "Calvary Episcopal Church." Calvary’s account has collected almost $80 since December. We plan to donate our next check to the Buffalo City Mission.
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O God, in the course of this busy life, give us times of refreshment and peace; and grant that we may so use our leisure to rebuild our bodies and renew our minds, that our spirits may be opened to the goodness of your creation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
-Book of Common Prayer, p. 825
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20 Milton Street, Williamsville, NY 14221
716-633-7800
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