Hello Families!

Just a quick message to say I am so thankful for each and every one of you!

-I am thankful for your commitment to getting your kids and family to church and formation amidst a host of other demands from the world. It is not easy to be in this world and Not-of-This- World.

-I am thankful for your partnership in this spiritual journey we are on to model for, wonder with, learn from, coach, and cheer on these beautiful children given to us as blessings from God.

-I am thankful for your friendship and fellowship, sharing our laughter and tears each time we gather to play and pray!

Praying for safe travels and happy family reunions for you all!

I'm including a few links for Advent Calendars and Devotionals for you to choose from:

The Season of Waiting (and waiting and waiting) by Kate Bowler

Praying in Color Advent Countdown

Advent: Piece by Piece Lego Calendar - build a lego figure to match each

day's prayer.

AdventWord - a word to meditate on each day

Covenant Community Thanksgiving Dinner

and Blessing Bag Giveaway

We will give away the 300 Blessing Bags we filled during our Saints and Service activity on Tuesday, Nov. 22. Come warmly dressed and meet me in front of Tate Hall by Threads to hand out bags beginning at 5:00. If you can be here at 4:15 or so to help set up, that would be great. Bring a water bottle and wear gloves and hats. It may be quite chilly!

Volunteers Needed for Children's Church

I am in need of 3 folks to sign up to help with Children's Church for the rest of this year. If your child comes to Children's Church and you haven't had a chance to stay and worship with us yet, take a minute to sign up for one of the next few weeks. It is easy peasy and you will have a blast.

Children's Church Greeter

Parents of 4th and 5th Graders

The Christmas Pageant is just around the corner and your kids get to tell the story by reading and acting out the parts. I need to know ASAP if you will be here Sunday, Dec. 18 for the pageant. It is a rite of passage to get to be one of the characters or read the story, and we will run through the parts on Sunday Dec. 11 for 30 minutes during the Formation hour or right after. Please email me by this Friday if you will be here at Kathy

Peace,

Kathy

This Sunday, November 27th

Nursery : 8:30am-12:30pm; 1st floor of Pritchett Children's Center.

Children's: Children's Church; 2nd floor of Pritchett Children's Center.

Church 8:45 Gathering Time, 9:00 Service

Children's : Formation will take a break for Advent Adventure

Formation       in Ellis Hall between services.

Advent is the season of anticipation of the coming of Christ. We will have activities for all ages, including a display of Nativity scenes from around the parish and the world, a host of activities for kids that will help families understand and celebrate Advent at home, and the annual Flower Guild Advent wreath-making with kits and greenery available for purchase. 

There are several ways to help out with this year’s event:

Share a Nativity Set. You can bring it to the church office or bring it on Sunday, Nov. 20th and leave it at the Nativity Table in the courtyard. Label it with your name, phone number, and email. Write a short story about the set on a 3 x 5 card – where it came from, its significance to you, etc. Email Kathy at Kathy Roberts if you have a Nativity to share - we need lots!

Bring evergreen branches to decorate your wreath and some branches to share from your yard. Look for a sign up link for the wreaths in next week's newsletter. The kits are $20.

Volunteer that day. Email Kathy at Kathy Roberts if you would be willing to help with the wreath-making, at a craft table, or set-up and/or clean up.

St. Nicholas Celebration and Dinner

Wednesday, Dec. 7th,

5:00 & 6:45 Dinner Seatings;

6:05 St. Nicholas Story and Celebration in Church

All his life, Nicholas of Myra showed people how to love God and care for each other. Join us at this favorite All Saints’ Christmas tradition as we celebrate St. Nicholas with singing, ringing, storytelling, and dinner.   Rumor has it that the old Saint might even pay us a visit! 

Two dinner seatings will be offered for our catered holiday feast, 5:00 and 6:45. Between seatings, join us to hear a magical telling of the story of St. Nicholas of Myra in the Church, followed by the Junior Choir and bell ringers leading us in carols. Children’s Ministries will also be conducting a Soles for Souls shoe drive, for new and gently used shoes as part of this evening. So clean out your closet and drop off your shoe donations in Ellis Hall during dinner or in the Nave before the celebration. 

Please register ASAP as there will be a cutoff date for the caterer.

Register for St. Nicholas Dinner

Nov. 27 Advent Adventure and Wreath Making

Ellis Hall, 10:20-11:05

Dec. 7 St. Nicholas Celebration and Dinner

Church 6:05; Dinner 5:00 and 6:45 seatings

Dec. 11 Fun at Church for Kids while Parents Shop/Date/Nap!

The Attic, 2-5

Dec. 18 Christmas Pageant

8:15-8:45 2nd fl Pritchett for costumes

9:00 service in the church

10:20 Cookie Reception in the Library (return costumes)

Dec. 21 MARTA Caroling and Hot Chocolate Bar

5:00-7:00 at MARTA and dessert in Ellis Hall

Dec. 24 Christmas Eve Services: (HE=Holy Eucharist)

1:00 Lessons & Carols No Nursery

3:00 HE/Children's Choirs Nursery

5:00 HE/Youth/Alumni Choirs Nursery

7:00 HE Nursery

10:00 HE No Nursery

(nursery opens at 2:30)

Dec. 25 Christmas Day

10:00 HE No Nursery



                  K-1st                     2nd-3rd                          Club 45

11/6   Taste of All Saints - no formation; cookies for Threads in courtyard

11/13 Formation in Action: filling up Blessing Bags

11/20 Joseph and His Brothers Baptism of Jesus

11/27 Joseph in Egypt 12 Disciples

12/11 Anunciation/Mary Visits Elizabeth  Parables