Hi Friends,
Happy Friday! Thanks to those who were able to stay after worship last week and help the youth fill some bags with winter-friendly supplies. It was a beautiful picture of church to see all ages working together to serve our neighbors. This Sunday our high schoolers will distribute the bags with a ministry that provides lunch for folks in Memorial Park across the street. (Thanks to Pastor Gretchen for connecting us with them!) We appreciate your continued prayers and advocacy for our friends who need housing. Pray that the bags will meet practical needs and provide encouragement for the heart.
We have a lot going on as we head into Advent and Christmas, so make sure you don't miss out on any of the information below! And get SUPER excited for some beautiful Advent materials to take home—I can't wait to show you what we have been working on (and by "we" I mean lots of wonderful helping hands)!
Nursery - Elementary
This Sunday our nursery kids will learn about when Solomon builds the temple. The elementary kids will be learning about Moses and the burning bush. Both stories speak to the importance of responding to God's call and instructions. We can't wait for kids to think about the beauty of our own church building and the special ways that God calls us to help with kingdom work!
Family Discussion Starters:
Where do you go to feel close to God?
What gifts has God given you, and how might you be called to use those in the world for good?
How do you act when you are asked to do something you don't want to do? What can the story of Moses teach us about those moments?
Prayer: God, help us to respond to your call and do the good work you created us to do!
Children's Choir — Mark Your Calendars!
The kids are continuing to prepare to sing in December! They will perform at our 77th annual evening Carol Service on December 15th, and we will have a dress rehearsal on Saturday, December 14th. More details to come, but mark your calendars for this special event! You can encourage your child to practice using this lyric sheet and this video.
Youth
Winter Manna Bags Distribution
This Sunday the high school youth will distribute the bags to folks at Memorial Park. They will leave worship a little early and lunch will be included as usual. All middle school youth will be with Grant and Grace (Yay!) for regular youth programming. They will also get to pray for the high schoolers, the bags, and those who are receiving them.
Youth Christmas Party!
Our annual Youth Christmas Party is on Friday, December 6th! More details to come, but make sure you mark your calendars for that evening. We will start at 6PM and dinner is included along with Christmas festivities. Yay!
Youth Winter Retreat
This winter we are joining up with two other church youth groups for a fun and meaningful weekend retreat! All middle and high schoolers are invited to attend our winter retreat January 18th-20th at Camp Sky Meadows near Big Bear Lake. Stay tuned for more details, and get excited for a super fun time up in the mountains!
News You Can Use
Talking to Kids about Thanksgiving
The practice of giving thanks is critical to our health and ability to experience joy, and this time of year is a reminder of that. It's also a time when we celebrate a holiday that is rooted i a complicated history. If you are looking for resources on how to talk to your kids about the complexity of Thanksgiving, this article has some good insights and links to a ton of resources.
Please RSVP for Parents Night Out!
Parents, this is for you! Mark your calendars for November 22nd from 5:30-9:00 PM. Mary and I are planning a night of fun for all kids, including the youth. The added bonus? Parents can have an evening to themselves! We will provide programming, food, and fun for kids so that you can have a few hours to use as you wish (dinner out? a nap? a movie? Christmas shopping?). Kids can come for the full time or any fraction of it. It's a win-win for kids and adults (and for Mary and me)! Please RSVP with this link so we can plan for food and fun. Woot!
So thankful for you,
Pastor Lindsay