Hi Friends,
This Sunday begins our relaxation of Covid restrictions, but our kids will remain in the park through this month. We still have some room renovations to finish and some volunteers to recruit, and we hope that a longer rollout for kids will give them time to acclimate and feel comfortable with the changes. You can help by talking with your kids about our plans so they have an idea of what to expect in April. We are so excited to welcome them back into their rooms and to the sanctuary on a regular basis!
Starting April 3rd, kids who are not in the nursery will join us for worship in the sanctuary every first Sunday of the month. We believe this is an important practice for multiple reasons. Research indicates that children and youth who are part of larger church worship services are more likely to have a lasting faith and participation in a church community. We believe it's important for our younger church members to experience our communal worship practices and to feel part of them on a regular basis. The rest of the church also benefits from worshiping alongside our children and seeing the fullness of our church family. Your kids' presence in our sanctuary is a blessing. If your child has a hard time sitting in service, that's okay! We don't need your kids to be still and silent; we understand that they bring a different kind of energy and focus. If you are struggling with how to make first Sundays work for you and your family, we can help—so let us know! We believe in intergenerational worship and want to support our families as we nurture these moments we have together as a whole church.
On April 10th, our programming for kids will return to our indoor classrooms. Masks will become optional, and we will emphasize compassion and respect for one another knowing that our kids will experience varying levels of comfort in this transition.
April 10th is also Palm Sunday, and our kids will join the adult choir as they process into the sanctuary with palm leaves. It will also mark the start of our regular routine for kids to join the worship service for the first part before being dismissed to their classrooms.
Join Our Team
Our ministry is growing, which is fantastic! In order to love and serve our kids well, we need more caring adults to hang out and teach on Sunday mornings. If you have wondered what it means to be part of our team and want to find out more, please join us on Sunday, March 27th, at 9:00 AM for an informational meeting and training. Email us if you are interested!
KIDS
Our nursery room is open this Sunday for babies and toddlers four years old and under. Childcare will be open starting at 8:50 AM for parents who are attending a Sunday School class.
Our kids five to ten years old can join us in the park for a time of learning and playing together. For any parents who plan to attend our adult Sunday School class, we will make sure we are ready to receive kids at 8:50 AM. Parents can enter from the Union Street gate to sign their kids in. Pastor Mary and our team will be ready for a fun morning together with your kids! This week we will continue to reflect on the season of Lent and engage in practices to help us draw nearer to God. We hope that you feel inspired as a family to move through Lent with intention and open hearts.
Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:
If you were able to do any of the Lenten practices from your kit, how did it go?
When has prayer helped you feel closer to God?
Lenten Kit
You'll notice that there is a lot of optional information in the Lenten kit we sent home last week (we have more if you didn't get one!). There are cards with simple practices to do at home every day and some supplemental explanations about various traditions for this season. Please just use what's helpful and ignore the rest! We hope that your families experience nearness to God and discover new spiritual insights by choosing small practices to do at home together this Lenten season.
YOUTH
This Sunday the youth are invited to attend worship and then gather for their usual time of lunch and fellowship following the service, and this week we'll meet in the park. We'll be following the scripture from worship service as we reflect on the book of Matthew together. We'll wrap up by 1:30 PM for pickup.
Youth, mark your calendars for our next Pasadena Youth Coalition gathering on Sunday, March 20th! We'll eat lunch at church and then carpool over to McDonald Park at 1 PM for a fun time of connecting with youth from local churches. Youth parents, be on the lookout for an email from me this week with more details.
Have a wonderful weekend, and I hope to see you Sunday!
With love and gratitude for you,
Pastor Lindsay