Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,
This week I have been in Oklahoma unexpectedly to visit a failing aunt. My mom and I made it just in time to see her before she died, and I am grateful we had the chance to be with her one last time. I’ve been reminded of how important it is to process and hold our grief in intentional ways. Tomorrow we will honor All Saints Day during our worship service, which will include a special time to remember by name our loved ones who have died this year. It is always a beautiful reminder that our community is one where both our joys and our sorrows can be held and honored with sacred rituals. I have two family members on that list and am grateful that you are the ones who will help me lift their names to God. This practice is always a gift, so thank you in advance. It will also be a fun-filled day for our kids, so read on for the plans we have for them.
Costumes and Treats
Our kids are invited to wear costumes to church tomorrow if they want! We'll have a fun time trick or treating upstairs in our hallway full of doors (all treats of course!). Thanks to our adults and youth who will help Pastor Mary make it a fun and special morning together. I hope this coming week is fun and full of intergenerational generosity to our neighbors in line with this Brief Theology of Halloween that I like to share every year.
No Youth This Week
This week our youth will not meet for our usual time after worship. I have had a busy week traveling and could use some time with my family before another full week begins. I hope that your families can spend time together and perhaps have a more restful Sunday in the midst of the busy fall season. Thank you for understanding—I can't wait to spend time with the youth next week!
Kids Choir
Our Kids Choir is in full effect! Throughout the year we work with Pastor Leslie and Cynthia to create opportunities for our kids and adult choirs to sing together and for our kids to help lead the congregation in worship. We use time at the end of our Sunday mornings to rehearse and sing together, and it's a beautiful time to worship with our kids. Right now we are working on learning to both sing and sign the song "The Blessing." Our kids will be singing this in worship service next Sunday, November 5. Our own Kevin Bishop (who is an expert ASL teacher) is teaching our kids and adult choirs the sign language for the song, too. You can help your child practice at home with this song file and this lyric sheet. Here is the video of the sign language that goes along with the song. Please note that next Sunday, November 5, we will ask our kids to arrive at 9:30 AM to rehearse (and we'll have pastries for our parents!). It's going to be a beautiful time of worshiping in song and movement!
SUNDAY
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 those who are attending Sunday School before service. This week our nursery kids will explore the story of Noah and the animals on the ark.
Our kids five to ten years old will join us in the sanctuary for the start of worship and then be dismissed to head to their classrooms together. They can begin service with their families or sit with me in the front pews. If they are coming early with parents who are in a Sunday School class, they can be dropped off upstairs at 8:50 AM. This week the kids will get to join in fun together receiving treats of all kinds!
Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:
What is a way we can love our neighbors in small but practical ways?
How can our family be open and generous to our neighbors all year long?
YOUTH
We hope you enjoy some time with family this week as we take a Sunday off from our regular youth gathering. Next week our youth will be back on for our regular time of lunch and discussion.
Have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for being such a special community of families!
With deep affection for you,
Pastor Lindsay