Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,
This Sunday we will begin a new series on prayer in worship service, and we'll be exploring different types of prayer with our kids the rest of the month, too. We are excited to learn different ways to pray each week and hope that our kids will feel more freedom to connect with God in ways that feel natural and accessible to them. Cynthia will also be teaching our kids a song for the Lord's Prayer, which will be a wonderful way for our kids to know those words by heart. We hope that families will spend time talking about prayer at home and all the ways we were created to communicate with God, both in speaking to God and in listening to God's voice in our lives.
Parents of Nursery Kids
We are excited to share that this Sunday we will begin a new format in the nursery rooms to allow our infants, young toddlers, and preschoolers to have their time structured around each group's unique developmental needs. Parents, keep an eye out for a more detailed email today with information about what you can expect and how this will impact drop off and pick up. Yay for all the amazing growth for our little ones!
Peaceful Parenting Discussion
Our own Iris Chen will be hosting a parent discussion at Crowell Public Library in San Marino on Tuesday, September 19th at 6pm. She'll be talking about recognizing the stress, pressure, and negative outcomes of traditional definitions of success and cultivating a new mindset towards success that is rooted in connection, competence, choice, and consent. We are so thankful for her work in parenting and the wisdom she has to share! You can check out more information here.
Parent Webinar on Child Anxiety
On Wednesday, September 20th, at 12pm our own Allyson Self-Stoico will be part of a free webinar for parents around the topic of child and teen anxiety. As a leading pediatrician, she will offer some tips for helping your child navigate worry and understanding the kinds of support that could help with anxiety. The event is being hosted by the Institute for Girls Development, where our own Grace Goodman works. You can find out more and register for this free event here.
We are so thankful for the wisdom and expertise in our community!
SUNDAY
KIDS
Our nursery room is open this Sunday for babies and toddlers four years old and under. Childcare will be open starting at 10:20 AM so parents can head to the sanctuary for worship.
Our kids five to ten years old will join us in the sanctuary for worship and communion since this is the first Sunday of the month. Make sure your child picks up a fun survey to fill out during worship—Pastor Mary will have that ready in the lobby, and it's always a favorite activity for our kids (and youth!). Pastor John Jay will be preaching on the Lord's Prayer, and one of our kids is reading the scripture. It will be a beautiful morning together with communion, too!
Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:
What is prayer?
What does the Lord's Prayer show us about our relationship with God?
What questions do you have about prayer?
YOUTH
This week our youth are invited to join our regular gathering after worship. We will also be exploring prayer practices this month together. We love our youth and are so thankful for their presence in our church family!
Have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for being such a special community of families!
With deep affection for you,
Pastor Lindsay