Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,
This Sunday is our annual Deacon-led worship service, which is a beautiful gift on many levels. Our staff will get the chance to have a different Sunday rhythm (Gavin and I are hoping to get our kids to snow or the beach!) as we prepare for a staff retreat on Monday and Tuesday. It is a unique gift to spend this Sunday with my family even though we certainly love our usual Sunday routine. It is also a gift for our congregation to receive the worship leadership of our Deacons, and I am so thankful that y'all will experience a liturgy with their giftings. I cannot wait to listen to the service online and create a space for worship next week on my own time. Pastor Mary will take March 17th as a day she can also experience a different sabbath rhythm instead of teaching the children's class. Thank you for these special Sundays to receive from God in a different way. I cannot wait to see you the following week!
Palm Sunday | Kids and Youth Singing
We are so excited for our kids to lead us in worship on Sunday, March 24, for our Palm Sunday service! They will begin practicing on Sundays during our kids class each week, and Pastor Mary and I can verify that your kids are great singing worshippers. Because they will be joining Pastor Leslie and the adult choir in processing with palm branches at the start of the service, we need them here at 9:30 AM that Sunday to practice and get set for the morning. We'll have some pastries and coffee for parents at that time so you can hang out together. It's going to be such a fun morning! To help your kids practice at home (and to have a family dance party), here are links to the song and lyric sheet. You could invite them to teach you the words, too!
Easter Plans
Though I'm trying to engage with all that Lent has to offer through various practices and postures, we are also excited to look ahead to Easter with our church family. This year we will host our Easter brunch in the church park, and we will have a staggered egg hunt for kids in the park as well. Parents, please note that the brunch begins at 10:00 AM. Our first egg hunt will happen at 10:30AM for kids 6 years old and younger. At 10:45 AM we will have an egg hunt for kids ages 7-10 years old/5th grade. Bring an Easter basket from home if you have one, and we will have some available for anyone who wants one. Yay!
Save the Date: Kids Camp!
We are already making plans for camp this summer, so parents please mark your calendars for June 24-28. We are excited to reveal our new camp theme (shhh…not yet, though!) and to help our kids encounter God's love together with people from our church family. We have learned in years past that parents plan early for summer camps and trips, so we hope it's helpful to get the dates to you now. We can't wait for summer fun together!
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 continue to explore the story of Jonah. Don't forget to grab a take-home sheet with some simple ways to engage the story at home.
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 Pastor Mary in the front pews. This week the kids will explore the story of Jonah with fun storytelling and applications to our world today.
Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:
What does the story of Jonah teach you about people?
What does it teach you about God?
YOUTH
We are on for our regular youth gathering this Sunday! Jensen will be leading in my absence. Parents can pick up their youth in the park at 1:30pm.
Have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for being such a special community of families!
With deep affection for you,
Pastor Lindsay