Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,
Tomorrow we will take time in worship to pray over our students, educators, and school employees. We invite them to bring a backpack, briefcase, pencil case, or any other important bag or tool they will use this year so that we can bless those items alongside them. As a church community, we get to lean into the power of blessing and are honored to send our kids and adults into a new year with the reminder that they are deeply beloved for who they are. Thanks for making space for this communal practice tomorrow!
Promotion Sunday | August 11
This year our Sunday for kids to move up to an older age group will be on August 11th, tomorrow! We are excited for our kindergarteners and sixth graders to make their transition to our older kids and youth groups, respectively. Tomorrow, our rising Kindergarteners will come at 9:45 AM with their parents to check out their new learning spaces upstairs, and then they will have one last day in the nursery celebrating with all their friends and leaders. Our rising youth will get to spend one last day up with the kids to celebrate with all of them, and then they can stay for the youth gathering after worship ends. Yay for growth!
Youth Outdoor Movie Night | August 12
The Brandow family has graciously offered to host an outdoor movie night for our youth this coming Monday, August 12. Yay! The Brandows live at 2032 Queensberry Rd. Pasadena, CA 91104. Youth can show up at 7:30 PM as the sun goes down, and we'll plan to wrap up at 10:00 PM. Youth should plan to eat dinner beforehand, and we'll have some light snacks for them to enjoy under the stars. Please bring a camping chair (or chairs!) if you have one. Let me know if your youth can join the fun! Thanks to the Brandows for hosting this fun event as summer winds down.
SUNDAY
KIDS
Our nursery room is open this Sunday for babies and toddlers four years old and under. Our nursery staff will be ready at 10:20 AM to receive your amazing kids. This week our nursery kids will continue to explore the story of the woman at the well. We have fun water activities planned to go with it!
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 in the pews in the front with Pastor Mary and me. This week we will continue to explore gratitude and honor our rising youth with some Bible stories focused on transitions and blessings. We are so thankful for the intergenerational learning that happens in our family ministry spaces!
Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:
What do you love learning about? What does that tell you about how God made you?
Think of a time when you made a transition or a big change. What helped you during that time? As many of you start a new school year, what do you need as you make that transition?
YOUTH
We are on for our regular youth gathering after worship. We'll have lunch and wrap up at 1:30 pm. Parents can pick up their kids in the church park off Union Street.
Have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for being such a special community of families!
With deep affection for you,
Pastor Lindsay