Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,
For the season of Lent, we have been following the life of Jesus in the book of Luke. Tomorrow in worship we will look at the scripture in Luke 22:39-46, which describes Jesus crying in anguish. As a staff we have been thinking a lot about what our tradition offers in terms of lament and how vital it is that we have spaces to name our sorrow in both individual and communal ways. Our kids will get the chance to explore this tomorrow as well, and I am praying for a really rich time of worship together. I came across this poem by Christopher Reid about the ways elephants have their own ritual for grief. It felt like a beautiful picture of what we do as a church family, placing the full range or emotions in "new, hopeful arrangements."
Who Is Your Neighbor?
Last week our kids explored the story of the Good Samaritan, and they had a great time engaging in activities and questions that introduced the theme of what it means to love our neighbors. They were engaged with the story but ran out of time to fully get into our Wondering Questions, so we wanted to share them with you in case you want to open up some family discussion. The story is familiar but always challenging, so we pray for discussions that hold complexity rather than simple answers.
What are some things that might keep you from looking out for, noticing, or helping others?
How has someone loved and cared for you like a neighbor?
Are there people you have a hard time seeing as a "neighbor" to love and take care of? Why?
Kids Camp Registration
We are making plans for camp this summer, and registration is open! Camp will run June 16-20 from 9am-12pm each day. We are excited to help our kids encounter God's love together with people from our church family. Youth families, please note that the youth are invited to help again this year, and this can count for community service hours if they have any requirements through school or other organizations.
Palm Sunday | Kids and Youth Singing
We are so excited for our kids and youth to join our adult choir in leading us during worship on Sunday, April 13, in our Palm Sunday service! They will begin practicing this Sunday during our kids time, and they will continue to rehearse on Sunday for the coming weeks. On that Sunday (April 13), please bring your kids and youth to the sanctuary at 9:30 AM for a rehearsal with the adult choir. We'll have pastries in the courtyard for parents so you can hang out until worship. Here are the lyrics, and here is a recording that you can use to help your kids practice at home. A huge thanks to Grace Goodman for leading the hand motions for the song this year!
Save the Date!
On Sunday, April 13, we invite all families with kids and our Family Ministry volunteers to join us for lunch and a chance to meet Andrew, our incoming Pastor of Children and Community Partnerships. You'll have a chance to hear more about his story while connecting with each other. We invite you to bring a card of blessing to the event to give Andrew as a welcome. We'll gather after worship for this time of connection as we give a warm welcome to Andrew!
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 emotions, especially anger, and how to manage our feelings in healthy ways.
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 any of their leaders in the front pews. This week the kids will engage with the story of Jesus agonizing in the garden (the same scripture we will hear in the sanctuary worship service). Our kids will have chances to explore lament and the full range of our human emotions. We pray that our kids will feel freedom in sharing how they really feel with a God who loves and cares for them and all of creation.
Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:
Why did Jesus need time to go off and cry with God?
What is something you feel angry, sad, or even hopeless about?
Why is lament an important practice if we follow Christ?
YOUTH
This week our youth will have our regular youth gathering after worship, including lunch. Pastor Riley will be leading the time this week. We will continue exploring themes of lent and scriptures from Luke. We'll wrap at 1:30 PM, and youth can be picked up from our Union Street park gate.
Have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for being such a special community of families!
With deep affection for you,
Pastor Lindsay