Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,
We want to extend a heartfelt thanks to our kids, youth, and adult choir for leading us in worship last week at our Palm Sunday service. It was such a beautiful picture of our church family and the richness of intergenerational worship and formation. (And thanks to the parents for bringing kids early to help make the morning run smoothly!)
The past two evenings have been really powerful, tender services as we retold the story of Jesus' last moments with his disciples and his crucifixion. Thank you to all who were able to join us in those services to live more fully into the path of Christ, even and especially in suffering. Today we honor a space of waiting as we look toward tomorrow and the resurrection. May we stay with Christ in a spirit of hope even as we mourn and wait.
Easter Sunday
Join us starting at 10 AM for our annual Easter Brunch in the park! In addition to a delicious spread of food, we will have some creative stations and lawn games to spark joy in both kids and adults. This will be a chance for families to eat and create together with our larger church community. You are also invited to bring flowers from your neighborhood to adorn our cross as a communal sign of life and resurrection.
At 11 AM, we will move to the sanctuary for our Easter worship service. Kids above nursery age will join us in the sanctuary, and we will have some activities for them to take into worship. Our nursery will be open at 10:50 AM for kids four and under. They will get to explore the Easter story, too. Our youth will be part of our all-church festivities and then resume their regular youth gathering next week. It's going to be a beautiful morning of celebration, baptisms, and rejoicing. We hope you will join us!
Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:
Read the story of resurrection as a family, maybe in a few different translations. What are you wondering as you hear the story this year? What stands out to you?
What does the Easter story tell us about the power of God's love?
Summer Happenings
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. Adults, let us know if you want to be part of camp in any way this year. It is always an intergenerational time of learning and fun!
Youth Summer Pilgrimage
As a reminder to parents, this summer our youth are invited to participate in a Southern Pilgrimage with The Center for Restorative Justice. They are hosting a powerful six-day journey through the Deep South, tracing the legacy of Emmett Till and the Black Freedom Struggle. This immersive experience will take students from Jackson, MS, to Money, MS, Memphis, TN, and Montgomery, AL, exploring key historical sites and museums that shaped the fight for racial justice. The trip takes place June 21-27. Here is a link to the application, which is due April 28. Please let me know if your youth plans to apply. If you have any questions at this time, feel free to reach out. I look forward to what I know will be a transformational trip with our youth!
May we wait with attention and anticipation as we look to tomorrow.
With deep affection for you,
Pastor Lindsay and Pastor Andrew