Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,
Last week we began our sermon series on prayer with an emphasis on the Lord's Prayer. Our kids and youth will be invited to learn that prayer this month, and it's a great prayer for discussion and praying together as a family. This week I came across these poems by Mary Oliver, and they speak to the idea of prayer as a way of living. They are beautiful reminders of the way nature invites us to be fully present to God's goodness and the invitation to be astonished by it. Enjoy!
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 8:50 AM for those who are attending Sunday School before service.
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 and me in the front pews. If they are coming early with parents who are in a Sunday School class, they can be dropped off upstairs at 8:50 AM. This week we will continue to explore prayer with our kids, and our focus this Sunday is on singing as a form of prayer. 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.
Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:
What does the Lord's Prayer show us about our relationship with God?
What are some songs you love to sing?
How could you use song as a form of prayer if that's not already your practice?
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