Worship. Serve. Grow.

What’s Happening in Children’s Ministries (Feb 11, 2018)

As a reminder, Lent begins next week.  The Pancake Supper is Tuesday, Feb. 13, from 5-7pm in the Parish Hall.  The Cost is $7 for adults and $3 for students (K-12), $0 for pre-school child, $20 max per family.  Children’s Ministries will have a table at the Pancake Supper with beads, masks, Mite Boxes and Lenten Countdown calendars.  Please drop by and see us.  On Ash Wednesday, Feb. 14, St. Paul’s will conduct services at 7am, 12noon, 5:45pm and 7pm.  The service at 5:45 is a very brief service created especially for children.

Other Children’s News:

  • The Children’s Little Brown Stewardship Basket is working toward our 2018 Note in the Pocket Sort Day, scheduled for June 3, 2018.  So far we have collected $1591.98 toward our goal of $3000.00.
  • Children’s Formation this Sunday:  Sunday School will start at 10:10am in the Education Building and Children’s Chapel, for children ages 3-2nd grade, will be held at the 9am service.
  • VBS Participant Registration forms are available in the Narthex.  VBS will be June 18-25 (note the date change).  Please email Christine Ingram if you are interested in volunteering or leading a center.
  • Pre-EYC meets  Sunday, Feb. 11, from 2-4pm at Urban Ministries for a tour and volunteering.  We hope many of our 4th and 5th graders and their families will attend.
  • We need Easter CANDY for our Easter Egg Hunt!  Please drop off any candy donations (small, peanut free, individually wrapped) candy is welcome!  The collection bin is located in the collection area by the Music Room.  Thank you!

Sunday School this Week:  The Judeans Turn Against Jesus.

Summary: The ruling Jewish authorities (the scribes and the Pharisees) bring before Jesus a woman who has committed adultery, asking him what he would do. Jesus gives his command, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her” (8:7). One by one, the men drop their stones and go away. Jesus then sends the woman away, saying, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on, do not sin again” (8:11). Later, Jesus is confronted by “the Jews,” whom we call “the Judeans,” who are beginning to turn against Jesus. The issue is, who is whose father? As they defend their righteousness on the ground that they are descended from Abraham, Jesus tells them that this is not enough, that they are not acting like sons of Abraham. On the other hand, Jesus exerts his claim as the true Son of the Father, while they accuse him of being from the devil. The scene ends with Jesus claiming to be older than Abraham (and hence superior to him) and the Jews attempting to stone him. There is no longer any hope of reconciliation with these authorities.

Episcopal Thread: Like the woman caught in adultery, Episcopalians share in common with other Christians an acute awareness of sin and forgiveness—especially our own. Though we pray for the sins of others, we pray regularly—weekly or even daily—for forgiveness of our own sins. In the Prayer Book, there is a prayer “For our Enemies” (p. 816): “Lead them and us from prejudice to truth; deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you…” In the Litany of Penitence prayed on Ash Wednesday (BCP, p. 268), we ask that God accepts our repentance “for all false judgments, for uncharitable thoughts toward our neighbors, and for our prejudice and contempt toward those who differ from us.” In these and other prayers, we take seriously Jesus’ words: “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” And when we do sin ourselves, or unjustly condemn others, we may sing from the Hymnal 1982: “There’s a wideness in God’s mercy like the wideness of the sea….” (#469, 470): For the love of God is broader than the measure of the mind; and the heart of the Eternal is most wonderfully kind. If our love were but more faithful, we should take him at his word; and our life would be thanksgiving for the goodness of the Lord.”

Things to wonder with your children:

■■ What happened in today’s lesson?

■■ Who did Jesus talk to?

■■ What were some things that Jesus said?

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments about Children’s Ministries.

See you on Sunday!

Christine

Christine Owens Ingram, SPHR
Parish Administrator and Director of Children’s Ministries

Children’s Calendar

Feb. 11 Pre-EYC Meets at Urban Ministries 2-4pm
Feb. 13 Pancake Supper 5-7pm
Feb. 14 Ash Wednesday Service for Families 5:45pm
Feb. 18
Feb. 25 Pre-EYC Meets 11:15am
Mar. 4
Mar. 11 Pre-EYC Meets/Note in the Pocket Clothing Drive Begins/PJ Sunday
Mar. 18 Note in the Pocket Drive
Mar. 24 Pre-EYC Volunteers at Food Bank of NC 2-4pm/Note in the Pocket Drive
Mar. 25 Palm Sunday/Note in the Pocket Drive/No Sunday School
Mar. 30 Good Friday Service for Children 10am
Apr. 1 Easter Sunday/Easter Egg Hunt/Note in the Pocket Drive Ends/No Sunday School
Apr. 8 Spring Break Sunday-No Sunday School
Apr. 14-15 Pre-EYC Retreat
Apr. 15 Communion Class #1
Apr. 22 Communion Class #2
Apr. 29 Communion Class #3/Pre-EYC Meets
May. 6 Communion Celebration 9am Service/Last Day of Sunday School
May. 13 Mother’s Day
May. 20
May. 27 Memorial Day/No Children’s Chapel
June. 3 5th Grade Recognition/Note in the Pocket Sort Day
June. 10 Summer S(f)undays Begin