Children & Families
FAMILY CELEBRATIONS and CHRISTIAN FORMATION
In addition to the Sunday offerings, special gatherings and projects
are held in conjunction with seasons and feast days throughout the year.
All Saints’ Day, November 1
is the day we particularly remember all those from Christ Church who have died in the past year.
Banners honoring each one of them are decorated and carried in procession on All Saints’ Day and on the Sunday following All Saints’ Day.
The Advent Event, December 3
On the first Sunday of Advent families gather in Bowen Hall at noon. After lunch Advent Wreaths and prayer chains are made. Angels are decorated to hang on the Christ Church Angel Tree. Advent calendars and gift ideas are available and the gathering closes with music by the new Christ Church childrens’ choirs and prayers around an Advent wreath.
St. Nicholas Party
Children and parents keep the tradition of leaving their shoes outside the door as they gather to await a visit from St. Nicholas. While waiting a gingerbread cathedral and Christmas cookies are decorated. There is music and supper and festive Christmas punch.
The Christmas Epiphany Pageant is a liturgy by the children of the parish. It is held on the 2nd Sunday of Christmas. The children lead the Liturgy of the Word with a little help from parents, teachers, clergy and musicians.
A Communion Retreat
is held, usually during Lent, for children and youth ages 7 and older. This is an opportunity to explore at a deeper level the meaning of grace, sin, confession, forgiveness, eucharist, and discipleship grounded in the baptismal covenant. The primary scripture text is the parable of the true vine and the other source is The Book of Common Prayer.
Flowering the Cross
On Easter Sunday morning the children bring flowers to decorate a cross in front of the church in celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and they bring mite boxes in which they have placed offerings throughout Lent in thanksgiving for their life in Christ.
May Féte
On the first Sunday in May the whole parish gathers in the close for music, feasting and a dance around the May Pole.
Spring Picnic
At the end of the school year families gather to play and to thank their catechists and music leaders for their Sunday morning ministry. It is also a time to say good-by and Godspeed to families who are moving away during the summer.
Summer Nights – Vacation Bible School
Don’t miss the Sunday morning Kick Off with singing led by two of our U.C.A. choir members, Amy Kessler and Michael Watson. Get some answers to questions like “How can children get any sleep if they have to stay up all night catching mosquitos?” and “Why would we want to catch mosquitos?” Preview the art projects and how they can fund some of these mosquito nets as well as be lots of fun.
What is a dead fish print? or mat board art? or church photography? How do you make batik cloth? or mosquito magnets? Join us and see!
We’ll meet you in Bowen Hall
for supper, singing, percussion, art, story telling, and prayers
CHILDREN HELPING CHILDREN
“Children Helping Children” is the outreach umbrella for projects for helping other children in our neighborhood, our neighboring state and around the world.
The Peace Pipe
Throughout the year we bring quarters to fill the Peace Pipe for Heifer International. Each time we fill the pipe we will have saved $165.00 to purchase a goat or some other animal to provide milk or food to hungry children and to provide a way to earn a living for their parents. These livestock go to families throughout the world.
Books and Toys
Nursery books—a favorite book they wish to share, or a new book and nursery toys are collected to help refurbish the nursery at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in New Orleans which was flooded during hurricane Katrina. They first service of worship since the flood was held August 27.
Mosquito Nets
Many children in central Africa are being infected with and dying from malaria which is a preventable disease. In the winter an Art Show and Auction of work created by the children and friends is planned to raise funds to buy mosquito nets to protect African children from mosquitoes while they sleep.
For more information about any of these events of projects, contact Susan Payne, priest for children and family ministry.
