Dear St Paul’s families,
We’ve got a lot on offer over the next few weeks and months! Here are some important dates and events to mark on your calendars. Keep an eye out for another email coming with further details on the Advent activities.
Saturday, Nov 16: Harry Potter Day at Grace Cathedral (it’s not too late to register for children 6 and over:
Youth registration: https://diocal.wufoo.com/forms/harry-potter-day-youth-registration/
Adult registration: https://diocal.wufoo.com/forms/harry-potter-day-adult-chaperone/
Sunday, Nov 17th: Ten Best Ways Godly Play (Karin will be storyteller)
Sunday, Nov 24th: Family Sunday with children participation plus Advent-Wreath Making during coffee hour!
Sunday, Dec 1st: First Sunday of Advent, Godly Play (Kati will be storyteller)
Sunday, Dec 8th: Music Sunday with Libby plus Homeless Kit-making during coffee hour!
Sunday, Dec 15th: Third Sunday of Advent, Godly Play (Chloe will be storyteller) plus Caroling at SR Healthcare Center after church!
Sunday, Dec 22nd: Family Sunday (with children participation)
Sunday, January 12th: The Epiphany Play!
Saturday, January 25th, morning: Children’s tour of Grace Cathedral (Time TBD)
It may seem a bit early, but we’ve got some wonderful Advent activities coming up that I want to make sure you have in your calendars. If you’re anything like me, you probably find this season becomes rather hectic, and having some grounding Advent activities offers something of an antidote! My hope is that St Paul’s can support you and your families to live into this remarkable and sacred space of Advent.
In this spirit, here are three Advent activities that you are warmly invited to participate in: Advent wreath-making, Homeless kit-making, and carol singing at the San Rafael Healthcare Center:
Sunday November 24th, after the 10am service: Come make a family Advent wreath! We will have the supplies you need to make a four-candle centerpiece, along with prayers that your family can say together as you light them. This will follow the Family Sunday service, which your children are invited to participate in, as always!
Sunday December 8th, after the 10am service: Kate Sprague and I will have various supplies out so that your children can make winter kits for our homeless neighbors. You can then keep the kits in your car for sharing with those whom you and your children encounter needing extra help this winter.
Sunday December 15th, at 11:30am: Join fellow St Paul’s congregants in singing carols for the folks at the San Raphael Healthcare Center (a few blocks down on 5th St). We all have such a joyous time singing together for the clients, and the staff of the center enjoy it too! The presence of the children always helps to make the caroling something very special.
Our family will be out of town over the Christmas school-break, but we look forward to returning to participate in our annual Epiphany pageant which will take place on January 12th this year (the first Sunday after Epiphany… rather late, we know, but a wonderful way to transition from Christmastide to the season of Epiphany!). I will be in touch in December about what characters your children would like to play.
Blessings and peace to you, friends.
Karin