Sunday School Update: Lessons in love from MLK

Dear St. John’s familes,

This week we are offering a one room schoolhouse in the Pre-K room for MLK Day.

Martin Luther King offers an important lesson about love for our children.

This holiday is a great opportunity to talk to children about important values Dr. King emphasized, like love, peace, and racial and cultural equality. It’s also a good time to talk about simple ways that kids can help keep his dreams and wisdom alive. And you’re never too young to start a life of activism.

In the spirit of Martin Luther King’s life of service and activism, we invite you to participate in the St. John’s day of service for School on Wheels this Monday, Jan. 20th. Limited spots remain! Ages 5+ (with a parent) are welcome.

School on Wheels provides educational support—including tutoring, mentoring, and school supplies—to Massachusetts students facing homelessness and poverty. Over 11,000 students in the Bay State have received backpacks and school supplies from School on Wheels. More information about the organization can be found at sowma.org.

You can help in two ways: sign up via the link below to volunteer Jan. 20 at their site in East Bridgewater and/or donate NEW books and school materials. Books for children grades 5–12 are particularly needed! (Buttonwood has a wonderful selection!)

Donations can be left in the bin at the side entrance or in the donation bin in the narthex.

Thank you for your support!

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Supplies Needed:

• New books for kids K–12 (Grades 5–12 are especially needed)

• Quality backpacks for kids K–12, 17” or longer

• Pencil boxes and zipper pouches

• Dixon Ticonderoga pencils

• Hand sanitizer and face masks

• Jumbo pencils and large erasers

• Safety scissors for children (must be blunt)

• Glue sticks

• Large covered pencil sharpeners

• Blue, red, and black pens

• 8-pack sets of washable markers

• 12-pack sets of colored pencils

• Flexible plastic rulers

• Highlighters

• Pack of index cards (100 count)

• Square root and scientific calculators

• Shiny Pocket folders

• Composition notebooks

• Doodle pads

• Single subject, wide ruled notebooks

• 1” binders and dividers

• Crayons and fun pencils

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Alexis MacElhiney

Sunday School Director & Youth Coordinator

Sunday School Update: Speaking in parables

Christ Healing the Blind Man (Eustache Le Sueur, c1645)

Dear St. John’s familes,

In Sunday School over the next few weeks, we follow Jesus’s life and learn his teachings through miracles he performs and parables he tells.

In the 3-4-5 classroom, the children will hear about Blind Bartamaeus. These supernatural acts of love and power drew people to Jesus, revealed His divine nature, opened hearts to the message of salvation and caused many to glorify God. They also demonstrated Christ’s absolute authority over nature and his limitless compassion. Altogether, they proved that He was, indeed, the promised Messiah.

In our Godly Play classrooms, the children will be learning the parable of the Good Samaritan.

Here’s some interesting information I found about one of the reasons Jesus spoke in parables:

When we ask a question, maybe the answer isn’t as important as we think. Jesus often sidestepped the questions that were asked of him. Rather than answering the question he tells a story about something seemingly totally different. Why? Because he’s more concerned with our heart than adding to our knowledge. Our heart is what brings about change; our head just fills with facts. Sometimes the answers we think we need won’t bring us what we hoped. Sometimes the questions we ask aren’t really what we are after. More information rarely leads to life change. But when our heart is addressed life change is soon to follow. God gives us what we need, what we are really after. But he doesn’t always give us the answers we are seeking. Jesus knew that the answer wouldn’t bring comfort, hope, or create life change. But a story could. (Jeffrey Curtis Poor)

It occurred to me that Godly Play follows this method of teaching as well by telling stories and asking “wondering questions.” Instead of just giving the children what we think the meaning of the story is, the wondering questions invite them to explore their own heart for what the answer might be. I do think lessons resonate more fully when you’re allowed to make connections and draw your own conclusions. Food for thought ...

Warm regards,

Alexis

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Alexis MacElhiney

Sunday School Director & Youth Coordinator

Sunday School Update: Learning about Epiphany

Happy New Year, St. John’s families!

I hope you all are having a wonderful holiday break! I want to thank all of our pageant participants for doing such a fabulous job with our brand new pageant, called Good News of Great Joy. It truly was a joy to watch our children re-tell the story of Jesus’ birth with such enthusiasm. I am so proud of their effort and confidence in performing in front of so many people! It is such a great way for them to learn the story. A special thanks to all of our helpers who made this pageant possible!

We are back to routine this Sunday and will be learning about the Epiphany! This is the feast day that celebrates the arrival of the Magi to see Jesus after his birth and marks the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas.

Warm regards,

Alexis

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Alexis MacElhiney

Sunday School Director & Youth Coordinator

Sunday School Update: Pageant time!

Dear St. John’s families,

It’s almost pageant time! We had a great rehearsal this week and the kids are excited to showcase their talents telling the story of our Savior’s birth.

This Sunday we will be in Lower Weld (all together as one group) reviewing the Godly Play Advent lessons, rehearsing the pageant, and enjoying some festive snacks. Please note, we will stay downstairs during communion so we have more time to practice. You may pick up your children in Lower Weld after church.

We are also offering one more quick run-through (20–30 minutes) in the sanctuary after church for those kids who are interested in a little more practice in the actual space. Everyone should have a costume by now; if not, please let me know!

Please plan to arrive in costume and ready to go on Christmas Eve at 3 p.m. They will not need their costumes before then. We can’t wait to share this new pageant with our church family!

Merry Christmas and I hope you all have a wonderful celebration!

Warmly,

Alexis

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Alexis MacElhiney

Sunday School Director & Youth Coordinator

Sunday School Update: Christmas pageant rehearsal schedule

Dear St. John’s families,

We had a great time visiting with St. Nicholas last week! I think the kids really enjoyed hearing some interesting stories about his life and celebrating his saint day (Dec 6)!

This week we begin rehearsals for the 4 p.m. Christmas Eve Pageant! We have found a fun new script that has plenty of speaking roles and some humor sprinkled in. This pageant is open to all children ages 3 and up. Given that this new pageant is inclusive to all children, we have decided to pause the Little Kids Pageant for the time being. We believe that a more streamlined holiday schedule will be less stressful and more joyful for everyone involved.

Here is the rehearsal/costuming schedule:

Dec. 15: Costuming before church; Rehearsal after church (45 min)—Sanctuary

Dec. 17: Costuming and pizza: 5 p.m.; Rehearsal 5:30–7 p.m.

Dec. 22: Costuming before church; Rehearsal during Sunday School

Please note that we will not be able to handle costuming during rehearsal time as we need all of the scheduled time for practice.

Children with larger speaking roles will need to commit to the above rehearsal schedule. Angels and Kings should come to at least one rehearsal. Animals do not need to attend rehearsals.  

I have sent the script to all families who have signed up for a role. If you did not receive the email and your child plans to participate, please let me know asap.

I’m looking forward to spending a wonderful holiday season with your children!

Warmly,

Alexis

Sunday School Update: Christmas Pageant preparations

Dear St. John’s families,

This Sunday, the kids are learning about St. Nicholas during Sunday School and then will be treated to a surprise visit from him at coffee hour. He will share a story from his life and hand out some special treats!

This week, we’re also gearing up for the 4 p.m. Christmas Eve Pageant and beginning costuming. We have found a fun new script that has plenty of speaking roles and some humor sprinkled in. This pageant will be open to all children ages 3 and up. Given that this new pageant is inclusive to all children, we have decided to pause the Little Kids Pageant for the time being. We believe that a more streamlined holiday schedule will be less stressful and more joyful for everyone involved.

We are currently looking for children/youth to fill the roles of Narrator, Innkeepers, Wife of Innkeeper, Shepherds, Kings, Angels, and Animals (including Mary’s donkey). Please let me know if your child is interested. While every child may not receive their first choice, there is a role for everyone! Please indicate your interest here.

Costuming begins this Sunday before and after church! Please note that we will not be able to handle costuming during rehearsal time as we need all of the scheduled time for practice.

Here is the rehearsal/costuming schedule:

Dec. 8: Costuming before and after church

Dec. 15: Costuming before church, Rehearsal after church (45 min.)

Dec. 17: Costuming 5 p.m., Rehearsal 5:30–7 p.m.

Dec. 22: Costuming before church, Rehearsal during Sunday School

Children with speaking roles (All roles except Angels, Animals, and Kings) will need to commit to the above rehearsal schedule. Children with other roles need to come to at least one rehearsal (more is better).

I’m looking forward to spending a wonderful holiday season with your children!

Warmly,

Alexis

Sunday School Update: Entering Advent

Dear St. John’s families,

This week we enter into Advent, a season of waiting, expectation, and excitement to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

As we turn the page into this new season we have much to look forward to at church, some time-honored traditions and some new ones!

This week we will host the inter-generational Advent Wreath Workshop during coffee hour. This is a wonderful opportunity for your family to make an Advent wreath together to enjoy for the whole season at home. Candles and at-home prayers for each week are included. This is an event not to be missed!

On Dec. 8, St. Nicholas will be joining us at coffee hour for a special visit. This is always a hit with the kids, especially since treats are involved!

Lastly, I’m excited to announce that we have a brand new pageant that will take place at the 4 p.m. Christmas Eve service! We have found a fun new script that has plenty of speaking roles and some humor sprinkled in. This pageant will be open to all children ages 3 and up. Given that this new pageant is inclusive to all children, we have decided to pause the Little Kids Pageant for the time being. We believe that a more streamlined holiday schedule will be less stressful and more joyful for everyone involved.

Calling all budding actors and narrators!

We need children/youth to serve as narrators, Mary, Joseph, Gabriel, Innkeepers, Wife of Innkeeper, Shepherds, Kings, Angels, and Animals (including Mary’s donkey). Please let me know if your child is interested. While every child may not receive their first choice, there is a role for everyone! Please indicate your interest here.

Here is the preliminary schedule:

Dec. 8: Costuming after church

Dec. 15: Rehearsal after church

Dec. 18: Evening rehearsal

Dec. 22: Rehearsal during Sunday School

Children with speaking roles (all roles except Angels and Animals) will need to commit to the above rehearsal schedule. Non-speaking roles will need to commit to at least two rehearsals.

Warmly,

Alexis

Sunday School Update: Last Sunday School session before Advent season

Dear St. John’s families,

This Sunday we return to regularly scheduled programming and our last Sunday before Advent begins.

In our Godly Play classrooms, we will learn about the Ten Best Ways (otherwise known as the Commandments). We always make sure to emphasize the commandment of honoring your parents!

In the 3/4/5 classroom, the kids will continue learning about the period in Israel’s history when it was ruled by three great kings (Saul, David, and Solomon), the building of the Ark of the Covenant (where Moses’ commandments were kept), and the subsequent division in Israel following Solomon’s rule.

Our struggle today to be true to God and fit in with our peers is not unlike the struggles of the Hebrew people.

At coffee hour this week, we’ll be presenting a beautiful gift to Fr. Ed, made by Karen Slodden and the Sunday School kids. We were all so excited to formally welcome him last night with his institution service. We have much to look forward to!

Next week I’ll begin communicating the plans for the holidays, which are briefly outlined below. Please do save the date for our popular advent wreath making workshop which takes place at coffee hour on Dec. 1!

Warmly,

Alexis

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Coming up:

• Dec. 1

  • Advent wreath making at coffee hour

• Dec. 8

  • St. Nicholas visits at coffee hour

  • Pageant costuming

• Dec. 15

  • Pageant rehearsal after 10 a.m. service

• Dec. 19

  • Pageant rehearsal (evening)

• Dec. 22:

  • Pageant rehearsal during Sunday School

Sunday School Update: Welcoming the new Bishop

Dear St. John’s families,

This Sunday, we begin preparing for exciting events happening next week!

On Tuesday Nov. 19th at 6 p.m., we will formally install the ninth rector of our parish, Fr. Ed Thornley! Our new bishop, the Rt. Rev. Julia Whitworth, will be celebrating the service. It’s a great opportunity to meet her as well! A reception will follow.

In preparation for the bishop’s visit we'll be learning all about what a bishop does, what they wear, and how the dioceses are organized. We’ll also be making a special welcome gift for Fr. Ed and Bishop Whitworth. Please plan to be there this Sunday and for the service next Tuesday!

If you haven’t done so yet, please consider making your pledge here so that we may continue programming next year at current levels at a minimum!

Warmly,

Alexis

Welcome Jameson!

Fr. Ed Thornley baptizes Jameson DesRoche Nov. 3, as family and Sunday School children look on.

Dear St. John’s families,

This past week we welcomed Jameson DesRoche into our church community. What a gift to be a part of this very special day, the primary moment in the life of a Christian person to be remembered and looked forward to. Congratulations to Mom and Dad, Jamie and Michael, and big brothers Justin and Tyler!

This week in Sunday School we continue our lessons of the Old Testament, learning the origins of the Holy Bible in our Godly Play classrooms and the story of the Ark of the Covenant in our 3/4/5 classroom.

At this time of year, we start to anticipate and plan for our treasured holiday traditions such as the Advent wreath making and the pageant. It’s also the time of year we begin thinking about programming for the next calendar year. As a reminder, all costs are borne by us as parishioners. Please make your pledge here so that we may continue programming at current levels at a minimum!

Lastly, please mark your calendars for the institution of Fr. Ed Thornley, the ninth rector of our parish! The service will be performed by our new bishop, The Right Reverend Julia Whitworth at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 19. A reception will follow.

Warmly,

Alexis

Sunday School Update: Sunday School supports Outreach

Dear St. John’s families,

We are participating in Outreach’s food drive for WellSpring! Nearly one in four Americans experience food insecurity. This is a great way to teach children how they can help their neighbors. Please bring one of the following items and drop in the colorful bin downstairs in the Sunday School.

• Cereal

• Dry pasta

• Microwaveable mac and cheese

• Chef Boyardee canned products

• Canned tuna fish

• Peanut butter

• Jelly

• Granola Bars

This week is All Ages Worship! Wear your Halloween costume to church! For those of you not familiar, this is our 10 a.m. worship service that is geared towards children, though all are welcome! Some adults have said this is their favorite type of service. We will be treated to the choristers singing and Fr. Ed demonstrating one of our favorite Godly Play lessons from the gospel of Matthew. We need a few more ushers, greeters, and acolytes: please email me to sign up!

Afterwards, at coffee hour, we will be selling the beautiful birdhouses made by the Sunday School and Youth Group kids. Proceeds will be going towards the South Africa trip next summer.

Sunday School Update: Kids needed for All-Ages Worship

Dear St. John’s families,

Our “work day” was a big hit! The kids really enjoyed making birdhouses during Sunday School. A work day is a component of Godly Play, whereby the kids have an extended time to work on a project. This activity tied in perfectly with lessons we’ve been learning about Creation care and St. Francis. The Pre-K kids made a birdhouse together as a joint project, decorated with their fingerprints. It came out really nice! We hope to use it to enhance one of our pollinator gardens on the church grounds.

With this project, we also introduced the concept of service to the church community. The kids are donating the birdhouses they made for a fundraiser for our youth to go to South Africa next summer.

Please plan on attending coffee hour after All Ages Worship on Oct. 27 for our birdhouse fundraiser!

Speaking of All Ages Worship, we need a few more readers, ushers, greeters, and acolytes. Please email me to sign up! We will be treated to Fr. Ed demonstrating one of our favorite Godly Play lessons, The Parable of the Mustard Seed, from the gospel of Matthew.

Sunday School work day

Dear St. John’s families,

Happy Columbus Day Weekend! On these long weekends, we find that attendance is a little lighter so we combine into two classrooms. Pre-K will meet in their regular classroom. While the remaining classes will meet together in Lower Weld.

This Sunday is a scheduled “work day.” In Godly Play terminology, this is when the kids have an extended time to work on a project. This week, we’ll be painting and decorating wooden birdhouses! This is a really fun activity and ties in perfectly with lessons we’ve been learning about Creation Care and St. Francis.

Some of the kids may like to donate their birdhouse to a fundraiser that we’re organizing for our youth to go to South Africa next summer. If they want to take them home instead that’s great too!

Coming up!

We are less than two weeks away from opening night of the Not-So-Spooky Haunted House! It takes a village of volunteers to make this event a success—please sign up here!

October 27 is our first All Ages Worship of the year! These services are geared towards children but inclusive to everyone. We will be treated to Fr. Ed demonstrating one of our favorite Godly Play lessons, The Parable of the Mustard Seed, from the gospel of Matthew. All other readings are performed by children. If your child would like to do a reading please email me! The choristers will be singing too.

If you have not done so yet, please register here for Sunday School now. We need a new registration every year.

Warmly,

Alexis

Sunday School Update: Blessing of the Animals

Dear St. John’s families,

This week we embrace a few of our beloved traditions at St. John’s—the Blessing of the Pets and the Blessing of the Stuffed Animals—in honor of St. Francis’ Feast Day.

In our Sunday School classrooms we’ll be learning about St. Francis, his life, and love of all creatures great and small.

Children should bring their favorite stuffed animal to be blessed in church by Fr. Ed.

All are invited back to church at 5 p.m. on Sunday with their live pet(s) for the Pet Blessing. It is always interesting to see all the different types of pets—dogs, cats, bunnies, hedgehogs, lizards. I think one time there was even a horse!

Coming up!

We are less than three weeks away from opening night of the Not-So-Spooky Haunted House! It takes a village of volunteers to make this event a success, please sign up here!

If you have not done so yet, please register here for Sunday School now! We need a new registration every year.

Warmly,

Alexis