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