A Message from Beth

Director of Children's Ministries

What an unusual year!  Fall and winter of 2019, we were zipping along with vibrant programming and parish activities and then MARCH came!  My computer skills became challenged as we quickly moved to live Zoom classes to finish out the Sunday School year!  Andrew Davis, who plays piano for us in Children’s Hour, was meeting with me weekly to put out a pre-recorded segment for our children’s Facebook page.  Since VBS needed to be cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns, I began a summer project called “The Creation Project.” Materials were sent to each household to dovetail with our Sunday lesson and expanded upon on our Facebook page. During this hybrid time of offering outdoor Godly Play classes, we will continue with the live Zoom class and our Children’s Hour will continue on the Facebook page! 

Programs for Children

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• Three Godly Play classrooms: Godly Play 1—(3 year olds-Pre-K), Godly Play 2 (K-2nd grade), Rite in the Middle (3rd-5th grades).

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• Everybody Upstairs Sundays: "Godly Play lessons “done large”—presented with children at 10:45 service—“Parable of the Sower,” “Jonah and the Whale,” “The Ark and the Flood."

• Godly Play teacher gatherings: Trinity GP teachers meet for fellowship and spiritual support quarterly.

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• Godly Play Parent Pages incorporated this year with weekly parent emails (digital download) to support upcoming lessons.

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• Godly Play stories: movement and music from “All God’s Children Sing." Andrew Davis (certified in all needed areas) continues as pianist. Mary Grace Blake (certified in all needed areas) serves as young adult assistant. 

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• Intergenerational Sunday School: Advent lesson in Tuton Hall using the Godly Play Advent series of lessons, followed by Advent wreath making.

• Baptismal Preparation—participate with Scott and David with baptismal preparation class by leading families with our Godly Play story on “Holy Baptism."

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• Intergenerational Lent: Prayer Weaving—presentation of Godly Play Lenten series of lessons, called “The Faces of Easter.” Parishioner Wendy Brooks led families in an activity creating “prayer weaving” mats.

• Safeguarding God’s Children: Godly Play teachers maintain certification in this program.

• “Come to the Table”: lessons in Holy Communion led by Rev. David Henson for our GP2 and RIM classes, held for two Sundays with each classroom.

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• “Come Join the Circle”: Children’s Hour transitions to this program during the summer-opening the ages to 5th grade with a much more casual, active, outdoor program. We were able to hire Bailey Smith to cover for Mary Grace who was at Camp Henry for the summer.

CLUB 345 (Junior Youth Group):  targets 3rd through 5th graders to gather once a month for fellowship and outreach type of activities. Activities have included Manna Food Bank, Fake Sleepover, Yoga with Kitties, Eliada Corn Maze, Flat Rock Playhouse, and volunteering at Steadfast House.

 *We have not met since March due to Covid. Hopefully we can regather in some way in the fall-opportunities through Manna Food Bank, or making meals for the homeless as we did earlier.

Four for Families (Previously “Family Friday”): Ministry for families with elementary age children and younger with our mission to build connections between young families through various activities. This group will meet four times a year, once in every season. This past year: Winter-Snow Tubing, Spring-Picnic at the Salvage Station, Summer-Pool Party, and a Fall-Barn Dance and Dinner at Hickory Nut Gap Farm in Fall 2019.

*Four for Families has not met formally since March due to Covid. We did coordinate with families to make sandwiches to provide bag lunches for the homeless being housed at the Red Roof Inn during COVID-19. (see below).

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CLICK THE VIDEO BELOW

summer 2020 - flat jesus project

Each family received their own paper cutout of Jesus. They took Him with them, usually on their summer adventures, but for our purposes, taking Him with them as they go through this unusual time of quarantine. They were encouraged to take photos of their Jesus as He walks with them—helping them keep Jesus at the forefront of their minds. Even some adults requested to have Flat Jesus with them!

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Jesus is with you all the time-doing virtual school work, playing with siblings, cooking dinner and sitting down for dinner with the family, alone in your room wondering what to do next, Zoom meetings with other family members, outdoor play, and more.

On September 13, Godly Play began in-person outdoor classes dividing Godly Play into two groups instead of three.  The thinking is that once we are able to be in the building, the GP1 room is too small to allow for social distancing.  

Godly Play A will be three year olds through 1st grade.  Godly Play B will be 2nd through 5th grades.  For Sept.-Oct. we plan to meet under tents in the new courtyard, following a typical Godly Play classroom order and lessons.  We will Zoom the GPB class for children wishing to stay home. 

If live Zoom becomes too problematic, I will pre-record lessons to be available online.  When weather becomes too cold, we will move downstairs using the former Rite in the Middle and GP2 classrooms-providing separate entrances for children. Sign up will be needed to control numbers in the classroom.