The dress rehearsal for the Children’s Christmas Program is scheduled for Saturday morning at 10:00. Costumes will be distributed at this time. Your children have the opportunity to dress as angels, shepherds, wise men, or Bethlehem animals. We need one or two parents to organize the distribution of the costumes along with their return on Sunday morning. Let me know if you are willing to assist in this way.

About the music: Attached are lyrics to three songs our children have been rehearsing with Kathryn. The verses of “Glory Be to the Newborn King” will be sung by the choir; our children will sing the chorus:

Glory be to the newborn King!
“Peace on earth,” hear the angels singing.
Glory be to the newborn King!
Peace on earth, hear the anthem ring.

Kathryn has provided a recording of this song, along with a recording of “Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy.” Both songs your children will recognize. Please play these recordings for your children to help them feel even more comfortable with them on Sunday morning.

Following the rehearsal, we will visit Sunrise in Wayland (285 Commonwealth Road) for our annual carol sing. This is a treasured event for children and adults alike, as well as for the residents of Sunrise. Everyone is welcome!

Consider bringing a healthy snack on Saturday morning for all to share. We need someone to set-up the snacks during the rehearsal time and before leaving for caroling at 11:00. Let me know if you are willing to assist in this way.

Please arrive at church on Sunday morning by 9:10 to ensure that your children are ready with their costumes, etc. before worship. The children will remain with me in the Education wing of the building at the start of service. Once they are finished with their performance, they can sit with their families for the remainder of the service.

Your children’s voices sound wonderful while singing the songs and speaking the verses. Thank you for your support by bringing them to Sunday school these past few weeks and working with them at home. They are doing a beautiful job!

Please let me know if you have any questions about the Children’s Christmas Program. In the meantime, I look forward to seeing you and your children on Saturday.

“The Christian education program at Peace, where your child can experience God’s love through worship, learning, and fellowship.”

–Kim Canning

This week in Sunday school, our children will continue to rehearse the Children’s Christmas Program scheduled for Sunday morning, December 22. Attached are lyrics to the songs our children have been rehearsing with Kathryn Welter. Although the music is not included here, simply going over the words with your children will help them feel more comfortable with the songs on Sunday morning. Please encourage your 7th and 8th graders to rehearse their parts, as well. They are being asked to memorize the verses assigned to them.

This Sunday our students will select their costumes for the program which include angels, shepherds, wise men, and Bethlehem animals.

Next Saturday morning, December 21, at 10:00 is the dress rehearsal for the Christmas Program. Following this rehearsal, we will visit Sunrise of Wayland to sing carols for the residents, a popular event for the past several years. Please let me know if you can provide snacks such as bagels and cream cheese, veggies, fruit, cheese and crackers, and juice for the children on Saturday morning.

Thanks to all who are participating in this year’s Children’s Christmas Program. Please let me know if you have any questions. In the meantime, I look forward to seeing you and your children on Sunday!

“The Christian education program at Peace, where your child can experience God’s love through worship, learning, and fellowship.”

This week in Sunday school our children will hear a parable about an unjust judge who cares not for justice or for people (Luke 18:1-8).  When a widow persists in asking him for justice, the judge finally relents just so she will stop bothering him.  Jesus’ response to the parable is to say, if an unjust judge finally responds to a request for justice, “will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night?  Will he delay long in helping them?  I tell you he will quickly grant justice to them.  And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (v.7-9)  Will God find faith in you?  Will you continue to pray, and pray, and pray?  Or will you stop praying because you think God is not listening to your prayers, that God will not grant you justice?  Continue in your faith and continue to pray.

-Kim Canning

Greetings Sunday school families,

This Sunday is our big Sunday school kick-off event when we welcome students in the classroom for another year of fun, fellowship, and Christian education with old friends and new!  Our children will start by spending time with fellow students and their teachers in the classroom briefly before joining additional members of the congregation for an intergenerational activity.  The experience of mingling with others while on a quest for similarities among us will provide everyone involved an opportunity to get to know one another better.  I look forward to a fun time together.

Attached is a copy of the 2013-2014 Sunday school calendar.  Please note that in two weeks, on Sunday, September 29, there will be a parent’s meeting held during the Education time.  The purpose of this meeting is to discuss upcoming events as they relate to our Sunday school children, along with goals and expectations in the classrooms.  I am also interested in hearing your thoughts about Sunday school and what your goals are for your children as they grow in their faith at Peace.

Also attached is a registration form for you to complete if you haven’t done so already.  This form helps me to plan for the year, stay current with your contact information, and keep aware of all allergies.  Thank you for your help with this.

I hope you all had a restful summer spent in the company of good friends and family.  I hope everyone is experiencing a smooth transition to the school year.  I hope to see you and your children at church and Sunday school this week.

Thank you for choosing Peace Lutheran Church as your place to raise your children up in God’s loving community.

“The Christian education program at Peace, where your child can experience God’s love through worship, learning, and fellowship with others.”

Blessings,

Kim

This week in Sunday school our pre-school through kindergarten students will hear about Esther (Esther 2:5-18, 3:1-6, 8:1-17).  The Jewish queen of a Persian king, her story is the basis for the celebration of Purim in Jewish tradition..  Esther was a young, beautiful, Jewish woman living in Persia. She was unknowingly thrust into one of the greatest stories of all time, due to a very strange turn of events. In order to remain in favor with the king, Esther was advised not to reveal that she was Jewish.  Esther proved to be a woman of unusual wisdom and courage.  Facing adversity with a quiet confidence and grace, she saves the Jews from death by the king’s orders.

Our 1^st grade through middle school students will  hear the complicated and action-packed events that lead Paul and Silas into prison (Acts 16:16-34).  These verses include three examples of people who are set free from bondage:  a girl is possessed by and freed from a spirit of divination, a jailer is bound to and freed from the requirements of his job, Paul and Silas are held captive and then freed from prison.  As they discuss these events, our children will come to understand how their faith in God can set them free to treat one another with love even in the most challenging.

-Kim

This Sunday, the children will begin their morning by singing Hosanna’s along with the choir before processing into the sanctuary for worship.  During service they will sing the song they’ve been rehearsing with Kathryn for the past couple of weeks.  We all look forward to hearing their voices on Sunday morning.  Also during worship service our 4^th grade through middle school students will dramatize a reading of The Passion of Our Lord According to Luke.

Following the coffee hour, our pre-school and kindergarten students will meet in their classroom to learn about Deborah from Judges 4:1-5:31.  The book of Judges is a collection of stories about some of the heroes, called judges, from the early days of God’s people.  The book of Judges takes place after the exodus from Egypt, the wandering in the wilderness, and the invasion of Canaan.  The book of Judges was created for God’s people when they had little freedom and little reason for hope.  The stories say to the exiles,  “You are here because of your sins.  But time after time, God heard the prayers of your ancestors when they were in trouble and helped them by sending deliverers.”  One such leader, or hero, was Deborah who led an army of thousands to drive out the evil Canaanites harassing her people (from the Lutheran Study Bible).

Our 1^st grade through middle school students will meet in their classrooms to discuss Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, followed by his suffering and death.  As they listen, they will discover that God is with them in happy times and in sad times, as well.

“The Christian education program at Peace, where your child can experience God’s love through worship, learning, and fellowship with others.”

-Kim