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REjuvenation!
Religious Education News - April 2005
REjuvenation! ArchivesA Note from Reverend Bonnie
April Showers
April is a big month around here. It's when we lay all our plans for next year. Most of our RE families are far from thinking about fall start-up at church. But if we don't think about it now, there won't be funds, teachers, or curriculum come September! A program the size of ours (293 children at last count) needs constant attention, planning, and participation. We think having so many kids and families is a great thing-it allows the kids so many opportunities for community and activities. And with all of these wonderful children to consider, we are deeply grateful for all the support from our parents and other adults who support the RE program.
So here's what April brings:
- A chance to sign up to teach next year. The RE Council will be singing their songs in the services and a table will be set up in Adams Hall to choose which class you'd like to teach.
- An opportunity to consider your financial contribution to Eliot, knowing that fully 25% of Eliot's budget is dedicated directly to Religious Education (roughly $125,000). Commitment Sunday is April 10, and you will be contacted about your pledge during the following weeks.
- A good time to think about your involvement in supporting the RE program and to ask Joan Casey where you might help. We have people working on curriculum, teacher support, family outreach, children's worship, and the special events we have every year (such as Secret Pals or Summer Camp).
April Showers for Eliot means a renewing sense of involvement and commitment by our families. All we are able to do here is directly because of your participation and support. I cannot thank you enough for all your support of Religious Education. For us, April Showers will bring September growth that will last not only all year, but all our children's lives.
Faithfully,
Bonnie
April RE Calendar
| April 3, Sunday | 9:15 am Nursery - 5th grade RE classes only 10:45 am Nursery - Senior High classes Both services Children K-5th grade begin in service for first 15 minutes, then attend class as usual 10:15 - 10:45 am Chalice Choir rehearsal in music room |
| April 8, Friday | 9:30 - 11:00 am Playgroup meets in the nursery
|
| April 10, Sunday | 9:15 am Classes as usual for Nursery and
Intermediate 10:45 am Classes as usual for Nursery, Intermediate, 6th grade, Junior High and Senior High 9:20 am & 10:50 am Family Worship in Adams Hall for Pre-K - 5th grade (see article) 10:15 - 10:45 am Chalice Choir rehearsal in music room |
| April 17, Sunday | Both services Children K-3rd grade begin morning in Children's Chapel Children 4th-5thgrade end morning in Children's Chapel RE Classes as usual 10:15 - 10:45 am Chalice Choir rehearsal in music room 10:45 am Adult GATE partners in class |
| April 24, Sunday | Children's Chapel and RE classes as usual 10:15 - 10:45 am GATE informational meeting for 5th grade parents in room 001 10:15 - 10:45 am Chalice Choir rehearsal in music room 5:30 pm Seder dinner (GATE attends) |
| April 29, Friday | 6:30 - 8:00 pm A Night in Nepal - (see article)
|
Who Needs You?
I can tell you right now who needs you - we need you. You must be wondering who 'we' are. We are the whole of our beloved Eliot Chapel community and we need you to come forward for an opportunity to be enriched, to grow spiritually, to stretch in ways you've never thought possible. Am I piquing your interest? Would you like to hear more about what we need you to do?
We need people who want to share their loving hearts, who want to meet new people of all ages, who want to think about why we're here and how we can be better people and how we can make our world a better place for everybody. We need you to share your talents, your knowledge, and your sense of awe at this gift of life that we've been given.
Of course, anything we do that offers so much in return requires us to make some sacrifices. I'm not saying this commitment will be a walk in the park. You may have some challenges. But you will be supported and feted and dare I say it, adored.
Have you guessed yet what we need you to do? We need you to sign up to teach next year. We need teachers from nursery through 6th grade, so you can pick any age that appeals to you. You can pick either the fall semester or the spring semester, if one time of year works better for you. (Nursery teachers teach all year, but less frequently.) You will work with a team of teachers so that you don't have to miss the service each Sunday even when you are teaching. You will have the full support of me and the rest of the RE Council. You will have interesting topics to cover. You don't have to have majored in world religions to teach. We expect you to learn along with your students. We expect you to teach from the heart.
I am really looking forward to working with you next year. Please stop by the sign up table during April recruitment, or contact me directly to be sure you don't miss this golden opportunity for growth.
Blessings
Family Worship
Reverend Bonnie will lead Family Worship in Adams Hall on April 10. It will run concurrently with the adult services. Families with children Pre-K through 5th grade are encouraged to attend together. If that is not possible, a few teachers will be available to take children to Family Worship instead of their parents:
Pre-K - 1st grade ~ room 105 (K/1st grade classroom)
2nd - 5th grade ~ room 005 (4th/5th grade classroom)
GATE Informational Meeting
Fifth graders and their parents will want to make a point of attending the GATE Informational Meeting on Sunday, April 24 from 10:15 - 10:45 in room 001 (the GATE classroom). The GATE program will be an important part of your 6th grader's faith development. Parents will meet with Carol Moreland, the incoming GATE Coordinator and Dave Day, our retiring one. If you have a 5th grade student, you won't want to miss this meeting!
Thanks
Thanks to all the people who've already signed up to teach for 2005-2006!
Summer Religious Education Volunteers Needed
In just a few months, summer services will begin and with them our Summer RE program. Families who wish to attend summer services will need to register their children. Registration forms will be available in May. There is one adult worship service at 10:00 am. Over the past few years, we've had the nursery open for children under 5 and a multi-age class for children entering Kindergarten and up. This year the theme for the older class is Native American Spirituality, led by Lynn Murphy and Debbie Fechter.
We have found that having the nursery open for such a wide variety of ages (0-5) to be unsatisfactory. We would like to open up a regular classroom for preschoolers, but in order to do so we need plenty of volunteers. There are 11 Sundays during the summer, so if we could have a rotating group of 5 or 6 teachers available, no one would have to work very often. If you are interested in helping out, please contact as soon as possible. Since we do background screen our teachers, it will be especially helpful to hear from you soon if you've never taught before. Thank you!News Flash
Late Breaking News Flash: Junior High Pizza Party at the Bergers' house on Friday, April 22 from 6:00 - 10:00 pm.
A Night in Nepal
Come experience an evening you'll never forget! If you missed last month's REjuvenation! then you may not have heard about the dazzling Night in Nepal festivities on Friday, April 29 from 6:30 - 8:00 pm at Eliot Chapel. There will be food, games, crafts, and fun on hand as we all explore a culture far away from us. Sponsored by our 6th grade GATE students and their adult partners, this evening is to benefit the Mitrata-Nepal Foundation, an orphanage in Katmandu. Tickets ($5 per individual, $10 per family) will go on sale in Adams Hall at the donut table beginning on April 3.
We hope that you and your family will be able to attend the evening. If not, donations will also be accepted. Remember, the fun starts at 6:30 - we'll see you there!
Playgroup Fun
If you've got a little one, come join us in the nursery at 9:30 am on Friday, April 8 for play (the kids) and conversation (the adults). See you there!
Youth News
Thank you to everyone who came to see the Jr. Youth Group's Principles Project on March 4th. There was a presentation to illustrate each principle with music and imagery. The presentations were hidden throughout the building. Once the guests searched the office tower and even a couple bathrooms to find all the principle presentations, we all gathered in Adams Hall to make a giant web out of yarn (7th principle's interconnected web of life). Eventually all the guests left and 18 kids stayed for a lock-in. They played games, had a worship service, watched movies and, of course, ate lots of pizza. I would like to acknowledge the dedication of the Jr. Youth advisors - Bob Coulter, David Crowley, Katie Henry, Beth Rossow, Brian Ward and especially Ken Denson without whom the Principles Project really would not have happened.
There will soon be a Principles Project website which will have photographs from the evening. We'll let you know how to access it when it becomes available.
Susan Maginn
Youth Director
This newsletter is a product of the Eliot Chapel Religious Education Department. Please direct any articles, comments, or questions to Joan Casey (Religious Education Director) at 314-821-0911 or at . An article must be submitted no later than the 20th of each month to ensure it appearing in the next issue.
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