SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS - JANUARY

Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you enjoyed the Christmas holiday with family and friends.

St. Margaret’s Church will hold its annual Epiphany Pageant on Sunday, Jan. 5, at the 10 a.m. service. This year, we ask that you join us at 9 a.m. for a quick dress rehearsal and costume selection. We are hoping to have some of the adults participate this year as well!

Sunday School classes resume in January! Ayla is leading the classes on Jan. 12 and 26.

On Jan. 19, the kids will hold their annual “Souper Bowl” poster prep. Come and help us to make some great posters to be displayed on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 2. The “Souper Bowl of Caring” is held every Super Bowl weekend in the U.S. and mobilizes young people in the fight against hunger and poverty in their local communities. The youth of the parish are invited to wear their favorite football jersey and join us after the 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. services to collect food and monetary donations for the St. Ignatius food pantry on Feb. 2. In case you are new to St. Margaret’s, please note that there is always a large basket under the bulletin board in the Narthex. This is where we collect food and dry goods every week to share at St. Ignatius. Ken looks forward to taking your donations to the pantry, where many people count on everything they receive to feed their families.

There is also Sunday School class at 9 a.m. on Souper Bowl Sunday, Feb. 2! 

We are still looking for teachers to fill the following dates: March 1, 8, 22, 29; April 26; and May 17. Please let me know if you are interested in teaching one or many classes.

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!

  ~ Christine K.

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2019 SUNDAY SCHOOL ARCHIVE

Our classes are scheduled for 9-9:45 a.m. on the dates listed below. If you can sign up for one or more sessions, it would be much appreciated. All the material will be provided, but you are more than welcome to add your own touch.

October 2019: 6 (Fr. Isaias); 20 (Kim); 27 (Barbara H.)
November: 17 and 24 – open
December: 15 (Ayla)
January 2020: 12 (Ayla); 19 open; 26 (Ayla)
February: 2, 9 (Ayla)
March: 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 – all dates are open
April: 19 and 26 – open
May: 3 and 17– open

Leader guides will be provided and “learner leaflets” will help guide the conversation. Classes will be cancelled if there is no leader. Please contact me if you can volunteer! – Christine K. 

OCTOBER - First of all, I must acknowledge Ayla, who has stepped up in a big way as a new Sunday School teacher for our formation year, which runs September 2019 to May 2020. Thank you, Ayla! We know you’ll do a great job.

Our classes (scheduled for 9-9:45 a.m. on the dates listed) are shown below. If you can sign up for one or more sessions, it would be much appreciated. All the material will be provided, but you are more than welcome to add your own touch.

October 2019: 6 (Fr. Isaias); 20 (Kim); 27 (Barbara H.)
November: 3, 17, 24 – all dates are open
December: 15 (Ayla)
January 2020: 12 (Ayla); 19 open; 26 (Ayla)
February: 2, 9 (Ayla)
March: 1, 18, 15, 22, 29 – all dates are open
April: 19 and 26 – open
May: 3 and 17- open

Please keep in mind that it is no longer necessary to sign up for consecutive weeks or blocks of time. Even if you can sign up for one week here and there it would be a tremendous help! Leader guides will be provided and the class will focus around “learner leaflets” that help
guide the conversation about the lectionary for the week. Unfortunately, class will be canceled for any weeks we do not have a teacher volunteer. 

Please let me know if you would like to cover a date or need any additional information.

 ~ Christine K.

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SEPTEMBER:
BLESSING OF BACKPACKS / SUNDAY SCHOOL RESUMES

Calling all students and teachers and bus drivers: Fr. Isaias will be blessing of you (and your backpacks) on Sept. 1. Sunday School class will begin on Sept. 29, with Debbie McG. teaching. Parents and previous teacher volunteers will receive the full schedule soon. Looking forward to seeing you all!

 ~ Christine K., Sunday School Coordinator

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AUGUST 2019 - We sure miss having the kids all together each week, but September will be here before you know it. Sunday School class will begin on Sept. 29, with Debbie McG. teaching. We’ll have the full program calendar completed soon and will send that out to all our parents and previous teacher volunteers. Enjoy the rest of your summer!

 ~ Christine K., Sunday School Coordinator

 

JUNE/JULY 2019 - SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS ARCHIVE

Our program has concluded for the year. Thank you to all our participants, parents and teachers! We had a terrific program this year and the participation each week was outstanding. It was also great to see our young people taking an active part in the worship service in the choir, as acolytes and assisting at coffee hour.

Thank you to Deb McG., Barbara H., Barbara A., June, Fr. Isaias and Christie G. You all make every class special and we appreciate it!

We’ll draw up the calendar for the 2019/2020 program year and get that information out as soon as possible. Our first class will be Sept. 29, 2019, and will continue with a curriculum that will follow the weekly lectionary of the Sunday services. Enjoy your summer!       
 
~ Christine K., Sunday School Coordinator

 

MAY 2019 - - SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS ARCHIVE

A BIG THANK YOU to all who joined us and invited friends to our Annual Easter Egg Hunt. Barbara A. and her team put together another wonderful event for us.We were blessed to have a break in the rainy weather and were able to have the egg hunt outside. All the eggs look so beautiful on our lawn and hanging from low branches. Rainy weather and all, it was a beautiful day at St. Margaret’s for everyone. Thank you, Barbara!

We have been blessed to have a wonderful Sunday School program this year. The youngsters’ participation was outstanding and we had a full and energetic classroom each week. And beyond the classroom, the kids are active members in the church! I can’t say enough about the dedication of our parents and everyone from the congregation who helps with our program ... thank you for all your efforts!

Spring has sprung, and summer will be here before you know it! Our last class for this program year is May 19.

 

APRIL 2019 - SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS ARCHIVE

 The big news this month is that both Jocelyn and Keith made their First Holy Communion on March 10! What an important day for each of them and it was so good to see so many people there to support them.      

Also, have you noticed what a great job Ethan and Jocelyn are doing as acolytes-in-training? And did you know that Gavin, Paul, Mason and Dean volunteered at the Dining-Side-by Side event on St. Patrick’s Day?       

We are so lucky to have such a great group of young people involved in church outside of the Sunday School program (acolytes, choir, outreach, etc.). And we are so lucky to have such great people in our congregation who dedicate their time to the Sunday School Program. Thank you to June Irvine for taking two class days this monthto teach the kids about the Book of Common Prayer!    

Our Annual Easter Egg Hunt is set for Saturday, April 20. We hope you can join us for this wonderful event. We will enjoy some treats in the Undercroft and the Easter egg hunt out on the lawn if the weather cooperates!

Please join us for the remaining class dates: April 7 and 28, and May 5 and 19.  

 ~ Christine K.

 

MARCH 2019 - SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS ARCHIVE

Thank you to all who participated in Souper Bowl Sunday! This year we raised $330 and collected 29 food items to be donated to our local food pantry at St. Ignatius in Hicksville. Since we began our participation years ago, our total donations add up to a very amazing $3,100 and 954 food items!Thank you to all the kids that made posters to decorate the church and for encouraging everybody in the congregation to get involved.           

Our Annual Easter Egg Hunt is set for Saturday, April 20. This is always a wonderful event, and we look forward to having your family and friends there. We will enjoy some treats in the Undercroft and then head outside for the Easter egg hunt on the lawn, weather permitting.

Please have your children join us for the remaining class dates March3, 10, 17, 24, and 31; April7 and 28; May5 and 19. The kids have been enjoying them-selves in class learning about the weekly liturgy. On March 3 and 17, June Irvine will teach the children about the Book of Common Prayer. These two  sessions are especially important for our new acolytes-in-training,and also will help our class learn more about Sunday services. We have had great attendance this year, and that always makes class more fun! We are so grateful for our teacher volunteers and thank you to all the kids and families for making this effort to share Sunday School hour together.

Feb. 2019 - SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS ARCHIVE

I hope everyone had a chance to enjoy our Epiphany Pageant last month. Big thanks to Barbara A. for coordinating this event and bringing a fresh look and sound this year! Grateful thanks also to Dan and Susan for adding wonderful music to our pageant. Dan, accompanying himself on guitar, sang “Mary, Did You Know?” and almost stole the show! And most importantly, thank you to all our families who were able to participate ... the kids did a wonderful job and we thank the parents for all your assistance with the props, costumes and encouraging your kids to join us.           

Each year on Super Bowl weekend, our Sunday School youth do a special outreach project called “The Souper Bowl of Caring.” Their goal is to fight hunger and poverty in our local communities. On Feb. 3, our youth, dressed in their favorite football jerseys, will collect food and monetary donations after both services. All proceeds go to the St. Ignatius Food Pantry. There is also Sunday School class that day! 

We are still in need of teacher volunteers for 2/3; 3/10; 3/17; 3/24; 5/5 and 5/19. It is no longer necessary to sign up for consecutive weeks or blocks of time. Even if you can sign up for one week it would be a tremendous help! Contact me if you would like to cover a class date or need additional information.

 ~ Christine K. 

JANUARY 2019 - SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS ARCHIVE

Our annual Epiphany Pageant will be held on Jan. 6 during the 10 a.m. service. Kids of all ages are encouraged to join us … there are many ways we can use your help! A short practice, costume selection and pizza party will be held at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 5.

Sunday School classes will resume on Jan. 13 and Jan. 27. Debbie McG. will be teaching those classes ... so please come and see what fun things she has planned! 

We will also get together on Jan. 20 to make posters for our “SOUPer Bowl” event on Feb. 3. The Souper Bowl of Caring is concurrent with Super Bowl weekend in America and mobilizes young people to fight hunger and poverty in their local communities. On Feb. 3, we invite the children to wear their favorite football jersey and join us after the 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. services to collect donations for the St. Ignatius food pantry. There is also Sunday School class that day!

We are still in need of teacher volunteers for the following weeks (2/3, 3/10, 3/17, 3/24, 5/5 and 5/19). Please keep in mind that it is no longer necessary to sign up for consecutive weeks or blocks of time. Even if you can sign up for one week it would be a tremendous help! You can reach me at if you would like to cover a class date or need additional information

 ~ Christine K.

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2018 ARCHIVE: SUNDAY SCHOOL

DECEMBER 2018 - A special thank you to Barbara A., Barbara H., Debbie McG. and Father Isaias for such a fantastic start to this year’s program! These are some of our veteran teachers and the children love to spend the morning with them all. 

We have one more class date this year ... on Dec. 16th.  The class will be based on the reading of Luke 3:1-18, John the Baptist. We are hoping for another full classroom! 

We hope everyone can participate in our special events coming up as we step into 2019. 

• The Epiphany pageant will be held on Jan. 6th (10 a.m. service)
• “Souperbowl” poster-making will be Jan. 20th at 9 a.m.
• “Souperbowl” will be Feb. 3^rd. Our young people will collect food and monetary donations for St. Ignatius Food Pantry after both services. Please be generous!

We are still in need of teacher volunteers for the following weeks: Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24; and May 5 and 19.

Please keep in mind that it is no longer necessary to sign up for consecutive weeks or blocks of time. Even if you can sign up for one week it would be a tremendous help! Contact me if you would like to cover a class date or need additional information.

 ~ Christine K.

NOVEMBER 2018 - The first few weeks of Sunday School have been amazing! We have had great participation and have had a very full classroom. The conversations are lively and the kids are enjoying our new curriculum that is based on the weekly lectionary calendar. Thank you to all our great parents and family members for your efforts to get the kids to class. 

I have personally seen my kids engaged in the readings in the church service following Sunday School. Of course, that is quiet time in service so we aren’t discussing it just then ... but I see the wheels turning and figure they must be thinking about what they discussed in class. How exciting to see them more engaged in service!

We are still in need of teacher volunteers for the following weeks: (11/18, 2/3, 3/10, 3/17, 3/24, 5/5 and 5/19). Please keep in mind that it is no longer necessary to sign up for consecutive weeks or blocks of time. Even if you can sign up for one week it would be a tremendous help! Contact me if you would live to cover a class date or need additional information.

 ~ Christine K. 

SEPTEMBER 2018 - It’s that time again ... back to school ... and back to Sunday School, too! I hope everyone enjoyed a fun-filled summer.

This year we’ll be changing the Sunday School curriculum to a lectionary-based program. This means that the kids will dive into the Gospel reading for that particular day. We are still in the planning phases, but our hope is that when Sunday School is over and the kids attend the 10 a.m. service afterwards, their familiarity with the Gospel reading will make the service and sermon more meaningful.This is one way to begin engaging our children in the service itself. 

Sparkhouse (our current provider) offers a lectionary-based program that I’m looking into so that we can use the children’s Bibles that we already have, and our teacher volunteers will already be somewhat familiar with how it works.

Speaking of volunteers ... we still need you!The new lectionary-based curriculum may provide more convenient options. Because each week is a stand-alone class, it will no longer be necessary for you to volunteer for consecutive weeks. You can pick and choose a few dates that work with your schedule. 

Once the calendar and curriculum are finalized, I will get the information to our families and teacher volunteers as quickly as possible. Stay tuned!

 ~ Christine K.

P.S. We need a volunteer to coordinate this year’s Trunk-N-Treat event at Halloween. The kids always have a fun time! Please contact Barbara A. or Christine K.

 

 ** ARCHIVE: Sunday School 2018 **

SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS - MAY 2018
A SPECIAL EARTH DAY VISITOR

Lily the Cockatoo Says ‘Hi’ at Sunday School

Sunday School had a surprise visitor on April 22: Lily, the Umbrella Cockatoo. Lily is one of our birds that spent a very pampered winter in the rectory with Father Isaias and Christie. Lily had a special reason to be joining our Sunday School kids – she represented one of the many species threatened with extinction unless we humans care enough to help them.

On Good Shepherd Sunday, Father talked about how we should all “shepherd” each other with love, kindness, and help. This love must extend to all of creation. As it was also Earth Day, the students learned a bit about parrots, including two species that are getting some emergency help from caring people. They also had an up-close snuggle and pictures with Lily, who loves kids (and lots of attention)!

Parrots live not only in the rapidly disappearing rain- forest, but almost everywhere in the world except the Arctic and Antarctica. Cockatoos hail from Australia and the Philippines. These beautiful and intelligent birds need our protection, as do so many other species. Let’s all be good shepherds of God’s marvelous creation!

 ~ Linda A.