Children & Family Ministries

gracestlukes.org/childrens-formation

Summertime Sum-Up

There are days, times, and seasons when it is good to take stock. Many use birthdays, holy days of the church year, or January 1st to reflect on how life is going, things they want to celebrate, things they’d like to improve, questions that have emerged, or new thoughts and feelings that have changed over a period of time. As we approach the end of the program year in Children and Family Ministries (CFM), I thought I would share some things we can celebrate together, some things on the horizon, and how we might keep up our connections and community within CFM and the parish more broadly over the summer months.

We have a lot to celebrate! The pandemic changed so many rhythms and GSL had to adjust. When I arrived in August, many families were just stepping back into church buildings. As of April 30, we are averaging about 15 children in Sunday Formation and 18 children in Children’s Church (we had 42 on Easter and have had over 20 many Sundays). We baptized 17 children into the family we call Church! We have hosted several Parents Connect fellowship times, Playdates in the Park, and other gatherings. One of the main images of the people of God in the Bible is “family.” The church is the family of God! Siblings to one another, called to weep with those who weep and celebrate with those who celebrate! Some families have experienced deaths or losses, some births, and in it all, our clergy and our community have supported each other. In this we can rejoice!

We also celebrate the brave children who have stepped in to read Scripture or Prayers of the People at our 10:30 service (thank you Ali, Charlie, Hazel, Janie, Mays, and Norah), the gardening collaboration between the church and school, and many other acts of ministry. We acknowledge and celebrate the volunteers who have answered the call to help teach and mentor the children of the parish! I especially name here Stephani Adair, Kathleen Behnke, Sam Boyd, Janelle Calzia, Amelia and Ben Cowan, Melanie French, Josh Gettys, Jenn and Ryan Gibbs, Amy Hudson, Maureen Kennedy, Allison and Steven King, Catherine and Ryan Knoll, Simone Meeks, Price Peacock, Hannah Phillips, Pete Shearon, Sharon and Josh Shipley, Betsy and Matt Sights, and Bruce Williams. In some way, each of these ministers has made a difference this year in the lives of our kids and our parish, and by so doing, within the world! There are others as well, unnamed folks who have remained behind the scenes, but whose work is vital. Thank you to our nursery attendants:

Izabella Arsenault, Teresa Betts, Ariel Laws, Virginia Rostock, and Elizabeth Woods. There are also parents and other caring adults whose support is known only to God through prayer, words of encouragement, bringing their kids to events, donations, and financial generosity! We have an abundance of reasons to celebrate!

What lies ahead? We are praying and planning to continue offering transformative programming for children and families. This summer we will slow down, but never stop having opportunities for hope, healing, and belonging in CFM. Vacation Bible School will begin Wednesday June 28, and continue for four weeks (please sign up, see page 5 for details). Intergenerational activities like Messy Church, a church service done in a way we are not used to, are being planned for July (join our planning team if you can). Messy Church is a church that helps people encounter Jesus as Lord and Savior. Messy Church is about being Christ-centered, for all ages, creative, hospitable to all, and full of celebration! You can find more information at messychurchusa.org/faq. Children’s Chapel will continue to offer the gospel message every Sunday at a level appropriate to children with activities and crafts. Other possibilities exist and await our dreaming and showing up to them!

How might we stay connected and move forward into summer?

First, we take a deep breath! And maybe a few more! Life is busy. Sickness, housework, school, sports, etc., etc., take a lot out of us. God made us to love God, ourselves, and our neighbors. So, we breathe, knowing we can love well, only while we are breathing!

Next, we stay as connected as we can. Plan to attend church, occasional events, make playdates with GSL friends (and new friends). We thank God for a slower pace (hopefully) and try to live gratefully with each other.

While we breathe, give thanks, slow down, stay engaged, we also prayerfully consider the future. The church is unique in many ways because without the active financial and embodied support of volunteers, the ministry breaks down. I am hyper-active by nature and brain chemistry. Yet, there is only so much I can do alone. Many have joined the work of CFM this year! What will next year look like? I don’t know. But I hope for more ministers on Sundays for children’s classes, more chances for parents and kids to gather for fellowship, and more opportunities to shape and mold our lives around the resurrected life Jesus lives and calls us all to live! What are your gifts? What has the inner voice of your spirit spoken to you? Where will you make your little corner of GSL and the world brighter, more beautiful, loving? While you reflect and breathe, give thanks to God for a slower summer pace, live in gratitude for abundance, and reach out for help and support when you need it. And in all this, breathe deeply a few more times!

With a heart of gratitude, in Easter joy,

Anthony Calzia Director of Children and Family Ministries

901-252-6321 | acalzia@gracestlukes.org

Food Pantry Ministry News

Greetings from the GSL Cooking Teams! We have been busy filling our freezer with healthy meals for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Eight teams continue to cook once every six weeks to prepare a variety of recipes to feed 120 patrons each week. By the end of April, we had fed 1,540 individuals.

Church Health representatives meet GSL volunteers every Tuesday morning to pick up frozen meals. These meals are then distributed by Church Health to their patrons. In addition to this distribution, we continue to invite Church Health patrons with transportation to come to GSL to pick up additional meals. Currently, seven families are coming to GSL to receive additional meals. Patrons have shared that their meals are easy to heat up at home and are delicious. They also appreciate that the meals are low in sugar, salt, and fat.

We are grateful for our two sponsors, Palazola Produce and Cash Saver, who provide fresh produce and dry goods every week. These incredible sponsors help us to reduce food cost and meet the needs of those with food insecurities. If you are interested in fun and fellowship while serving others, this ministry offers that!! If you would like to join a cooking team, lead a cooking team, and/or distribute meals to Church Health patrons, please reach out to Congregational Life Associate Abby Huber (ahuber@gracestlukes.org) or Jerry Hudson through Realm (tinyurl.com/ RealmJerryHudson). We look forward to hearing from you!!

–Submitted by Amy Hudson