Goodbyes

Dear Children of St. Mary’s,

I want to thank you for showing me what it looks like when God smiles and for showing me how big God’s love is. I can’t even begin to describe the wonder and delight that you have brought into my life. You have taught me that no one ever "fully knows the way home" and that the best answer is always “Jesus” no matter what the question is.  I am so very grateful that God brought you into my life and that you were willing to be Christ’s light to me and to everyone around you.  I will always take that light with me, wherever I go – whether at home or far away.

I pray that you keep Christ’s light with you, in your hearts, forever, and that you always remember the best answer, to any question, is “Jesus”.  I know that with those two things you will go far. You will always have a place in my heart and in my prayers.

with much peace, joy, and love,

miss cindy

Everything has a season, and we have to be able to recognize when something’s time is passed and be able to move into the next season. ~Henry Cloud The Art of Endings

It has been an honor and a joy that one of the seasons that God has given me was a time to share God’s love with all of you.  While my season of serving the children at St. Mary’s may be ending your season of serving (aka loving) may be beginning.  The joy you will feel will be insurmountable, the love you find will be indescribable, and the things you will learn and the stories that you will be able to tell will astound you.  Please pray.  I know that the right people to serve the children are in the pews of St. Mary’s and God is just waiting for you to say yes.  And when you’re ready to say yes – please tell Katie+.  She’ll take good care of you and your call to serve.  For more information about St. Mary's and their ministry to children and youth check out the website

stmaryscypress.org

Final Friday!

Today was the last day of  this week's VBS and we had a blast.  We learned how nothing can separate us from God's love and that we are God's light in the world.

We collected $1000.00 for water filters in the Dominican Republic which equals 6 1/2 water filters.  The children did an awesome job of helping others get clean water.

Our last time together will be Sunday at 10:30 AM for worship.  We will be singing VBS songs and using our Children's Liturgy service as we celebrate all we learned this week.  Wear your VBS shirt and come check out the cool art work that everyone did.  Don't miss Rev. Katie's God inspired painting!

Check out our last smilebox to find out who won - the boys or the girls!

See you Sunday!

Thursday at VBS

Fire, Water, Rocks.

Forgiveness, Repentance, Grace.  These are pretty hard concepts for many adults get their minds around, but today this is what the children learned about.  They learned about making mistakes from Rev. Katie who had a little "trip" and messed up our art work in progress.  Forgiveness was freely given, but it wasn't until after going to the Prayer Station that she was able to forgive herself for the untrue things she was thinking about herself.  We are praying that our big group hug gives Rev. Katie some inspiration and that somehow God will take her "mistake" and make it into something beautiful.

Rev. Beth and the children wrote down their sins and then burned them and became forgiven people.

Melanie showed how God's love is freely given through beautiful rocks tumbled by Joe.  One rock per child.  Shared many times over.  Loving our neighbors, loving ourselves, with rocks to remind us or to give to someone else to remind them.

We are still stuck inside with rain showers and soggy ground prohibiting us from exploring outside.  Art was created with watercolors - allowing the children to paint freely.

  

Check out the Thursday smilebox to see what we did today!

Tomorrow is our last day and we have lots to learn.  It's our last day to collect money to buy water filters for the Dominican Republic.  Right now the girls are in the lead - but all can change at a moments notice.

Tomorrow is also  Freeform Friday.  Be yourself.  Show us your creative side.  Wear your tutu,your best suit or your gardening shoes.  Be creative.  Express the artist that God created you to be.

Wednesday at VBS - Post "Bill"

We're back together after tropical storm "Bill" and we had lots of fun.  We created with clay, we sang songs, we learned about the gifts that God has given each of us to help us help others.  We stayed reasonably dry and had some great snacks together.

Check out what we did today!

Tomorrow we will continue to collect money for clean water for the Dominican Republic, so bring your change.  We only have two days left!  Will Max be wearing red nail polish or spaghetti?  What will happen to Miss Cindy if the boys win?  Bring your change and find out!

Tomorrow is crazy hair day or crazy sock day - your choice - or both!

Monday at VBS

We had an awesome time today learning, playing, creating, dreaming, singing, and snacking.  Today we learned about how God created the world, including each of us and how God created us in God's image - making us artists too!  We celebrated acts of love and are keeping our eyes open for even more.  We're collecting money to buy water filters for those that need clean water in the Dominican Republic, so bring your money in and let's see who wins this year - the boys or the girls!


Check out this cool video of what we did today!

Tuesday is crazy hat day so find your craziest hat, put it on your head, and show it off on Tuesday.

Tropical Storm "Bill" threatens to dampen our plans on Tuesday and Wednesday.  We will contact participants via email if our plans change, but right now we're planning on keeping the VBS party going!

It's VBS Time!

Today's the official start of Vacation Bible School at St. Mary's and I'm pretty excited. Our theme this year is "Creating with God our Creator - Art Camp VBS". We wIll be learning about how God created us in God's image and  how we are created to be to creative.

There will be lots of paper, crayons,  paint, pencils and chalk. There will be lots and lots of noise from lots and lots of children (and adults too). And there will be lots and lots of love.

And God will say...It is good!

Easter Egg-stravaganza

Wednesday - April 8th
6:00 - 8:00 PM

Come hear the rest of the Easter story! Travel from trunk to trunk and see and hear about Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem through His ascension into heaven.  There will be Easter eggs galore and a bouncy house for the children.  Hot dogs, chips, drinks and candy - lots of candy will be available for everyone.  And the cost - it's free.  Just like Jesus' love for us is free for the taking.

Why Easter eggs and treats on the Wednesday after Easter Sunday?  Well, Sunday is when Easter begins and it lasts for 50 days.   It ends with the day of Pentecost.  50 days to celebrate, and what better way than with Easter eggs and the Easter story!

I hope I'll see you there! And why not bring a friend? What a great way to celebrate the risen Christ and to share the rest of our Resurrection story.

Children and Worship

The sound of a baby crying.  The thump of a book as it hits the floor.  The twirl of a skirt as a little girl dances.  The mischievous grin of a toddler from under the pew.  Hands held out. Arms open wide. Smiles, frowns, tears, wiggles.  These are the sights and sounds that I see from my seat in church. To be honest – sometimes it’s distracting.

The wiggling, giggling, paper crumbling, back and forth from the bathroom stuff that goes on. But I'm put in my place when I hear the voice of Jesus saying “Let the little children come to me.”  Jesus knows that those “distracting wigglers” belong.  And really, what am I distracted from when that prayer book hits the floor?  Possibly my grocery list or what I need to do after worship.  If and when I put my mind around it, in the right way, those distractions can actually can be what focus me on the Cross and my Creator.  For all of us are created in the image of God; adults and children alike.  And all of us, children too, are called to worship God our Creator.  Who am I to say that the twirling, frowns, tears and giggles aren't worship.



So, bring it on – the crying, the thumping, the twirling, and dancing.  Hands held out, arms open wide – for they belong, we all belong - to the kingdom of God.  

Time to Remember

by logan

It's almost Holy Week - the week that we spend thinking, reading, and praying about the days right before Jesus' resurrection.  Some of it's happy - Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem , and the Last Supper.  But some of it's sad like Judas' betrayal, Peter's denial, and Jesus' arrest.  And some of it's really, really sad and kind of scary because Jesus dies.  He dies after being nailed to a cross.  The best way to remember all of these moments is to come to St. Mary's and worship with your church family.

So this is the week that we remember it all.

How will you remember? 

Use your Passport to the Resurrection at all services: get at stamp for each service you attend.

Here are the services at St. Mary's - they can help you remember

• Palm Sunday (3/29) - 8:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 5:30 PM
• Maundy Thursday (4/2) - 7:00 PM (Holy Eucharist, Stripping of the Altar, and more!)
• Watch with Christ Prayer Vigil - 9:00 PM - noon on Friday
• Good Friday (4/3) - Noon - 3:00 PM - Stations of the Cross from 2-3. Come and go as your schedule permits.
• Good Friday (4/3) - 6:30 PM - Stations of the Cross for Children and Family.
• Nursery care available for Maundy Thursday and all Easter (Great Vigil and Easter Sunday) services.

by lily

Then join us for the rest of the Easter story.  

It's amazing what happens next!

• Easter Vigil (4/4) - 7:30 PM
• Easter Sunday (4/5) - 7:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 5:30 PM
• Easter breakfast at 8:00 AM

The Last Supper

The Upper Elementary Sunday School class gave me a stack of pictures that they had made about the Last Supper.  I really like them.  What do you think?