Tuesday, August 26, 2008

1st Sunday after Christmas to Pentecost (Year A)

To learn about Children's Church procedures at St. Michael and All Angels in Studio City, California [http://www.stmikessc.org/] , please look below.


2011 ROTA FOR CHILDREN'S CHURCH

Leader given in bold


2011 ROTA FOR CHILDREN'S CHURCH

Leader given in bold

January 2 Nicholas and Bruce
(1st Sunday after Christmas)

January 9 Nicholas and Andy
(1st Sunday after Epiphany)

January 16 Bruce and Nicholas
(2nd Sunday after Epiphany)

January 23 Patrick and Nicholas
(3rd Sunday after Epiphany)

January 30 Nicholas and Patrick
(4th Sunday after Epiphany)

February 6 Nicholas and Andy
(5th Sunday after Epiphany)

February 13 Bruce and Nicholas
(6th Sunday after Epiphany)

February 20 Andy and Nick
(7th Sunday after Epiphany)

February 27 Nicholas and Patrick
(8th Sunday after Epiphany)

March 6 Patrick and Bruce
(9th Sunday after Epiphany)

March 13 Bruce and Nicholas
(1st Sunday of Lent)

March 20 Nicholas and Patrick
(2nd Sunday of Lent)

March 27 Patrick and Bruce
(3rd Sunday of Lent)

April 3 Bruce and Patrick
(4th Sunday of Lent)

April 10 Nicholas and Andy
(5th Sunday of Lent)

April 17 Nicholas and Patrick
(Palm Sunday)

April 24 (no Children's Church)
(Easter Sunday)

May 1 Bruce and Nicholas
(2nd Sunday of Easter)

May 8 Bruce and Patrick
(3rd Sunday of Easter)

May 15 Patrick and Nicholas
(4th Sunday of Easter)

May 22 Nicholas and Patrick
(5th Sunday of Easter)


May 29 Nicholas and Patrick
(6th Sunday of Easter)

June 5 Bruce and Patrick
(7th Sunday of Easter)

June 12 Patrick and Bruce
(Pentecost)



CHILDREN'S CHURCH PROCEDURES
All Children’s Church services at St. Michael and All Angels in Studio City, California [http://www.stmikessc.org/] have a leader and assistant. The leader should prepare a

1) opening prayer, i.e.

God be in my head, and in my understanding
God be in my eyes, and in my looking
God be in my mouth and in my speaking
God be in my heart, and in my thinking
God be at my end, and in my departing


2) Bible passage (usually the Gospel in accessible translation).
3) sermon/discussion

(A Sept. 2, 2008, note from Catherine Wagar:

In my office at the parish, I found a book of sermons for young children for Lectionary Cycle A (the one that is happening right now until First Advent in December). They are quite good, and they are adaptations of the Gospel lessons, done in the interactive style we have been using with the children.

I'd be glad to loan the book to anyone, or make copies for anyone, of the pages that pertain to the Sundays they will be leading CC. People can let me know which ones they want, and I will copy and mail them promptly.

Also, when I am at the Cathedral Center this weekend, I will see if the Lectionary Cycle B and C counterparts are available, and if they are, I will buy them so we have a full set in the office.

Let me know if this resource is of interest. Thanks! Catherine)

4) coloring page and/or word search (available at http://www.sermons4kids.com/), )
5) a version of the prayers:

The Prayers of the People – a form for children


With all our hearts and all our minds, let us pray to God, saying, “God, hear our prayer”.

We offer our prayers for our church, and its search for a new rector, and all God's people throughout the world. Together, we say

God, hear our prayer.

We pray for our President, Barack, and our Governor, Jerry, and for all other leaders in the countries of the world. Together, we say,
God, hear our prayer.

We pray for the poor, hungry, homeless, and victims of violence or war. Together, we say,
God, hear our prayer.

We pray for all people who are sick or in trouble. Together, we say,
God, hear our prayer.

We pray for help the good of the Earth. Together we say,
God, hear our prayer.

We pray for the dead. Together, we say,
God, hear our prayer.

And do you here have any prayers that you'd lik to share?
(Elicit prayers)
God, hear our prayer.

[Note: this section gets tailored to the specific Sunday on which these prayers are being used – picking up one or more themes from the lesson that has been presented or discussed – it is a “collect”, i.e. a prayer-summary of the most important theme(s) of the morning.]

And together we say at last,
AMEN.


Concise Children's Service Sequence

1) Children, leader, and assistant leave during Gradual Hymn before the reading of the Gospel
2) Go to the Blue Room and (optionally) take off shoes
3) Minute of silence"
God is in this Holy Temple; let all the earth keep silence here."
4) Lighting of candle and opening prayer
5) Reading of the Bible passage
6) Homily/sermon
7) Concluding prayer
8) Singing of "Yes, Jesus Loves Me"
9) Distribute coloring pages and/or word searches--or other activity
10) Upon an usher's notification, get shoes back on and return to the church during the Peace


These are broad guidelines—not dicta from on high; creativity or originality are not thereby discouraged. Children are invited to attend children's church between the Gospel and the Peace; all children, however, are welcome to stay in the pews with their parents during the sermon, confession, and prayers.


The assistant (or assistants) merely assists, or may assume some of the above tasks.

Contact Information
Please consult your church directory or Duane Streadman at the church at (818) 763-9193 for contact information.

People who need a replacement should make their own arrangements and contact me. I will then edit the blog to reflect the adjusted schedule. If you prefer, you may post comments and direct them to Duane's attention. If anyone wishes to take over on a particular Sunday, that is fine as well.

September 7, 2008, Note from former deacon Catherine Wagar

Ask the children to be silent for a minute, and then the leader lights the candle and says, "God is in this Holy Temple; let all the earth keep silence here." (Yes, I am deliberately omitting male pronouns...) Then after a few moments of silence (and you may have to tell the children you will wait for it, until they get into the routine), you begin the prayer by saying, "Let us say the opening prayer together: God be in my.....etc." Bruce will make a big laminated version to post on the board by the door (we will probably not have access to the one we were using last year from the Godly Play rooms, which will be closed up). We would go all the way through the service as usual, ending with singing "Jesus Loves Me" - and then, the leader extinguishes the candle and says, "Thank you for coming to Children's Church this morning. We hope you'll come again." Then the children can be excused to work on coloring pages, etc. There is a table set up against the side wall with chairs on either side, and a box of crayons on the table. Children can move to this area to work on their coloring sheets and word search. (We will probably need to find a few pencils). We could add a few other activities that the kids could do before returning to "Big Church" at the peace....there are a few other art supplies available in the room and/or we could buy some if needed. I removed all the markers to try to keep the mess down to a dull roar....but there is construction paper, scissors, etc. there that could be used. My thought in suggesting we structure this time a little more than we have done in the past is that kids (even little kids) need some opportunities to learn how to contain themselves, sit still, and be silent and focused during worship time. Our interactions with them during the sermon story, and our invitations for them to add any special prayers they would like to offer during the prayers of the people, give them enough "wiggle room" to not have to sit silently during the total time together. Still, getting them settled down and a little more focused may help make the experience better for them (and for us too). I'll ask Duane to ask Jose to be sure to unlock the Blue Room before 10:30, so we can have access to it from outside. I'll also ask Lauren[our former parish secretary] to post a sign in the window that says "Children's Church" so it's clear which room we will be using. Let me know what you think about the changes and the suggestions for adding a little more structure. You're welcome to post these suggestions on the blog and get feedback from the other leaders and assistants as well. As a non-parent, my ideas may not be welcome or on target, so that's okay. And, leaders could have flexibility to arrange the room in whatever fashion they would like.....although I think there is some value in having a relatively consistent approach from week to week. Okay -- that's it for now! Blessings and Thanks -- Catherine


--Nicholas Renton