Bethlehem Connect January 2018 | Page 7

children, Youth & Family CHILDREN Sunday School, MTKA ECHO is our expression of Sunday School that embraces the noise and movement of children during worship. Echo gathers in the Narthex during a portion of the service so that we are growing in faith all together and within earshot of the same story. If you find Echo distracting, we invite you to sit toward the front of the sanctuary. Sunday School, MPLS 4th grade Family Sunday School: January 21 & 28 (during Sunday School) We will explore The Apostles' Creed, talk about what we believe and learn how to confess and talk about our faith. This class is with the 4th graders and their parent/s or special adult. The following Sunday, February 4, the 4th graders will lead the Apostles' Creed in Worship. Taste of things to come in Sunday School: Feb. 4 – Summer Sunday – All summer info available Feb. 11 –Fat Sunday celebration Feb. 18 – Sandwich making & making protein packs for those experiencing homelessness Why do we welcome little children in worship? In our baptismal service, parents, sponsors and the whole congregation promise to bring children to worship. Bringing children into the sanctuary is something like allowing a child to eat at the dinner table. Even though their manners are far from elegant, it is done so those children will learn and feel a part of the family. Inviting children to participate is the most powerful way to teach them. Children giggle, they poke, they ask questions and they swing their legs simply because they are children. Young children in worship may have bad moments, but it is their birthright as Christians to worship. Children learn by experience. This is how we learn to worship and become an active member of this church community. Children learn how to welcome by how they are welcomed. From the Youth Team... Siri Undlin, known as Humbird in the music world, dazzled us with her wisdom and talent as she played her way into our hearts on Sunday, December 10. Siri addressed how she uses her gifts as an artist to address the pain and brokenness in our world. Art can unite, heal and inspire in times of resistance, and we felt all of that in a tangible way while listening to her. She is truly a gift to our community. Siri was the last of three speakers rounding out our fall speaker series on Resistance. We were energized by Pastor Meta’s powerful message about faithful resistance and convicted by Terry Williams’ talk about sex trafficking in the Twin Cities. We are close to finalizing our spring speaker series and equally excited about the hyper-relevant topics delivered by engaging speakers. Our speaker series is always open to the public, so please feel free to come learn with us and bring others who may be interested! Find more information about opportunities for youth and more details on these events, go to bethlehem-church.org. Also, please follow us on Instagram @bym_tc and like us on Facebook! Looking Ahead Programming for Children: Jan. 21 & 28 – Family SS 4th grade The Apostles' Creed Feb. 4 – 4th Grade leads Apostles' Creed during worship Programming for Youth: Dec. 31 – No Breakfast Club (MPLS) Jan. 7 – Breakfast Club resumes (MPLS) Jan. 7 – Communion Bread Making (MTKA) Meet Soren in the kitchen from 9:30-10:30 to bake delicious Communion bread for the month. Come, bring a friend and let’s bake! For more information on each of these events, visit bethlehem-church.org/events. Summer 2018: VBS 4-year-olds-4th graders: Campers 5th graders: CITs 6th-12th graders: Staff Green Lake Bible Camp 1st-12th grade Camp Amnicon Trips 7th-12th grade Serve Boldly: Chicago 7th-12th grade Israel/Palestine Global Immersion 10th grade-adults Smash! Bang! Clink! Bring your pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters to crash in the offering pot in each Sunday School classroom. We also enjoy “quiet” offering: bills and checks. Each month the Sunday School collects for different outreach partners. During January and February we will be collecting money for sandwich supplies and protein packs for the “Sandwich Man”. We will put these together on 2/18. We will be preparing this food for people experiencing homelessness. Give $2.00 for a loaf of bread, $2.50 for a cheese package, $4.75 for a package of sliced meat or $5.00 for a “protein pack." 7