St. James Episcopal Church, Clinton NY

Christian Formation: Children
Summer 2009

From June 14 through Labor Day,
we have Summer Sunday School craft.
The sessions begin at 9:30 am each Sunday.
Susan H. leads the group.

The regular Christian Formation schedule resumes Sunday, September 13th.

Sunday, July 5
No craft activity planned. Children are welcome to attend the worship. This is our first Sunday for lemonade on the lawn, a tradition that our children enjoy.

July 12
Craft activity downstairs for children.

July 19
Heidi Philley plans to show the children a video.

July 26
There will be a kid-oriented telling of the scripture lessons and sermon with Rev. Peter Williams (no craft activity scheduled). So far, (and this was just for adult worship!) he's used giant puzzle pieces, measuring tape, and a big yellow fish swimming in a motion-filled sea, so whatever he has planned for the kids will be interactive and memorable. Be sure to attend this child-friendly worship, and consider inviting other families or bringing a friend.

Adults, please sign up with Susan Havlovic for a turn supervising summer crafts for kids downstairs.

Vacation Bible School
August 2-6 at the Clinton United Methodist Church

A wonderful Vacation Bible School in Clinton has been organized for years by the Methodist Church, but it's grown so large that they've invited the other Clinton churches to join with them in this ecumenical children's ministry. There is a tremendous energy and the kids experience the stories of our faith with all their senses. Zach had Mesafint had a great time at it last year?I highly recommend it.

"Camp Edge: Exploring and Discovering God Everywhere"
on Sunday, Aug.2 through Thurs. Aug. 6
6:00-8:30 pm at the Clinton United Methodist Church.

This year's "extreme sports" theme program is open to ages 4-12; teens are invited to be helpers.

A Summer Prayer for All God's Children

We are grateful for the summer months ahead,
And grateful for the summer joys
and the laughter of the children
in our families, our schools and our parishes.
Bless our children during these next months;
may they grow in grace through play and picnics,
camps and friendships, family visits and vacations.

We pray too for children in our global community,
Especially for children being scarred by the violence of conflict,
The horror of war, of life on the run,
And the violence of child labor.
For them, the summer holds no promise nor relief.

Bless our children during the months ahead,
All our children,
In Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Middle East,
In Darfur, in every place where the sounds of guns and bombs
Continue to be heard and continue
To silence the sounds of children's laughter and childhood dreams.

Bless our children in every country where children labor through long days
and never know the peace of economic security or freedom.

God of Grace,
May these children know comfort and healing, through Your compassion
And through our efforts to bring peace and justice
To the global village we all call home.
Amen.

by Jane Deren
www.educationforjustice.org