Fall Happenings!

Worship & Wonder

     This Sunday we restart our Children Worship & Wonder program. We always begin the year with Orientation sessions to help reacquaint the children with the program, orient newcomers to how things work in our worship space and introduce the children to learning how to worship God from that internal space within themselves where God dwells.

     Worship & Wonder is a program dear to my heart for many reasons, but mostly because it works from the premise that children already have a relationship with God–we don't give that to them, it's already there. We simply show them ways to tap into the God within (the Imago Dei). This Sunday, children ages 3 years old to third grade will be blessed during worship and then taken to the worship center where we will begin the year together: worshipping and praising God, singing songs and sharing a communal feast, praying and loving together–much like you will be doing in their absence. Please remember these children in your prayers.

Children's Sabbath Prayer Vigil

     This year's Children's Sabbath will be celebrated on October 21st. Our 40 Days of Prayer Vigil will begin on September 9th. As we journey into this season where we lift children in prayer and seek ways in which God calls us to meet the needs of the children in our lives, in our community and in this world we hope to have the sanctuary open on weekdays 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for prayer and meditation (this will depend on whether we can have volunteers available to greet prayer visitors). We will also have available a meditation guide to aid this prayer journey. Please consider volunteering a moment of your time to sit in contemplation in our sanctuary to lift our children, our families, our teachers, administrators, and school staff in prayer as they begin another year of learning together.

Stuff the Bus

     Our Stuff the Bus school supply drive is currently in full-force. If you've not visited our fellowship hall with your donations, please do so soon. The needs of the school are great and the funds that our families are working from are strained in this difficult economy. The supply lists are up in Walmart and we have them posted at our display. These supplies are divided among the schools and distributed by our teachers (yes they share!)

Operation Backpack

     The county extension office aids each of our schools to collect, prepackage and deliver food packs to children (of all ages) who may be going hungry on weekends. These food items are collected by local churches and civic organizations. We participate in this program throughout the school year and our drop-off point is in the fellowship hall. Food items requested need to be single-serving sized and packaged and have a good nutritional value. Our youth will be traveling to the extension office on October 10th to help pack food for this program as part of our youth outreach efforts. Last year this program fed between 275-280 children in Bourbon County. This year's numbers are not in yet from all the schools, but the schools that have reported are turning in numbers higher than last year. The need is great and we are so richly blessed. Please consider feeding a child in need when you shop for your family.

Blessings,
Tracy