We do a lot of really important things in this faith community, from our common worship to our hospitality towards one another and visitors, and so much more. One of the most important things that we do is support our children and young people in their lives in Christ. We promise to do this for them at their baptism.

Almost every Sunday during the school and program year, dedicated and faithful adults give of their own time and ministry skills to help equip our children to have the tools that they will need to be people of faith in the world. The primary faith formation people are in the home: parents and grandparents, who teach their children how to love, how to forgive, how to show compassion and mercy to one another and to their classmates and neighbors. In the church, we build on the lessons children learn at home by helping teach Bible stories, prayers, and the liturgy, and finding ways to support parents, becoming a vital part of that  ‘village’ that every child needs. As our children grow, we try to offer developmentally appropriate curriculums and programs so that all of our young people know that Calvary is a safe space for them to ask the hard questions that we all face in this broken world. We don’t always, or even often, have all of the answers, but faithful adults, lay and clergy, can become discussion partners, along with peer groups, so that the toolboxes that our kids need to go out into the world to do the work they have been given, are full of the things they know from their families, this faith community, and from their lives in Christ. They will know that they are loved and are very important members of this part of the Body of Christ.

This Sunday during the 10:30 service, we will be honoring and thanking the teachers who have been working with our children since September. Ellen Youngers, Amy Ennis, David Reiman, Nicole Hendrikson, Colleen Timimi, Parker Tesch, and Daniel and Vanessa Tesch have joined with our director of Faith Formation, Michelle McKean, to create a wonderful year of Sunday School and other formation opportunities since September for the children and youth of Calvary. Others have helped occasionally as well. We can’t thank them enough, but will show our appreciation during the service through our prayers and applause. Our children will be having their end-of-year party on Sunday during the Formation hour as well, with games and ice cream. Please join me in thanking these dedicated leaders.

In the name of our Risen Lord Christ,

Beth+