Family Newsletter:

Advent Four

Week of December 18, 2022

Family Calendar

Sun, Dec 18   :    10:00am     :    Church School (Storymakers & Godly Play)

Sun, Dec 18   :    11:15am     :     Pageant Rehearsal for All Participants

Sun, Dec 18   :     3:15pm      :     Choristers (Children's Choir) Warm-Up

Sun, Dec 18   :     5:00pm      :     Lessons & Carols Service (with choir and choristers)

Sat, Dec 24    :     3:00pm      :     Pageant Run-Through (arrive a couple minutes early)

Sat, Dec 24    :      4:00pm     :     Christmas Eve Service: Family Service with Pageant

Sat, Dec 24    :     7:00pm      :     Christmas Eve Service

Sat, Dec 24    :    10:00pm     :     Christmas Eve Service (with incense)

Sun, Dec 25   :    10:00am     :     Christmas Day Worship

Four Things of Note

Pageant Rehearsal this Sunday is for all children who would like to take part! We start after the 10am worship service ends. Grab a quick snack and meet us in the sanctuary. ALL ARE WELCOME.

Pageant Participants: We do our final run through on Saturday (Christmas Eve) at 3pm. Our pageant is during the 4pm service. 

Stagehands are needed for this year's pageant -- please email Bryn if you can help move sets during the pageant.

January 4th: Join us for our Midwinter celebration! Fires, cocoa, and grilled cheese in our cloister garden as we celebrate the end of the Christmas Season and Epiphany.

Dear families,

This weekend we arrive at the fourth Sunday of Advent. I use words like “exciting” and “energetic” when prepping our Church School team for this final Sunday before Christmas. But here’s a secret (don’t read this, dear teachers): what I really mean by exciting is “a little nutty.” In these final days before Christmas, many kids can go from adorably expectant to a touch off-the walls.

It’s pretty awesome, actually, to be with little people who love Christmas that much, and have such hope and joy. The grown-up challenge of course, when children are a bit off-the-wall, is to hold the floor. And to do that, we ourselves need to be grounded: grounded in 1) self care, and 2) prayerful connection with the Lord. This week we pray that you may feel the children's infectious joy and hope, and that you can rest in the loving presence of God.

Peace,

Bryn

PS. This week I’m finding some seasonal grace and wisdom in the story of Martha and Mary from Luke 10:38-42. Give it a read as a Christmas story!

Christmas Pageant Rehearsal Schedule

Pageant Rehearsals will be:

Sunday, December 18 at 11:15am (all participants--dress rehearsal!)

Saturday, December 24: 3pm run through


Children may still participate even if they can not attend rehearsals!

Sign-ups are still open. Please talk with your child about whether they would like to be an angel, shepherd, sheep, or barn animals. Even tiny ones can participate, and their parents are welcome! 

The Christmas Pageant is Saturday, December 24 at 4pm.

Pageant Signups

Choristers Schedule

Our children's choir is participating in the Lessons and Carols service this Sunday, for the first time. Thank you Choristers for blessing us in this way!

The Choristers upcoming schedule is:

Sat, Dec 17   :   9:15-10:30am   :   Rehearsal (sanctuary)

Sun, Dec 18  :   3:15pm   :   Warm-up for Lessons and Carols

Sun, Dec 18  :   5:00pm   :   Lessons & Carols Service

Wed, Dec 21 :   5:15-6:30pm   :   Chorister Holiday Party (Upper Parish Hall)

Wed, Dec 28 :   No Rehearsal--Have a Happy Break!

Wed, Jan 4    :   5:15-6:15pm  :  Rehearsal (Upper Parish Hall)

Church School: Holiday Schedule

This Sunday, Dec 18 at 10am -- join us in Church School as we celebrate the fourth week of Advent!

No Church School on December 25 (Christmas Day) or January 1 (New Years Day).

We resume our Church School classes on Sunday, January 8.

Please note there will not be classes Martin Luther King Weekend (January 15). 

Church School Registration

Church School registration is always open! This gives us important information like allergies and opting into/out of photo permissions. We re-register each year to keep our information current. Thank you! 

Church School Registration

Important New Opportunities for Youth

Exploring our Faith

All youth (6th-12th grade) are invited to Exploring our Faith, Sundays after the 10am service from Feb. 5th - April 2nd (Skipping Feb. 19th). For those interested in being confirmed (must be 10th grade or older), these classes will be required and fulfill all confirmation qualifications. Please email Janelle at jhiroshige@3crowns.org if you are interested in being confirmed. Pizza will be provided! 

Youth Hut Hike: Summer 2023

Save the date for our Youth Hut Hike trip on June 26th-28th in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. We will have a guide from the Appalachian Mountain Club and this will be an opportunity for community building while enjoying God’s creation. Interested? Email Janelle at jhiroshige@3crowns.org.

Important Dates for Families

Sunday, Dec 18  :  11:15am   :  Christmas Pageant Rehearsal for All Participants

Sunday, Dec 18  :  5:00pm   :  Lessons & Carols Service and Reception

Saturday, Dec 24  :  3:00pm  :  Christmas Pageant Run Through

Saturday, Dec 24  :  4:00pm  :  Christmas Pageant & Christmas Eve Service

Sunday, Jan 8       :  10:00am  :  Church School Resumes

Sunday, Jan 15    :   Martin Luther King Weekend--No Church School Classes

Saturday, Jan 21  :  9:00am  :  Communion Enrichment Program (grades 2-5)

Sunday, Jan 22  :  10:00am  :  Communion Enrichment Sunday

Bryn Hollenbeck, Director of Children's Ministries and Parish Life: bhollenbeck@3crowsn.org

Janelle Hiroshige, Associate for Youth and Community Partnerships: jhiroshige@3crowns.org

Jeremy Bruns, Director of Music and Organist: jbruns@3crowns.org

Nick Myers, Rector: nmyers@3crowns.org

 

70 Church Street, Winchester, MA  01890
781-729-1922
www.3crowns.org

A WELCOMING COMMUNITY