Dear Friends,

How can it possibly be February already? The year is flying by! My Christmas tree just came down and we are now preparing for Lent! Sunday School continues to be a weekly joy celebrating our children. I enjoy our conversations and watching them engage with each other. Some of my favorite moments recently included playing the “Samuel” game. I shared the story of Samuel being called by God just as he was drifting off to sleep, only Samuel kept getting up thinking it was Eli who was calling him...we had a bit of fun playing over and over again trying to figure out who was calling us! That game was followed by the older kids trying to catch the younger ones around the table while I posed as the gate keeper. I am wondering how many children enjoy naps on Sunday afternoons? I forgot to mention the active social time that happens in the classroom wing during fellowship hour! The children can hardly wait to go get a plate of food and come back to play. If you are ever looking for me after church, the long classroom hallway is probably where you will find me! We will begin the month of February discussing how to share in Jesus' ministry of showing love and concern for others. Healing and compassion will be major themes as we prepare for Transfiguration Sunday and the beginning of Lent.

Our weekly confirmation class of four students continues to be a weekly delight! The time Roger and I spend with these four girls is filled with a joyful spirit and an eagerness to learn and grow. I continue to marvel at how much they seem to enjoy spending time with us and are very open and willing to share. I am very grateful to have had this year with them, it has been a very special time.

As time continues to pass by I want to share a few upcoming dates to mark on your calendar. March 4, I am planning on including some of the Sunday School students in the Communion Service. Roger and I are discussing ways to introduce Communion to the students and I will be talking with them during class time. My plan is to bring them back into the service, all sitting together, to partake in Communion. April 8 is Easter Sunday and the Board of Educational Ministries will provide our annual Easter Egg Hunt for the children after church. May 6 is Children and Youth Sunday. We will celebrate our children and youth and offer enormous thanks to our Teachers; Sunday School buddies for Deborah; and Nursery helpers!! I look forward to seeing you in church!

Blessings,

Rachel