DIDACHE
December 2007

WE ALL HAVE PROMISES TO KEEP

Dear Friends,

Welcome to DIDACHE! I hope this brand-new newsletter will help keep you up-to-date on events in the busy world of education at Smithfield United Church of Christ.

Ever since Elena Tuinstra was baptized, I have been thinking about the promises that we make to our children at their baptism.

First, the child's parents make a promise: they pledge to teach their child and to help him or her become a faithful member of Christ's church.

Then, the church community makes a promise: we promise to love, support, and care for the child.

Smithfield School is an integral part of these promises. By offering dynamic, meaningful educational opportunities to our young people, we are fulfilling the vow we make as a community each time a child is baptized. And by bringing your children to church – and following up on what they learned when you get home – you are fulfilling the promises you made.

We hope that all our children will grow to affirm their baptisms and become thoughtful adult believers. Smithfield School will help our hopes become a reality.

Yours in Christ,
Liddy Barlow

EXPLORING WORLD RELIGIONS

During Epiphany (the season that begins on January 6 and concludes on Ash Wednesday), our Smithfield School adult class will be looking outward to the world's diverse religions. We will welcome three guest speakers who will discuss their faiths' beliefs, traditions, and history; each speaker will be answering our questions and leading a time of discussion.

Join us on Sunday mornings from 9:45 to 10:40 in the library, beginning on Sunday, January 6. Feel free to drop in on the sessions that interest you most – or attend all five weeks! John Canning and Liddy Barlow will be coordinating the series.

At this time when faiths such as Islam and Mormonism are often in the news, it's more important than ever to learn about the beliefs of our neighbors, both here in Pittsburgh and around the world. Watch your Sunday bulletins, this website, and the January issue of The Spire for more information on this exciting series.

I'LL GIVE YOU SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT

Gather Round, the curriculum used in our preschool and elementary classes, includes a take-home resource called the "Talkabout." Each quarter, the Talkabout helps connect the lessons learned in the classroom with the family's daily life. It offers suggestions for prayers, scripture readings, and activities that the family can do together.

The new Talkabouts, for December through February, have just arrived. Each Smithfield household with a child in the preschool or elementary class should plan to pick one up before Christmas. This quarter, the Talkabout is a scratch-off calendar with activities hidden beneath the shiny gold foil!

We also have plenty of extra Talkabouts left over from the fall quarter: a map of the Holy Land with matching stickers. Even though the fall quarter has come to an end, you could still have fun looking at the Talkabout with your children. If any adults would like one, we have enough for you as well. See Liddy Barlow if you're interested.

Smithfield School is helping give sick or lonely children a cozy comforter this winter. Last month, members of the elementary class decorated fabric squares, which the Women's Fellowship will incorporate into the blankets they make for Project Linus. Students wrote cheery messages and drew great pictures – including the dog above by Alexandra Knapp.

WEEKDAY BOOK CLUB STARTING SOON

Do Sunday mornings at Smithfield leave you wanting more? Then join us for our brand new lunchtime book club! The book club is open to Smithfield members and friends as well as to members of the downtown community, such as the friends who worship with us on Wednesdays.

Our book club will meet monthly from 12:10 to 12:50 p.m. During each meeting, we'll be discussing a few chapters of a book that the members choose. It might be a book on spirituality, or a popular novel, or a book of the Bible. Our discussions will be engaging and informal; it's the perfect place to make new friends and dive into interesting topics.

Bring your brown-bag lunch on Monday, January 27, to the church library. We'll be getting to know one another and choosing the first book for discussion. Let Liddy Barlow know if you plan to attend.

LEADERS' WORKSHOP PLANNED FOR JANUARY 27

Adults who are interested in working with children and youth, and who have not yet attended a leaders' orientation session, are encouraged to attend the workshop on January 27 after lunch in the library. We will be learning more about Smithfield School's procedures and curriculum, getting to know one another, and completing the required background checks. The session will be over no later than 2:30 p.m.

There are many ways to give of your time and talents: you can offer just one Sunday morning or many. You will not have to miss the worship service, and you'll be offered thorough support. All are welcome!

SMITHFIELD SCHOOL WISHLIST

We are looking for angels who might be able to donate the following supplies for our programs:

• Child-size, collapsible table and chairs for art activities during gym playtime
• Beanbag chairs and other relaxing furnishings for the youth classroom
• Gift cards to Wal-Mart, Michael's, and Staples
• Bible-based toys for our nursery; see Liddy for more detail

CHILDREN'S CHAPEL WILL BEGIN IN JANUARY

Worshipping God is important for all of us – whatever our age – but sitting quietly during an hour-long worship service can be very hard for a young child. So, beginning on January 6, our children will have their own opportunity to be in worship together: Children's Chapel!

As they do now, children from age 3 to grade 3 will begin the 11 a.m. hour in the sanctuary, sitting with their families for the first few minutes of the worship service. After the Time with the Children, the children will go downstairs to the chapel for a special time of worship designed just for them and led by Liddy Barlow.

Children's Chapel will include all the elements of "grown-up" worship, but with special attention to a child's interests, curiosities, and attention span. There will be prayer, music, and stories from scripture. Together we will praise God with loud joy and with quiet reflection.

Children's Chapel will last approximately 15 minutes; when the children's worship is complete, Suzy Bossart and a leader from the congregation will take the children down to the gymnasium for a time of informal play. Families will continue to meet their children in the gym when sanctuary worship concludes.

The Children's Chapel program is not a replacement for regular Smithfield School classes. Instead, it offers another way for our children to experience God's presence during their time at church, and another way for us to keep the promises we made at their baptism.

If you are interested in helping to plan or lead Children's Chapel, please speak to Liddy.

WORKSHOP WILL TRAIN ACOLYTES

All young people in grades 2 and higher who are interested in serving as acolytes are invited to come to a brief training workshop after worship on Sunday, January 20.

Acolytes are charged with the important responsibility of carrying the light to our altar candles at the beginning of worship, and bringing that light out into the world at the close of the service. The candles remind us that Jesus, the light of the world, is present with us in our worship.

During the training, participants will learn more about the meaning of what they do, and practice the procedures to follow when performing this task. Once a child has attended the training, he or she will be invited to serve as an acolyte during Sunday worship.

Our youth, who currently serve as acolytes, are encouraged to attend to share their knowledge and experience with the younger children.

Parents and family members are also welcome to come to the training to learn more about the expectations for acolytes.

The session will last no more than 20 minutes, leaving plenty of time to enjoy a delicious lunch downstairs in the social hall.

Please let Liddy know if you plan to attend.

SENDING SUPPORT ACROSS THE SEA

In November, students in the elementary class wrote letters to the Rev. Judy Chan, a missionary working in Hong Kong who is linked with the Penn West conference of the United Church of Christ. Here is what two of the students had to say:

Dear Rev. Chan,

Hi. My name is Aubrie. I am 8.
I learned about Jericho and
stuff that you do in Hong Kong!
God is with you and loves you!
If you have time, write back!

Your new friend,
Aubrie Knapp

Dear Rev. Chan,

I am really, really close to eight.
I am learning about helping others.
I'm praying for you as you work
with people in China.
I know God is with you.

Sincerely,
Holly Minnich

P.S. Write back.

We will let you know in a future edition of DIDACHE if Rev. Chan writes back to her new friends!

SMITHFIELD SCHOOL CALENDAR

• December 23: Christmas Pageant! Dress rehearsal begins at 9:45 a.m. in the social hall; the pageant will be presented during the 11 a.m. worship service. No gym playtime today.
• December 25: Merry Christmas!
• December 30: No Smithfield School classes today. Gym playtime will be offered during 11 a.m. worship.
• January 1: Happy New Year!
• January 6: New session of Smithfield School classes begins at 9:45 a.m., with new teachers for the elementary class. Adult series on world religions begins at 9:45 a.m. in the library. Children's Chapel will be offered today for the first time during the worship service.
• January 13: Education Team meeting after worship; bring your lunch upstairs to Liddy's office.
• January 20: Acolyte Workshop after worship; children in grades 2 and higher meet in the sanctuary to learn about this important leadership role. We should be finished no later than 12:30 p.m.
• January 21: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
• January 27: Leader Workshop at 12:45 p.m. in the library for adults interested in working with children and youth. This will be finished no later than 2:30 p.m.
• February 6: Ash Wednesday
• February 10: New teachers for the elementary class, and Lenten series of adult classes, begin today.

OVERHEARD AT SMITHFIELD SCHOOL

"My favorite part of the puzzle is the part with Jesus – because it's the easiest to put together!"   – Ellie Harrison

"It's like when you get dropped off at school: your parents bring you there, but they can't control what you do when you go inside. God puts us here on earth, but what we do here is up to us."   – Rommel Cook

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  – through you and me!