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Welcome to the new monthly e-newsletter for Children and Youth formation at St Margaret's Church. The intention is to highlight programs and activities run by or for the children and youth at the church. Your feedback on e-news design, content and ideas for future projects is most welcome.
Upcoming Events
Rite 13
 The Celebration of Manhood and Womanhood Ceremony will occur on Sunday, November 13 at the 9 a.m. service in St. Margaret's Church.
Birthday Card Design Competitions
 Starting in 2012, we will be sending out birthday greetings to all our children 11 years and under at St Margaret's. Children are welcome to enter the competition to design the image for the front of the cards in any of the three age categories: children ages 5 and under, ages 6 to 11, and 12 to 18 years old. Please submit your original artwork, in either digital or hard copy, to the Rev. Sarah Lamming by December 1, 2011. Prizes include gift certificates to iTunes, Michael's Designs, and Rita's. So get busy creating your art now!
Afternoon Tea with the Rev. Sarah Lamming  We are offering a new opportunity for parents, grandparents, child care providers and children
to get to know Sarah. Share your thoughts and ideas about programs for the children and youth at St Margaret's church at an afternoon tea that will be served in the conference room on November 9 and 15, from 3 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. Please feel free to pop in when you are able. Operation Christmas Child Samaritan's Purse International Relief collects millions of boxes and ships  them overseas for delivery to children in over 100 countries around the globe so they can receive a gift for Christmas. Please join our fifth and sixth grade classes as they support this worthy effort and help touch a child's heart at Christmas! Pick up a label and directions at the church, pack the box, and bring the box to church by November 20th. We will have a "Blessing of the Boxes" during the church services. Youth Group
Sunday 11/6 Mission Trip Evening - hosted by the Diocese (Leave St Margaret's at 2.45 p.m., return 7 p.m.)
Sunday 11/13 - J2A/ High School Trip to the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC. Meet at St Margaret's Church at 12:30 p.m. return around 6.30 p.m. 
Kindergarten registration for Fall 2012 will be accepted beginning December 1, 2011. The School is closed on October 21 for Teacher In-Service Day. 
Need a break from the kids? J2A is hosting Kids' Fun Night every second Friday of the month through May from 6 to 10 p.m. There will be activities and games, a movie, and snack. Cost is $25 for the first child and $10 for each additional per family. Everyone must be potty-trained. Funds raised will go towards the J2A Pilgrimage in 2012. Please pre-register by sending an email to: J2AFunNights@gmail.com with the dates, names and ages of attendees. Children's Formation Children's Chapel is offered during the first part of the 9 a.m. service on Sunday. Chapel is led by trained chaplains and clergy for children from Kindergarten through grade 4. Sunday School - after the 9am service until 11.00 a.m. Godly Play for 4 - 6 Year olds
This curriculum is a method of Christian education and spiritual direction for children. The goal of Godly Play is to teach our children the art of using religious language -- parable, sacred story, silence, and liturgical action -- to help them become more fully aware of the mystery of God's presence in their lives. Godly Play is unusual in that we tell Bible stories to children using concrete materials, encouraging them to enter into the stories and relate them to their personal experience. Each class session follows the pattern of the Church's Sunday service, so children will have a deeper understanding and enjoy a fuller participation in our parish worship.
Seasons of the Spirit for 7-10 year olds
We have three classes
7 Year Olds, 8-9 Year Olds and 10 Year Olds.
This elementary curriculum is based on a lectionary-based resource created by an international team of writers and editors representing denominations from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the USA, and the UK. We feel this curriculum provides a theological foundation for our young people to empower them to be transformed in Christ by:
- exploring meaning and mystery in the Bible;
- being grounded in thoughtful theology;
- empowering children, youth, and adults to be transformed in Christ;
- inspiring and equipping leaders;
- nurturing the imaginative spirit; and
- integrating worship, learning, and serving ministries.
The St. Margaret's Spirit Singers, comprised of girls and boys from grade 1 through grade 5, meet weekly on Monday nights at 5 p.m. to learn about music and how to sing well, as well as to prepare choral anthems for approximately eight services per year. Acolytes St. Margaret's Acolytes are a group of youth who work together to serve the Church community in worship, in preserving the traditions of the Episcopal Church, in setting an example for Christian conduct, and in experiencing the joys of fellowship. Monday Night Acolyte Schedule 5:00-5:30 Arrival: Games/Activities/Study hall* 5:30 Small group training in church for acolytes serving the next week 6:00 Dinner and clean up 6:30 Games and Fellowship * Study hall is a designated quiet room staffed by an adult leader from 5-6 p.m. Parents of acolytes are essential to the success of the program. Come join in with the weekly fellowship when you can! To defray the cost of meals, $65/year is collected from each youth/adult. We charge $2/night for "drop-ins." NOTE: We follow the AACO Public Schools calendar. If school is cancelled or scheduled to be closed, Acolytes will not meet. Youth Formation Sunday School Rite 13 - Grades 7 & 8 The Rite 13 curriculum is the first segment of the 6-year Journey to Adulthood program. We will use scripture, discussion, guest speakers and spiritual practices to explore the four content areas of Self, Society, Sexuality, and Spirituality.
For those who turn 13, there will be several Rite 13 Celebrations throughout the coming year during our regular Sunday morning services. This celebration is preceded by a special evening for the honorees and their parents, where we mark the occasion of turning 13 with prayer, fellowship, and worship. A central tenet of the Rite 13 curriculum is the belief that while manhood and womanhood are gifts from God, adulthood must be earned. This is in contrast to the myriad ways the world tells young persons that they must prove their manhood or womanhood, instead expressing that God has already gifted them and they are called to grow into adulthood in the ripe soil of Christian community. J2A - Grades 9 & 10 These two years will be packed with pilgrimage planning and the continued exploration of Self, Society, Sexuality, and Spirituality in preparation for that journey. A pilgrimage is an intentional journey in search of Christ, and past J2A pilgrims at St. Margaret's have sought Christ in Canterbury, England, the First Nations cultures of Canada, the mountains of Colorado and in 2012, the Grand Tetons.
The two years includes a broad array of social and outreach activities as well as the all-important pilgrimage fundraising efforts. It is of utmost importance that all J2A members who hope to pursue a pilgrimage with the group in Summer 2012 faithfully attend J2A gatherings, especially Sunday morning meetings. Much of the pilgrimage planning will be done at these times and require all discerning hearts and minds to be present.
Youth Group
St. Margaret's Youth Group is open to anyone at Middle School and High School. There are a few evenings which are aimed at just the High School age group. These have the ** marked next to them. Unless otherwise stated youth group will run from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m in the Parish Hall.
Sunday 11/6 Mission Trip Evening - hosted by the Diocese (Leave St. Margaret's at 2.45 p.m. and return 7 p.m.)
**Sunday 11/13 - J2A/ High School Trip to the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC. Meet at St Margaret's Church at 12:30 return around 6.30 p.m.
Sunday 11/20 Clean up evening and Pizza. Project to help sort and arrange the Godly Play classrooms.
Sunday 11/27 Middle School's Games Nights - Opportunity to play, Pictionary, Fluxx, Clue and other games. If you would like to bring a game, please speak to The Rev. Sarah Lamming.
**The J2A Group will be helping out at the Lighthouse Shelter this evening
Friday 12/2 Advent Nightwatch and Lock-in. Starts at 7.30 p.m. in the church, Eucharist at midnight. Option to leave after the service. Breakfast at 7.30 a.m., lock-in finishes at 8:30 a.m.
Sunday 12/4 - Holiday movie night
Sunday 12/11 - Craft Night
Sunday 12/18 - Christmas Party
Sunday 1/8 - St. Margaret's Spa evening
Dates for 2012
January 8 - St. Margaret's Christmas Pageant
Cost of $55 includes bus fare, dinner Saturday, breakfast Sunday.
Youth will need money for lunch Saturday & Sunday on the New Jersey Turnpike. Come join us for these exciting trips to St. John the Divine New York City. We shall travel by bus to New York. A remarkable evening with other youth from our diocese. Activities include live music and midnight eucharist at the high altar. A most memorable trip for all. We shall also have some time to visit New York and take in the sights of the city. This event is for youth in middle school (grades 6-8).
Feb 24 - 26 Happening , Maryland #5
Happening is a national program in the Episcopal church for youth. They spend an incredible weekend in a spiritual retreat very similiar to Cursillo. The Diocese of Maryland will be holding our fith Happening this coming school year 2012. To prepare for this, we shall be sending young people off to other dioceses to become "Happeners" and then be able to lead our own programs. Cost $75
March 31 - Bishop's Ball
St. John's, 9120 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City, MD 21042
6 - 10 p.m.
A dinner dance featuring Bishop Sutton. The Bishop will also recognize youth leaders with a gift and prayers......Join us for this wonderful Diocesan Event not to be missed. Join the youth of the diocese at St. John's Ellicott City. We will have a delicious dinner and then listen to the music of Bishop Sutton and then dance the night away with the Diocesan Youth Band.
Tickets are $10.
April 13 - April 15 - Diocesan's - Senior High Night Watch
$80 (includes bus fare, Friday & Saturday dinner, Saturday & Sunday breakfast)
A special two-night trip with a fantastic High Tour Saturday night. Youth will need money for lunches Saturday and Sunday.
This event is for youth in 9th grade & above.
May 3 - 5 - Diocesan convention 2012. Youth serve both as delegates and pages.
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