Sunday School, Youth & Nursery News
March 12, 2017
Hello parents & teachers!
This Sunday is the SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT, and the Sunday School children have started their annual Lenten fundraising project to buy a sheep, goat, pig or flock of chickens for a family in a developing country through Episcopal Relief and Development... and you can help them by bringing spare change from home to church on Sunday! Further instructions will be available in the pews throughout Lent.
If you'd like to learn more about their project and Episcopal Relief and Development, here's the website.
In Sunday School this week, the children will be continuing their Sunday School lessons with teachers Jack and Maria. This week's lesson is titled:
"Lazarus"
The Raising of Lazarus or the Resurrection of Lazarus, recounted only in the Gospel of John (John 11:1-44), is a miracle of Jesus in which Jesus brings Lazarus of Bethany back to life four days after his burial. In John, this is the last of the miracles that Jesus performs before the Passion and his own resurrection. It says,Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”
4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days,7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”
8 “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?”
9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light.10 It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.”
11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”
12 His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.
14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
16 Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem,19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.
21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
28 After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.
32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked.
“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.
35 Jesus wept.
36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”
37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”
38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said.
“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”
40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.
In Sunday School this week, the children will learn that Jesus shows us that death isn't the end. During this week's lesson, we will read this passage and discuss the story. We will watch a short video, and talk about the video through interactive, thoughtful questions. We will construct a craft where the children will create a "Come out, Lazarus!" diorama. We will learn how God's love can bring light into any dark situation in our lives.
In other news:PERSONAL CARE PANTRY needs help stocking their shelves for families in need. The items currently most needed are: Paper towels, toilet paper, tissues, laundry detergent, hair conditioner and dish washing liquid. Linens Ministry could use gently used blankets and new pillows. Furniture Ministry needs able bodied volunteers to help with pick-up and delivery. Please see Liz P. or Eileen D. for more info. Thanks!
LOOKING AHEAD: GOOD FRIDAY CHILDREN'S SERVICE APRIL 14TH AT 10 AM Remember our Good Friday service for kids of all ages? We will walk through the last week of Jesus' life in an interactive, kid-friendly way. This is a great chance for kids to learn the story in language that speaks to them and their world.
GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP! Parents, would any of you be interested in helping out at a "station" this year? We have the "part" written out completely, and you can use what we've written or improvise if you like. We would also love a few helping hands with the post-service craft, as well (potting flowers is always a hit!) Please email Jennifer Klein at [email protected] if you might be interested. Also ...
EASTER SUNDAY EGG HUNT: LOOKING FOR HELP Easter is coming soon - April 16th! We're looking for a few parents to help coordinate our popular Easter Sunday egg hunt. Please email Jennifer if you're able to help or want to learn more. Thank you!
Peace and Blessings,
St. Nick's
Sunday School is for kids ages 4-12 and takes place in the undercroft from 10-10:30. Teachers, the current teaching schedule can be found here. Please let me (Jennifer Klein) know if you need to make any changes. Thanks for all you do!
March 12, 2017
Hello parents & teachers!
This Sunday is the SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT, and the Sunday School children have started their annual Lenten fundraising project to buy a sheep, goat, pig or flock of chickens for a family in a developing country through Episcopal Relief and Development... and you can help them by bringing spare change from home to church on Sunday! Further instructions will be available in the pews throughout Lent.
If you'd like to learn more about their project and Episcopal Relief and Development, here's the website.
In Sunday School this week, the children will be continuing their Sunday School lessons with teachers Jack and Maria. This week's lesson is titled:
"Lazarus"
The Raising of Lazarus or the Resurrection of Lazarus, recounted only in the Gospel of John (John 11:1-44), is a miracle of Jesus in which Jesus brings Lazarus of Bethany back to life four days after his burial. In John, this is the last of the miracles that Jesus performs before the Passion and his own resurrection. It says,Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”
4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days,7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”
8 “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?”
9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light.10 It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.”
11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”
12 His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.
14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
16 Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem,19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.
21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
28 After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.
32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked.
“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.
35 Jesus wept.
36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”
37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”
38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said.
“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”
40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.
In Sunday School this week, the children will learn that Jesus shows us that death isn't the end. During this week's lesson, we will read this passage and discuss the story. We will watch a short video, and talk about the video through interactive, thoughtful questions. We will construct a craft where the children will create a "Come out, Lazarus!" diorama. We will learn how God's love can bring light into any dark situation in our lives.
In other news:PERSONAL CARE PANTRY needs help stocking their shelves for families in need. The items currently most needed are: Paper towels, toilet paper, tissues, laundry detergent, hair conditioner and dish washing liquid. Linens Ministry could use gently used blankets and new pillows. Furniture Ministry needs able bodied volunteers to help with pick-up and delivery. Please see Liz P. or Eileen D. for more info. Thanks!
LOOKING AHEAD: GOOD FRIDAY CHILDREN'S SERVICE APRIL 14TH AT 10 AM Remember our Good Friday service for kids of all ages? We will walk through the last week of Jesus' life in an interactive, kid-friendly way. This is a great chance for kids to learn the story in language that speaks to them and their world.
GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP! Parents, would any of you be interested in helping out at a "station" this year? We have the "part" written out completely, and you can use what we've written or improvise if you like. We would also love a few helping hands with the post-service craft, as well (potting flowers is always a hit!) Please email Jennifer Klein at [email protected] if you might be interested. Also ...
EASTER SUNDAY EGG HUNT: LOOKING FOR HELP Easter is coming soon - April 16th! We're looking for a few parents to help coordinate our popular Easter Sunday egg hunt. Please email Jennifer if you're able to help or want to learn more. Thank you!
Peace and Blessings,
St. Nick's
Sunday School is for kids ages 4-12 and takes place in the undercroft from 10-10:30. Teachers, the current teaching schedule can be found here. Please let me (Jennifer Klein) know if you need to make any changes. Thanks for all you do!
