For many of us, summer is a time to escape the heat for cooler spots, to enjoy time with family and travel. But in our rapidly-changing world, the reality is that most of us have only about a week or two of vacation, and for those of us with kids, the time between Memorial Day and Labor Day can seem like a long hot stretch.
With this in mind, Bruce Phillips, Director of St. Philip’s Children and Family Ministries, created a special program this past summer. Each Sunday at 9:00 a.m., a volunteer parent offered to read stories and conduct a discussion around a particular theme.
Some of the topics were: How do we live and act “in God’s name?” How can we reach out and relate to those people around us who are less fortunate than we are? How do we recognize God’s gifts to us and to others? In what ways do other cultures express God’s love for all His creatures? How do we cultivate appreciation and gratitude?
The weekly group was well-attended, averaging around ten children each Sunday, ranging in age from 3 to 7. Given the age of the participants, their comments were surprisingly thought-provoking and led to some lively discussions. Volunteers Jenneen Lowry, Tanya Polec, Kresta Venning, Nancy Bissell (whose 10-year-old granddaughter Alexis read the stories) and others made for a worthwhile summer project, one that we look forward to continuing in future summers.
The families of young children at St. Philip’s are grateful for Bruce’s leadership and want to make sure that that the whole parish knows that things are hopping over in the children’s courtyard all year long. Come see for yourselves and join in the fun!
—Nancy Bissell
Good News from St. Philip's 