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Special Events: 2007-2008
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September 2 First Fall Sunday Service
October 28 Halloween Party - Trunk or Treat
November 4 Covenant Sunday
November 18 Stone Soup Sunday Soup made while you worship!
December 8 Nifty Gifty Day Children make gifts for family &
friends
December 16 Caroling Around the Christmas Tree After the Service
December 23 Christmas Candlelight Service
January 6 Twelfth Night Celebration
January 20 Unbirthday Celebration
February 10 Valentine's Day Celebration
February 24 Youth Sunday Our High School students do the entire
service.
March 23 Easter Sunday - Easter Egg Hunt
April 4 Auction
April 6 Go Fly A Kite Day - Picnic & Fly Kites After Church
May 11 Mother's Day & Flower Communion
May 18 Recognition Day for Church School Teachers
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Children's Ministry Calendar
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August 26 Last Hogwarts on the River III, Back-to-church school
party, Teacher training, OWL Parent orientation
September 2 First Sunday of programming year
September 8-9 OWL/MSAC Lock-In
September 23 Diversity Memphis Walks
October 28 Trunk or Treat for UNICEF
November 18 Stone Soup Sunday
December 8 Nifty Gifty
December 14 OWL graduation celebration
December 16 Twelve Days of Christmas/Caroling
December 23 Candlelight Service
January 20 Unbirthday Celebration
February 10 Valentine's Day Celebration
February 24 Youth Ministry Sunday
March 23 Easter Egg Hunt
April 6 Kite Day
May 11 Flower Communion/Mother's Day
May 18 Children's Ministry Celebration and Graduate Recognition
June 1 Music Festival
June 8 Service Project for grades 1-6 begins
June 29 Final Sunday of program year
July 13 First Summer of Faith Sunday
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Ongoing
Church School Chalice Services
On each Sunday morning except “First Sundays,” children in grades 1-6 meet in
the Chalice Room at 11:00 for a brief children’s service. Meaningful insights
will be conveyed through a simple ritual of candle lighting, song, the spoken
word, (with a pocket thought handout), and an offering for the needy.
First Sunday
The first Sunday of each month, October through June, all children from
kindergarten through high school attend the first part of the worship service
with their families. Our minister or another adult presents an “object lesson”
especially for the children. After the object lesson, children in Kindergarten
and grades 1-6 go to their classrooms. Junior High students meet with the
Adventure Club advisors and High School students meet with their YRUU advisors
or remain in the Sanctuary.
Annual Fall Events
First Fall Sunday Service
Our First Fall Sunday Service following a summer recess will be on Sunday,
September 7, 2003, at 11 a.m.
Spaghetti Supper and Open House
Open house held in September gives families an opportunity to get together after
the summer recess, preview the curriculum for the new year, meet Religious
Education teachers, and enjoy super spaghetti prepared by the youth groups.
Halloween Party and UNICEF Halloween Party
This is an intergenerational party sponsored by the Religious Education
Committee for the benefit of UNICEF. Traditionally, the evening includes games
for the children, a haunted house run by the junior or senior high, ghost
stories, refreshments and a costume contests for all ages.
Stone Soup Sunday
Stone Soup Sunday is the Sunday before Thanksgiving. During the church service,
we are asked to put the amount of money we would spend for Sunday lunch in a
special envelope for MIFA. Everyone is invited to have lunch at church. The
Minister reads the story of Stone Soup which is an old French Folk
Tale. Meanwhile, soup is cooking in the kitchen. Everyone who gets the
newsletter is asked to bring a cup of cut up raw vegetables and a cup of cut up
fresh fruit to church. The soup makers bring in broth, and add the vegetables to
it. Fruit salad is prepared with the fresh fruit. The committee brings bread to
complete our congregation lunch.
Annual Winter Events
Nifty Gifty Day
Children in Grades 1-6 enjoy this December Saturday at the church making gifts
for family and friends. Under the guidance of adult volunteers, the children make
and wrap their own creative and unique gifts. The children enjoy surprising
parents and others with gifts they have made themselves.
Caroling Around the Tree
On the Sunday before our Candlelight service, gather around the Christmas tree
in the Mississippi River Room. Help ring in the season with the annual
performance of the Twelve Days of Christmas and our collection of props.
Christmas Candlelight Service
On this Sunday at dusk, we join together in a traditional family service
featuring choir music, carols, and readings for the occasion. The sixth grade
girls play the roles of Santa Lucia and her attendants. A sixth grade boy
presents the opening reading. Children bring forward their “gifts for the baby”
which go to needy mothers of newborns. Childcare is provided for children ages 3
years and younger.
Annual Spring Events
Each spring, we offer an optional reading program for Grades 1-6. Books are
chosen from each of the following categories: Religion, Self and Others, Nature
and Ecology, Biography, Poetry and Fiction. Participants who read one book from
each category will receive a certificate and be eligible to go on a special
field trip in May.
Kite Day
"Let's Go Fly a Kite" on the river bluff after church. Everyone is invited to
stay for lunch and bring a kite to add to this colorful event. The two youth
groups sell lunch and kites, or you may bring your own.
Easter Egg Hunt
After church, children enjoy an egg hunt on the church grounds. Eggs are donated
by the congregation and hidden by junior high "bunnies" during church. Adult
supervision ensures safety as well as fun.
Annual Church Auction
This annual event is held the second Friday evening after Easter. This
fundraiser provides funding for the church throughout the summer. The auction is
a time for food, wine, and fun.
Alliance Spring Gathering
Each spring, the Alliance hosts a spring gathering. Held in May, the event
includes plentiful hors d'oeuvres, wine, (live) music and dancing at a minimal
cost. Come prepared to have a wonderful time.
Mother's Day and Flower Communion
On this special Sunday, a flower is brought by everyone and placed in a communal
basket. After the church service, everyone takes a flower as they leave,
symbolizing the diversity and community of the church.
Youth Sunday
Each year, the high school youth take responsibility for all aspects of a Sunday
worship service. Planning and preparation for Youth Sunday is done with the help
of adult advisors and is an important part of the Religious Education Program.
Recognition of Teachers
Recognition of Teachers honors the more than fifty volunteers who faithfully
minister to our children in the Religious Education department.
Annual Summer Events
Church School Service Project
To enhance our children's awareness of the needs of others and their own ability
to make a difference, our church school participates in a service project every
June. A month-long project gives the children time to learn about a different
need in our community and to do something to help.
The Choir's Spring Music Concert
A special Sunday service held the first Sunday in June, the Choir prepares a
program and the minister reads poetry. Guest musicians often perform.
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