A Good-bye Note

Dear Families of Vanderbilt Pres
I could say, “It’s been a blast,” and it has been. I could say, “We’ve had fun,” and we have. I could say, “We’ve learned a lot together,” and we have. But, what I want to do is to tell you how much you have all meant to me. It is so refreshing and inspiring to be with people who struggle with issues related to the spiritual development and faith of their children and their family. It has been wonderful to watch you all “play” together, learning that life does not always have to be structured around little league, dance lessons, music lessons, etc; but learning that there is joy in just being together. I want to thank you for all of the support you have given me over the last three years, for your words of encouragement and your excitement about family ministries. I also want to say that it does not have to end here. There is so much good that is happening from Stepping Stones, to Sacred Shelter, to Vandy 500 to Beach Cleanup Days to Trunk-n-Treat and on and on. Here at VPC you have a safe place to gather to relax and have fun, you have a safe place to ask questions about God and faith and “how do we teach our children?” You have the opportunity, now, to do a new thing, something daring and on the edge so that your children and youth remain excited about what it means to be a Christian. My charge to you, as I leave Vanderbilt Presbyterian, is to always strive to make Vanderbilt a welcoming place for families of all shapes and sizes and all socioeconomic backgrounds, all stages of faith development. Be open to new ideas and be open to those that continue to ask questions. Think OUTSIDE THE BOX! And remember; remember that first and foremost is God. If we don’t teach that to our children and youth no one else will. That behavior must be modeled in you. Okay, now I’m lecturing—but you get it! Last, but not least—Yes, I will miss you. I am excited about the future, yet sad about leaving. I will miss all of those wonderful smiles and bright eyes during children’s moment—my favorite thing in the world. I will miss our camaraderie, our come as who you are attitudes, and I will miss YOU. Take care and God bless. “Behold, I am doing a new thing: now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” Isaiah 43:19.

Vandy 500

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News Flash!

Sorry it’s been so long since I blogged! Time flies especially when Lent and Easter practically fall on top of Christmas! No excuses, however. Just because I haven’t blogged doesn’t mean there has not been a lot going on. For instance the Vandy 500 was quite a hit! Thanks to a special donor at the Daytona 500 we had fantastic prizes and gifts for all participants including the adults! With about 200 folks in attendance the races were on. As you can see from the pictures, competition was stiff, but the most important thing is – EVERYONE had a good time! Good company, good food, good fun, what more could one ask? And yes, the great and wonderful Rev. Dr. Tom Harp did win the staff race. Did I let him win has been the question. Well, one will never know, will one? Regardless, everyone had a wonderful time.

Of course life here at Vanderbilt is never slow, so don’t even blink or you will miss more fun and excitement in Family Ministries. Coming up is the Egg-Stravaganza and Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, March 15th at 9:00 a.m. This is for all ages—crafts, games, the Easter Story and of course the famous egg hunt! So mark your calendars for that event.

Now, on a more serious note—many of you attended the Ash Wednesday Service here at Vanderbilt. Attendance was wonderful and it was the first time we had made a special effort to include families and children. The children had a time all to themselves when we talked about the significance of Ash Wednesday and why we put ashes on our foreheads in the shape of a cross. The service took a little longer than planned because attendance was so good (a great problem to have), but I think it was very meaningful to the children and to the families. This process continues during Holy Week. It is very difficult to embrace the wonderful news of the resurrection unless we have walked through Holy Week before hand. Palm Sunday will get us started as the children all participate in procession of the palms at both worship services. Maundy Thursday service will also have a special time for children as we talk about Jesus washing the disciples’ feet and actually go through that foot washing ceremony together. The Good Friday service is just as meaningful and sets the tone of the crucifixion. It is a brief service in which families will be extinguishing the candles until there is total darkness. We will leave in silence and in darkness to return on Sunday morning in joyful anticipation and excitement over the resurrection of Jesus Christ! (Alleluia!) I know, technically I can’t say “alleluia” until Lent is over—oops!

This is a wonderful season to share together as a family. It is a meaningful season that focuses on the life, death and resurrection of our Lord. Help your children to understand the full meaning of Easter by attending these special worship service and then by talking about it afterwards. Of course, nursery is available at all the services for kindergarten and under, however many preschoolers can understand the tones of Holy Week and the celebration of Easter Sunday. So use this time to impact your family and your children as you grow together in faith.
See ya!

Christmas Caroling with Dolly The Trolly

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Look What's Coming!

“Back to Normal”
Today is always the day that I mark as things getting “back to normal” whatever “normal” is. I guess what it means is that everyone is pretty much back in school—the office is back to its “regular hours,” and we begin to say, okay—what’s next? There are lots of exciting things coming at us in this New Year. One thing we MUST keep in mind is how early Easter is this year which means Ash Wednesday and everything else is early too—but more about that later.

Stepping Stones Begins!
Have we had fun at Stepping Stones this year, or what? And the next semester promises to be just as much fun. Don’t miss the first night, January 16th! It’s Family Game Night. Bring your favorite board game, card game or whatever and let’s all “play” together. Feel free to invite a friend or two. We hardly ever take time as families just to play games—so let’s have a blast. And then the fun continues with a reverse dinner starting with Banana Splits. Yep, dessert is FIRST! The fun continues each Wednesday night. AND . . . mark your calendars now and begin practicing for the VANDY 500- on February 20th. This is the annual remote control race car (or truck, or jeep, or whatever) rally held each year. If you haven’t registered yet for Stepping Stones, don’t let that stop you. There is still time and you can also register the first night.

A meaningful time for families
Now back to the Lent and Easter stuff. Lent can be and should be a very meaningful time for families as we prepare for the celebration of Easter. We miss so much if we skip over all of the Lenten practices and jump straight in to Easter. This year, you have the opportunity to both learn more about Lent as a family and as an individual as we begin the season with Ash Wednesday. On Ash Wednesday, February 6, we will have a Pancake Supper beginning at 5:30 followed by our Ash Wednesday service at 7:00 p.m. During this year’s Ash Wednesday service there will be a special time for children and families to come forward to learn about what Ash Wednesday means and to receive the disposition of ashes as a family. This is a very meaningful service and probably my favorite special service of the year, as we take time to reflect on the life of Christ and our discipleship. So plan on making it a regular Wednesday by coming for the pancake supper and worship service—of course childcare will be available for children Kindergarten age and under. You will also receive from me a Lenten calendar that will help you as families focus on important scripture passages, activities and prayers that are “family friendly.” Please take advantage of this wonderful season to share your faith with one another, to pray together and to learn more about the life of Christ and your own life of discipleship. This can be a time of transformation for both you and your family. So slow down a little, make faith based choices, and take time for Christ!

Look at all the fun we have!

Family Ministries Activities Are A Blast!!!

Family Ministries Activities Are A BLAST!!!!!!

Wow, we have had such fun in Family Ministries lately and it’s not ever too late for you to come and be a part of the excitement. First of all Stepping Stones has gotten off to a great start with lots of activities, laughter, music and fun. The month of October was spent exploring our faith through art—we called it Images of Faith. From pottery to painting, to photography children and families worked together to express their faith. You should see some of the art work created. The photo collages showed families spending quality time together talking about how God is at work in their lives. How exciting for children to hear their parents and grandparents talk about their faith. The month culminated with a celebration dinner and art show.

And of course one need not forget the fun that was had at the Trunk or Treat and the dance that followed. About thirty cars lined up in our parking lot all decked out in fall and Halloween finery for the one hundred or so children to trick or treat or rather trunk or treat! Then everyone gathered in the fellowship hall for music, dancing, cotton candy, snow cones, popcorn and crafts. Everything from the Electric Slide to the Chicken Dance and of course the Macarena (hope I spelled that right!). It was hard to figure out who some folks were all dressed up in their costumes.

Sacred Shelter has also been going especially well this year. Special thanks to all of you who have hosted. It’s so nice to be part of a group that eats, meets, plays and prays together, knowing you are being supported and encouraged through the good times and the rough times of life—knowing you can share with friends in a safe environment without being judged. What a gift we are giving to our children as well. I’ve noticed lately in church how the children are all hanging out together and it truly is becoming “a village” for everyone. God is truly great!

Anyway—look at the photo album attached—of course for safety reasons we try not to show full face views of the children, but you can figure it out! See you in church!