Our Church School presents a Christmas Pageant every year at the Family Service at 5:30 PM on Christmas Eve. We are planning for the Pageant and need to know who will be here that evening to participate. This is a longstanding tradition for our Church School children, and we hope that everyone will be able to take part. Sign-ups begin on November 15th for the Pageant Cast; the sign-up will be located on the wooden table as you enter the Parish Hall from the bell tower.

Sunday, October 4th is Craft Sunday. Parents are welcome to come and help with this monthly event.

Our Church School will resume classes on Sunday, September 13th. Registration for Church School begins Sunday, August 23rd. Registration Forms are available in the Parish Office and narthex as well as online [click here to download the form]. Previously registered families will receive forms by e-mail. Please be sure to complete and return these forms to the Parish Office.

Thank you to the members of the Parish who have already volunteered to teach Church School this year. It is not too late to join in! We have openings for teachers, substitute teachers, craft helpers and piano players. Please contact Susan Patton at christianed@sttimothys.org or call 919-274-2222 if you are interested.

We welcome Susan to the staff and very much look forward to having her direct our Church School, nursery and techers this year. She will be assisted by Betsy James who will work with Susan on Sundays. Susan has been working with the Church School on Craft Sundays and now will take over the duties on Sundays and will be in the Church School Office on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Please give her the prayers and support she needs to run a vibrant and organized program where our children of all ages can learn who God the Father is, how He has saved us through sending His Son, and how he sustains us in His Holy Spirit. This is no small task, and it is in the very capable hands of Susan and Betsy.

All those who are teaching or volunteering in our Church School are asked to attend this first teachers’ meeting of the school year on Sunday, August 30th at 9:30 AM in the parlor. We want to get the Church School year off to a great start, and there’s lots of important information, curriculum and assignments to be distributed. Please be there. If you cannot attend, please contact Susan Patton.

We are actively looking for families who would like to help in the Church School next fall. Volunteers are needed to lead Children’s Chapel, teach Church School classes and help with special events involving the children. The involvement of many families makes this rewarding commitment enjoyable and easy to fulfill. If you would like to learn more about how you can get involved, please speak to Father James or Grace Hurst. We hope this will be your year to say yes!

Sunday, March 29th: Craft Sunday. It has become an annual tradition at St. Timothy’s to bake pretzels during Lent. We hope you will join us.

Palm Sunday, April 5th: All Church School children should sit in the first three pews on both sides of the center aisle before the 11 AM service. We will be joining the Palm Sunday procession after the celebrant. The Church School students will meet after the procession in the Parish Hall to go to the Children’s Chapel. Parents of younger children are requested to join us to help escort the children during the procession.

Easter Day, April 12th: There will be no Church School or Children’s Chapel on Easter Day so children may join their families for Easter Day in the Church. Please have your children bring their Mite Boxes to Church. They will be asked to bring them forward during the service.

In an interest to support the food bank at North Raleigh Ministries, we are asking every child to bring at least one large jar of peanut butter to Church every Sunday in March. There will be a Peanut Butter Store open on Sundays during Coffee Hour for anyone wishing to purchase peanut butter to donate. Help share the joy of giving with your children during Lent. These jars will be taken weekly to the NRM food bank for distribution to the many people in need in our immediate area. Pat Baker, our contact person with North Raleigh Ministries, has informed us that there has been a great increase in people seeking assistance this winter.

Organizational plans are being made for VBS 2009, and we need volunteers to help us get started. Helping with VBS is a fun, easy opportunity to serve at St. Timothy’s. If you would like to help, please contact Grace Hurst as soon as possible at ghurst@sttimothys.org or call 787-7590 X-1012 or 790-1758.

Craft Sunday will be Sunday, January 25th. We will be making new additions to the Jesse Tree. Our themes will be Epiphany or Baptism.

Dan Bain will become our Christian Education Coordinator beginning May 4th. Grace Hurst, our current Christian Education Coordinator, will work with Dan for a couple of weeks prior to stepping down. We thank Grace for the time and effort she has put into the Church School program. Please keep Dan in your prayers and give him the helpful support he needs to have a successful program of Christian Education for our children and our parish.