Welcome to Emmanuel Episcopal Church

Adult Christian Education, Sunday, May 4

Special guest presenter: Clarice Redmond, MSW, Hospice of Seattle, will speak on the topic, “Being with Our Children During Times of Loss and Grief.”  This topic is not just for parents, but for all of us.  Loss comes in many forms – the death of a family member, a marriage ending in divorce, a loss of a job resulting in a drastic change in financial status, a move to a new location and away from friends and the support network they provide us.  Children’s ways of coping and dealing with such losses can follow a different process than adults, depending on their age and level of development.  We also need to look at our own response to loss and grief, so that we can then be present to our young people in helpful ways.  Clarice brings years of direct experience in working with adults, families and children, and speaks clearly and lovingly with much wisdom in this topic which touches us all.  We meet from 9:15 to 10:15 in the Teen Center.  Meditation meets at 9:15 in the Parlor.  Next Sunday, May 11, we will have “Green Emmanuel” Part 2, continuing the dialog and looking at our relationship to “stuff.”

GREEN TIP # 10

EVEN GEEKS AND GEARHEADS CAN BE GREEN!

It’s true! There is a new blog sponsored by The Nature Conservancy that has all kinds of interesting and exciting information about technological advances that may help us preserve our precious planet.

Here’s the Conservancy’s intro to this site:

“Science, technology gadgets and...baby seals. We're in a bit of an eco-mess, but we've got the brains to lick any problem. And that's why EcoGeek.org publishes up to ten stories daily about innovations that are saving the planet.

Technology can be a force for evil, or for awesome. Those who shun technologies that could save the planet are just as guilty as those who ignore the environment. There's a safe balance, where the awesome can help nature as much as it helps us have a good time and live easier lives. EcoGeek devotes its pages to exploring the symbiosis between nature and technology.

And if that sounds interesting to you, then congratulations, you're an EcoGeek.”

You can browse the blog, subscribe for free and keep in touch with the latest goings-on.

Some recent postings:

Ø      Wind turbines for the windy city

Ø      Turn off everything to observe “Earth Hour” worldwide

Ø      Converting a city’s water treatment plant sludge into clean power

Ø      Can a car be green, really?

Ø      New window technology works against heat loss

Ø      Algae based biofuels

And the list goes on! To browse, and be amazed and astounded, go to: http://www.ecogeek.org/

Spring into Children’s Ministry

Spring is here and there are new opportunities for families to grow in faith.  This Lent we adopted a trial schedule that created an education hour for adults from 9:15-10:15 and made space for Children’s Breakfast, Choir, and Chapel.  The schedule has given kids opportunities to spend time with adults in church other than their parents (Breakfast, Children’s Chapel) and given parents the opportunity to attend Adult Education while their children are supervised.

These are the first steps in our redoubled effort as a Christian community to serve families.  In the past two years the Contemporary Services (5:00pm Sunday) and Children’s Chapel have created more spaces for us to experience intergenerational and age appropriate worship.  Children’s Breakfast is a time for kids to create relationships with pastors and adults in a less formal, “fellowship” atmosphere.  Children’s educational programming remains a matter for group discernment.  On the morning of Saturday May 17, 2008 the community is invited to participate in reviewing curriculum and discussing educational programs we might use here at Emmanuel.  Children’s Education impacts many aspects of our shared life, from budgets and volunteer hours, to fellowship and energizing membership.  People who represent a broad spectrum of interests in the Church should come and help us find the best fit for the whole community.

A second step in developing more family-oriented offerings will be the Summer Family Program offered as a series four Wednesdays in July.   This program will invite families to come together for fellowship and to learn how to pray as a family.  Early sessions are designed to help families talk about faith and values more openly.  The course culminates in families designing an individualized prayer plan including a prayer schedule and ritual.

For more information on participating in these programs or worship opportunities contact The Rev. Arienne Davison at Emmanuel.

Summer Family Program - July 2008

Praying as a Family will meet each Wednesday throughout the month. Emmanuel invites the community for Mercer Island to community of Mercer Island to participate in this ecumenical program designed to help families pray together. The program will be held on 4 Wednesdays. Early sessions are designed to help families talk about faith and values more openly. The course culminates in families designing an individualized prayer plan including a prayer schedule and ritual. Meetings will begin at 5:30 for a family meal (provided by Emmanuel, costs covered by program fee). After the meal, speakers will present topics for the evening. The session will last until 8:00pm. The fee for the program is $50 to cover the cost of food and materials. Scholarships are available.

The Rev. Arienne Davison at Emmanuel.

A Morning of Discernment

All members of the congregation are invited to participate in a discussion about Emmanuel’s Children’s Education Curriculum. Continental breakfast will be provided at 8:30. The group will work throughout the morning. The morning will close with a service of the Holy Eucharist beginning at 11:30 am.

• Where: Library, Narthex kitchen
• Date: Saturday, May 17, 2008
• Time: 8:00 am -12:30pm
• Contact: Arienne
• Ministry Area: Children’s Ministry

This Week's announcements

To see the announcements for the week of April 27, please click on the following link: Download announcements_20080427.doc

Adult Christian Education, Sunday, April 27

This week’s class is hosted by Diane Hampson and Glenn Ledbetter. They are discussing the Legacy Society and the recent Vestry temporary policy that undesignated bequests and estate gifts to Emmanuel will be used to pay off the bond debt. Persons who want to designate their gifts to specific ministries, such as the Endowment Fund, need to do so by naming their preferred ministry in their estate documents.  We meet from 9:15 to 10:15 in the Parish Hall.  Meditation meets at 9:15 in the Parlor.  Next Sunday, May 4, Clarice Redmond, Hospice of Seattle, will speak on the topic, “Being with Our Children During Times of Loss and Grief.”

THIS EVENT WILL MEET IN THE PARISH HALL!

April 2008

Please click the following link for this month's Bell Newsletter: Download april_08_bell.pdf

This Week's announcements

To see the announcements for the week of April 20, please click on the following link: Download announcements_20080420.doc

April 20 Education Hour

This Sunday the Emmanuel Green Committee will be sharing a presentation appropriate for Earth Day, April 22. We will hear about the “Genesis Covenant,” and look at energy assessments, carbon footprints, and what we are doing here at Emmanuel. We will also explore what individuals can do to reduce carbon footprints. Location: Teen Center, 9:15-10:15. Looking ahead April 27, Legacy Society presentation.