Gospel at Hogwarts 2021 – Triwizard Tournament

Holy Family held its annual Gospel at Hogwarts event on November 6, 2021. This year the scripture and activities were based on the fourth book and movie in the Harry Potter series called “The Goblet of Fire.” At Holy Family, students were sorted into three schools based on the elements of fire, water, and earth. The activities and scripture used throughout the evening, escape-room-style, also followed that theme. Students were challenged to solve puzzles and work together through many tasks including facing a dragon! At the end of the evening, all guests enjoyed Yule Ball refreshments and music in the parish hall. A special dance presentation and waltz lessons were provided by professional dancers. The final comments by Professor Meryl and closing prayer by Dumbledore called upon the Holy Spirit to be with each and every student and guest, that day and always. For more information about this annual ministry event, please contact Children’s Ministry Director Jolene Johnston. jjohnston@hfec.org

View more Triwizard Tournament photos HERE.



Trunk or Treat 2021

Photos credit: Ruth Everett
 
On Friday, October 29th, Holy Family hosted its second annual Trunk or Treat. This year’s event was held in the parish hall due to rainy weather. Eleven Holy Family households hosted decorated booths for children to trick or treat safely indoors. Great fun was had by all. For more information about Holy Family’s events for children, please contact Children’s Ministry Director Jolene Johnston. jjohnston@hfec.org.
 

View more Trunk or Treat photos HERE.



Earth Day Holy Hike 2021

 
On Sunday, April 25th, Children’s Ministry and Youth Group households enjoyed a Holy Hike at Flat Fork Creek Park in Fishers led by Deacon Cathy Scott. The focus of the walk was thanking God for all creation in honor of Earth Day. Participants enjoyed the various trails, walkways, and treehouses at the park and stopped at various points to pray together. Prior to the walk, several families joined together at the picnic shelter to enjoy lunches that they brought for themselves. For more information about Holy Family’s Children’s Ministry and Youth Group activities, please contact the Directors.
 
Jolene Johnston, Children’s Ministry jjohnston@hfec.org
Ruth Everett, Youth Group youthministry@hfec.org
 

View photos from the Earth Day Holy Hike 2021 HERE.



Gospel at Hogwarts 2020

Following many postponements and cancellations of events due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Holy Family was finally able to host its Gospel at Hogwarts 2020 event in April 2021. Students attended an outdoor, in-person event at Holy Family to visit Diagon Alley to “shop” for school supplies. They walked through shops such as The Leaky Cauldron,  Potages Cauldrons, Madame Malkin’s, Ollivanders, Flourish and Blotts, and Honeydukes then visited with Hagrid around a campfire. On the following evening, students entered the Zoom of Requirement for an evening of scripture and magical stories followed by more conversation with the Professors. Plans are already underway for the next event in November 2021. For more information about this free community event, please contact Children’s Ministry Director Jolene Johnston. jjohnston@hfec.org
 

View Gospel at Hogwarts 2020 photos HERE.



Celebrating St. Nick

 
On Sunday, December 6th, Holy Family celebrated the Feast Day of Saint Nicholas, patron saint of sailors and those in need, particularly children. St. Nick shared stories of his life with Junior Warden and long-time Sunday school teacher, Bob Murray, during Holy Family’s 9 AM worship service Facebook watch party. Father Bruce continued the conversation about the beloved bishop during 10 AM Adult Forum. Finally, Holy Family’s children were surprised by a visit from St. Nick during their weekly Children’s Ministry Zoom gathering where they learned more from him and shared the passing of the Peace. For more information about special events at Holy Family, contact Father Bruce Gray. bgray@hfec.org
 



Trunk or Treat 2020

 
Holy Family hosted its first Trunk or Treat event on October 30, 2020. Congregation members decorated the trunks of their vehicles in a variety of themes and handed out treats to children who attended. COVID-19 precautions were taken and included having display hosts wear gloves and masks for the entire event, offering treats that were store-made and individually-wrapped (in many cases prebagged as well), spacing vehicles more than six feet apart, making hand sanitizer available at several locations, and having the children visit the displays in a one-way path. Great fun was had by all! For more information about activities with Holy Family’s children and youth, please contact one of the program directors. Jolene Johnston – Children’s Ministry, Ruth Everett – Youth Ministry
 

To view photos from this event,
please click HERE.



Listening for God

 
 
On Sunday, September 25th, children and youth members of Holy Family gathered for outdoor, socially-distanced gatherings of faith, fun, and fellowship. Children and youth each navigated an obstacle course, blind-folded, listening to the careful instructions of a Sunday school classmate or adult. The resulting discussion and prayers focused on the need to listen for God, no matter how difficult, in an ever-changing and anxious world. The youth group also enjoyed a personalized meditation/self-care session by yoga instructor and HFEC member, Greta Wilson. For more information about Christian formation activities at Holy Family, please contact the program directors.
 
Jolene Johnston, Children’s Ministry
jjohnston@hfec.org 
 
Ruth Everett, Youth Ministry
youthministry@hfec.org

Click HERE for more photos from this event.

 


Christian Formation Fall Kickoff

 
 
 
On Sunday, September 13th, all ages of Sunday school/Christian formation classes met online via Zoom to begin the fall semester. For more information regarding upcoming virtual meetings and in-person gatherings, please contact Jolene Johnston at jjohnston@hfec.org or see the Holy Family newsletter.


Patriotic Porch Drop

To celebrate the Fourth of July, Holy Family’s Children and Youth Ministry students were treated to a surprise porch drop goodie bag filled with sidewalk chalk, a beach ball, microwave POPcorn, freezer POPsicles, temporary tattoos, glow sticks, suncatchers, and a US flag. The bag also included a handout with a prayer for our country from the Book of Common Prayer, a patriotic Spotify playlist, and helpful links to inspire patriotism in kids. During this time of physical separation, Holy Family enjoys finding ways to keep people feeling connected as a #holyvillage. For more information about Holy Family please contact the following: Ruth Everett (Youth Ministry) or Jolene Johnston (Children’s Ministry). 
 

To view photos of families in action with their patriotic goodie bags, please click HERE.



Pentecost Kids

Holy Family delivered Pentecost bags to the families with children to celebrate the birthday of the church. The bags included a red pinwheel, red candle, bubble wands for each child in the household, and a set of activities for how to explore the different ways that the Holy Spirit is often represented in scripture. Please send photos or videos of your child or family participating in Pentecost activities to Jolene Johnston at jjohnston@hfec.org.