Shrove Tuesday 2018
On Tuesday, February 13th, Holy Family celebrated Shrove Tuesday with a variety of activities. First, we enjoyed our final hurrah of sweets and treats with a pancake supper hosted by our Youth Group.
We burned the palms used on Palm Sunday last year in order to make the ashes for our Ash Wednesday services.
Finally, we gathered to have the children help Deacon Cathy “bury the Alleluia” until Easter Vigil. For more information about our Easter week services, please click HERE.
Gospel at Hogwarts
The four Houses of Hogwarts, accompanied by their House Prefects and Professors, participated in a search for Gospel passages hidden within Hogwarts. Once the Gospel passages were discovered by each House, House members acted out the passage, in front of all the Houses, in the Great Hall and discussed how that passage was similar to a clip from a Harry Potter movie. House members learned about the compassion and generosity of Jesus and made connections to their own lives. All, from the youngest to the oldest, discovered their call to discipleship is both a covenant with God and an adventure that is never-ending.
View photos from our special Children and Youth Ministry
Gospel at Hogwarts by clicking HERE.
Contact Children’s MInistry Director Jolene Johnston for more information. jjohnston@hfec.org
Welcome, Reverend Tanya
As part of our rector search process, Holy Family welcomed the Reverend Tanya Vonnegut Beck today as our transitional rector. We are blessed to share in her forty years of pastoral care, preaching, and service to others.
Reverend Tanya also shared a special moment with some of the children at Holy Family. Following the combined worship service at 10 AM, our congregation members shared a pitch-in picnic in the parish hall. For more information about Holy Family’s search process can be found by clicking HERE. admin@hfec.org
Care Kits for Kids
During our 9 AM Sunday school hour, our Godly Play class (PreK-1st grade) chatted with Holy Family’s Deacon, the Reverend Cathy Scott, about children in need right in our own city. They talked about all the items that help kids stay clean and healthy, and how some families do not have enough money to buy those items.
Children packed 61 bags with toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, mouthwash, shampoo, body wash, and lotion. The bags will be distributed to one elementary school and one intermediate school in Fishers. These bags will be added to the supplies from the Gleaner backpack program that supports children who need food and other items at home.
During our 10 AM service, the children were invited forward to bless with bags with our visiting clergy, The Reverend Jay Lawlor. The bags will be delivered early next week. Special thanks are extended to Dr. Jennifer Kugar at Northeast Pediatric Dentistry and Dr. Malinda Mundy-Burgett at Grin Dentistry for donating supplies. For more information about outreach projects in our Sunday school program, please contact Children’s Ministry Director Jolene Johnson. jjohnston@hfec.org
Tools 4 School 2017
During our 10 AM worship service, The Reverend John Conners blessed our ingathering of school supplies that will donated to area children in need. Father John also blessed all students, teachers, bus drivers, school staff, and administrators for a safe and productive school year. For more information about ways to support school children in need, email Jolene Johnston at jjohnston@hfec.org.
O Eternal God, bless all schools, colleges, and universities, that they may be lively centers for sound learning, new discovery, and the pursuit of wisdom; and grant that those who teach and those who learn may find you to be the source of all truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer)
Hero Central VBS 2017
In early June, Holy Family welcomed children to this year’s Vacation Bible School program. Children discovered their strength in God through our “Hero Central” theme. Each day included a bible story, crafts, outdoor games, music, science activities, and a snack. We are grateful for the hard work and dedication of VBS leader Kristine Canter as well as our adults and youth leaders. More photos of our Hero Central VBS are available by clicking HERE. Please contact Children’s Ministry Director Jolene Johnston at jjohnston@hfec.org for more information about Children’s Ministry at Holy Family.
Pentecost 2017
On Saturday, June 3rd, Holy Family held it’s annual Pentecost celebration. This year our prayer service was organized by our own Deacon Cathy Scott. Music was provided by the youth of Holy Family led by guitarist Connor Wilson.
The Pentecost prayer service was held in our outdoor chapel. It was a hot day – we certainly felt the heat of the Holy Spirit!
An unusual feature of this year’s service was the reading of a portion of Acts 2 in multiple languages. Readers, shown above, were Jolene Johnston (Polish), Dan Chillemi (Spanish), Ian Johnston (French), Bob Murray (Italian), and Kristine Canter (German.)
Following the prayer service we held our traditional “Tongues of Fire” pitch-in picnic with entree items grilled by members of our Brotherhood of St. Andrew chapter. Families enjoyed the beautiful weather, played frisbee, and kids jumped in the bounce house. It was an incredible day of food, fellowship, and the fire of the Holy Spirit. For more information about upcoming events at Holy Family, please contact our church office. admin@hfec.org
Helping the Homeless
During Sunday school on April 29th, students in preschool through high school helped to pack supply bags for the homeless. They talked at length about the challenges faced by the homeless and how specific items in the bags can be comfort items or even save lives.
Youth Group member Mikaila Blake and her friend Lauren Crimm organized the outreach project. They also consulted Holy Family’s deacon, The Reverend Cathy Scott, for suggestions about distributing the bags. Deacon Cathy also helped secure additional donations of items from St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Carmel. Mikaila had the following to contribute:
“We decided to start a project to help the homeless in Downtown Indianapolis. We have always desired to make a difference no matter how big or small. A few months ago we started a Go Fund Me campaign so we could buy items that people like you and I take for granted. We raised around $350. With that money we bought dried fruit, water, drawstring bags, snacks, socks, deodorant, and dry shampoo. We also received items from our schools, CRU (Campus Crusade for Christ), family members, and St. Christopher’s Youth Group in Carmel. We appreciate all of the help and are very blessed to be able to do this for others!”
The bags were blessed by The Reverend Bob Dekker who celebrated Eucharist at Holy Family this week. For more information about ways to help the homeless, please contact our Deacon, the Reverend Cathy Scott. cscott@hfec.org
Welcome, Stepping Stones Preschool!
On Wednesday, April 26th, Holy Family hosted an open house to welcome the children and families of Stepping Stones Child Development Center, Inc. led by owner and Director Jenn Norris. (Pictured above are Senior Warden Ben Paden, Director Jenn Norris, and Children’s Ministry Director Jolene Johnston.) Stepping Stones has operated as an in-home preschool since 2003 and is partnering with Holy Family provide a new learning environment for its children.
Children and their parents met with church staff, enjoyed hospitality, and took a tour of the building and spaces that will be utilized by the preschool program.
We enjoyed the beautiful evening and gathered outside to play before going home. More information about Stepping Stones Child Development Center, Inc. is available by clicking HERE.
Girl Scout Sunday 2017
Girl Scouts Sunday was celebrated on Sunday, March 12, 2017. Girl Scouts Day commemorates the day in 1912 when Juliette Gordon Low founded the very first girl troop of scouts with 18 girl members in Savannah, Georgia. It is also known as the birthday of the girl scouts. The week surrounding Girl Scouts Day is Girl Scout Week, also including Girl Scout Sunday and Girl Scout Sabbath. Father Steve Giovangelo offered a blessing for girl scouts and leaders on Sunday. You may view Father Steve’s blessing HERE. For more information about Holy Family, please contact our office. admin@hfec.org
