Feeding the Five Thousand
Our Miracles of Jesus unit continued with the story of the Feeding of the Five Thousand. The children brainstormed ways to help feed the “five thousand” in their community. As a final activity, the students used canned and boxed goods donations given by congregation members as well as those collected at the recent Fishers High School Choirs concert to create a sculpture of a boat, The boat stood in the Narthex as a reminder to bring more food donations before the items were delivered to the Delaware Township Trustee’s food pantry. In total, over seven hundred pounds of food were delivered to the food pantry to restock their shelves for families in need.
Youth Group Camping Trip
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Members of Holy Family’s Youth Group participated in a weekend camping trip to Mounds State Park. In addition to canoeing on the White River, they enjoyed sharing fellowship and singing songs around the campfire. Special thanks are extended to Youth Group Director Marty Blake and parents Lauren and Andy Wilson for chaperoning the trip.
Hooked on Jesus
This week in Sunday school our students studied John 21 and the “Fishers of Men” scripture. During our group discussion, everyone put their feet into the center of the circle and got caught in a large fishing net. Participants shared their ideas for how to live their lives as Disciples and share the love of Jesus at school, at work, and at home. One participant even exclaimed, “I’m hooked on Jesus!”
Students created personalized fish bookmarks to take home to use in their bibles and practiced catching fish. Our “Miracles of Jesus” unit continues this fall.
Walking on Water
On Sunday, Holy Family students gathered for our VBS=style Sunday school program. Youth Group members read three different Gospel accounts of Jesus walking on water.
The students worked together to create sidewalk paintings of the chosen scripture using cups of water.
Students also stepped into a tray of water to “walk on water” representing their intent to follow Jesus.
They created water footprints along the cross-shaped path that leads to the front door of Holy Family. Our unit on The Miracles of Jesus continues this fall.
Sunday School: We’re All in This Together!
Holy Family celebrated its “Back to Church Sunday” with the return of Sunday school programming for children in preschool through high school. Due to the upcoming City of God building project, we decided to engage all children and youth in a VBS-style program that will continue throughout construction. The first unit this fall will present scripture and activities based on the miracles of Jesus. Youth Group students partnered with younger children to assist with many activities.
For this activity, each student directed a blindfolded partner through a course of “life’s obstacles” and found many ways to reach their desired goal. Bible stories described Jesus healing the blind.
Our second activity challenged students to assist their partners in traveling across the room when they didn’t have use of their legs. Our bible story described four men carrying their paralyzed friend to Jesus to be healed. Additional miracles stories will be shared this fall.
Mission Trip Team 2015
Holy Family Mission Trip Team 2015 – Philadelphia, PA
This year’s Mission Trip Team gathered this morning at sunrise to load up vans to travel to Philadelphia, PA for a week of service. Deacon Cathy Scott prayed with the team and family members.
We pray to you, Lord, who made Your home with the outcast and the poor. Help us be Your hands and feet as we seek to serve in Your name. Give us the wisdom to understand the needs and stories of others. Help us always realize that our Holy Family extends beyond our walls and, sometimes, beyond our own comfort level. Open our hearts to love, our arms to embrace, and our eyes to see the Kingdom of God in our midst. Amen.
2015 Mission Trip: Gathering
On Saturday June 20, several members of the Holy Family mission trip team met to prepare for their upcoming mission to Philadelphia in July. The afternoon meeting included fellowship time and discussion about some of the systemic issues of racism and economic oppression as they pertain to those the team will be serving in Philadelphia.
The second portion of the gathering focused on safety awareness and self defense techniques. Recommended Fourth Dan Black Belt Deanna Dicken from North Indy Taekwondo shared a discussion about general safety principles and ways to avoid danger. It included suggestions on how to escape a variety of dangerous situations.
Mrs. Dicken modeled several physical attacks and simple ways to escape.
Students, adult mentors, and parents were encouraged to practice the escape techniques.
As is often the case at Holy Family, we ended the evening with a pitch-in picnic meal. Thank you to all who made the afternoon possible. We are almost ready to go and serve at the Episcopal Mission Center! Our next Mission Trip gathering is planned for July. jjohnston@hfec.org
May 2015 Celebrations
Sunday, May 10th was a super-sized day at Holy Family. We began our celebrations by blessing all Sunday school teachers and Christian formation leaders and thanking them for their service to the spiritual journeys of others. Father Mike offered a blessing.
We honored our 2015 high school graduates and presented them with our traditional gifts – bibles signed by adult mentors and prayer shawls handcrafted by our Prayer Shawl Ministry members. The shawls were made with love and prayers in every stitch.
Father Mike blessed the graduates. Each student shared his or her upcoming college and degree choice.
We also presented Deacon Cathy Scott with a prayer shawl. Deacon Cathy graduated on Saturday with a Master of Theology degree from St. Meinrad Seminary.
At the end of each service, Father Mike offered a blessing for mothers of all kinds.
Our Brotherhood of St. Andrew chapter hosted a lovely Mother’s Day brunch.
We also indulged with cake for our teachers and graduates. It was a special day for all who attended.
City of God: Building a Firm Foundation
On Sunday, April 26th our congregation participated in a variety of activities related to our City of God capital campaign. Deacon Cathy met with all students from preschool through high school. The children were asked to use blocks to build a church and were challenged with questions about where people pray, meet, and learn about Jesus.
The children were asked about ways to reach deeper into the community and surrounding areas to share the story of the Good News with others. They were given brick-themed mite boxes and asked to build onto their church building to create new spaces for feeding ministries, bible studies, retreats, and concerts.
Children who wanted to take their boxes home were encouraged to do so. Some kids shared ideas for washing cars or dogs, mowing lawns, holding bake sales, or selling unwanted items at garage sales to raise money for our campaign.
Deacon Cathy led the children in singing the refrain of “City of God” and reading aloud the kid-friendly version of our City of God corporate prayer.
Following our church services on Sunday, Deacon Cathy encouraged congregation members to personalize river stones with their family names. The stones will be returned to church during our Celebration Picnic on May 16th to be collected, blessed, and added to the foundation of our new building addition.
Members were invited to take home a card with the City of God corporate prayer as well. More information about our City of God capital campaign can be found by clicking HERE.