St Ignatius of Antioch Episcopal Church

As we begin a new school year, we continue to support and expand our commitment to families and children. We reaffirm our welcome to children of all ages at all our liturgies as well as our commitment to provide safe and fun childcare in the playroom during our Sunday services. We are planning a full year of educational and social activities for all our families and I am looking forward to working with all of you, along with Deacon Paul, Lucy Yates, our Sunday School teacher, and our seminarians, Anne Lane Witt and Diane Reiners.

It is hard to believe that we are about to begin the second year of our renewed Sunday School! I am so grateful to Lucy Yates for shepherding this program so wonderfully last year and we all look forward to working with her again this year. This fall we will continue our Biblically and liturgically based curriculum for children from four and up, expanding our program to include regular special sessions for our older children. Lucy has told me about some of her plans for this group, including a year-long project for each child to create his or her own Book of Hours and to coordinate some activities with the adult program that Deacon Paul is organising. We will not offer a Confirmation Class this year as we are not scheduled for an Episcopal Visitation, however we expect to have Confirmation for youth and adults in 2010-2011.

On Sunday, September 13th we return to our regular Sunday schedule of Sung Mass at 9 a.m. and Solemn Mass at 11 a.m. That morning, during the Education hour between the two Masses, at about ten past ten, Lucy and I will be able to welcome new and returning families and introduce all of you to this year’s children’s and family programs. Sunday School continues on September 20th. On Sunday, October 4th at 4 p.m. we will celebrate our second annual Blessing of the Animals and I am hoping that this can be an occasion for our parishioners to bring their whole families and invite their friends. Please also save the date for Family Christmas Party, which we will have in the church on the afternoon of Saturday, December 19th. We are in the process of planning a Family Picnic in the spring and will let you know more about this in the weeks ahead. Indeed, throughout the year we will stay in touch with you to keep you abreast of developments and activities. We encourage you to invite others you think would enjoy being a part of what we are doing here at Saint Ignatius.

Please do not hesitate to be in touch with me if you have any questions or concerns or would like to get more involved. With great expectations for the year ahead, I am,

Faithfully,

Andrew C. Blume+

For more information about children and families at Saint Ignatius click here.