Did you practice your math facts this weekend?

Most definitely and you will never guess where!  In the Cathedral Courtyard!  During the Evensong children's program, we decided to have a scavenger hunt in the graveyard.  We searched for words, letters and numbers, which then grew into calculating the age of many of the precious saints buried in the graveyard.  

                         

 

The children's calculations were much quicker and deinitely more precise than mine!  So, I began to wonder, what better place to sneak in those much needed summer educational calisthenics than right here at Trinity?

The dreaded 20 minutes of reading can be spiced up every Monday at 4:45...

Or come visit the Children's library by the Story Room.  Take a book and/or leave a book.

                                                                      

  

Do you need a writing prompt?  Come research any of the family names in the graveyard.  Who knows what you might discover!

      

    

So, please come visit Trinity this summer!  Not only will you be sneaking in those summer math facts and reading and writing requirements, but you will be planting the seed of Jesus' love for your child which is a lesson that will last an eternal lifetime!

Have you ever heard of "Time Blocking"?

There is a lot of advice out there about time management, best practices for accomplishing large tasks, and tips for staying focused and getting things done.  One of the new buzz words is "time blocking".  In a nutshell, you make a list of tasks which need to be completed.  Large tasks are broken down into smaller, more manageable pieces, slices, chunks, hunks, wedges...dependent upon the task. Each day devote 7 minutes to as many tasks possible beginning with your #1.  Set a timer for this time block (hence the term "time blocking") and see what happens.  Are you finished?  Can you spare just a few more minutes to complete said task?  Or are you over it, can't face another second of whatever it is?  Then it goes to the top of the list for the next week.  You will be surprised what you can accomplish in 7 minutes. 
Can you spare 7 minutes to prepare your heart for this Sunday's lectionary?  There is an app for that!  And you can even listen while you are folding laundry for 7 minutes (yes, I knew that was somewhere on your list!). 
Search Book of Common Prayer: Daily Office Readings.  "Read (or hear) the Daily Office readings in ESV using an uncluttered easy to read interface that let's you focus on the word"....
or, if you want to read ahead try www.oremus.org.  My prayer is after 7 minutes that you decide to give it even more time and that this becomes not a task , but a joy each week.

Children's Calendar :
 Wednesday, May18th, 5:00 PM Family Strawberry Pickin'
Cottle Farms 2533 Trotter Road

Wednesday Evenings (April 6-April 27):

5:00-5:45 Just Mom and Me Devotional (Rm. 205) 1^st – 5^th grade

5:45-6:30 Parish Supper (Saterlee Hall)

6:30-7:00 The Colors of the Cross (children’s program rm.205)

                Adult program (Satterlee Hall)

Passages in the Park:

May 3rd

12:30-1:30 at Heathwood Park or room 205 if weather is yucky!

Feast of the Ascension:

Feast of the Ascension Service Thursday May 5^th at 6:00pm in the Cathedral followed by supper on the Cathedral Lawn.

Parent’s Night Out/ Kids Movie Night:

Friday,May 6^th

Please RSVP to bbbabson@trinitysc.org by May2nd. 

6:00-8:00 Workshop/ Edward Room

Come dressed in your PJ's

Bring a Happy Meal and sleeping bag, lovey, and pillow

We will eat dinner in the Workshop and then move to the Edward Room for a movie.

3rd Friday Parent’s Night:

May 20^th: The Babson’s 21 Castle Hall Lane

(childcare not provided)

4:00 Easter Sundays on the Playground:

Every Sunday during Easter (April 3-May 8), children are invited to the Trinity playground while parents attend Evensong worship. (rain location: Rm. 205)

4^th and 5^th grade Quarterly Fellowships:

4^th and 5^Th graders will gather quarterly at the Cathedral and off site for fellowship.  Our first gathering will be Sunday, May 15^th 3:30-5:00 at Royal Z Lanes.  Please RSVP to bbabson@trinitysc.org by May 9^th.

Keeping it Real in the Park:

5^th grade children will attend a chapel service in the park on May 8^th at 3:00.  They will then serve dinner to approximately 75 people from the homeless community.

5th Grade Bridge Retreat (rising 6^th grade):

May 14-15^th Camp Gravatt

Whoa….What? Wow!

http://www.edusc.org/children-s-ministries/children-s-ministries.html

Mystery Reader Monday:

4:45-5:30 in room 205

Every Monday this summer, we will have a special mystery guest come share their favorite book.  Then join us at the 5-points Chick-Fil-A for dinner and fun!

Summer Thursday Visitors:

Every Thursday during the summer come join the TLC family at 10:00 for a fun visitor!

June 9: Carolina Choo Choo

June 16: Baskin Robbins ice cream

June 23: African Drumming

June 30: Magic with Nick Propst

July 7: Juke Box Island

July 14: Sarah Dippity's Fiesta Show

July 21: "Rockin" Marionette Theatre

July 28: Pantasia Steel Band

August 4: "Tortoise and Hare" Marionette Theatre

August 11: Native American Story Teller

Vacation Bible School:

June 13-16^th 9:00-12:00

God’s Plan 4U=Jesus!

How long will you keep us in suspense?

"So the Jews gather around Jesus and and once again ask "If you are the Christ tell us plainly." (John 10:24)

How many times do you answer your child's same question over and over again only to hear them asking the same exact question again?  On any given Haile trip, the magic question was "what are we in?"  Invariably we were in the middle of "nowhere SC", but we continued to ask over and over. 

I wonder if Jesus was beginning to feel the same frustrations we do as parents?  I wonder if we answer with the same patience as He did?

Alice Hoing's Love and Learn: Positive Guidance for Young Children offers some great advice.
"Children imitate our behavior. When we shout in anger, tenderly comfort a child, cringe at the sight of a spider, or put our dirty clothes in the hamper, our children are likely to follow our example. We should give our children one-on-one personal focused attention every day.  This provides emotional vitamins.  Act as we expect our children to act, set reasonable and positive expectations, offer good choices, and give opportunities to calmly talk about problems".
Doesn't Jesus do all of this for us?  He knows us, He gives us eternal life, He promises we will never perish and no one will snatch us from the Father's hand. All He calls us to do is hear His voice, follow Him and His perfect example.

What do you want your child to hear this week; what direction do you want them to follow; where will your voice lead them; what behavior will they imitate?

Prayers that we may all listen this week when He calls us by name.

What treasures are you storing up on this earth that moth and rust will destroy and thieves will steal?

Matthew 6:19 takes on a whole new meaning since exactly 6 months ago today for many people.  What we think we need is truly just a "want".  A dear friend of mine always told her children "it is good to want".  Yes, it is good to want.  Want is motivating; it creates creativity, it produces drive and ambition, initiative, determination; it inspires us. But what about need?  A need is a necessity, a requirement, a demand, a call.....talk about motivating!  So, what is your call on this earth that moths and rust will not soon destroy?  Attending Wednesday Night Supper, teaching Sunday school, being a shepherd for Liturgy Preparation, making telephone calls for the Trinity Forward Campaign or participating in the 21 Days of Prayer, attending Evensong?  Trinity is such a vibrant place with so many treasures to seek:
April 8-10th Men of Trinity Retreat at Camp Gravatt
April 10th Variations on America Concert at 4:00 in the Cathedral
April 15 Parent's Night at the Lee's 1728 West Buchanan Dr.6:30-9:00pm
April 19th Elsie Lamar chapter meeting Joie Ray's 1340 Shady Lane 7:00pm
April 24th Commitment Sunday
May 6th Kid's Movie Night 6-8 in the Edward Room

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Mt. 6:21)