Advent Happenings by PatraMueller, HopeChurch Family Life Minister
“Praise God from whom all blessings flow.” These are the words from the song that the first graders sang last week while leading chapel. It brings me so much joy to watch the children lead worship. As you prepare for Christmas, instead of getting caught up in the stress of preparations, I invite you to intentionally simplify your life and let your children lead you in worship at home during the season of Advent. What is Advent? It is the four weeks before Christmas set aside as a season in the church year to prepare one’s heart for the birth of Jesus.
Advent is a great time to participate in special family traditions such as lighting an Advent wreath or opening an Advent calendar each day to find a specific Bible verse to read together as a family. Singing Christmas carols after dinner each night as a candle is lit is also another way to focus on the birth of Jesus. Advent Devotion books and a craft calendar are available in the school office for your family if you are interested. You are also invited to experience the joy of Christ’s birth and worship with us as a church.
Christmas Eve
4:00 pm – Family Christmas Service
6:00 pm – Contemporary Christmas Service
11:00 pm – Candle light Communion Service
Christmas Day
10:30 am- Celebration with Communion
May you be renewed as your children lead you in worship this Advent Season!
Calendar of Events
Tues. 12/3: Grades 5-8 Only – Quarter 2 Midterm Reports Sent Home
Wed. 12/4: 8:40 AM Chapel – 2nd Grade will be sharing symbols of Advent and Christmas
Fri. 12/6: Free Dress Day / 2:00 to 8:00 PM Christmas Greens pickup in Lowers
Sunday 12/8: 10:30 AM 2nd & 3rd Grade Sing at Church Service
Wed. 12/11: 6:30 PM Early Childhood Advent Program – Preschool & Kindergarten
Wed. 12/18: 7:00 PM Sounds of Christmas Concert – Middle School Groups & SLHS
Fri. 12/20: Noon Dismiss: Christmas Holiday / ESC “XTRA” Open
Chapel Offerings
Thank you for your faithful support to our Chapel offerings each week! With your support, we are sponsoring a child through Compassion International named Christopher. He is six years old and lives in the West African country, Ghana. Through our monthly sponsorship, Christopher receives food, clothing and the opportunity to attend a Christian school. This month we also sent an extra donation so he would receive some Christmas gifts. Please take the time to look Ghana up on the map with your child and include Christopher in your prayers. If your child would like to write a letter to Christopher, his address is available in the school office.
Santa-grams
Student council will be selling candy cane Santa-grams from December 9-17 to raise money to support our school. Each candy cane comes with a Christmas greeting and they will cost 50 cents. Look for the table in the entryway of the school in the morning and the upstairs hall during lunch. Buy one for all your friends and teachers. Student council will deliver on Dec. 20.
Hope School Christmas Concerts
Get in the spirit of Christmas by attending one or both of HopeSchool’s Christmas concerts this December. Hope’s early childhood program (preschool and kindergarten) will perform “Christmas is Coming!” on Wednesday, December 11 at 6:30 PM. Our youngest Hope students will celebrate advent with this sweet performance, followed by juice and cookies in the commons.
Hope’s middle school musicians will perform in our annual “Sounds of Christmas” concert coming up on December 18, 2013 at 7:00 PM. The concert will feature our middle school chapel band, handbell choir, and vocal choir performing with the SeattleLutheranHigh School band. We hope you can join us for this festive event, held in the HopeChurch sanctuary.
Pizza Leftovers
Don’t feel like making lunch Friday? Your child is having a growth spurt? One or two slices don’t seem to be enough? We are now selling our extra slices for $2 on Fridays until it’s gone. We also have extra gluten free pizza. Thanks again for supporting the 7th/8th grade WashingtonDC trip!
Dates for our Vacation Bible School
As you are making plans for your Summer Vacation….make sure to include VBS (VacationBibleSchool) July 21-25, 2014.
