Christian Education &
Feast of St. Francis & Pet Blessing

Our Feast of St. Francis and Special Blessing of the Animals is just around the corner and we have a few reminders for you. The date is October 7, 2007 at the 10:30 service. The celebration will include a traditional service with special Music by the choir. There will be a procession led by the children, their pets and parents, from the common room into the sanctuary where all others with pets will join the procession. The blessing of the animals will follow.

The children will sing a special song they are practicing with our Rev. Dr. Peggy Patterson and myself. Parents, please bring your children to Sunday school promptly at 10:15 for our practices the next two Sundays. Also, the program on October 7 th will begin promptly at 10:15 . All Parish family members, adults, children and youth are invited to bring your pets!

Other Details For Your Information :
• Pets should be healthy and well mannered.
• Dogs should be on a leash and cats in cages or small carriers.
• All other small pets should also be in a carrier of some sort.
• Please be sure to bring plastic bags for cleanup after your pet if necessary.
• Do not bring any food for your pet into the church as dogs tend to become agitated if other animals are around when they feed.
• If children do not have a pet they may bring a picture of a favorite animal or a stuffed animal to be blessed.
• Please use your discretion as to how many pets you can bring without making this stressful for you or others. We want this to be an enjoyable experience for everyone.
• Our Sunday school program will begin promptly at 10:15 . Deacon Kyra Kerr will share the story of St. Francis and his particular kindness and care for all of God's creatures.
• All youth are invited and encouraged to participate in this service.

The children will bring their pets into the common room for their program at 10:15 . Parents Please stay for the children's program and process with them and your pets into the sanctuary together.

Other News in Christian Education …………

Sunday school has started for the fall semester. This year we have approximately 15 children in our Sunday school class. Our team of teachers this year will include Gloria Durham, Elizabeth Durham, Anne Clark, Adrianne Kunkle, Nan Willis, Barbara Murphy and Emily Durham who will rotate teaching.

Our lessons for this fall will include some practical life lessons, Altar I, (Jesus Invites Us To His Table to Celebrate His Death and Resurrection), and Altar II, (Jesus is Present In The Eucharist), Liturgical Colors, Liturgical Calendar, Gestures – The Sign of the Cross, Prayers – the Our Father and the Prayer of St Francis. In October we will have our special program for the “Feast of St. Francis” with Deacon Kara Kerr and in November we will have a Bible based program for the “Celebration of the Harvest” with our then newly ordained the Rev. Randy Lutz. Come December we have our Advent Lessons, making of new Advent Wreaths, our lesson on the Annunciation to Mary and then our Christmas Pageant. We will finish the pageant with the Visit from the Magi at Epiphany.

• Our last fundraiser for Heifer International was a great success. The total amount of money raised on July 29 th was $241.00, and with a donation that came in later, we totaled $271.00. This brings the amount in the bank to approximately $737.00. Isn't that great! The children, parents, teachers and I have one more fund raising project coming up before the year is over and then the children will choose the animals they want to spend the money on. Thank you to Shaylor and Mawgie, Madeleine and Walker Alley and Michelle Marean, Emma and Cameron Runte for donating baked goods and thanks to Emily Durham for baking with me in the St. Bede's kitchen making cinnamon brownies, snicker doodles, lemon squares and oatmeal cookies for this sale. Thank you to Michelle and Emily for manning the sale table. Thank you all for supporting this children's outreach project.

• Want to teach this fall, contact me @ 471-1004 or 501-3315.

Blessings to you all
Gloria Durham
Director of Christian Education

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© 2007 St. Bede’s Episcopal Church, Santa Fe, New Mexico