Montclair Presbyterian Church

You are Invited to come, experience it. Yes, you!
The children and Youth Committee at MPC is offering an in-house Godly Play training on Saturday, August 4, from 9a.m.-12p.m. While we are encouraging all of our storytellers and greeters to participate in this training, including those who may want to explore participating in the future, it is equally important to us that everyone in the congregation be invited to attend the training. We believe in the power of Godly Play as a spiritual practice and would like you to know that you are welcome to attend without any further commitment. Maybe you’re a parent or a grandparent with a younger child, not yet a part of the Godly Play program and you’re curious to come and experience it for yourself? Or maybe, you’ve sat in wonder on a Sunday morning as our young ones are dismissed and you’d like the chance to see what goes on upstairs? Maybe you’ve taught in a more traditional Church School program before or attended one growing up and are curious to see how teaching philosophies around Christian nurture have grown and changed since “back in the day?” We invite you to come… curiosity, wonder, or a simple willingness to be opened to an experience of intentional time with God… all are welcome.

What is Godly Play?
Godly Play teaches children the art of using Christian language—parable, sacred story, silence and liturgical action—helping children become more fully aware of the mystery of God’s presence in their lives. When Christian language is learned by the Godly Play approach, it is learned as a means to know God and to make meaning of our lives. This approach is quite different from the traditional model in which a teacher tells children what they need to know. Godly Play is not about things that are simple or about learning lessons or keeping children entertained. Godly Play is about locating each lesson in the whole of the Christian story and involving the creative process to discover the depths of meaning for individuals. Godly Play is about learning how each of the stories of God’s people connects with the child’s own experience and relationship with God. The goal of Godly Play is to show how to be open to the Holy Spirit, the Creator and the Redeemer all at once and all the time in every place.

Discover Godly Play from the inside out.
There are a lot of things you can learn from a lecture, but Godly Play is best learned from the inside out. And this is what takes place at Godly Play training events. You will experience and learn Godly Play stories in the collegial, prayerful setting of The Circle. Godly Play Foundation’s talented Trainer will deepen your understanding of children’s spirituality while guiding you on a personal journey of wonder that will inspire first-timers and experienced teachers alike. By exploring the fundamental foundations of a Godly Play classroom with us, you will improve teaching skills, learn more about what we are providing our children at MPC, and leave spiritually refreshed. Prior experience with Godly Play is helpful but not necessary—all that is absolutely required is a sense of wonder and play. For the benefit of the entire Circle, we ask participants to attend the full training.

Please join us! There is no charge. To register, simply email Rev. Katie (katie@mpcfamily.org) to let her know you are planning on being there.

WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING AT FAMILY CAMP?  Steve McKiernan is doing a daily series of Family Camp blog postings.  Click on the link to follow along with the fun they are all having this year.  http://www.mpcfamily.org/family_camp/.

Our next congregational gathering is THIS COMING SUNDAY, May 6, 11:30 to 1:00. Pastor Beth will lead us in a discernment exercise, a different way of collecting wisdom from what we have done in prior gatherings. We will sit for periods of silence with the questions, “Who is God calling us to be?” and “What is God calling us to do?” We will engage in small group conversation about the kind of church we want to be in coming years. Bring your own lunch. The MST will provide fruit, granola bars, and beverages. Let Katie Morrison know by Wednesday, May 2 if you need childcare.

Our LAST congregational gathering will be Sunday, June 3, from 11:30 to 1:00, where our various task work groups will give progress reports. Watch Contact for more information.

Thank you to everyone who has attended our gatherings. Your participation is very important to our process.

MPC FAMILY CAMP: Registration has begun for MPC’s 35th year at Camp Richardson on the shore of beautiful Lake Tahoe from June (16) 17-23. Details for the morning program are not yet final, but our most immediate deadline is for the cabins. We have tentative holds on Buick, Hallscott, Ford, Jaguar, Mack, Peerless, Marmon, and Dodge, but will have to release our holds in early May. If you are thinking about a cabin, you may view the site map and descriptions at camprichardson.org. It’s also possible other cabins not listed above may be available. To hold a cabin, please register and write a check for 50% of the cabin fee plus registration by May 1. You may download the information form here http://www.mpcfamily.org/uploads/2012-Family-Camp-General-Information.doc and the registration form here http://www.mpcfamily.org/uploads/2012-MPC-Family-Camp-Registration-corrected-fees.doc and visit the Family Camp table after Celebration on Sunday. Please contact registrar Cindy Gullikson (cgull4@juno.com) with any questions about registration, camping, and accommodations.

Our Yule Feast, scheduled for 5:00 pm on Saturday evening, January 7, 2012, attracts about 250 medieval costumed adults, youth, children, members and friends of our church family. It offers us a kaleidoscope of sights, sounds, aromas and an extraordinary experience of Christian community.

In keeping with tradition, our celebrating begins in the Family Room with fanfare toasts, The Pigplay and the traditional Yule Log presentation. Spicy Wassail is served to the accompaniment of the Wassail Carol, traditional Christmas Carols and medieval music.

Courtyard entertainment with colorful flying acrobats, lofty stilt walkers and traditional medieval children’s games will delight and amaze you while the Yule Feast Silent Auction will entice you to bid on the many treats and services in the Thornhill Room.

Festive Christmas Greens, colorful banners, candles, ribbons and the holiday spirit transforms the sanctuary magically into a medieval banquet hall complete with roaming Magi (three wise women) to challenge you with mysteries and inquiries of the season! Madrigals and musicians entertain us during the sumptuous meal served in the traditional family-style by hosts and hostesses. Following dinner we continue the revelry with music, merriment and interactive entertainment.

Yule Feast is almost here! There will be no Family Room sign-ups on Christmas Day. You can make your reservations via the links below: http://www.mpcfamily.org/uploads/Yule-Feast-2012-Reservation-Card-Silent-Auction.doc and http://www.mpcfamily.org/uploads/Yule-Feast-Letter-final.doc.

2012 Yule Feast Chairwomen:
Food Debbie Fallehy (510) 653-8215
General Kristin Miller Nicholas (510) 798-6991
Silent Auction Cathy Sharp (510) 910-6681

Here’s a test of testblog.  Seems like this is a good approach to use if committees want their own blogs.  They’ll be able to edit their own blog posts only (but upload images and other media to the media library if they like).

Visitors Welcome!

Here’s what to expect.

Our church is located at 5701 Thornhill Drive and Celebration in August is every Sunday at 5 p.m. (it’s at 10 a.m. the rest of the year). We’d love to have you join us!