December 2019: Waiting

Waiting is one of the biggest spiritual challenges in human life, and it's a challenge that most young children feel especially acutely. 

Waiting for parents, and siblings, and teachers, and friends...waiting for snack time, and recess, and stories, and art...waiting for school and trips, and birthdays, and holidays and fun...waiting for your turn...waiting to grow up...

This month in Chapel--as many teachers, children and families at our school are eagerly awaiting holiday celebrations--we will focus on the theme of waiting.  Because we only have two chapel sessions this month, we'll focus on just two life experiences, among many, that require us to practice waiting!  

Stories

We have to wait, with patience and hope, for PLANTS TO GROW!

On 12/4 we'll share the Godly Play Parable of the Sower and wonder about the patience and persistence of a (frustrated?) farmer planting seeds.  You can read the Godly Play Parent Page for the Parable of the Sower here. 

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We also wait, with patience and hope, for BABIES TO BE BORN! 

There have been lots of new babies born to our SMMS families this fall, so many of our children know this firsthand!  On 12/11 we'll share two stories:  "On the Day You Were Born" by Debra Frasier imagines the eagerness and care with which the whole creation awaits the birth of each child.  "A Child is Born" by Margaret Wise Brown depicts the story of the birth of Jesus with beautiful illustrations and simple poetic language.  While Christians remember and celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus each December, every family can take this opportunity to remember and celebrate the births of the children in their family and the hope, joy, love and new possibilities that each new baby brings! 

You can enjoy Ms. Tricia reading "A Child is Born", below! 

We have to wait for SO MANY THINGS!

There are two other books that we love about waiting: "Waiting" by Kevin Henkes and "Waiting is not easy!" by Mo Willems.  We won't have time to read them in chapel, but we hope you'll take a moment to read them with your child before or after school one day--they'll be on the shelf near Ms. Denise's desk! 

Song

This month we'll learn a meditative song by Claire Cloninger and Don Cason.

The words of the song (as I've adapted them for our use in chapel) are:

While we are waiting, come.
While we are waiting, come.
Spirit of Life: come wait with us.
While we are waiting, com.  ​

Traditions: The Advent Wreath

During the season of Advent (the season of waiting and getting ready to come close to the mystery of Christmas), many people enjoy lighting the candles of an Advent Wreath each night to mark these days of patient hope and anticipation.  

We will be making Advent Wreaths at St. Mark's 
on Sunday, December 1st at 11AM!  
Please join us!  ​