From the Rector – Joy is not a Constant
In one of her older books, The Gifts of Imperfection, Professor and author Brené Brown, shared this wisdom, which hits on the holiday imagery and emotions of the holiday season:
TWINKLE LIGHTS are the perfect metaphor for joy. Joy is not a constant. It comes to us in moments – often ordinary moments. Sometimes we miss out on the bursts of joy because we’re too busy chasing down extraordinary moments. Other times we’re so afraid of the dark that we don’t dare let ourselves enjoy the light. A joyful life is not a floodlight of joy. That would eventually become unbearable. I believe a joyful life is made up of joyful moments gracefully strung together by trust, gratitude, inspiration, and faith.
Life is not all joy – joy is found, like she says in moments.
And yet at this time of year, whether we’re feeling it or not, joy can seem to be compulsory. The “holiday spirit” in the world around us seems to magnify joy, which can make us feel its lack all the more keenly.
Whether joy is a stretch because of sadness, loss, anxiety, stress, or anything else – the reminder that we don’t have to live in a state of perpetual joy is much needed so that we can give ourselves grace to cycle through all our feelings – then string together the moments of shining joy when we find them to remind us that life is not all sorrow either.
As we come close to Christmas this year, my hope is that we can be gentle with ourselves and one another, recognizing that joy is not a one-size-fits-all holiday sweater we all don – while also enjoying the moments it shines through nonetheless.
Yours in God’s peace,
Kristin+
Nursery
In mid-November our Nursery School staff participated in the annual conference of the National Association for the Education of
Young Children (NAEYC). In mid-November we had snow too. Yep, the bus 
company deemed one of the three conference days “unsafe for travel”. Some of our staff still made it down to D.C. on their own, so you know it must be good. All made it home safely!
We’d like to share some of what our staff wrote about their experience. I think you’ll agree that many lessons learned apply to us in all stages of life.
The NAEYC Conference gives me a chance to catch a larger view of the education of early learners. I learn from the enthusiastic conversations of staff members and see the materials for implementation of new ideas for classrooms. I pick up ideas for different ways of managing administrative tasks. I always come away with fresh ideas and a positive outlook for our school.
Sharon Hansen, Business Manager
This was the fourth time I attended the national NAEYC conference. I continue to be thrilled upon arrival when I see the thousands of early educators in attendance from all over the world and all over the United States. Finding the connections we have, whether we work in a school in Europe, Asia, Africa, or California, Michigan, Texas, or Maryland – is enriching and satisfying. As a school administrator I focused on attending training that relates to my job of mentoring staff and helping to build community in our school. The vendor expo is a major highlight for everyone at the conference. I truly loved seeing our school staff explore all that there was to offer and to discover new materials and resources that are available for use in the classroom and with our students. The time we had together as a team, sharing and talking about all that we discovered and learned was invaluable. When we were leaving on Friday evening, I felt a sense of sadness that our time at the conference had ended and I look forward to our next visit!
Pat Castle, Executive Director
The conference was very inspirational to me. It was a wonderful experience, learning new ideas for the classroom, surrounded by colleagues who are just as passionate as me. A seminar at the conference that resonated with me is one called “Make Room for Boys!” As a mother of three active boys (and one active girl), I learned many strategies to use at school, as well as at home. Thank you for the amazing experience!
Michelle Rippeon, Pre-K 4’s Teacher
I especially liked the literacy classes that I took. From one I ordered a rhyming dictionary and from another I ordered a wordless children’s book. I can’t wait to share them. Lots of great ideas!
Nancy Summers, Preschool 3’s Assistant Teacher
Attending the NAEYC National Conference was an exhilarating experience. The amount of knowledge and the number of people there to try to gather some of that knowledge intrigued me. Personally, I was impacted by the award-winning authors and the history behind the children’s books they wrote or illustrated. They spoke of their motivation. There was a discussion as to why these books are so successful in reaching the young child. I learned about how the words, the pictures, and the delivery capture the interest and spark learning in these young children. Many children have very little but if they have books and teachers who care they can achieve anything.
Sam Gass, Preschool 3’s Teacher
I was so grateful for the opportunity to spend three days being inspired by other early childhood educators. Here are some of my takeaways/inspirational nuggets:
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- We can support school readiness by fostering strong relationships. Teaching letters and numbers is important, yet even more important is enhancing a child’s confidence, independence, curiosity, motivation, persistence, self-control, cooperation, empathy, and the ability to communicate.
- In early childhood, play is the foundation for higher learning. Environments that encourage play are environments that are preparing children for future academics and overall life-long learning,
- Each day children need to create, move, sing, discuss, observe, read, and play.
- I plan to strengthen children’s social and emotional skills with some of the techniques I learned from Dr. Becky Bailey’s program, Conscious Discipline. The goal is to make all children feel safe, connected, and valued.
Tara Heil, Preschool 3’s Teacher
Conscious Discipline was an outstanding session. The presenters were very animated and interacted with each other and the audience. It focused on how we can teach our children through positive reinforcement. We have been asked to be conscious of the words, No, Don’t and Stop, and find ways of changing our requests to “Do”. Other words or phrases they suggested were, “match your voice to mine”, “hand that toy to your friend, like this”, “use walking feet like me”. Also, it is important to use the child’s name, use eye contact, place hand on shoulder or arm, and acknowledge if the child is frustrated, scared, sad, angry, etc. I am working on following this model, I have become very conscious of how I speak to my students.
Patti Hill, Pre-K Assistant Teacher
My favorite parts of the conference were the positive energy in every room, the creativity that was shared across the entire curriculum, the emphasis on PLAY and allowing movement and mess to promote independence and confidence. I learned about the impact that something like a woodworking station provides to supporting social, emotional, education, and motor development. I also learned that the most adult expectations of children are unrealistic. That goals for circle time should just be to come together as a group. I learned about Conscious Discipline and that we should Know Your Intention – that the voice I use (adult) is the voice they hear, the voice they learn, and they voice they will use. I learned when giving directions to children to create a visual of what I want with the words I use (name, verb, action through modeling). Lastly, I learned that the fastest way to teach a child to read is to teach a child to write.
America Wheat, Preschool 3’s Teacher
I absolutely loved the conference. I found all the sessions I attended so interesting. I especially loved the gardening with preschooler’s session and bringing woodworking into the classroom. I hope we can incorporate some of these ideas into our curriculum. I also really enjoyed meeting teachers from all over the world. I met people from Nigeria, India and Iceland. What a cool experience!
Jen Ellis, Preschool 3’s Assistant Teacher
The conference was in the very least an amazing experience. There are so many things I took from all the trainings that it’s hard to put into words. I think my favorite session by far was called “Catching a bubble and finger on the wall/ are we teaching them anything at all.” It was full of strategies and suggestions to obtain realistic objectives in the classroom.
I was able to meet and interact with so many other people who do what I do and love it just as much! I hope to be able to go to more conferences like this in the future.
Nikki Dave, Preschool 2’s Assistant Teacher
Altar Flower Ministry
Thank you so much to all who contributed flowers with your memorial donations and thanksgivings. Because of your generosity, our Christmas display will, once again, be spectacular. On December 30th please select a plant and take it with you to enjoy. After the 9:30 service the poinsettias can grow legs.
The new 2019 sign-up sheet has been posted in the narthex. We ask that you complete an Altar Flower Donation Form (also in the narthex) and drop it in the offering plate at least two weeks prior to your chosen Sunday.
Flowers may be given in thanksgiving for, honor of, memory of, or celebration of someone or something. All donations are tax deductible and will be acknowledged in the corresponding Sunday bulletin.
WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Vacation for Kristin+ and Office Schedule
Kristin+ will be on vacation this week, but will be available via cell phone for pastoral emergencies. The office will be open Wednesday, December 26 and Thursday, December 27.
Christmas Eve luminarias – help needed!
This year we plan to line our front and back walkways with beautiful luminaria bags. We need two teams to assist – one to come early and have everything ready by 4:00 pm on 12/24 – and the second to help bring them all in after the service. If you are available to help in either way please contact Ashley Conlon.
Notice of Annual Meeting
The 2018 St. James’ Episcopal Church Annual Meeting will be Sunday, January 27, 2019 at 9:30 am. If you are a ministry chairperson you should have received an email requesting your report be turned in by January 7, 2019.
Candidates for the Vestry Class of 2019-2022
The Vestry Nominating Committee is very excited to announce the candidates for the Vestry Class of 2019-2022: Ty Conlon, Bill Ellis, Steve Stowell, Andrew Gobien.
Winter Retreats for Adults at the Claggett Center
- Jan 18-20, 2019, Weekend for Women
This retreat is entitled Living the Good News Lifestyle. It will be held at The Bishop Claggett Center on Buckeystown Pike in Adamstown. The St. James’ Daughters of the King are planning to attend. If you are interested and would like to attend as a group, please see Karen Dulany, Joan Fader or Margaret Neff.
- Feb 1-3, 2019, Men’s Retreat
- Feb 25, 2019, Writer’s Retreat: Fanning the Ember of Creativity
- March 15-17, 2019, Women’s Weekend
Prayer Rotation
Please join the Daughters of the King in praying for each parishioner in rotation during 2018 by taking this notice home and by posting it where it will remind you to pray on a daily basis for the needs and blessings of:
Aline Sautter
Debra and Steven Schaeffer
Joseph and Mara Snyder (Liam, Keara, Alana)
A member of the Daughters of the King will be contacting you this week for special prayer requests.
Reading for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 16, 2018 :
Micah 5:2-5a
Psalm 80:1-7
Hebrews 10:5-10
Luke 1:39-55
Commemorations for the week of December 16, 2018:
| 25 | The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ |
| 26 | Saint Stephen, Deacon and Martyr |
| 27 | Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist |
| 28 | The Holy Innocents |
| 29 | Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1170 |
