Celtic Sunday 1

Why Emmanuel 2

Vestry HiLites 3

Spiritual Formation for Children and Youth

4

Adult Spiritual Formation

5

Outreach 6

Inclement Weather Policy

7

Diocesan Listening Sessions

8

Lenten Devotional 8

2019 Annual Giving 9

Preschool News 10

Calendar 12

Inside this issue:

High Notes Submissions

Articles for the March High

Notes must be submitted to

Kelli by Friday, February 22.

2019

Celtic Morning: Worship, Forum, “Irish” Coffee Hour & Boyle School of Irish Dance Performance February 3

8:30 AM Holy Eucharist

9:15 AM Women in Celtic Spirituality | Memorial Room

10:30 AM Holy Eucharist

11:30 AM “Irish” Coffee Hour featuring a performance by the Boyle School of Irish Step Dancers

In addition to being Youth Sunday, February 3rd will be a very special celebration of the Celtic Christian tradition. The ancient Celtic Church sprang up separate from the Roman tradition. This branch of the Faith was very Trinitarian and close to creation. It embraced the sacred in the ordinary and valued the leadership of women equally to that of men.

February 1st is actually the Feast of Saint Brigid of Kildare. She was the abbess of a double-monastery, a community of both men and women religious who were allowed to marry and raise their children in the “New Faith.” Brigid became a bishop in the Celtic Church and is always pictured with an Episcopal crozier in hand.

February 3rd we will immerse ourselves in a Celtic Morning. At both services, 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., the Holy Eucharist will be celebrated in the Celtic tradition drawing from multiple liturgical resources. The musical offerings at 10:30 a.m. will also have a Celtic flair with Irish tunes. Between the services at 9:15 a.m., Joani will lead a forum on “Women in Celtic Spirituality.” We’ll have an “Irish” Coffee Hour featuring a performance by the Boyle School of Irish Dance.

Awesome, right? If you have any questions or would like to help with “Irish” Coffee Hour, please Contact Joani.

H i g h N o t e s

Our 10 -Year Vision for Emmanuel

Emmanuel Episcopal Church is a thriving, engaged and creative parish working to educate and meet the needs of children, youth and adults; live and demonstrate our Christian values; and create a more humane and just world through community service and outreach.

Diocesan Bishops The Rt. Rev. Susan Goff

The Rt. Rev. Robert Wilkes Ihloff

Emmanuel Church Staff

Rector

The Rev. Charles C. McCoart, Jr.

Associate for Worship The Rev. Joan L. Peacock

Seminarian KC Robertson Pete Nunnally

Director of Spiritual Formation for

Children and Youth Toni Buranen

Organist/Choir Director

Ryan Fitch

Parish Administrator Kelli Corts

Administrative Assistant

Karen O’Hern

Nursery Caregivers Lillian Urrea

Natalie De Leon Santizo Jeni Rivera

Sunday Services

8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

Church Office Hours Monday—Thursday

10:00 a.m.—2:00 p.m.

Emmanuel Episcopal Church 1608 Russell Road

Alexandria, VA 22301 703-683-0798 (phone)

703-683-6158 (fax) office@emmanuelonhigh.org

www.emmanuelonhigh.org

Page 2

Why Emmanuel By Sue and Pat Kenny

I am a life-long Episcopalian from Maryland. Pat, my husband, grew up a Roman Catholic in Alexandria. We were born in Washington, DC and still have many ties to family in the DC/MD area. After meeting in college, we married in 1970 in my childhood parish, St. John’s Episcopal Church in Hagerstown, MD.

We were in agreement that the Episcopal Church was the right place for us to grow in faith and where our concerns and questions were embraced. Being active in a very small parish for years in the Alexandria area, we decided to look for a larger church home but not a corporate size. We wanted opportunities to participate in worship, education, volunteering, fellowship, and prayer. In particular we wanted a strong youth group for our school-age children, Megan and Christopher, who were baptized Episcopalian.

In the early 80’s, we were drawn to Emmanuel by a few parishioners. One was Mary Lou Titus, a fellow lay listener in Homiletics at Virginia Theological Seminary. Together we listened to student sermons and discussed our thoughts with the professor and students. Mary Lou demonstrated amazing qualities of knowledge, calmness, clarity and faith. I learned that she was a member of Emmanuel and asked her about the parish. With an invitation from Mary Lou and an affirmation from our friend Nancy Dupree (we met in 1973!), we decided to attend a Eucharist service.

We knew very quickly that we had found a new church home on our first visit. The worship service fit our comfort level. The sermon was based on scripture, related to daily living, and warmly delivered. The music was familiar and comforting. All ages were in attendance, which was a definite plus. Megan and Chris liked the Sunday School. When all four of us were welcomed at coffee hour by many of the congregation including Bob and Betty Coombs and Ernie and Kim Langholz, we knew we were home!

Our entire family found numerous paths to serve and received so much love in return. We made precious friends for life. Megan taught Sunday School with the legendary Catherine Wheeler and 20 years ago she married at Emmanuel. Chris was an acolyte and delivered the sermon for his final Youth Sunday. Both children will tell you today how much they appreciated St. George’s Camp, the Christmas Pageant, Shrine Mont Retreats, and the Youth Group leaders like Kirk and Linda Gibson and Cheryl and Alan Knudsen. The Rev. Churchill Gibson’s renowned sex talk with the youth became notorious among all the high school

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H i g h N o t e s Page 3

2019 Vestry

Aaron Flaaen (Senior Warden) Tom Craig (Junior Warden) Katie Deemer / Joe Dresen

Barbara Huffman / Maria Jones Emily McNaughton / Janie Piemonte

Doris Rudolph / Greg Shannon Matt Stratford / Meredith Wade

Gene Lange (Treasurer) Sarah Kolo (Clerk)

Contacts for Ministry Teams

Worship Team Coordinator: Nancy Dupree Acolytes: Kelly and Joe Dresen Altar Guild: Nancy Dupree Counters: Kelli Corts Guitar Circle: Stewart Bartley Music & Choir: Ryan Fitch Readers (8:00): Suji Kelly Readers and Chalice (10:30): Jerry Boykin Ushers: Bob Callahan

Education Team Coordinators: Joani Peacock Toni Buranen Adult Spiritual Formation: Beth Boland Sunday School: Toni Buranen Youth: Chris Piemonte; Rachel Piemonte Preschool: Nicole Crochet

Service Team Coordinator: Sean Ellis Adult Summer Service Trip: Vacant ALIVE!: Sarah Orndorff Bag Lunch Program: Karen Coda Carpenter’s Shelter Breakfast: Jennifer Jones Carpenter’s Shelter Dinner: Bonnie Lilley Community Lodgings: Barbara Harslem Giving Tree: Sylvie Harris Haiti: John Maass Haitian Coffee Sales: Kim Scott Meals on Wheels: Katie Kelly Refugee Family: Kim Scott United Thank Offering: Bonnie Fairbank Yard Sale: Megan & John Read

Fellowship Team Coordinator: Jennifer Jones Breakfast with St. Nick: Courtney Keplinger Coffee Hour Baristas: Ann Wheaton Craft & Sewing Group: Gudrun Callahan Easter Egg Hunt: Eileen Gorman Prime Timers: Bonnie Fairbank Shrine Mont Parish Retreat: Joe Scott Super Bowl: Gene Lange Twenties & Thirties (TnT): Leo Cruz

Stewardship Team Coordinator: Adam Schildge Annual Giving: Jane Kolson; Tyler Dorn Building and Grounds: Meredith Wade Finance: Stewart Bartley Foundation: Jane Kolson

.

students at Emmanuel. The influence of our friends in Christ on our family is immeasurable.

After many years of love, worship, fellowship, volunteering, and praying with our Emmanuel family, we moved to Charlotte, NC in 2005 for family reasons. We treasure the years of being close to our daughter and her family. However, our church attendance in Charlotte was intermittent. We could not find the clone of Emmanuel!

When our daughter’s husband accepted a job offer in the DC area, Megan’s family moved from Charlotte to Vienna, VA, in 2016. Our son and his family live in NYC so Pat and I decided we could move anywhere we wanted. We discussed the beach, a retirement home, and mountain living. Our thoughts always returned to Alexandria, Emmanuel, friends, and nearby relatives. We took a year to downsize and sold our home in 2017 for the move back home!

Walking into Emmanuel after being away for 12 years was overwhelmingly heartwarming. We were bear hugged by our dear friends! We marveled at the church congregation and all the new, beautiful, intergenerational faces. The spirit of the Lord was at work and we were back home!

Pat and I are very thankful that we returned to a community of faith and mutual support. Our memories are full of love and caring through so many life stages as a family. Our prayer would be for all who gather at Emmanuel to feel the same spirit of Christ’s love as we have felt for all these years.

HiLites

At its regular meeting on January 16, the Vestry…

• Approved the 2019 budget;

• Discussed a summary of action steps to implement the strategic plan;

• Prepared for the annual meeting;

• Learned about Bishop Curry’s “Way of Love” framework that will be used to guide parish programs.

(Continued from page 2)

Church Directory If you missed the January 27 Annual Meeting, be sure to pick up the 2018 Annual Report and the 2019 Parish Pictorial Directory the next time you are in church, or contact Karen.

H i g h N o t e s Page 4

Spiritual Formation for Children and Youth

“Sometimes I think, were I just a little rougher made, I would go altogether to the woods—to my work entirely, and solitude, a few friends, books, my dogs, all things peaceful, ready for meditation and industry—if for no other reason than to escape the heart-jamming damages and discouragements of the worlds mean spirits. But, no use. Even the most solitudinous of us is communal by habit, and indeed by commitment to the bravest of our dreams, which is to make a moral world. The whirlwind of human behavior is not to be set aside.”

― Mary Oliver, Winter Hours

Coming Up:

Sunday, February 3 — Join us for a Celtic Youth

Sunday!

In addition to being Youth Sunday, February 3, will be a special celebration of the Celtic Christian tradition. Both services, 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., the Holy Eucharist will be celebrated in the Celtic tradition drawing from multiple liturgical resources. The musical offerings at 10:30 a.m., will also have a Celtic flair with

Irish tunes. Between the services at 9:15 a.m. Joani will lead a forum on "Women in Celtic Spirituality." We'll have an "Irish" Coffee Hour featuring a performance by the Boyle School of Irish dancers.

Sunday, February 10

• Sunday school meets at 10:15 AM

• God & Donuts meets at 4:00 PM

Sunday, February 24

• Sunday school meets at 10:15 AM

• God & Donuts meets at 4:00 PM

Become a Sunday School Teacher!

It is that time of year again when we begin to look for volunteers in our parish community, particularly parents of Sunday school aged children, to prayerfully discern teaching Sunday school. Our Sunday school works best when we have a team of 4 adults rotating teaching the 4 classes ranging from Pre-K – 8th Grade. Don’t be daunted! If you have a heart for kids and a heart for God, you have everything you need! Not only do you get to work with a great team of people and hang out with great kids, but also you have the flexibility in your calendar to be able to do other fun things as well. No experience is necessary. Questions? Contact Toni.

Emmanuel’s Choir Christmas Party.

H i g h N o t e s Page 5

Theology on Our Feet: Continuing the Conversation

Sunday, February 10 | 9:15 AM | Memorial Room

The Rev. Dr. Ross Kane’s fall series: Theology on Our Feet garnered a lot of interest and a desire to continue the conversation of how Christians deal with ethical challenges and dilemmas in our everyday lives. Whether you participated before or are newly interested, please join Ross for a follow-up session to keep the conversation going. If you have specific topics you would like to discuss please, email Ross.

Emmanuel Chooses the Way of Love

For more than a thousand years, monastics have greeted pilgrims knocking on their doors by asking: “What do you seek?” Today, each of us can pause with the same question. As much as the world has changed, the fundamental human hopes and yearnings that draw us to faith may not be so different. Do you seek a life centered on Jesus? Do you seek to explore and live his Way of Love? Join us this Lent as Emmanuel Chooses the Way of Love. We will be gathering in the Memorial Room between services at forum hour to dive into Presiding Bishop Curry’s Way of Love Curriculum, discovering practices for a Jesus-centered life. This five-week curriculum explores the ways in which we can seek a love so deeply rooted in scripture and one another that it allows us to become a part of a loving, life-giving, liberating Jesus movement. Let’s discover what it means to turn, learn, pray, worship, bless, go and rest as the way in which we as Emmanuel Choose the Way of Love this Lent and beyond. First session is March 10, 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. in the Memorial Room. Have any questions, please contact KC Robertson.

Adult Spiritual Formation

Virginia Seminary Evening Community Offerings • Spelling Doesn’t Count: Writing as a Spiritual Practice. Tuesday evenings, January 29 to March 5 (six sessions);

7:30 to 9:30 PM; Addison Academic Building, Room 109; $120; Click here to register.

• The Psalms: Ancient Texts in Today’s Contexts. Thursday evenings, January 31 to February 28 (four sessions; no class on February 14, Valentine's Day); 7:30 to 9:30 PM; Addison Academic Building, Room 109; $100; Click here to register.

• Spirituality Saturdays. Combine prayer and movement and will be offered seasonally. During Epiphany, the Rev. Ann Gillespie will lead Praying With Our Bodies; Saturday, February 2; 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM; Meade Hall—Gibbs Room; $45; Click here to register.

• Practicing Sabbath: Taking Time to Breathe and Be. February 12 (first one of monthly series); 2:00 to 4:00 PM; led by Francie Thayer; Immanuel Chapel — Oratory; $20; Click here to register.

H i g h N o t e s Page 6

Outreach

Giving Tree for Haiti Results

The service ministry is pleased to announce another successful Giving Tree fundraiser. A total of $8,545 was donated by parishioners and friends of Emmanuel to support projects at our partner parish, Ste. Croix in Léogâne, Haiti. This generosity is an incredible showing of care and love and will allow Emmanuel to continue to do God's work in Haiti. The Outreach Team would like to thank everyone who participated.

Donated funds will cover the following categories:

• $4,500 to cover scholarships and uniforms for nine students (2019-2020 school year)

• $3,750 for the music program (music teacher salaries, instruments, music supplies, repairs)

• $295 for library books and school supplies

Sean Ellis

A New Outreach Opportunity to Support ALIVE!

In addition to the baskets of food collected at churches like Emmanuel each Sunday, ALIVE! accepts donations at grocery stores around the city. For the last year or so, with a group of friends, I've taken a shift at the Duke Street Giant one Saturday every other month. We hand flyers to shoppers as they enter the store and collect anything they choose to donate as they exit. This year we need a few more people for our roster. The shift is 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. The 2019 dates are April 20, June 15, August 17, and October 19.

ALIVE! provides tables, banners, bins, and flyers. I will be there each time, and I like to have three other volunteers. That way two of us can man each exit — and keep each other company. Another ALIVE! volunteer ferries the donations to the warehouse. If you can help out one day or all four — or if you want more information — let me know or click here.

Karen Coda

Thank You…. From Bishop Goff

Thank you for your pledge to the Diocese of Virginia of $33,892 to support our ministries and programs. The work we do together connects us all through the love of Jesus. Together we are almost 72,000 people worshipping at 179 churches. Our roots run deep — from the coast of the mountains, from the Potomac to the James River. With Jesus as the strength and guidance of our ministries, we worship in half a dozen languages and in different styles, all as part of the Diocese of Virginia. Our differences may challenge us but they bring us closer together in the Kingdom of God. At annual Convention this year we celebrated ministries that reach out across the Diocese and throughout the world. As we go “Now Into the World” together during this year, we have much to do and we will do it together — together as the Diocese of Virginia.

Thank You…. From ALIVE! Executive Director Diane Charles

Thank you for your generous gift in support of ALIVE! We have received your donation of $2,000. It is an honor to partner with you and the Emmanuel Episcopal Church congregation in service to our community. Your leadership and donations have an immediate impact — providing food and emergency help to struggling Alexandrians, giving shelter and support to homeless mothers and their children, and offering a brighter future to children from low-income, working families through high-quality preschool and compassionate child care.

H i g h N o t e s Page 7

Congratulations to

Paulette and Doug Garthoff

Who are celebrating their

50th Anniversary

Emmanuel’s Craft Group Christmas Lunch.

Emmanuel Episcopal Church follows the Alexandria City Public School (ACPS) system regarding closings for inclement weather. If Alexandria Public Schools are closed, then Emmanuel Episcopal Church is closed. All day and evening church activities and meetings are cancelled. This applies to weekdays and weekends. If Alexandria Public Schools have a late opening or an early closing then we will follow their lead as well.

This inclement weather policy includes the 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sunday services as well. If it is unsafe for the school system to be open, then it is unsafe for our church to be open. God will

completely understand — yes, even applaud — your taking care of yourself and others by staying home.

In the event of a Sunday closing, an e-mail will be sent to all who currently receive the weekly e-news; and the closure will be placed on the website as well.

*Exceptions to the policy will be considered by the rector on a case by case basis.

H i g h N o t e s Page 8

The Rt. Rev. Susan E. Goff will host five Community Listening Sessions around the Diocese in the season of Epiphany. Each session will include a time for you and your Bishops to share your dreams for our Diocese.

Read Bishop Goff’s letter about the listening sessions.

Please plan to attend a session in your area:

• Saturday, February 9, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. — St. Barnabas, Annandale

• Wednesday, February 13, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. — Emmanuel, Woodstock

• Saturday, February 16, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. — Roslyn Retreat Center, Richmond

• Monday, March 4, 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. — St. Margaret’s School, Tappahannock*

• *We hope to broadcast this listening session via Facebook Live.

Bishop Goff to Host Listening Sessions Around the Diocese

Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God.

~Ephesians 5:2

Coming soon to a table in the narthex (February 27)!

“Walk in Love”, a homegrown devotional offers an unorthodox way to walk the “way of the cross.” Not with the traditional stations of the Via Delarosa, but instead with a pilgrimage through our own backyards. Walking “the way” through ordinary places and spaces, sacred ground can surely be found.

Beginning on Ash Wednesday, through five weeks of Sundays, Holy Week, and Easter Week, a local place of pilgrimage is suggested. All to be found in Alexandria, Virginia. Addresses, little descriptions and scripture from the Lenten lectionary included.

The experience is your own. Visit and soak up the Spirit. Walk the paths and trails. Pause and observe. Explore the sights, the smells, the sounds, the feel of each destination.

Take a journal or a sketch book. (And try to leave your phone behind!)

Where do you find healing? Where do you find wholeness? Where do you find Jesus along the way?

Go alone. Go with a friend. Go on a Soul Stroll with the Associate for Liturgy & Hilarity (me!). Go on a sketch-hike with Margaret Wohler, naturalist & artist, the 1st and 4th Sundays of Lent. It’s all in the book! Go with God and walk the Way of the Cross.

Joani

Walk This Way: An Alexandria Lenten Pilgrimage

Stairway to

Heaven … aka

… let there be

light.

Thanks to Nick,

Dan, and Jason.

H i g h N o t e s Page 9

Emmanuel’s formal Annual Giving Campaign pledge period has ended, however we welcome your commitment at any time. Your response will allow the Vestry to plan Emmanuel's 2019 budget with the most accurate financial information available. Should you need another pledge card, please look in the back of the church or email Kelli. Thanks in advance for your 2019 commitment to Emmanuel!

Thank you to the following individuals and families who have made a 2019 pledge:

2019 Annual Giving

Jennifer Adams Kerry & Patrick Adams Paula & John Ajello Mary & Ian Alberg Dawnita & Sylvan Altieri Elizabeth & Tom Anderson Kara & Dave Anderson Marianne Bailey & Alex Bambara Kate & Brian Bartholomay Christina & Stewart Bartley Ham Beggs Lola Beggs Nick, Caroline & Elizabeth Benne Melissa & Barry Bennett Ruth & Tom Bilodeau Beth Boland Jerry Boykin Jim Bradley Jean Manchester Brown Kathy Brown Judi & Tony Brush The Buckman Family Joy Burwell Amélie & Charles Cagle Gudrun & Robert Callahan Walt Carlton Beth Tuttle & Bob Carragher Theresa McCarthy & Pete Chandler Andy Chriss Megann & Andrew Clarke Karen Coda Mary Lou Collins Peggy Conner Taylor & Tom Craig Susan, Leo, Thomas & Rachel Cruz Katie Deemer Vonda & Greg Delawie Fred DeLuca Eileen O’Brien & Chuck Dervarics

Patricia Vance & Paul Donato Mandy & Tyler Dorn Kelly & Joe Dresen Nancy Dupree Liz & Jack Edsall Gail & Ron Eger Sean Ellis Claire & Stefan Elser Marion & Don Ervine Bonnie & Ralph Fairbank Jeanne & Bob Feden Oscar Fitzgerald Bridget & Aaron Flaaen Carol Foss Barbie Frank Mary Ann & Geoffrey Frank Paulette & Doug Garthoff Bettina Gehring Pat Hadley The Hadsell Family Col. Henry Hamby Virginia Hammell Irène & Hank Harris Joye T. Harris Barbara Harslem The Hartell Family Sarah & Alex Hastings Bayanne & James Hauhart Barbara Helsing Sarah Orndorff & Nate Ho Carlyn & Brandon Hollingshead Barbara Huffman Milton Jobe Carolyn & Dan Jones Maria Jones Jennifer Jones & James Kaelin Liz & Ross Kane Mary & Phil Kasik Suji & Katie Kelly

Sue & Pat Kenny Courtney & Scott Keplinger Suzanne & Peter Kleeblatt Rachel Kliewer Sarah & David Kolo Jane & Ken Kolson Kathleen & Tim LaDonna Katie & Dan Lamothe Jeanie & Gene Lange Lee Larkin Jim Larsen Bonnie Lilley Abi and Carl Linnington Louise & Lowell Livinghouse Laura & Gian Macone Shelly Malur Meredith Martino Elizabeth & Chris Massey Jacqueline & Patrick Matlock Lauren Maxey Chuck McCoart Kathleen McCulloch Carter McDowell Emily McNaughton Nancy Kuhn & Bucky Mills Nieta & Sandy Morrison Lucy Mustin Johanna & Jason Oliver Kay Parker Joani Peacock Lauren & Ryan Peay Pete Petersen Kristin & Steven Pfeiffer Janie & Mike Piemonte Rachel Piemonte Leslie & Dwayne Piepenburg Pauline Porter Anna Mary Portz & Family Grace & David Pratt

Joanne & Harlen Pyle Bobbie Reed Anne & Brett Reinke Margaret Rhodes Laura & Thomas Rigby Sandra Robbins Patty & Keith Rogers Doris Rudolph Kate Erklauer & Max Scharrenbroich Johannah O’Keefe & John Schell Schildge Family Alicia Hosmer & Jason Schmauder John Schoenewolf Sarah & Jason Scofi Kim & Joe Scott Megan & Greg Shannon Cindy Shen Stacey & Don Simpson Audrey & Richard Smith Louise & Frank Snyder Joyce & Ed Soyster Cappie & Bill Stiers Brooke & Matt Stratford Pat Barbarowicz & Chuck Thomas Olga Thomas Sharon & Blake Thompson Marilyn Tulloch Pat Tyler Jeanne Langdon & John Vanore Meredith Wade Laura West Ann Wheaton Catherine & Doug Wheeler Mimi Willan Jamie Williams Rance Willis Margaret & Brett Wohler Torra & Chris Yianilos Anonymous

2018 2019 (as of January 28)

Annual Gifts $456,543 $421,429

Pledges 157 156

New Pledges 27 20

Goal $435,000 and 20 new pledges $450,000 and 20 new pledges

H i g h N o t e s Page 10

EPS is getting greener! Next time you get a chance, check out the two new garden boxes in our upper playground. They are part of an Eagle Scout Project by Nick Bower. Nick, an EPS Alumni, came to me this summer with interest in doing his Eagle Scout project for EPS. I was thrilled he picked our school to be a recipient for his project. I was especially excited when he told me his desire was to do a “green” project for the school. After looking at our space and discussing various possibilities, we decided that the kids would benefit from garden boxes and a rain barrel. Nick worked diligently planning the design of the boxes, safest materials to use and best location for them. On Saturday, January 12, he came with members of his troop and they worked hard for many hours building the boxes. In early Spring, he will be back to install the rain barrel and the students will start gardening at EPS using the boxes. Thanks to Nick, EPS teachers will be incorporating planting in their lessons for years to come!

Nicole Crochet, Director

Sky Blue 3s The Sky Blue Threes spent January learning about snow, snowflakes, snowmen, and hibernation. We read Hibernation Station, Bear Snores On, Millions of Snowflakes, The Snowy Day and Snowballs. We continued our exploration of loose parts (materials that can be moved, carried, combined, redesigned, lined

(Continued on page 11)

Preschool Board of Directors

Melissa Bennett (Chair) Carrie & Ben Lewis (Treasurer) Kate Bartholomay (Secretary) Chris Yianilos (Vestry Liaison)

Susan Stockton (Teacher Representative) Sara Stekloff (Resource Parent)

Brandon Hollingshead (Parishioner) Chuck McCoart (Ex Officio) Nicole Crochet (Ex Officio)

Preschool Staff

Director Nicole Crochet

Office Administrator

Dawn Doucette

Financial Administrator Kelli Corts

Teachers

Allison Alden Michelle Brayman Rebecca Brocato Mary Beth Conry

Amy Ernst Christy Finn

Mollee Hansen Caroline Howell Anne Hubbard Perrin Keeler

Jacqueline Kittredge Dana Mutscheller

Nancy Palmer Kate Schneider

Cappie Stiers Susan Stockton

School Hours Monday—Friday

9:00 a.m.—12:30 p.m.

Emmanuel Episcopal Preschool 1608 Russell Road

Alexandria, VA 22301 703-683-0303 (phone)

703-683-6158 (fax) preschooladministrator@epsonhigh.org

www.emmanuelonhigh.org

Preschool News

H i g h N o t e s Page 11

Let someone else take care of the cooking for a night! Join EPS families for dinner at Los Tios Grill, 2615 Mount Vernon Avenue, on Tuesday, February 12 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. and the restaurant will generously donate 10% of the evening’s proceeds to our preschool. Simply mention EPS to your server upon arrival. We hope to see you and your family there!

Adventures with Mr. Bear

Emmanuel Preschool would like to invite Emmanuel parishioners to attend Adventures with Mr. Bear on Tuesday, February 12 at 10:00 a.m. This invitation is for Emmanuel parishioners only. Ages 3-6 with an adult. The wonder and magic of a child’s imagination are brought to life in this charming production. One cozy winter afternoon, a young girl and her favorite stuffed animal, Mr. Bear, play a game of hide and seek which evolves into a series of exciting adventures. Together, they embark on a journey of endless possibilities — all from the comfort of her playroom! Cuddle up with your favorite stuffed animal friend and join us for a delightful holiday production. Children are encouraged to bring their favorite stuffed animal with them to the show. Please RSVP to Nicole (703-683-0303).

Family Night at Los Tios

Grill up, and taken apart and put back together in multiple ways) by making snowmen and snowflakes with loose parts.

The Sky Blue Threes love to cook, so students practiced their culinary skills by making snowball cookies and snowmen fruit snacks.

Working with play dough and clay is another favorite activity. Students love playing with play dough in the classroom and pinching, pulling, and pounding soft clay into different shapes in the art room. We are looking forward to a special clay project where we will create snack plates for use in the classroom. We are partnering with a local high school to fire and glaze the plates so they will be food safe.

During our clay exploration, students will not only experience the tactile and visual nature of clay, but will also learn how to care for the clay tools, clean the workspace, and and properly store leftover material.

Jacqueline Kittredge and Dana Mutscheller

(Continued from page 10)

H i g h N o t e s Page 12

For a look at our continually-

updated church calendar, click

on the calendar to the left.

3 Youth Sunday

3 Youth Service Project (tentative) (11:45 AM)

3 God & Donuts (4:00 PM)

4 Meals on Wheels Deliveries

5 Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper (6:00 PM)

6 Ash Wednesday Services (12:00 PM & 7:30 PM)

6 Carpenter’s Shelter Dinner

10 Lent 1 / Daylight Savings Time

10 The Way of Love Lenten Program (9:15 AM)

10 Sunday School (10:15 AM)

12 EPS Family Night at Los Tios Grill (5:00 PM)

13 Vestry Meeting (7:30 PM)

12 Adult Spiritual Formation Team Meeting (9:00

AM)

13 Vestry Meeting (7:30 PM)

17 Lent 2 / St. Patrick’s Day

17 The Way of Love Lenten Program (9:15 AM)

17 Sunday School (10:15 AM)

17 God & Donuts (4:00 PM)

19 Adult Spiritual Formation Team Meeeting (9:00

AM)

23 Carpenter’s Shelter Breakfast

24 Lent 3

24 The Way of Love Lenten Program (9:15 AM)

24 Sunday School (10:15 AM)

31 Lent 4

24 The Way of Love Lenten Program (9:15 AM)

24 Sunday School (10:15 AM)

3 Outreach Team Meeting (9:00 AM)

3 Youth Sunday with Celtic Eucharist (10:30 AM)

3 Irish Coffee Hour with Performance by the

Boyle School of Irish Dance (11:30 AM)

4 Meals on Wheels Deliveries

4-8 Bag Lunch Week

6 Carpenter’s Shelter Dinner

10 Theology on Our Feet (9:15 AM)

10 Sunday School (10:15 AM)

10 God & Donuts (4:00 PM)

12 Adult Spiritual Formation Team Meeting (9:00

AM)

13 Vestry Meeting (7:00 PM)

18 President’s Day — Church Office Closed

23 Carpenter’s Shelter Breakfast

24 Sunday School (10:15 AM)

24 God & Donuts (4:00 PM)

Shrine Mont Retreat

May 3-5

It’s never to early to plan our annual church retreat at Shrine Mont. Our retreat is scheduled for May 3-5. Please put the date on your calendar and join the fun!