Cozy November greetings to you all!

Our theme at church this month is exploring how we are a community of attention (ideas for family exploration are offered at the end of this post). I am already finding rich rewards as I prepare for the weeks ahead. Life is wildly full for many of us, and particularly because of that, I invite you to spend some time thinking about attention over the next few weeks. It has the potential to shift things in magical ways.

Thank you to everyone who has already registered for the new church year. If you have not yet had a chance, you can do that 
by clicking here!

This Month… (follow the program links for more information)

• November 3rd: All Souls Worship at 10a- bring a photo or item to remember a beloved one who has died. Spirit play for preK-Kinder students and Children’s Chapel for 1st-5th grade convene after the story for all ages. 6th-7th grade no class (temple visit Nov.1). 5th grade OWL starts today. Coming of Age (8th grade) meet at #73 Court st at 10a. 7th grade OWL meets at 4pm. Senior youth meet at #73 Court at 4pm
• November 10th: Worship at 10a- Veterans day service. Spirit play for pre K-Kinder students and All ages Elementary age workshop convenes after the story for all ages. 5th grade OWL- 9:30 at Court St. 6th-7th grade meet in the Carson parlor at 10a. Coming of Age (8th grade) meet at #73 Court st at 10a. NO class for 7th grade OWL today or Senior youth group today.
• November 15th- Sparks and Purple Flames social groups meet for Bowling at Bowl-O-Rama in Portsmouth 7-9pm. Volunteer parents needed: sign up here!
• November 16th– Families Tuugether meeting at 73 Court St!! Remember to RSVP
• November 17th: Worship at 10a. Spirit play for preK-Kinder students and Elementary age Workshops for 1st-5th grade convene after the story for all ages. 6th-7th grade meet at 10a. 5th grade OWL meets at 9:30a at Court St. Coming of Age (8th grade) meet at #73 Court st at 10a. 7th grade OWL meets at 4pm. Senior youth meet at #73 Court at 4pm
• November 24th: Worship at 10a. Spirit play for preK-Kinder students and Elementary age Workshops for 1st-5th grade convene after the story for all ages. 6th-7th grade meet at 10a. 5th grade OWL meets at 9:30a at Court St. Coming of Age (8th grade) meet at #73 Court st at 10a. 7th grade OWL meets at 4pm. Senior youth – H.O.M.E trip Friday-Saturday, wreath sale Sunday morning! No group Sunday eve.

Family Resources for November’s Theme of Attention:

These resources help parents as they engage the question: “What does it mean to be a family of Attention?”

With Your Kids -Ideas to engage Attention as a Family-:

• The Man with the Violin. A famous violinist plays in the subway. Only 7 people pause out of 1,097. The story about the experiment: https://www.liveabout.com/a-violinist-in-the-metro-3299658 “…In the 45 minutes the musician played, only six people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.
• There is also a children’s picture book: The Man with the Violin, by Kathy Stinson  (Author), Dusan Petricic (Illustrator), Joshua Bell (Afterword)
• Moody Cow, by Kerry Lee MacLean.  Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbzeRg7Ms1A “Peter the cow is having a BAD day. After missing the bus and wiping out on his bike he loses his temper and gets in trouble. To make matters worse all the other kids are teasing him, calling him Moody Cow. Peter’s day just seems to get worse until his grandfather comes over and teaches him how to settle his mind and let go of his frustration through a simple and fun exercise.” – Amazon
• Making a Mindfulness Jar Just as in the book, Moody Cow, make a jar filled with glitter. Watching the glitter settle is a way of maintaining mindfulness and paying attention to being centered.
• Movie Idea: My Neighbor Totoro (G) “Unlike the majority of animated movies, this isn’t full of pop-culture or consumerist references that, while funny when handled correctly, can also bog down animated films or zap them of their childlike fantasy. Satsuki and Mei need Totoro to help them through a difficult time in their lives — new home, sick mother — and it’s quite lovely to see the sweet little moments that cement their friendship. It’s a shame more family movies aren’t as simple and beautiful as My Neighbor Totoro.” – Common Sense Media

“For You” (Support for Parents as Faith Formation Guides)

• The 5 Main Tenets of Mindful Parenting As parents, perhaps the most precious thing we can give our children is the gift of our full presence, in the moment. “ As we become more aware of our own deepest needs through practice, mindful parenting also involves decoding and addressing the deeper needs of our children, rather than getting mindlessly caught up in and reactive to surface behaviors. Therefore, the cultivation of self-compassion/love, healthy self-acceptance and self-awareness are essential components of skillful and effective mindful parenting.” – from the article