Family LifeApril Van Polen, Coordinator
Dinner for Eight:Lisa Lantaff, ChairpersonMission: Provide parishioners an opportunity to meet new people and get to know each other in a small dinner group setting.
Activities: Dinner for eight is a group of eight people who get together four times a year to enjoy dinner and each other’s company.
Mom’s Time Out:Tina Powers, ChairpersonMission: The Mom’s Time Out program is designed to provide a service to stay-at-home parents and their young children.
In exchange for babysitting twice per semester, the parent in turn gets 6 Friday
mornings of “free time.” Meanwhile, the children spend their time in a caring, playful environment learning to make new friends, play together, and overcome some of the apprehension associated with parental separation.
Activities: Mom’s Time Out meets from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on the 1st and 3rd Fridays during the school year in classroom A. Children ages 6 months to 5 years have free play, gym time, story time, crafts, snacks, and videos. This is a wonderful program for both the stay-at-home parent and the child.
Mother to Mother:April VanPolen, ChairpersonMission: To provide an intimate, safe atmosphere where women come to find encouragement, instruction, prayer time, and caring friends.
Activities: The mother’s group meets the second and fourth Tuesday evening from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. during the school year. This group offers educational programs, prayer, scripture study, peer support for mothers, and a great opportunity to get to know each other. Childcare is provided during regular meetings.
Welcoming Committee:Angie Simpson, ChairpersonMission: To greet and welcome each new parishioner to the St. John family, so that they may feel comfortable living as Disciples of Christ in our parish, through stewardship of time, talent, and treasure. To provide new parishioners with helpful reference information and to encourage them to become involved in the various organizations and ministries found at St. John the Evangelist Church.
Activities: Committee members meet semi-annually to discuss ways to make new parishioners feel welcome. Welcome bags are distributed to new families which include a guide book describing the various ministries and activities at our parish, along with a special gift to welcome them to the parish. New parishioners are also invited to attend a Newcomer Dinner where they can meet other new members and established members.