Family Ministries

Tree Trimming Coffee Hour

Fortified with cookies and hot chocolate, the Narthex Christmas tree was decorated on December 7, 2025. The scent of fresh-baked cookies filled the hallways as the youth group baked chocolate chunk cookies to share in addition to the many cookies brought in by our generous congregation. In addition to the festive fare, we also made accordion-folded Mary and baby Jesus ornaments alongside mini-yarn hats and large paper snowflakes.

During the coffee hour on Sunday, January 11, 2026, we will be taking down our Christmas tree decorations. Any ornaments that were made can be taken home to be enjoyed or donated to the church to be displayed for years to come.

Annual Christmas Pageant

Our Annual St. Andrew’s Christmas Pageant was held on Sunday, December 21, 2025. We had nineteen of our youth share the story of Jesus’s birth with a bit of humor, and some serious reflection as the donkey, who carried Mary, works through these events with his psychiatrist, Dr. Frankincense. A great big thank you to Lisa Yoest, who leads our Christmas pageant year after year with a generous and loving heart. I would also like to thank Rev’d Benjamin Capps for writing this year’s script.

Sunday School

On January 11, 2026, we will be meeting downstairs in Smith Hall for a combined Sunday school and youth group activity all about Epiphany.

Weekly Sunday school classes will resume the following week. We will continue in the New Testament, learning how Jesus performs miracles all around us. We hope you can join us.

Youth Group

Thank you to those youth who volunteered to light our wreath candles during the Advent season, and the many hands that helped to bake cookies in December; they were delicious!

Join us on January 11, 2026, as we join the Sunday school classes in Smith Hall for a combined Epiphany activity. Youth group is for kids in 6th grade up to 12th grade. We have discussion groups, where we talk about our faith and just relax. We also have fellowship/ service meetings where we get together and enjoy each other’s company while doing good for others or just having fun. We hope you can join us. Feel free to come as often or as little as your schedule will allow.

Sunday, January 11: Epiphany activity in Smith Hall

Sunday, January 18: Discussion meeting in the Werner room

Sunday, January 21: Souper Bowl in Upper Hall 9:30 am-1:00 pm (sign up below)

Souper Youth Volunteers Needed

During our annual meeting on Sunday, January 25, 2026, our youth in grades 6 and

up will be serving soup during the Souper Bowl of Caring to help Tackle Hunger.

Many hands are needed to serve soup, make announcements, collect donations, and assist with set-up and clean-up. Please sign up by clicking here.

Family Ministry dates for your calendar

January 11, 2026- Epiphany activity for Sunday school & youth group (please see above)

January 18, 2026- Sunday school classes resume in Lower Hall

January 25, 2026- Souper Bowl & Annual Meeting (please see above)

Please contact Kristy Campagna, the Director of Family Ministries, at kristy@standrewschesco.org, if you have any questions.