April Showers Bring May Flowers!

Spring has Sprung! April Playdates!

Advent Lenten Lunches (Now through April 22nd)

Don't forget to take advantage of Lenten Lunches (Service is 12:05 to 12:30) particularly on Mondays and Thursdays when childcare is available in the nursery (11:30-1:15)! Come listen to wonderful speakers, and enjoy a delicious lunch!

Park Time ~ Tuesday April 5th at 10:30 a.m.

Let's meet for fun at the Crestline Tot Lot. We will meet at the Emmet O'Neal Library (right next door) story hour at 10:30 if it rains.

Advent Annual Easter Walk ~ Sunday April 17th at 3:00p.m. Rain or shine.

Please join other families at the church to enjoy one of the most meaningful events of Holy Week. Let's prepare our hearts to worship our Lord and Savior on Easter Sunday! Invite your friends and neighbors to join you on this guided tour through six reenacted scenes of Christ’s life as you enter Holy Week. Wave palms as Jesus enters Jerusalem, break bread with Jesus during the Last Supper, be with Jesus as he prays to his Father in the Garden of Gethsemane...

There will be singing, arts and crafts for children ages 4K-4th grade, and refreshments. The program is for ages 4 to 94, and a nursery will be provided for ages 3 and younger (although you are welcome to bring younger children through the walk if you feel they would enjoy participating). Dress is very casual.

Easter Egg Hunt ~ Wednesday April 20th at 3:30

Advent's Meet Me at the Park Playgroup and St. Amelia's Guild will co-sponsor the Advent egg hunt Wednesday April 20 at 3:30 for children from infancy through kindergarten. The hunt will be held at Anna Colvin's home 1932 Southwood Road (Rain date will be Saturday April 23rd at 9:30). For more information or to volunteer to help please call Melissa Franklin at 261-1199 or Eleanor Smith at 933-0955.

Last Minute Afternoon Treat!

Wednesday February 16th at 4:30p.m. sharp!

Carillon Concert at Samford University

Please join us to hear a lovely carillon (bells) concert played by our own Adventer, Stephen Knight! Bring a snack, blanket, balls, and frisbees, and sit on the lawn in front of the library while the children run and play! Enter the main gates at Samford University, and park in the circle straight ahead. Walk up the center steps, and look around the lawn for a good place to set up camp!

March! Spring is Coming! Lenten preparations!

Blue Bell Ice Cream Factory Tour

Monday March 7th at 10:00 sharp!

Please join us for a tour of The Blue Bell Ice Cream Factory in Sylacauga, Alabama! All ages welcome! The tour lasts approximately 45 minutes, and will start promptly at 10:00, so plan to arrive by 9:45. Tickets are $3 for adults, $2 for children age 6-14 and seniors 55+, and free for 5 and under. Travel time from Birmingham is estimated at 1 hour. For detailed directions, please go to the Sylacauga Blue Bell website at http://www.bluebell.com/the_little_creamery/visiting_blue_bell/VisitBB_Sylacauga.html

If you plan to attend, please email aems0524@gmail.com to confirm. An ice cream treat will be provided!

Lenten Season

March 9 (Ash Wednesday) - April 23 (Holy Saturday)

March 9 Ash Wednesday Services 7:30a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 6:00p.m.

Lenten Lunches: Monday through Friday 12:05 to 1:ooish

Childcare provided on Mondays and Thursdays from 11:30 to 1:30

(You could volunteer to help OR simply come enjoy being spiritually and physically fed!)

***Please note: We posted an article last year, "Observing Lent with Little Ones" that might be helpful as you plan to teach your children about this season of the Church year and prepare your family for a meaningful Easter...

Park Playtime at Overton Road Park!

Tuesday March 22nd at 10:30

Please join us for fun at the park! Don't forget your balls and frisbees!

Join us for February Fun!

Tuesday February 8th at 10:30 - Emmet O'Neal Library

Please join us for story time for all ages in the children's department. Afterwards, we will make a valentine to share with children at Children's Hospital. And if the weather holds out, we may walk down the block to the Tot Lot for some playground fun. You might consider bringing a snack or lunch to enjoy if we make it to the park! Hope to see you there!

Monday February 21st at 10:30 - McWane Science Center

Let's meet at the Itty Bitty Magic City to start with, and we can move around from there if the children want to explore other areas!

QUESTION FOR YOU!!!! Do you have any interest in touring the Blue Bell Ice Cream Factory in Sylacauga one morning? If so, would Monday March 7th or Tuesday March 8th work best for you? Please respond via e-mail to aems0524@gmail.com

As always, remember that you are welcome to attend Lunch Bunch Thursdays at 11:30 at the church. Heidi teaches the women's Bible study, and the children enjoy their own study/play time in the church nursery.

Coming up... Don't forget Lenten lunches will be starting Wednesday March 9th and continue through Thursday April 21st. Let's plan to meet together several times throughout this season to enjoy a short time of reflection and worship and a lovely meal!

St. Nicholas Day!

Advent is here! Join us on St. Nicholas Day for holiday fun!

On Monday, December 6th at 11:00 am, the playgroup will meet in the nursery suite at church for holiday crafts and music. Please bring a lunch for your child(ren). We will have special snacks for the moms to enjoy.

Please let us know you plan to attend by checking the "Hope to be there" box below or email/call Melissa. And please pass the word to anyone who may be interested in joining us! The more - the merrier!

Wishing your family a blessed Advent season!

Come to Storytime at Emmet O'Neal and Ruffner Mountain

Now who doesn't love storytime? Make plans to meet the playgroup for the following:

TUESDAY, October 26 at 9:30 am at Emmet O'Neal Library in Crestline Village

The theme for storytime is H is for Halloween. No registration is required...just come ready for fun! We may walk over to the Tot Lot for some playground time afterward.

MONDAY, November 1 at 10:00 am at Ruffner Mountain Nature Center

Children's Story Time at Ruffner Mountain is held on the first Monday of each month. It includes a story with a nature theme and a short activity. The cost is $3/child and includes a tour of the exhibits in the Tree Top Visitor Center (lots of local critters to see!) It starts at 10 am so allow driving time. We might bring a snack or lunch to enjoy outside before going home...


Hope to see you at one or both of these fun story times!

October Playdates

FALL is here! I hope everyone has been outside enjoying the cooler temperatures...

First of all, I hope many of you have made plans to attend the Women's Ministries Fall Coffee on Thursday, October 14. There are 2 options: 7:00 am at Advent Park and 9:30 am in Clingman Commons. Sand Price is the speaker and I'm sure she has something timely and meaningful to share with us....Childcare is available at 9:30. Please contact Laura for more information.

Now for the rest of October.....Mark your calendar for the following playdates!


Tuesday, October 12 at 10:00 am
Join us at the new Railroad Park on 1st Ave. South. Come and explore this new park with friends! Picnic lunch optional. Raindate: Oct. 19






Tuesday, October 26 at 9:30 am
Join us for "Together Time" at the Emmet O'Neal Library. The theme is "H" is for Halloween. No registration is necessary for this storytime. We might play at the Tot Lot for a bit afterward...

Hope to see you in October!

September is here!

September always seems to sneak up on me!

Here are some dates for you to put on your calendar:


Sunday, September 12 is RALLY DAY!
Rally Day is so much fun! 3K and older get to watch the sermon skit before going to Sunday school to meet their new teachers.
AND the Old Fashioned Picnic at the Birmingham Children's Zoo is Not To Be Missed! The picnic starts at 5 pm.
Full Moon BBQ, Carousel Rides, BINGO, Animal Demonstrations and More. If the kids want to play in the water, remember their towels and suits. $8/adults $5/children



Tuesday, September 21 at 10:00 am
Please join us to play at the Splash Pad at Celebration Park in Gardendale. It is located at 2191 Fieldstown Road. The water turns on at 10:00 am and if we get there a little early there is a great playground next to the Splash Pad. Picnic lunch is optional. Raindate is Tuesday, September 28...


Hope to see you in September!

Tuesday at Southern Museum of Flight!

We hope to see you on Tuesday, August 17th at the Southern Museum of Flight!

The website says they have over 75 aircraft! We will meet at 10am to tour the museum, and depending on interest, will then eat lunch at VJ's on the Runway (a meat and three cafeteria). It should be lots of fun!

Here are directions:



Take I-20/59 to Exit 129.
Go left at the light (toward the airport) on Messer Airport Hwy.
Look for signs to the museum and for airplanes taking off (you'll be driving beside the runway!)

View Larger Map

August Playdates

We hope to see you in August! Please mark your calendars for our upcoming playdates:

Tuesday, August 3rd

at 10:00 am at the Pink House

Please join us for a MUSICAL playdate at the Pink House! Known for it's interative and FUN Kindermusik programs, the Pink House is located in downtown Forest Park. Snacks will follow our fun! To help us plan, please comment on the blog post (or send me an email) if you can attend.

Tuesday, August 17th

at 10:00 am at the

Southern Museum of Flight!

Let's celebrate National Aviation Day (there's a day for everything!) at the Southern Museum of Flight. Admission is free on this day (and throughout the week of the 17th). If you are interested, we can follow up our visit with lunch at VJ's on the Runway(a meat and veggie cafeteria).

Hope to see you in August!