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Preparing for Advent “Are we there yet?” my seven-year-old daughter will inevitably ask, a mere fifteen minutes from home in an hours-long trip. No, child, it’s still the beginning of the trip. You will have to wait. In the life of a child, the anticipation of Christmas—parties, presents, and candy—is the ultimate are we there yet? In the life of a Christian, Christmas is the foreshadowing of heaven. It is our great dress rehearsal for the return of the King and the feast of the Lamb. As we journey through Advent, we want to use the excitement of Christmas [...]

Reformation Sunday – Plan now to make it a big deal! “Who can tell me something about Martin Luther?” I asked this question in an elementary-age Sunday school class twenty years ago, and I still remember how surprised I was with the answers. Many of the children began to give me facts about Martin Luther King. They had studied about him in school. Most of them were unaware that there was an important man in history named Martin Luther. This major event in human history is rarely being taught to the next generation. In the Dark Ages of the [...]

The Importance of Involving Kids in Church— My husband Tom and I have 3 college-age and adult kids.  A couple of years ago, when it was our son Joshua’s turn for a high school graduation party, we sat down and made a list of folks to invite.  We covered family, and friends, and were ready for “church people.”  “Ok. Who do you want to invite from church?” I asked.  “I don’t know,” he said.  “I don’t really know anyone from church.” While “I don’t know” is a standard answer from a kid, and it turned out he knew a [...]

Our Great God— 2023 Grow Virtual Conference "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge…” Proverbs 1:7a I’ve been thinking about this verse a good bit lately. The beginning. The starting place. The foundation of knowledge…is the fear of the Lord. Reverence and humility. Our right response to our covenant keeping, relational, redeeming God! This is the beginning of knowledge. Those of us who teach children must start here. We must start with our own knowledge of who God is. It is a privilege to share our great God with others! How can they worship a God [...]

Intergenerational Relationships in the Church— This year will be my tenth year getting to serve with my church family in children’s ministry. As more time goes by, I see over and over how I can do nothing without Christ and without my church family. The body of Christ is powerful! Can I be frank with you? I am not creative. I don’t have a background in early childhood development or elementary education. I don’t have great skills in recruiting volunteers or coming up with policies. I struggle as a parent  but I love my job with my church family. [...]

Seasons of Nurturing Volunteers— Psalm 1:3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.  Seasons are a wonderful guide to our ministry year. You plan events and activities for each season of your church—fall events, Advent focus, winter fun, spring flings, and summer VBS. The rhythm of your family ministries includes yearly events for your children and parents. So, why not use the same seasonal themes to nurture your volunteers? It’s a natural way to keep your [...]

Welcoming Children and Families into a New Year of Ministry— “Promotion Sunday” “Movin’ on Up” “Upgrade” “Step-Up Sunday” “Open House” Whatever you choose to call it, just do it! This is a time of transition and a milestone in the life of a child, and we should celebrate as a church family. It is also a way to intentionally partner with families in the development of their children’s faith and to communicate our vision for the next year. There are so many ways to kick-off, blast-off, and jump-start a new ministry year. It doesn’t matter when or where in [...]

Family Rhythms— For most, summer is a welcomed break from some of the daily tasks that the school year brings (packing lunches, checking homework, early bedtimes, etc.), but as a person in charge of children at church, rhythms are still something I love. Rhythms can bring predictability, comfort, and order; they are defined as “regular recurring sequences of events, actions, or processes.” Most of our homes already have rhythms whether they are intentional or not, but how do we encourage rhythms of family worship? Family worship time is simply that—worship with your family. And just as no two families are the [...]