Caz Gatehouse suggests ways to support our children during this extraordinary time
As we have all been thrown into a different way of life, I have been thinking on Deuteronomy 11 verse 18-20.
‘Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the door-frames of your houses and on your gates.’
What could this look like in our homes today? How can you as parents carry out this teaching in your homes? How can we as a church encourage and support our parents and families at this time when we cannot physically meet together?
How can I do my job as children’s minister from the confines of my living room? This is what I came up with!
Some ideas
- Produce ‘Family Time’ materials for you to use together at home. Issue 1 was emailed out last week. If you did not receive one and would like to, please contact me with your email. I am pllanning to send one each week, with a special bumper one to use over the Easter period.
- Keeping in touch via phone calls and texts.
- Instagram – a new venture for me! Planning to post encouragements and helpful links, along with our families sharing how they have been delving into God’s word and worshipping at home! Please do not put on pictures of your children if you do not want it to go on other social media – but please share pictures of things you have been doing. You can follow me on st.savioursparents.
- Virtual groups – as a staff team we had our first virtual meeting!! I am looking into how we could do this with different groups. So watch out for more details.
These are the main things I have looked at so far. I am sure we will develop these and other ways as we go along. Please feel free to share any ideas you may have!
You can contact me by email: caz@stsaviours.net or mobile: 07948 799332.
Praying for God’s peace, protection and blessings on you all at this time.
Caz Gatehouse, children’s minister
PS – don’t forget to check emails, St Saviour’s website, Instagram (st.savioursparents) and St Saviour’s Facebook page for updates, encouragements, resources, etc.!!