Page 4 - Presbyterian Connection Newspaper

4 SUMMER 2019
PRESBYTERIAN
Connection
FEATURE
Tori’s son with his Oma, Trudy Smit, a member of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Guelph.
presbyterian.ca
The Religious
Influence of
Grandparents
Continued from page 1
dren. The everyday lives grandparents lead can exemplify faith in God, strong values, respect for all human beings and a strong sense of self-worth. So, bring your grandchild along when you deliver Meals on Wheels, have them help you rake an older neighbour’s yard, or introduce them to the lady you visit because she is lonely. Know, too, that grandparents can also have a negative influence. “Some grandpar- ents embrace life, deal constructively with losses, and maintain a sense of optimism and hope,” Holly Catter- ton Allen explains. “Others become negative, are critical of the oncoming generation, and cover life, family, and community with a blanket of dark- ness.” Children pick up on and imi- tate these attitudes, both positive and negative.
Children crave attention and love. Many parents are running in twelve directions at once, multi-tasking with work, school, meals and after-school activities. Grandparents share faith when they are able to take time to sit, play and just enjoy their grandchil- dren. SHARING UNHURRIED TIME helps children to know that they are loved, cared for and appreciated. This is your calling. During these times a bond forms and this allows children to reveal themselves emotionally and
Feeding the Bodies and Souls of Our Kids
feel reassured that they are loved. Finally, grandparents get to SPOIL AND BLESS their grandchildren in ways their parents can’t. To spoil im- plies giving someone better than they deserve. Every kid needs a bit of that. God spoils us and gives us better than we deserve—it’s called GRACE. Blessing grandchildren can have a powerful, positive impact on them by demonstrating grace and love that is not the result of good behaviour but is bestowed simply because their grand-
children are loved.
I love to turn to Mark 4:26–29, the parable of the Growing Seed. In this story I am reminded that as much as we prepare the soil, fertilize, weed and water, it is God who brings the growth, we don’t know how. We are not alone as we pass on our faith to our grand- children, and that brings incredible comfor t. I also appreciate that this parable describes a growth that is in- cremental, bit by bit, row by row, day by day. There are no quick fixes, only faithful living and attention to those we love. And in this we give glory to God.
By Dorothy Brown Henderson, retired from ministry at Caven Presbyterian Church in Exeter, Ont., and is still actively engaged in children’s ministry.
Ten years ago, we began with a prob- lem. We were an aging congregation with no children. Since then, we have offered numerous children’s programs to hundreds of children: a Sunday morning Roots and Wings program; Ecology camps (we’re situated on the edge of an amazing trail and wildlife area); Art camps led by skilled local ar tists; and an annual March break Culinary Camp for children.
For the members of Caven Pres- byterian Church in Exeter, Ont., it has been a satisfying and rewarding journey.
We have come to know, love and expect eight or 10 children to be with us week by week on Sunday morn- ings in our Roots and Wings program. Our annual Culinary Camp is so popu- lar that we no longer need to adver- tise; it fills up by word of mouth.
A positive by-product of these programs has been the increased in- volvement and commitment of older members as they contribute leader- ship, financial support and snacks. Almost all members are involved, di- rectly or indirectly, in helping with the children’s work. In addition, we have
mentored literally dozens of teens and watched their leadership skills grow in our programs.
This journey began in 2009 with a grant of $4,000 from the national church’s Creative Ministry with Chil- dren and Youth Fund. At that time, we had no local financial support and needed to pay for leadership. We an- ticipated that our funding would last three years but, with prudent man- agement and increased local com- mitment, we are now entering our 10th year.
Caven’s Culinary Camp for Kids provides a vignette of our program- ming. During March school break 2019, 16 eager young chefs and volunteers participated in preparing (and eating!) roast turkey breast, grilled fruit rings, apple pie, choco- late chip cookies and much more. They learned new table prayers, how to set a beautiful table, how to scrape, stack, wash and dry dishes. The week included nutrition games, planting tomato seeds, learning to compost and hearing food stories from the Bible; but of most impor- tance, it was a recipe for nurturing food, faith and fun in a cooperative, supportive setting. In an age of fast- food living, it was a week to appreci- ate the need to feed both body and soul.
Creative Ministry with Children and Youth
By Canadian Ministries
Picture dozens of children accompa- nied by their favourite stuffed animals hanging out in the church yard en- joying drinks and snacks on a picnic blanket. Each of them has brought ex- tra stuffed animal friends to donate to the local hospital. It is Teddy Bear Pic- nicDayatKnoxPresbyterianChurch in Palmerston, Ont.
Hundreds of kilometers away from this happy event, other children have gathered in the sanctuary of Briar- wood Presbyterian Church in Bea- consfield, Que., to learn from adult mentors how to read and play music. On Sunday that week, they will be providing musical leadership in a con- temporary worship service.
On the other side of the country at an event put on by Hummingbird Min- istries, children from Indigenous back- grounds are celebrating their heritage by learning traditional dances. As the drums beat, the youth dance their sto- ries and share their rich history with Indigenousandnon-Indigenouscom-
munities across the Vancouver area. These are just a few examples of the many exciting and creative pro- grams for children and youth in The Presbyterian Church in Canada. While it is a common lament that Sunday School Programs and Youth Groups don’t seem to hold the same place that they once did in the lives of chil- dren,wecanrejoicethatwearedis- covering new ways to invite and guide youth into lives of faith. The stories and the contexts of the ministries sup- ported by the PCC’s Creative Minis- try with Children and Youth Fund are very different, yet there is a common thread that runs through them. Each ministry is intentional about reaching children within their congregations as
well as in their communities. Lucknow Presbyterian Church is
an inspiring example of how even small churches can connect in big ways with children in their commu- nities. Nestled away in southwest- ern Ontario, this rural congregation is running a thriving Messy Church program. The program reaches
families unfamiliar with the church as well as those looking to explore faith and Christian community in a new way. The gathering begins with a welcome, followed by crafts, ac- tivities and games. There is a short celebration involving song, Biblical storytelling and prayer, and then eve- ryone enjoys a prepared meal before departing with take-home materi- als. Since its inception, Lucknow’s Messy Church program has become a popular community event having hosted more than 130 children and adults.
Through Lucknow and the other ministries suppor ted by the Crea- tive Ministry with Children and Youth Fund, Presbyterians are exploring new ways of sharing the gospel of Christ with this generation of children and families.
If you are looking for resources or have a new idea for ministry out- reach that you would like to explore, we would be happy to hear from you. Email us at canadianministries@ presbyterian.ca