Holy Trinity Chapel
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Prayer RequestsPlease pray for :-
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If you have any prayer requests you would like added to this page, please send them to cascarolyn@bigpond.com
If you are requesting on someone else's behalf please check that you have their permission to make this request public.
If you are requesting on someone else's behalf please check that you have their permission to make this request public.
Pray for the Children
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matt 19.14
"But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24.15c
How old were you when you first had a curiosity about God? I was about 10. My friend took me to Church will her family when I slept over on Saturday night. My family did not go to church and it was all new and exciting to me. I had no bible but I had been given some verses from the Sunday school lesson and I treasured them. While my friend was board in her church service, I was annoyed when she spoke to me because I wanted to listen. It is easy for adults to underestimate how much a child understands about religion. A child however more easily sees when something is real and special.
In our denomination infant baptism is common. We adults argue about the validity of baptising one so young. And thus the sacrament of confirmation has come about. When a parent knows the wonder and joy of following Jesus, it is natural for them to want to raise there children in the faith, and implement within their household the upholding of this faith as much as is possible. We choose for them, knowing that one day they will have to make the choice for themselves, to take on the belief they were raised under or to walk away. Perhaps to make their own search for truth, which we hope will leads them back the God they once knew.
There are very few children regularly worshiping in our churches now. Sunday school dried up long ago along with kid's club. We've tried messy church and that too has passed. I wonder and pray about how to reach out to the few children we do have contact with. In the past I have lead both Sunday school and kids' club. But now with so many children in after school care each week, Kids' club is hardly special! We use to devise a fun program with a religious theme, and throw in a little moment of teaching about Jesus. Not wanting to be too overt. Looking at our long term, ongoing or returning membership in the church we clearly did not impart the lasting wonder of God to them. So what now? What is the best way to let the children come to Jesus for today's children. Do we invent a video game!!!? Or do we stop trying to water down Christianity for them and if so how do we help them plunge into the deaths of faith? How to we live Jesus in such a way that children know it is real and special? Please pray about this.
If you have any suggestions about a way forward for Children's ministry in our parish please talk to Carolyn. If you know children, or adults who might be interested in confirmation classes please also contact Carolyn 04 0024 4457.
"But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24.15c
How old were you when you first had a curiosity about God? I was about 10. My friend took me to Church will her family when I slept over on Saturday night. My family did not go to church and it was all new and exciting to me. I had no bible but I had been given some verses from the Sunday school lesson and I treasured them. While my friend was board in her church service, I was annoyed when she spoke to me because I wanted to listen. It is easy for adults to underestimate how much a child understands about religion. A child however more easily sees when something is real and special.
In our denomination infant baptism is common. We adults argue about the validity of baptising one so young. And thus the sacrament of confirmation has come about. When a parent knows the wonder and joy of following Jesus, it is natural for them to want to raise there children in the faith, and implement within their household the upholding of this faith as much as is possible. We choose for them, knowing that one day they will have to make the choice for themselves, to take on the belief they were raised under or to walk away. Perhaps to make their own search for truth, which we hope will leads them back the God they once knew.
There are very few children regularly worshiping in our churches now. Sunday school dried up long ago along with kid's club. We've tried messy church and that too has passed. I wonder and pray about how to reach out to the few children we do have contact with. In the past I have lead both Sunday school and kids' club. But now with so many children in after school care each week, Kids' club is hardly special! We use to devise a fun program with a religious theme, and throw in a little moment of teaching about Jesus. Not wanting to be too overt. Looking at our long term, ongoing or returning membership in the church we clearly did not impart the lasting wonder of God to them. So what now? What is the best way to let the children come to Jesus for today's children. Do we invent a video game!!!? Or do we stop trying to water down Christianity for them and if so how do we help them plunge into the deaths of faith? How to we live Jesus in such a way that children know it is real and special? Please pray about this.
If you have any suggestions about a way forward for Children's ministry in our parish please talk to Carolyn. If you know children, or adults who might be interested in confirmation classes please also contact Carolyn 04 0024 4457.