Welcome home
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| enews BY |
| Mary C. Lindberg |
Cut out the picture of Jesus and the children on pages 14-15 of The Little Lutheran (September 2009). Attach the picture to your refrigerator or your child’s door. Cut out a little picture of your child’s face and attach it to the picture. Repeat for other children in the family. Surprise your child with a “find and seek” game, asking: “Can you find (child’s name)?”
Each time your child finds the surprise picture, tell them that Jesus loved kids. Say: “Here you are with Jesus. Jesus lives at our house and loves us.” If you say those sentences even once a day, your child will start to know them.
Stay “on message,” as they say. Theology — also known as “God talk” — doesn’t have to be complicated. Use simple sentences you can remember and repeat: “Jesus lives at our house. There he is. There you are with Jesus. Welcome to our house, Jesus.”
Jesus lives in our homes and we live in God’s home (creation). We worship in a “house of God.” Your church should be a place where your child feels welcome. Talk to your congregational leaders about baptizing your child if you haven’t done so. Check out what your church offers for little ones on Sundays. Sunday school? Nursery? If you get involved, you’ll be able to talk to other parents.
Encourage a teacher at your church or your pastor to also post the picture of Jesus and the children from September’s The Little Lutheran. Ideally your child will see it posted and remember they belong in the picture with Jesus too. Say: “Look! You live at Jesus’ house too. Welcome to Jesus’ house!”
Church can mean more to kids if they think of it as their “church home.” We call church “God’s house” and that works for little ones. Later on they will be challenged to find out that God lives in many houses — and everywhere in between.
Each time your child finds the surprise picture, tell them that Jesus loved kids. Say: “Here you are with Jesus. Jesus lives at our house and loves us.” If you say those sentences even once a day, your child will start to know them.
Stay “on message,” as they say. Theology — also known as “God talk” — doesn’t have to be complicated. Use simple sentences you can remember and repeat: “Jesus lives at our house. There he is. There you are with Jesus. Welcome to our house, Jesus.”
Jesus lives in our homes and we live in God’s home (creation). We worship in a “house of God.” Your church should be a place where your child feels welcome. Talk to your congregational leaders about baptizing your child if you haven’t done so. Check out what your church offers for little ones on Sundays. Sunday school? Nursery? If you get involved, you’ll be able to talk to other parents.
Encourage a teacher at your church or your pastor to also post the picture of Jesus and the children from September’s The Little Lutheran. Ideally your child will see it posted and remember they belong in the picture with Jesus too. Say: “Look! You live at Jesus’ house too. Welcome to Jesus’ house!”
Church can mean more to kids if they think of it as their “church home.” We call church “God’s house” and that works for little ones. Later on they will be challenged to find out that God lives in many houses — and everywhere in between.
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