Children's Ministry
Age 3 - 5th Grade
Growing In Faith Class Schedule
Time: 9:05 am - 9:50 am
Location: West wing (Celebration! Childcare)
March 26 & April 2 - Spring Break
Saturday, April 8 at 3 pm - Easter Eve Festival
April 9 - Easter Break
April 16: Empty Tomb (Matthew 28:1-10)
April 23: Saul to Paul (Acts 9:1-20)
April 30: Paul's Letters (Romans 1:1-17)
April is our last month of faith formation for our kids before letting out for the school year! We're learning the Easter story and about the earliest stories of followers of Jesus. Don't miss our family-friendly Easter Eve Festival on April 8!
Lent 2023
We’re used to the idea of “giving up” something for Lent, and often we’re talking about a favorite food or beverage. This year, we’re focusing on families who are going without food, but not by choice. Using the Scholastic program “Hungry to Help”, we’re teaching our kids about the pervasive issue of hunger in the United States. Each Wednesday of Lent we’re going to be releasing a video as we explore this issue in an approachable and age-appropriate way. The Scholastic materials is available as a PDF here (it will also be emailed to Sunday school families and we’ll also have hard copies available by request).
Midweek Lenten Video Schedule
March 1 - Favorite Foods Watch the video here
March 8 - Feeling Hungry Watch the video here
March 15 - Buying Food Watch the video here
March 22 - Who Is Hungry Watch the video here
March 29 - Where Our Food Comes From
Easter Eve Festival
Date: Saturday, April 8
Time: 3 - 5 pm
Cost: Free!
Location: Fellowship Area
Get ready for a family-friendly journey like no other this Easter Eve! Join us for an unforgettable Easter celebration.
Experience the traditional Easter Vigil in a completely new and contemporary way. Dress for the weather as the festival will begin with a special ceremony outdoors, where the light that was extinguished on Good Friday will be returned to the building.
Explore Holy Cross, from the Sanctuary to the atrium, and back to the fellowship area, as we bring bible stories to life through interactive storytelling and song. Our Sunday school children will lead us in singing at various story locations, and we invite you to sing along with us. Journey with us as we revisit the creation story, Noah and the Flood, Jonah and the Whale, and finish with the Resurrection story proclaiming that we are indeed Easter people!
To celebrate the end of Lent, we'll finish up with an ice cream social! Come and be a part of this free, creative worship experience, where we welcome the Good News of Christ's Resurrection and deepen our faith together. We can't wait to see you there!
Resources for Talking with Kids About War
by Deaconess Katie Freund
Dear Holy Cross Families,
With the heartbreaking conflict in Ukraine dominating our news it can be hard to know how to talk about the world's brokenness with our kids.
There is tremendous value in having difficult conversations with our kids, especially when it comes to topics that have no easy answers. When left to make their own assumptions, kids can think that anxiety or confusion is something only they are experiencing. The feeling of being with these feelings isn't good for anyone, especially children. You do not need to have the "perfect" answer, or even any answer, to be a valuable resource to children. We often underestimate how much comfort simple, open, and honest communication can bring. Believe it or not, simply sharing this moment together does a world of good in showing your child that they are not alone.
A few resources for families have been circulating this past week and I wanted to share them with you in case they may be of help.
The first is titled "A Kids Book About War" - it is written to be accessible for kids age 5 and older. It is provided as a free resource but if your family benefits from it please consider making a donation through the website to support Unicef or Doctors Without Borders. View the ebook at akidsco.com
The second is an article to help parents have faith-based conversations about this topic at home written by Charity Kauffman, the managing editor in Group's children's ministry department. It's an easy and short read that gives clear cut advice.
Read "Helping Children Process the Conflict in Ukraine" online at childrensministry.com
The third is a "30 Seconds" read from a clinical psychologist, Dr. Bethany Cook, titled "How to Talk to Kids About War". A big strength in this resource is how she quickly tells you how to assess where your child is at with what they may or may not already know of what is happening globally. Read it online at 30seconds.com
If there is anything we at Holy Cross can do to offer your family guidance or support (not just in this context, but amidst life's many challenges), please don't hesitate to reach out. DeaconessKatie@holycrosschurch.org
In the peace and love of Christ,
Deaconess Katie
Talking to Our Kids About Race
Part of our call as people who follow Jesus is to love others as Jesus loved, which included seeking to change the ways culture can hurt others.
In Jesus’ time, he challenged the ways in which the culture as it was did not allow for fullness of life for those who found themselves widowed, orphaned, or in a strange land. In our time, following Jesus’ example of love can include challenging ways in which the culture as it is does not allow for fullness of life for those who are “othered” for any number of reasons. The following resources give ideas of how to equip your kids (and yourselves) for loving others as Jesus loves them. Here are some ideas and resources to begin the conversation:
· There are a lot of books you can read with your child(ren). Your local public children’s librarian will most likely be able to assist you in choosing some for your family to read. One book that my family has appreciated is Something Happened In Our Town by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins and Ann Hazard. Age range 4-8 year olds). Another one is When God Made You by Matthew Paul Turner.
· Sesame Workshop has some great resources for younger kids. As a parent, I’ve found the articles helpful. sesameworkshop.org/what-we-do/racial-justice
· Talk with your child(ren) about being an “upstander,” and maybe even practice how to be one. Here is a cute video that introduces how to be an upstander: youtu.be/eeqQCyQOCPg
· When you’re watching a show with your kids, pay attention to who the heroes and villains are portrayed to be. Talk about why that might be.
· For your own growth, join Holy Cross’ Antiracism Roundtable and Work Group, held monthly via Zoom.
Some of these ideas were collected from a three-session class called “Raising Anti-Racist Kids” led by First Presbyterian in Libertyville. View the recap resources on their website under Resources for Families at firstpreslibertyville.org/anti-racism/
An important take-away from Sesame Workshop: “As soon as children can ask questions, support their natural curiosity by answering them, even the most difficult ones (and it’s okay to say you want to think about their question for a while). Let them know that it’s okay to notice skin color and to talk about race. The idea is to make differences normal… and good!”
From a place of faith, we recognize that God has created these differences—and loves and celebrates them.