APR
22
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THE DINING TABLE As I write, Autumn is definitely in the air and there are thoughts of hunkering down for winter. But, in reality, it feels like we’ve all been hunkering down for the past two years. In and out of lockdown, working remotely, online learning, Zoom meetings, PCR testing and now, RATs—all so very familiar now but not so two years ago. Something else that might be feeling a bit more familiar is the dining table. If yours is anything like mine, at various times it’s been a place for homework, sewing, jigsaw puzzles, card games, home office, arts ‘n crafts . . . and, somehow, we manage to find space, and the inclination, to eat meals there too. The dining table is a hub for family life. It is a gathering space that can be a focal point for faith formation in the home—something which is particularly important given the adverse effect of the pandemic on faith formation for children that has been shown by recent research.* Ministry among adults has widely been prioritised over ministry to children, and relational connections which are so important for families are one of the most challenging aspects for churches in this present climate. This leaves much to parents who often feel ill-equipped to nurture their children’s faith. This edition of the WAY2GO magazine will look at simple ways you, as a family, can gather round the dining table with each other, the Bible and God.
___ Liz Eichler Children and Families Team Leader, SUNZ
* Sarah Holmes, Lawson Murray, Sue Price, Mimi Larson, Valerie de Abreu and Phil Whitehead. Do we need a new plan for children’s ministry? A report based on research in Brazil, Canada, UK and US in later-pandemic stages. October 2021. https://scriptureunion.ca/wp-content/uploads/Multi-national-Childrens-Ministry-Report-2021.pdf
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