We l c o m e t o t h e Winter 2014
Love THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR
heart
AND WITH ALL YOUR
soul AND
WITH ALL YOUR
strength. THESE COMMANDMENTS THAT I GIVE YOU TODAY ARE TO
be on your hearts. Deuteronomy 6:5-6
edition of
Winter
On Your Hearts
As I sit here writing it is currently 8 chilly degrees outside and we recently had a downpour of rain that filled the gutters and produced icy cold hail. All of the beautiful gold and crimson leaves have been stripped from the vines by the wind. Winter is here! But as I gaze out my window there is still an element of beauty. The green of the Barossa hills is beautiful and lush against the grey of the sky. Recently while serving at a sausage sizzle at the local hardware store, I made a negative comment about the pouring rain to a farmer of all people! He was quick to tell me in no uncertain terms that we needed to be grateful for the rain, that’s what makes things grow! How often do we do that? Look at the negative rather than focusing on the positive! I know I am guilty of it at times. Of course we need the rain – it’s just that the sunshine is just so much easier to live with. The rain allows the crops to grow and provides much needed sustenance for the world. Just as we sometimes focus on the negative aspects of winter, sometimes we
On Your Hearts Official publication of the Board for Child, Youth and Family Ministry of the Lutheran Church of Australia
do that in ministry too. Numbers are dropping, the kids don’t seem engaged and we really need more people on the team. But God promises that His word will produce fruit, He will accomplish all things, despite us sometimes. You will live in joy and peace – let’s remember that and focus on the positive. He goes before us, sometimes we will not see the fruit of what we sow, or the sunshine in the rain, but He does.
LCA Child Youth and Family Ministry
‘As the rain and snow come down from heaven and stay upon the ground
197 Archer Street, North Adelaide SA 5006 p: 08 8267 7300 e: bcyfm@lca.org.au
the farmer and bread for the hungry, so also is my word. I send it out, and
www.growministries.org.au
to water the earth, and cause the grain to grow and to produce seed for it always produces fruit. It shall accomplish all I want it to and prosper everywhere I send it. You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills, the trees of the field - all the world around you - will rejoice.’ Isaiah 55: 10 – 12
LU TH ER
Blessings,
Vicki
:)
AN CH UR CH
OF AU ST RA LIA
Faith at Home We want to encourage you to share your faith and have a household devotion time. At Grow Ministries we love to share faith and promote intentional faith conversation by using the
Talk: about what this text is asking us to do as parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles? When and where? Why?
It’s our favourit e!
How do you do this?
You could use it at meal time with your family. We have heard about ministry teams using it as a way to begin meetings, youth groups and children’s ministries start their sessions with it. We even heard a story about a group of families using it to guide their time of celebrating Easter morning while out camping.
Share: One thing that you can remember growing up that helped you identify that your faith and that of your families was more than a once a week practice on Sunday? This might include: • Family devotions • Christmas & Easter rituals and traditions • You and/or your family serving your local community • Extended family Christian milestone celebrations Baptism/Confirmation
Share: about a time recently when you experienced faith integrated into your family’s identity.
• “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” verse 5. • Talk about how God and his love for us, helps us to talk to our children, grandchildren and other people’s children about God’s promises. • Integrate faith into their family identity and practice.
Pray: for each other and for your families. Pray that you will know God’s love and be prepared to share your story with others.
Bless: each other with these words: (Name), child of God, May the Lord bless you today and always.
Read: The Bible verse: Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
share read talk pray bless
key ring card sets
w w w. g r o w m i n i s t r i e s . o r g . a u CH UR CH AN LIA ER STRA TH OF AU LU
L C A C H I L D Y O U T H & F A M I LY M I N I S T R Y
s t s o p r e e n m o r H t a Co h t i a F g In these words and n i d l i u the wider book of B Deuteronomy God’s people
by Pastor Greg Priebbenow, St John’s Lutheran Church, Bundaberg Qld
; tie minds d n a n arts our he them o y d in in e b nd min ing are given 4 cornerposts rds of ands a children, talk o h w r u e lk o s a y e r w h n u t o u o Fix ols to y for building homes n yo s symb Teach them d whe et a n g a m u e e o y h m t o s. en of faith. d sit at h rehead nd wh ses an your fo m when you u lie down a u o h r yo ur the f you about s of yo , when oorframes o y d a a d o r e the d th ore he d along ays an the Lord sw m on t d e r h u t o e y it t at the up. Wr ates, so tha land th s that e y a h t d g in e r h y -21 on you e man ny as t 11: 18 a b y y m m a o s n nm rs, a eutero childre ncesto . - D a h t r r u a o e y e to give are above th s Cornerpost #3: heaven
Cornerpost #1: Receiving the Word of God ‘… Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds …’ Deut 11:18 The Word of God is to our spiritual lives what food, clothing and shelter are to our physical lives. Making time and space to listen to God’s Word and allow it to strengthen, guide and shape you by: • Making weekly worship attendance a priority. • Having regular home devotions. • Reading Bible stories. • Learning Bible verses. • Listening to Christian music.
Cornerpost #2: “Faith Talk” in the Home ‘Teach these words of mine to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.’ Deut 11:19 God’s desire is that our faith is not just a set of beliefs to nod yes to on Sundays but something living and active that is discussed and shared in daily life. We can do this by: • Sharing “highs” and “lows” each day and praying about them. • Sharing our daily “God-sightings”. Sharing about what your faith in Christ means to you. • Talking together about how God’s Word applies to issues that arise in your lives. • Looking for the many “unscripted” opportunities that arise.
Faith Rituals & Traditions
‘… tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. … Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.’
Deut 11:19
Symbols, rituals and traditions give shape and order to our lives - they give us patterns to live by and remind us of what is most important. Many Christian adults remember special Christmas or Lent rituals or traditions that helped to shape their faith as children – the challenge for today’s Christian home is to revive, rediscover and reinvent rituals and traditions that will do the same for their children like: • Mealtime prayers. • Blessing one another. • Observing the church year – Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Pentecost. • Giving a faith “twist” to birthdays, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, start and end of the school year. • Celebrating baptismal birthdays.
Cornerpost #4: S e r vin g Othe rs ‘I command you to be open-handed toward those of your people who are poor and needy in your land.’ - Deut 15:11 The power of service is that it gives practical expression and content to our faith. Have a servant God who calls us out to serve others – and in doing so we meet him right there. A serving home is a home that is growing together in Christ. The challenge is to not just do occasional acts of service but to nurture a culture of service in our homes. We can encourage this by: • Doing chores in the name of Christ. • Volunteering together in church and/or community. • Donating to charity. • Doing deeds of kindness for neighbours.
rituals, traditions and practices of faith AND is for every generation. . .
What is Godly Play? Godly Play is a Montessori Method of telling Bible stories, developed by Jerome Berryman, using parables, sacred stories and liturgical lessons about religious traditions using simple materials. Godly Play is used extensively with adults and children in many settings, from schools to hospitals, churches to aged care facilities. Godly Play can be a way of preparing children to join the worship life of their congregations as they experience sacred stories, symbols and rites and encounter the religious language associated with worship within the context of our faith tradition.
Godly Play is a Montessori method of telling Bible stories, developed
It by invites the listener to connect stories with personal experience Jerome Berryman, usingfaith parables, sacred stories and liturgical through questions and open-ended response. lessonswondering about religious traditions using simple materials.
Godly Play is used extensively with adults and children in many settings, from schools to hospitals, churches to aged care facilities. Godly Play can be a way of preparing children to jointo: the worship life of their congregations as they experience odly Play Session includes time sacred stories, symbols and rites and encounter the religious language associated ready with worship within the context of our faith tradition. At Bethany Lutheran Parish we have been sharing erience a story Godly Play during the worship service both as an ore the story with the questions “I wonder . . age specific children’s ministry and also during the e Simpfendorfer Bethany Lutheran Church – Cross Roads y Ministry Centre. - observations and reflections about Godly worship service for pond with a free choice of creative n under 3s: everyone (especially erience during school holidays Lent oddlers and pre-schoolers really enjoy re-enacting the story after the story teller has told the story. They like to touch and and Advent). y a simple feast.
work with the materials to re-enact the story, sometimes with he storyteller saying some of the key phrases while they are specifically likes Play because it ticks many of All generations arereally involved in themselves sharing their gifts to help in this ministry working with the materials. They immerse in Godly C A C H I L D Y O U T H & F A M I LY M I N I S T R Y he story.and Lwe that Principles this ministry for is multi-generational. We now include our love Guiding Effective Child, Youth and Family Ministry. my two year old son has spent many hours playing with our pastoral care visits as part of our Godly Play ministry. Holy Family. He calls the Jesus figure by name. 1. Children, young people and their families are nurtured for life in Jesus Christ through vital my two year old son has made so many connections engagement with thehearing rituals, traditions and practices of to Christian between Play, church andGod’s other things. After AsGodly our team expands, weword nowand have members borrowing stories shareFaith. me learnwherever the Mystery of Pentecost, he said ‘hot’ every time 2. Faith isthey integrated into family and practice. are serving in identity their mission fields, for example in their he saw something red. I was also not aware that he had 3. Children and young people have multiple adult mentors of and vital faith. homes, school, Cross Roads Family Learning Centre Tanunda become familiar with the term ‘Holy Spirit’ as I could not ecall using prayer or conversation withare him. But one day Lutheran home. 4. it in Children and young people given opportunities in meaningful cross generational church he was talkingexperiences about the Holy Spirit. Ithey asked where he in which arehim valued. had heard about the Holy Spirit and he said ‘church’. Our Godly Play roompeople is available adult and family study groups, 5. more Children andhow young are given opportunities to bebible involved in leadership. am learning about to have faith like a child. L C A C H I L D Y O U T H & F A M I LY M I N I S T R Y
It invites the listener to connect faith stories with personal experience through wondering questions and open-ended response.
A Godly Play Session includes time to: Get ready
Experience a story
Explore the story with the
questions “I wonder . . . ?”
Respond with a free choice of creative experience Enjoy a simple feast.
A w G w a m w e d a
All generations are involved in sharing their gift and we love that this ministry is multi-generatio pastoral care visits as part of our Godly Play mi
As our team expands, we now have members b wherever they are serving in their mission fields homes, school, families andand foryoung visitors whoare are interested in experiencing Godly 6. Children people encouraged into participating in service in play. theCross name of Roads Family Learning Ce think the most beautiful thing was when my two year old Jesus Christ. Lutheran home. Godly Play: Godly Play room a great place to share stories during the Vintage on said The ‘I want to tell the story.’ Isn’tisthat what it’s all about? 7. Quality age-specific child, youth, and young adult ministry.
Festival withthe schools and other visitors. pray that he will share story with many people
Promotes biblical knowledge, empathy, spiritual growth, At Bethany Lutheranapproach Parish Provides a multi-sensory and every day 9. Ministry practices and approaches have strong missional focus and dimension, reaching “Oh I love that story, it really touched me, and when something touches to learning, we have been sharing to never children, youthforget and families Respects Children’s spirituality. you,out you really it. in the wider community in Christ’s name. Godly Playlanguage during Develops andthe communication skills, “Oh I love that story, it worship service both as an Encourages thinking skills, really touched me, and depth andchildren’s reflection in every specific when something touches age Has session, you, you never really ministry and also induring the Engages the listener God’s forget it.” word and the rituals, traditions and Tessa Schuster, age 10, worship service for The Great Family, story of practices of faith Abraham and Sarah. everyone AND is for(especially every generation. . .
8. Children and young people are supported within an engaging Christian community during hroughout histimes life. Watching my son has taught me so much of personal Tessa Schuster agecrisis. 10 The Great Family, story of Abraham and Sarah:
Our Godly Play room is available adult and fam families and for visitors who are interested in ex The Godly Play room is a great place to share Festival with schools and other visitors.
Tessa Schuster age 10 The Great Family, story o “Oh I love that story, it really touched me, and you, you never really forget duringit. school holidays Lent
“Godly Play is great because it equips people of all ages to enter into Scripture for themselves and learn to listen to the voice of our heavenly Father without the fear of getting it wrong.”
Sharing Godly Play stories at Tanunda Lutheran School Early Learning Centre.
Pastor Eugene Minge St Pauls Lutheran Church, Blair Athol, South Australia
The Bethany/Tabor Lutheran Parish has been sharing Godly Play during the worship n has sharing Godly Play stories at Tanunda Lutheran service both as an age specific children’s “I am learning more about how to have faith like a Early Learning Centre. ministry and also during the worship service child. I think the most beautiful thing was when my for everyone (especially during school two year old son said ‘I want to tell the story.’ Isn’t holidaysGodly Lent and Advent). that whatitit’s allalso about? I pray that he will share the Although Play was originally developed for children, has been story with many people throughout his life. Watching successfully used with older people, including people suffering from dementia. All generations are involved in sharing their gifts to help my son has taught me so much each and every day.” in this ministry and they love that this ministry is multi-
Shannon has been shared godly Play at Tanunda Lutheran Home each Monday generational. We now include pastoral care visits as part Renee Simpfendorfer - Cross Roads Family Ministry Centre, afternoon Term 2. How wonderful it will be when we are readySouth to invite some Australia of our Godlyduring Play ministry. school children to join us from time to time. As their team expands, they have members borrowing stories to share wherever they are serving in their mission Pastor John Thiel – Tanunda Lutheran Home fields, for example in their homes, school, Family Learning Centre and in Aged Care Faclities.
“Some children during the work time when they can do anything have chosen to make cards for newly baptised babies that they don’tiseven or a forPastor a Vicar who is leaving. “What happens here for the people who are listening likeknow, what does eachWe don’t always have time for a feast but everyone wants week hePlay prepares the sermon. He reads the verse, looks at other verses, reads to a help serve and clean Their as Godly room is Grow available forlikes adult andPlay family Ministries Godly because: up when we do. more, thinks about to/for him and then writes a sermon for the bible study groups, families and forthis visitors who are annonbitsharing a Godly Play what session atmeans Bethany Tabor 1. Children, young people and their families areI nurtured for love Godly Play because a leader I spend interested in experiencing Godly play. The Godly Play people. Here each person has the chance to listenwith toGod’s the story, think about as it and theran Parish ‘Claytons Camp’ life – in for Jesus families. Christ through vital engagement time coming closer to the Stories of the word and with the rituals, traditions of Christian roomout is a what great place to to share stories schools andand practicesmore work it means for them.” Want know more? www.godlyplay.com.au Faith. other visitors. Bible than in running around to find craft
materials andLutheran colouringHome sheets. – Tanunda Godly Pay can help you see and Jan do things differently. 4. Children and young people have multiple adult mentors of is the closest thing I have experienced with the children to the vital faith. Experience Godly Play through an Itintroduction session idea of Prayer and Meditation the route to finding God. Godly “The first time I came to as Godly Play, I where you canand become aarepart aPlay Godly 5. Children young people given of opportunities is inopenPlay to thesession, unexpected. When I am wondering with the meaningful cross generational church experiences in was devastated by family news. children I feel like I am on a journey with the children and not reflect on which the they ideas and values that underpin Godly are valued. Children and young people are given opportunities to be adult telling them what they should do or how good just another Play and6.explore the resources. “My experience with creative involved in leadership. 2. Faith is integrated into family identity and practice.
and faithful the bible heroes were.”
7. Children and young people are encouraged into writing participating in service in the name of Jesus Christ.
led me to draw a tree. It had
Hallstrong – Godly Play Coordinator, Contact Shannon Schuster toNicole have roots, reminding us of Pauls Lutheran Church, Blair Athol, South Australia 8. Quality age-specific child, youth, and youngStadult ministry. God’s promises ... and it led me to Shannon.schuster@lca.org.au
draw these promises – all gifts from and love. I drew 11. Ministry practices and approaches have strong missional single footprints reminding me of focus and dimension, reaching out to children, youth and families Want to know when God carried me.” in the wider community in Christ’s name. 10. Children and young people are supported within an engaging Christian community during timesGod’s of personalcompassion crisis.
more? w w w. g o d l y p l a y. o r g . a u
Godly Pay can help you see and do things differently. Experience Godly Play through an introduction session where you can become a part of a Godly Play session, reflect on the ideas and values that underpin Godly Play and explore the resources. Contact Shannon Schuster. e: shannon.schuster@lca.org.au
faith at home
t e e h S t Fac
L C A C H I L D Y O U T H & F A M I LY M I N I S T R Y
Guiding Principles for Effective Child, Youth & Family Ministry
G uiding P rinciple
#2 Faith is integrated into family identity and practice
Parents continue to be the single greatest influence on their children’s faith.
Pray together at the table - HOW - use the Faith5 at family meal time.
Interestingly, grandparents come in closely at second. So how can we best support the families in our communities to pass the faith on to their children?
Listen to worship music at home, in the car.
The Old Testament is filled with clear messages that parents are to be their own children’s faith teachers. “Recite these words to your children when you lie down and when you rise” (Deut. 6) Passover was perfectly cross-generational: Children were involved in all aspects of Israel’s corporate life. (Exodus 12:1-11) Feast of Pentecost (Deut. 16:6-12)
Spontaneously thank God for his blessings during the day - HOW - while driving in the car to school thank God for the sunshine or the rain. Read bible stories at bed time or story time – IDEA – share what those bible stories meant to you as a child Talk about how you saw God at work in your life today.
How can Congregations help? Congregations can assist parents to have the opportunity to share their faith with their children in ways that will encourage a faith that lasts, a faith that sticks. Below are 4 ideas that Congregations can start with….
Connecting Sunday Morning with Monday-Saturday in the Home
Feast of Tabernacles (Deut. 16:9-12) were cross generational.
1
One generation is to tell the works of the Lord to the next (Psalm 22:27-31)
Make Sunday worship a prime time for resourcing families. Model and resource the 4 Keys: faith talk, devotional practices, rituals and traditions, service.
In the New Testament, Jesus went to the temple with his whole family In Acts, the temple AND the home the main place the church met (Acts 2:42-47) and grew.
Parents…. Faith is caught not taught ! One of the most important things for Christian parents to do is to be continually growing their own relationship with God. How do you grow your relationship with God? Ultimately, it’s not what you do, but what you let God do in you. Below are some ideas that may help you... Reading the Bible regularly Worshiping and being part of a faith community Participating in a small group / bible study Praying Serving or volunteering at church or in the wider community Listing to or singing worship music Being involved in a mentoring / mentee relationship Talking about Jesus and your faith with your children Parents who participate in these practices regularly will find them helpful in building their own faith and will also be modelling their faith to their children. Children can also be invited to participate in these practices and learn to incorporate them into their own faith formation and growth. Below are some simple ways you can add them into your daily family life….
RESOURCE: Taking Faith Home
2
Use the Seasons of the Church Year to Help Households Live Faith-fully
Advent, Lent or Pentecost Workshops / cross+generational events. Provide seasonal household devotional resources. Make it easy for them. RESOURCE: GIFT – Generations in Faith Together (Advent, Baptism, Pentecost, Lent)
3
Use Baptisms and Marriages as Key Strategic Opportunities
Use baptismal preparation to give parents guidance and resources for the future. Use marriage preparation to help couples think about the future “shape” of their family life. RESOURCE: GIFT Baptism
4
Build Parent and Household Dimensions into your Child & Youth Ministry Activities
Provide “at home” materials for households to use together. Bring together kids and their parents – help them “do the faith” with one another. RESOURCE: Taking Faith Home, Faith5, GIFT events Contact bcyfm@lca.org.au for more information regarding the recommended resources.
B oo k R eview
The Faith at Home movement is
changing churches across the world
As more and more leaders realise that lasting, lifelong faith is rarely taught in Sunday school but is rather “caught” from parents. They are shifting their focus and resources to equip families for spiritual formation. Church + Home is the essential blueprint for church leaders who want to make the change count eternally. Pastors and children and youth ministry leaders will learn how to re-establish the home as faith’s primary incubator, to build bridges between church and home, and to envision and implement family ministry in their church, no matter its size. Most of all, they will find practical tools for weaving family ministry into the DNA of their church community. This revised and updated title from a primary leader in the Faith at Home movement includes everything a church needs to put faith back where it belongs: at home.
Review adapted from the Faith at Home website:
www.faithathome.com/help-for-churches/church-leader-resources-2/
Recently had visitors from the US who sat with us to help shape the next phase of our Strategic plan. L C A C H I L D Y O U T H & F A M I LY M I N I S T R Y
Here is a small snapshot of our time together. . .
Beautiful Barossa Food - Tim Wiebusch, Wendy Rochow, Vicki Rochow
Grow Ministries team with Board and US visitors “Successful time with BCYFM, our National Reference Group members, Grow Ministries staff and our US friends. Now it’s time to start shaping coaching of congregations to become learning communities. Grow Ministries now has much to consider, explore, strategise and contextualise. Thanks Terri Elton, David Anderson and Debbie Streicher and those that have shaped our thinking this week.” Tim Wiebusch,
BCYFM Chairperson
All of the group at Langmeil Lutheran Church, Tanunda
Steve Wilksch, Principal of Redeemer Lutheran School, Nuriootpa, and Dave Anderson
US Visitors – Terri, Debbie and Dave
Check out this great resource to share with your church families….
T he Importance of Family Devotion T ime Having family devotion time is crucial to developing relationships both within your family and also with God. Family devotion provides a Christ-centred focus giving the wisdom and comfort to get families through many difficult times.
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:2
A great resource is the
F a i th a t H o m e
pray e r app
share read talk pray bless
key ring card sets
w w w. g r o w m i n i s t r i e s . o r g . a u CH UR CH AN LIA ER STRA TH OF AU LU
This app provides you with prayers for meal times, morning, night time, car time and blessings. Download it from The App store or Google Play. You can also visit the Faith at Home website for some more tips and ideas about encouraging faith at home.
www.faithathome.com
L C A C H I L D Y O U T H & F A M I LY M I N I S T R Y
We are here to serve you . . . The team at Grow Ministries is here to serve you! We provide congregational support, training and resources to help you with Child, Youth and Family Ministry in your congregation! If you have an area of need or you would like to share your successes, we would love to hear from you. Email us at bcyfm@lca.org.au. Remember to sign up for our monthly eNews to keep you updated with training opportunities and the latest resources available: L C A C H I L D Y O U T H & F A M I LY M I N I S T R Y
http://www.lca.org.au/lca-enews-archive.html
Tracts are available from Lutheran Tract Mission tracts.lll.org.au 175 Archer Street, North Adelaide