Journey to the Manger . . . at Home
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
12/10/25
Most of us have holiday traditions . . . specific things or ways you celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas. But have you thought about celebrating the Advent season? You’ll find a link below to an article on how to celebrate Advent as a family. You can pick up an Advent Calendar at either site and check our our playlists where you can explore the theme of Journey as we Journey to the Manger.
Journey to the Manger . . . at Home
God’s Promises
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
11/12/25
I hope you’ve found a few minutes to explore the Faith Formation Playlists. This month’s theme is Promise. We all know parenting can be hard, but there is reassurance in knowing that God is there for us. We can teach our children that as well. Linked below is an article with fifteen of God’s promises that we can teach our kids. These can be dinner conversations, part of bedtime prayers, or car ride topics. Discussing and exploring these promises can help you and your child get to know God and each other better. These verses can bring comfort and guidance as well.
Nurturing Gratitude
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
10/13/25
This month’s Faith Formation theme is Gratitude. Below you’ll find a link to an article from Focus on the Family about Nurturing Gratitude in our children. It has practical ideas on how we can nurture this important trait in our homes, so we can take it out into the world.
Good Neighbors
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
9/17/25
When I say “neighbor” what comes to mind? Mr. Rogers’ neighbor song? The State Farm commercial: Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there? A current neighbor that you have a connection with or maybe one that you wonder about because you never see them? Being a “good neighbor” can start when we are very young. There’s an article linked below that covers lots of great topics on how to do just that. There is a section with some fun activities you can try. Let me know if you try one. Even little hands can be helping hands and learn about being kind to the people in our community.
Let’s Talk
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
8/5/25
The kids are back in school, routines are settling in, and maybe—just maybe—there’s a little more quiet around the house. But if you’ve been a parent for more than five minutes, you know the questions don’t stop when the backpacks are zipped. From tough conversations about the world to deeper questions about faith, parenting is an everyday invitation to show up with love, honesty, and hope. In the article linked below, Faithful Conversations on Tough Topics by Traci Smith, we explore how to walk with our children through life’s harder moments—with faith as our guide.
Faith: At Home & On the Road
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
7/1/25
It’s summer break, and some families are taking road trips and vacations. Whether you are in town or on the move, here are some fun faith ideas you can do as a family this summer. They are all fun and fairly simple ideas. “Cross Roads” is something everyone can do in your own backyard or on vacation. Send me pictures if you try it out! Have a safe and fun summer!
Celebrating Pentecost
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
6/2/25
Pentecost is a special day in the church when we remember how God sent the Holy Spirit to Jesus’ followers. It’s like a birthday for the church, where believers started to share God’s message with the world. It happened 50 days after Easter. On that day, there was a sound like a rushing wind, and flames like fire appeared above their heads, but no one was hurt! The Holy Spirit helped them speak in different languages so they could tell everyone about Jesus. We wear red on Pentecost to remember the fire and power of the Holy Spirit. Below you’ll find a link to a fun activity your family can do at home to celebrate Pentecost. Send me a picture of your completed candle!
The Lord’s Table
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
5/13/25
During Lent our third graders at Desert Cross received their First Communion. It is a faith milestone that we love celebrating with them. The article linked below can help us remember what being at the Lord’s Table is all about. It offers things you can teach your children, but it can also be a good conversation starter for older kids and families on what Holy Communion means to you. We are all welcome at the Lord’s Table for the precious gift of Communion.
Stations of the Cross in Nature
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
4/14/25
Good Friday is difficult, even for adults, but it is an important part of the Lenten story. Here is a children’s Stations of the Cross you can use in your own backyard. I love how the author, Mia Kano, shared, “doing the stations of the cross teaches kids that our faith is big enough to hold the saddest and most difficult parts of life.” The guide linked below will provide your family a way to discover that the story of Good Friday and the cross can be found in the world we live in. Let me know how your self-guided tour goes in the comments below.
Stations of the Cross in Nature
Come & Look
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
3/24/25
We’re a couple of weeks into the Lenten season, and it can be busy. Here is a great article from Living Lutheran that shares how we can invite our children to “come and look.” I love that it has some simple ideas, prayers, and a service idea. The author reminds us, “Lent is about drawing ourselves and our families closer to Jesus.” I pray that is what you experience this Lent!
Praying for Wisdom
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
2/12/25
As the article linked below states, “Parenting is hard.” If you are like me, you can find yourself questioning and wondering if you are doing the “right” things. We can ask God for guidance and wisdom. This month’s theme is wisdom, so let’s pray for wisdom over our kids. This article has 15 prayers to pray over your kids using Proverbs. You can dig into the Bible and explore yourself, but the verses are also included with the prayers.
Prayer for Parents
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
1/22/25
It’s a new year! We are coming out of the holidays and the celebration of Jesus’ birth. And that has me thinking about our families with young children. We love having you in worship! We love being a part of your family’s faith walk and celebrating with you during baptisms. We love that you can join us at our Littlest Lutheran classes on Sundays at both sites or Joyful Noises on Wednesdays in Gilbert. We know it is hard to get places with a little one in tow, and we are grateful when you can join us. Here is a prayer for parents of young children…share it with someone you know!
Desert Cross Faith Formation 
I love this idea of listening for a specific word! It reminds me of the times that James has heard his name during the sermon and the amount of joy that it brings him.
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