Gathering the Generations
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
12/12/22
This month’s Playlist theme is Generations. That is something that is so special about the holidays . . . gathering with all the generations! Here are some fun ideas of family Advent traditions for your family. You can even get the littles and the grandparents to join in. Enjoy each other and this joyous season!
Prayer Practices with Children
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
11/17/22
Below you’ll find a link to an article about the Practice of Prayer with Children. It has some great ideas for kids of all ages on different ways to pray. Intergenerational prayer within a family can be powerful, so check out these ideas and see if there are any your family would like to try. I loved the idea of the matchbox prayers, a mini mailbox for God! Also included at the end of the article are some great tips.
Prayer Practices with Children
Lessons from Homework
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
10/26/22
The kids are back in school and we are into the routine of school schedules, after school sports, extracurricular activities, and then there’s . . . homework! In some houses, homework can be a struggle. We want our children to succeed, and learning from homework is an important piece. Below is a link to a practical article with some faith based reminders on how we can equip our kids without taking over.
Practicing Generosity
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
9/15/22
This month’s theme is Generosity. Generosity is the willingness to give without expecting anything in return. There are lots of ways we can be generous. Here is a link to a resource with five ways to practice generosity with our kids. And don’t forget to check out the Generosity Playlists for more ways to explore this theme. You’ll find the Playlists in the menu at the top of this page.
Walking to School with God
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
8/1/22
School is in session (or it soon will be). We pray it’s a great year for all the teachers and students! In our Family Night sessions this past year we did a Parenting For Faith course that talked about ways we can help model and connect our children to God. Click the link below for one you can use on the walk or drive to school to connect our kids to God.
Chat and Catch with God
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
7/6/22
This past year during Family Nights at Desert Cross we explored the “Parenting for Faith” Course. There was a great concept about teaching our kids to chat and catch with God. We all sometimes struggle with how to connect to God. Rachel Turner has a great article with ideas and resources on how to make this easier for children and youth. Click the link below to learn more about how to Chat and Catch with God.
Celebrating Pentecost
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
6/3/22
We’ll be celebrating Pentecost this weekend at Desert Cross, and we hope you’ll be joining us for worship. You can also celebrate Pentecost at home. Here are some extra ways you can celebrate it with your family. They are simple ideas, and they don’t take a lot of planning. I think #2 might be my favorite, but they all sound fun!
Be Kind
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
5/26/22
As parents we want our kids to be happy, but we also want them to be kind. So, are kids born with kindness? Click the link below to listen to a 4-minute story, read the article, or both . . . to delve into this a bit deeper.
Teaching the Meaning of Easter
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
4/6/22
Hopefully you’ve picked up a “Lent in a Bag” for your family to explore at home. If not, they’re still available for pick up at both our Gilbert and Tempe Sites. With Lent and Easter it’s a busy time of year. I thought this article had some practical tips for parents to help teach your kids about the spiritual meaning of Easter while still having fun!
Teaching the Meaning of Easter
Praying the News
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
3/22/22
You have a heart for prayer, but the news is so overwhelming you don’t know where to start. Click the link below for some ideas on how to start Praying the News.
Be a Better Listener
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
2/21/22
This month’s playlist theme is Listen. Here is an article with five easy ways to be a better listener for our children. Giving our undivided attention to our children is important and listening can show things like empathy. Sure, our kids and grandkids can go on and on about their favorite dinosaurs or their favorite show, but these are some ways to make sure you are tuned in when you need to be. The “Ask Good Questions” section has some great ideas that ALL listeners (and talkers) could benefit from! Click the link below to read more.
I Wonder . . .
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
1/26/22
Kids are always asking questions and wondering. I’m sure you remember the stages of your kids asking the never-ending WHY? and HOW? questions, or maybe they still do! Wondering is an important part of developing our faith. Here are five ways you can help cultivate wondering in your child.
Celebrating Advent
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
12/6/21
Advent is here! Hopefully you picked up your advent calendar from Desert Cross, and you are are finding some time to do the simple daily activities. Here are a few extra ideas for ways to celebrate Advent with kids!
Give Thanks
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
11/18/21
The holidays are approaching! Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to gather with friends and family and reflect on all our blessings. Do you have certain traditions you do when you gather around the table for a meal? Here are 15 Thanksgiving Table Prayers and Blessings from the Building Faith Blog. Take a look, there might be one that becomes your new family tradition. Blessings to you and your families!
The Joy of Service
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
10/20/21
This month’s Playlist theme is Serve. Desert Cross has a heart for mission and service, and we it love when all generations are serving together! Thinking of others and having a service heart is something kids can learn even when they are young. Click the link below for an article that talks about teaching our children the joy of serving others.
Hospitality & Kids
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
9/23/21
This month’s theme is “Welcome.” How can we talk about and practice hospitality with our kids? Check out this resource 5 Ways to Practice Hospitality with Kids.
Then prepare a simple picnic to eat in your backyard, in a park, or on your living room floor while you talk about these questions together and make a “Family Hospitality Plan.”
- What is hospitality? (Adults, listen to your kids’ ideas, and talk about hospitality in terms of providing food, shelter, and protection.)
- How could we show hospitality to people we don’t know well, instead of just to friends and family?
- What are some good ways to welcome someone new to our home? How can we show the love of Jesus to people who visit our home?
- How can we show guests that they matter to us? (sharing, guests go first, etc.)
- Do we want to have any technology rules when guests are visiting? What should they be?
- What are some ways we can show hospitality to others outdoors or online?
Prayers for Back to School
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
8/2/21
School is back in session. Click the link below for some prayers for the new school year. You can pray them as a family or individually. All our students, parents, and educators can use our prayers, so find a moment and join us as we prayerfully welcome a new school year with hope, excitement, and blessings.
Praying with Raindrops
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
7/21/21
Some families are traveling this summer, but have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a raindrop that travels from a specific location to the ocean? Well, here’s your chance to take that adventure! Using this interactive map you can drop a raindrop from any location and ride along with it as it travels to the ocean. As you travel through the landscapes, take time to pray out loud or silently about things you are thankful for. Share a prayer of thanks for all of God’s great gifts. I am thankful for rain! I am thankful for cool places to visit! I am thankful for the beautiful ocean to swim in! Enjoy your journey as a raindrop and realize all the amazing things God has given us!
Click the link below to read about this project. Look for the River Runner link in the article to follow a raindrop on its journey.
Passing on Your Faith
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
6/24/21
Families, below you’ll find a link to an article about passing on your faith to your children. I have a feeling we’ll be exploring this more in the near future. Here is a short article to get you thinking about it!
God’s Love
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
5/17/21
This month’s playlist theme is Love. Below is a link to an article on helping children grasp the reality of God’s love. Make sure to read down to the end. There are activities for all ages, from preschool to teens, to explore God’s Love. I love the “Family Mealtime Moment”–check it out!
Prayers for Peace
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
4/13/21
This month’s playlist theme is Peace. The children, youth and adult playlist pages have lots of things for you to explore. Here is one more resource with books you can check out at the library. Plus it has some great prayers you can use at the dinner table or before bed…all about peace! Click the link below to check it all out.
Praying During the Pandemic
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
3/9/21
We are a year into this pandemic, and our kids still have questions. Their worries might be growing as time goes on. The first link is to an article with some great ideas on how to pray with our children in uncertain times. Although the article was originally posted at the beginning of the pandemic, the ideas and prayers are still very relevant. We can all benefit from “Looking for God’s Gifts” in our world. The second link is to some prayers and coloring pages posted for the one-year mark of the pandemic. Talking, coloring, and praying may be just what our souls need.
Teaching Mercy
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
2/24/21
Our playlist theme this month is Mercy. Families, here is a great resource on how to explain Mercy to our children. I love the example of how children DO have the power to choose their behavior, attitude and words. At the end of the article there is a list of ways to talk about Mercy with kids of all ages from babies to the young adults in your life. Click the link below to read more and to learn more about Mercy.
Ash Wednesday @ Home
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
2/15/21
Here is an idea of how to celebrate Ash Wednesday at home. Who doesn’t love s’mores?! Click the link below to learn how to connect toasting marshmallows to Ash Wednesday. Gather the family around a little fire with a few supplies and connect with each other as you celebrate this special day on our church calendar.
Epiphany Stars
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
1/4/21
Epiphany is January 6th. Here is a fun activity for the whole family! We are all looking forward to a new year, but like the Magi, we could all use a guiding star sometimes. Gather your family and a few supplies and celebrate Epiphany! For more details, click the link below.
Desert Cross Faith Formation 