Celebrating Beginnings
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
12/12/24
This month’s theme is Beginnings. The birth of Jesus is a beautiful and hopeful beginning. Here is an article with some fun, age-appropriate ways to help our kids celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. You might have your own traditions that celebrate the birth of Jesus. We’d love it if you’d share them in the comments!
Wrestling & Believing
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
11/14/24
This month’s theme is Believe. Sometimes faith comes with big questions about our beliefs. Rachel Turner from Parenting for Faith has a great podcast titled “Intellectual Wrestlers: Equipping Kids Who Need to Know.” She offers some great insight on how to help our kids when they wrestle with questions about faith. Questions like Does God Exist? She also has a great list of resources! She is a dynamic speaker and offers some great tips for all different kinds of thinkers. Click the link below to learn more.
“Bear”longing
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
10/17/24
This month’s theme is “Belong.” We all have a need to belong and kids especially feel this in their friend groups, at school, in sports and extracurricular groups, etc. There is a fun little chapter book online where the author reads the chapter outloud. It’s called Mosswood Tales, and this particular chapter is about “Belonging.” The characters and stories are fun for all ages. You can click the link below to listen and/or read it as a family. The author, a child’s therapist, includes some great notes at the end about belonging that might start a great conversation or just provide some insight. Plus, if you enjoy this one you can explore part two which is also about belonging.
Be Brave
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
9/12/24
This month’s Faith Formation theme is Worship. We love having children in worship, and all are welcome! The article linked below from Living Lutheran called “Be Brave” can remind us that our community here at Desert Cross loves us and wants the best for us and our kids. So, bring them to worship and get involved as a family! Do you want to be a reader, sing, usher? There are lots of ways you can be involved, and we would love to help you use your gifts. So be brave and know that God and DCLC are cheering for you!
Learning Faith @ The Olympics
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
8/1/24
The Olympics in Paris have begun. Below is a link to a great article on how the Olympics and Paralympics can be a faith learning experience. There are conversation ideas, and it even includes a free printable. These would make great dinner conversations or car ride topics. Take a look and see how you can incorporate faith easily while cheering for the USA.
Summer Sabbath
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
7/10/24
Our lives can get really busy. Work, transporting our kids, sports, school, homework, housekeeping, yard work, taking care of aging parents, making meals, and so much more. Whether it’s the little things that quickly add up or big troubles and obstacles, it can be overwhelming. So summer might be a great time to start practicing Sabbath. Click the link below to find out how prayer and play can be effective tools and carve out some time this summer to try it.
Praying with Kids
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
6/20/24
Parents, I encourage you to try this 5-day Blessing Challenge this summer. It comes from whatsfordinnermag.com and is a simple way we can pray over kids.
Did you know there are four distinct kinds of prayers that will make a profound difference in your parenting journey?
Praying in Front of Children
These are the prayers we offer aloud when our children are present. It’s about modeling a life of faith and showing them the power of prayer through our own words and actions.
Praying for Children
This type of prayer involves lifting our children up in prayer, interceding on their behalf, and entrusting them to God’s care and guidance.
Praying over Children
These are the prayers we speak directly over our children, blessing them, speaking God’s promises into their lives, and declaring God’s protection and favor over them.
Praying with Children
This kind of prayer involves inviting our children to join us in prayer, fostering a relationship with God and nurturing their own faith journey.
- Download and print this free poster featuring seven Psalms you can speak over your children
- After dinner or before bed, read all seven blessings to your children. Ask each child to pick the one that tugs on their heart and calls their name. Ask them, “Is there one of these you’d like to hear me speak over you?”
- Write your children’s names next to the Psalms they pick. For the next five days, pray those specific words over each of your children in their presence.
This will be the beginning of a beautiful habit, and something tells me your children won’t want you to stop speaking those words over them after the five days are up.
Let us know in the comments below how this challenge goes!
Explaining the Holy Spirit to Kids
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
5/21/24
Below is a link to a podcast talking about “How to Explain the Holy Spirit to Kids.” This is a difficult concept even for adults, but this 30-minute podcast has great nuggets of information. I know it’s hard to find 30 minutes sometimes, but you can listen to it while sitting in the pick-up line at school, while waiting for them at sports practice, while making dinner, or carve out a few minutes here and there.
This month’s Playlist theme is Holy Spirit. Use the menu to explore the Playlists.
Shepherding Our Children
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
4/15/24
I find one of the hardest things as a parent is to watch my kids experience hardships. As parents we want to protect our kids, and above all, we want them to be happy. But experiencing trials is part of life and something we can’t shield our kids from. Below is a link to an article called “Shepherding Our Children Through Hardships and Trials.” It is a quick read and provides three tips that we can add to our toolbox.
Lent Pretzels
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
3/12/24
We have a lot of fun baking bread at our First Communion Workshop. So when I saw this article, I thought I’d share it. Baking pretzels would be a fun activity, it connects with Lent, and even includes a prayer. Click the link below to read the connections between pretzels and Lent and get the recipe. Let us know by commenting below how they turn out! Happy baking!
Impact of Grandparenting
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
2/27/24
I’m sure a lot of us have fond memories of time with our grandparents. I loved having sleepovers at both of my grandmother’s houses, and I can still remember songs we sang and fun things we did. You’ll find a link below to an article called “Being Changed by Grandparenting.” Even if you are not a grandparent, it will bring some insight into those who are in your life. One of my favorite quotes was “It is said that the closest we may get to experiencing God’s unconditional love from a human is the bond between a grandparent and grandchild.” Thank God for grandparents and the beautiful role they play in our children’s lives.
Celebrating Epiphany
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
1/3/24
Families, here is a great resource with ideas on how to celebrate Epiphany at home. As you scroll further down toward the bottom, you will find a house prayer and a chalk prayer that are simple yet meaningful. Let me know if you try any of these fun ideas!
Teaching the Christmas Story
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
12/13/23
We hope you are enjoying your Advent calendars provided by Desert Cross. Here is another fun idea for the Advent season, an edible nativity! A shopping list is included or you might have some of the snack items on hand. Then you can print the story that goes with the healthy edible nativity you create. Send me a picture if you make one! We look forward to Jesus’ birthday!
Let Go
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
11/20/23
I was just talking with moms the other day about how difficult it is not to worry about my kids and how to “let go and let God.” Then I ran across this article with some great reminders in it! There is power in trusting God with our children.
God’s Children
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
10/18/23
We are all God’s children! So as our children’s first faith teachers, how can we help our kids see themselves as God’s children? Here is a 25-minute podcast titled “Helping Our Kids and Teens be God’s Children Too.” If you who did our Parenting For Faith class two years ago, you will remember Rachel Turner. If you missed that class, you’re going to love her! She is a great speaker and will draw you in, plus her stories and analogies are easy to understand. I love how she starts off saying, “We as parents already have all the skills we need to do this, it’s just becoming confident.” She always makes faith and parenting seem tangible, relatable, and boosts your confidence! You can do this!! Click the link below to listen to the podcast.
Debriefing Worship
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
9/24/23
We love having kids and youth in church. Here is a great article on how to debrief a church service with your child. It has some key elements that we also explored when we did the Parenting for Faith series two years ago. These are easy things to incorporate on your drive home or during a meal soon after church. Plus, it includes a download of 20 questions you can print off or save to your phone. What a great way to keep the conversation going and continue to explore faith at home or on the go! Click the link below to start Debriefing Worship.
Faith Questions
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
8/9/23
Kids ask a lot of questions. It’s a great tool as they try to learn more about the world around them, but sometimes they ask really difficult questions. And let’s be honest when it comes to faith…we all have struggled with difficult questions. Below is a link to an article with some advice on answering “tricky faith questions from kids.” Some of the ideas remind me of the Parenting for Faith Course we did at Family Nights a couple of years ago.
(Super)Hero of Faith
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
7/20/23
Grandparents are special! For those of you who are grandparents, you play a significant role. The article linked below explores some of those important roles. I like the “Carrier of History” role. I loved listening to my grandmother tell stories of her childhood, and my boys love listening to my dad’s adventurous stories. You also play the “Hero of Faith” role. Read the article to learn more about it, and thank you to all those grandparents out there! You make a difference!
Kids + Empathy = VBS
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
6/1/23
We all want our kids to be empathetic and caring. But what are some ways we can help instill that in our children? Below you’ll find a link to an article with some ideas. I would also add children’s literature to this list. There are a lot of great children’s books that can spark conversation and model being caring and empathetic towards others.
And one more way is attending VBS! It is a great week of faith, friends and fun, and in their small groups they learn how to lead, follow, and care for each other! Join us this summer June 12-16th for Vacation Bible School at Desert Cross Tempe. Use the link below to register.
Tell Us a Story!
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
5/10/23
I LOVE a good story! My dad is a great storyteller, and even to this day, my boys will say, “Tell us a story, Grandpa!” What’s great about his stories is they are true things that have happened in his life. So while being entertained with an action story or a heartfelt story, we are learning more about him. What a beautiful bonus! Below you’ll find a link to an article called “Blessing Our Family With Story.” It has some great topics and tips and hopefully will encourage you to start or continue to share your stories with your family!
Teaching & Learning Forgiveness
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
4/19/23
Below you’ll find a link to an article from Living Lutheran on Sin and Forgiveness. Our kids are never too young to start understanding forgiveness.
Teaching & Learning Forgiveness
Countdown to the Cross
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
3/7/23
Blessed Lenten Season! I always loved paper chains as a kid . . . a fun, visual countdown. Here is a link to a “Countdown to the Cross” from Family Life. You can print it out, create your chain and follow the easy activities each day as we countdown to Easter!
Encourage Their Questions
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
2/16/23
Do your kids ask lots of questions? Toddlers seem to ask WHY? a lot. As they get older, they can be simple questions or ones that challenge us even as adults. Here is a great article from Living Lutheran that provides the opportunity to look at our kids and their questions in a different light.
Epiphany Prayers
Shannon Fossett, Director of Children’s Ministries
1/12/23
Our friends at Building Faith have compiled some prayers for Epiphany. You can use these at home around the dinner table or as part of bedtime routines. This goes with our playlist theme of “light” this month so don’t forget to check out the children, youth, and adult playlists by using the menu above.
Desert Cross Faith Formation 