Growing Our Kids & Our Faith Together
Join us for a spring day sledding event!
Saturday March 6th, 10-11am. Wear masks! Bring sleds!
I’ll bring stomp rockets and there’s a playground! Come hang out with other Westwood parents & kids!
Park Spanish Immersion Elementary School (On the big hill!)
9400 Cedar Lake Rd, St Louis Park, MN 55426
https://goo.gl/maps/UkF8bdNDx22qDJEb9
Our focus during Epiphany is ‘You are my Beloved | Care of Self: Care of Others‘. You can learn more about what we’re up to this month here: https://www.westwood.church/epiphany-2021
It’s a timely theme for families as we continue to navigate the emotional intensities and mental health toll of the pandemic on our kids and ourselves. As you support kid(s) thru their emotions, stress, & worries- don’t forget to prioritize yourself with compassionate self-care.
Looking for new ways to help your kid(s) process their feelings? Here are a few.
Epiphany is also known as ‘3 Kings Day’. It arrives 12-days after Christmas (January 6th) when we celebrate the kings arrival with gifts for Jesus. They followed the star! The Epiphany church season starts on Epiphany and lasts until Ash Wednesday (Lent).
Epiphany is a time for us to pay attention to what we’re following too! Enjoy these activities, crafts, and reflections this Epiphany season.
Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas! Thank you to all the families that helped create our family worship this year! Here are all the activities to print and use during worship!
This song was shared with us- an awesome ‘who we are’ conversation starter!
Pastor Miriam shared a new Anti-Racism parenting resource with us! It’s from USA Today, ‘Everything starts at home’: Kids’ TV shows that teach anti-racism, celebrate diversity https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2020/08/26/kids-tv-shows-teach-anti-racism-celebrate-diversity/5606178002/
There are so many influences in our kids lives without even leaving the house! The books they read, songs they hear, the shows they watch, etc. – it can be super overwhelming! This article offers great options for screen time!
For younger kids- Sesame Street created a Racism Town Hall with CNN. It’s not just great for kids, parents get a lesson on age-appropriate conversations about race! https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/06/app-news-section/cnn-sesame-street-race-town-hall-app-june-6-2020-app/index.html?_ga=2.161739578.74954184.1598888086-1761221464.1598888085
It also links to Common Sense Media’s site with a collection of ‘TV Shows with Diverse Characters’ https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/tv-shows-with-diverse-characters?_ga=2.66262952.74954184.1598888086-1761221464.1598888085
Children’s Ministry Programming 2020
Ages baby thru Grade 5
To support your family’s health & faith journey, all children’s ministry programs will remain online thru 2020.
Sign-up for all the program options that work for your family!
(And don’t stress! Perfect attendance and/or 100% follow thru is NOT required!)
https://westwood.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/144/responses/new
Rally Week CYF Celebration!
Tuesday Sept 15th | Wednesday Sept 16th | Thursday Sept 17th
Kick-off fall with us at one of our socially distanced, outside pick-up nights! Make tie-dye shirts with your kid(s) and pick up your ‘Dios está contigo’ bracelets! This is the week to pick up any bibles, anti-racism books, & kid activity kits that you ordered on your Children’s Ministry registration (link above). Please bring school supplies to donate to STEP!
Families choose a one-hour time slot between 3-7pm to allow for space and disinfected materials. Masks are required. Pick one of the 3 provided dates- time slots are limited to 5 families.
Just swinging by to grab books & supplies? Sign up for ‘CURBSIDE PICK-UP’ and stop by anytime between 3-7pm on a Celebration night.
DIY Family Faith Talk: The Beatitudes
Looking for new conversations at the dinner table, before bedtime, or on the weekend? A ready-made guide for responsible citizenship discussions to have with your kid(s)? This fall we look at the Beatitudes with an awesome curriculum created by Illustrated Ministry. This option is 100% online and family-led. All materials are available on our blog to print and use anytime! Password access will be sent out in mid-September.
Messy Worship on Zoom!
6pm Thursdays | Starting October 1st
Life is Messy, God is in the Mess! Join Jen and friends for our fun family worship, zoom style! Messy Worship Zoom includes elements from our new Beatitudes curriculum & anti-racism book club, music, storytelling, & interactive prayers.
Sunday Worship Online: Kids Activity Kits
Sign up to receive an activity kit filled with coloring pages, activities, and crafts for your kid(s) to work on while you watch online worship from home. Preschool and Elementary kits are available. (curbside pick-up monthly)
Anti-Racism Family Resources: Family Book Club
This is a new program to support your work raising anti-racist, equity-focused kid(s). Sign-up to receive an age-appropriate anti-racism book for any kid(s) in your family- and an anti-racism parenting book for you!
Order books thru the Children’s Ministry registration (link above). $10 donation per book.
Throughout the year additional resources, parent zoom conversations, and family discussion activities will be offered to support our anti-racism work as a community. Follow on our Westwood Parent Connect blog: https://westwoodparents.community/anti-racism-resources/
Anti-Racism Family Book Club Books:
Orders for T-Shirts, books, and fall supply kits need to be in by Friday September 4th to make sure they are ready for tie-dye and pick-up at our Celebration nights.
Questions? Let me know!
Be safe, be well, and be real- God is with us!
Best,
Jen Mohr
Director of Children’s Ministry
During this past Lent, we looked more closely at our own racial identity, how racism has shaped our lives, and developed anti-racism skills with the theme, ‘Who am I? Deepening our Conversation About Race’.
Anti-racism work is never done.
This post includes the parent resources that were provided during Lent to support our work in raising race-conscious, anti-racist kids.
If you have additional resources to share with our community- please let me know! j.mohr@westwood.church
Anti-Racism Parenting Resources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AIN6qgGmX8duOvPAyt6LwZXvsQYkjzwf8Xcg9ckycCY/edit?usp=sharing
Westwood Parent Connect 