Family ADVENTure

Family Adventure: Unexpected Gifts

Why do we receive gifts at Christmas? This tradition is rooted in the narrative of the wisemen in Matthew 2. The wisemen visit Jesus in Bethlehem, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Then Joseph gets a warning. The family runs for their lives to Egypt. They are in exile, running from a king who is threatened by the child who would become King of Kings. The gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh would serve the family as they are forced into hiding for at least two years.

Our current pandemic has been a time of exile and separation. We often reflect on the loss and the pain that this season has brought. As we learn to cope with new realities, what unexpected gifts has this period in our lives produced? As we explore how the Christmas family used the gifts of the Magi to aid them in their time of need, let us also discover a God who guides, provides, soothes, and heals us as we look for refuge and shelter from this current reality.

Look for activities to use all through Advent! 

Family Update: New Mitigations

Parents and Families,

 

Thank you to all who have joined us for our outdoor Fall Fun Scavenger Hunt last Friday! Over a hundred people, spaced out over two hours, were able to participate. It was awesome to see families gather and enjoy activities in a way that is safe and fun. Thanks to all who helped make this event meaningful, including several of our students!

 

With new mitigation restrictions in our area, activities are once again limited for our ministry. The rising cases have contributed to increased spread requiring quarantine for some of our families and volunteers. We are thankful that the events we have provided have not been the source of this spread.

 

With guidance from our conference, our Bishop, and local physicians in the church, we are postponing the First Family EXP on Saturday, November 7 at 5 PM. We hope to offer this once COVID cases subside or provide a streaming option in the near future.

 

The mitigation restrictions also impact our ability to offer KidLife classes on November 15. Providing a safe environment is important, and the current rise in cases make scheduling volunteers unpredictable at this time. We will monitor the situation in consultation with the government and conference guidelines from our Bishop.

 

Currently, we are turning our attention to developing Christmas programming that will be compelling in a virtual format, but still have some elements that make the experience more engaging. We are working to provide Advent kits for use at home, along with continuing to serve kids through weekly children’s messages and KidLife@Home.

Our prayer is to be safe and responsible with programming in a way that honors God and your family. Please feel free to contact us with questions or other feedback.

Peace, 

The KidLife Team