31 Aug September Note From Dri
Why do we do the Family Gathering? Many churches have a midweek class time for children where parents drop them off and pick them up. Honestly, there’s nothing wrong with that. But we want to try a different approach. Our midweek class includes parents. Why is that? It’s because we wholeheartedly believe in the model that Deuteronomy 6:6-7 lays out for us.
These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
What better way for the church to partner with parents in teaching God’s commands when you sit at home, or walk along the road, in the evening and in the morning, than to learn them side by side together.
I can’t tell you how many times my kids have left a Sunday School class and couldn’t tell me what story they learned. But being a part of the Family Gathering, I know exactly what we talked about, because we learned it together… and I can reiterate it throughout the week when those “teachable moments” arise. The message becomes much more cohesive for little minds when what they learn at church and what they talk about at the dinner table are the same and when real-life application follows.
Plus it’s an opportunity to do something with my kids, not just to or for my kids. We can dance together, play games together, do crafts together, be silly together, and learn about God’s big story together.
As our Christian Education classes resume this fall, we hope your family will join us too!