By CTA - Christ to All
In 2021, Valentine’s Day will fall on a Sunday. While Valentine's Day isn't considered a Christian holiday, it is a day that provides us with an opportunity to point people to Jesus. What better time to share God’s love with those who are sick, hospitalized or isolated in their living arrangements? Seize this opportunity for your children’s ministry program to bring joy to the elderly, widows, and sick in your congregation. After all, the most welcome guests at any long-term care facility are children. Children just naturally share joy and exuberance with those around them. This year, you can harness that joy a bit differently but no less effectively.
Match children with a person who is in need of additional love and distribute those names on Sunday, January 31. Ask each child to create a colorful message for his or her person. A free, downloadable placemat-size coloring sheet can be found here: ctainc.com/product/coloring-placemat-ygv18ad-plm. Children can sign their name on the back, address it to the person whom you selected for them, and bring it back or drop it off on Sunday, February 7. It would be ideal if the children could include their photo (after getting permission from parents, of course) for the recipients, so they know who created the beautiful gift for them! Recruit volunteers to deliver the artwork to each person before February 14.
If possible, take a photo of the person holding his or her colorful message and create a simple video to show during the church service or children’s message time on February 14 and to email to all the families who participated. This is a simple, low-cost way to show children how to share their love with others and create awareness of the older generation with your children.
As you prayerfully make plans for your children’s ministry events and activities, be sure to consider the ways in which the Lord may be leading you to teach children how to love those around them and how to see others’ needs and answer them. Jesus gave us a new commandment in John 13:34 to love one another. There are many ways to live out that commandment.
In 2021, three holidays fall on a Sunday even though they are not claimed as Christian by the Church. Valentine’s Day is the first in February. July 4 is also on a Sunday in 2021 and could be a great opportunity to pair children with veterans in your congregation or community. Halloween falls on Sunday in 2021 as well, another opportunity shine Christ’s light into the world.
There are still many uncertainties related to safety restrictions heading into 2021, and yet the love and faithfulness of Christ never changes. The creativity that has been built into each leader continues to be stretched and challenged, and in 2021, we are blessed with a few extra opportunities to claim unconventional holidays for Christ.
Where is the Lord leading your ministry this year? How is your creativity being stretched? As the Lord leads you boldly into 2021, we are praying for you and the families you serve.
Editor’s note:
There are still many uncertainties related to safety restrictions heading into 2021, and yet the love and faithfulness of Christ never changes. The creativity that has been built into each leader continues to be stretched and challenged, and in 2021, we are blessed with a few extra opportunities to claim unconventional holidays for Christ.
