Health, Hope, Hosannas & Hallelujahs
April, 2020 Letter to Parents
from Ms. Lou, Director of Children’s Ministries
April 2020
Dear Parents:
Since mid-March we have all been figuring out a new normal, day to day life. One that includes social distancing, sheltering in place, children learning at home, parents working at home or maybe not working at all, and many more obstacles requiring flexibility, change and creative solutions. All, so that we can stay safe and healthy as well as keep others safe and healthy. Hopefully you and your family are adjusting, as well as you can.
There continues to be a lot of unknowns as a result of COVID19, as well as a variety of conflicting emotions, for children as well as adults. This is understandable and appropriate, but as Christians, we know the JOY of the Lord and this month we will celebrate that Christ the Lord is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!
Sunday April 5th is Palm Sunday, marking the beginning of Holy Week. This is a week of conflicting emotions, beginning with Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem and ending with His death on the cross and His lifeless body being placed in a borrowed grave. But…Sunday is coming!
Three days later the tomb was empty, Jesus was not there, He had risen from the grave! If Jesus can conquer death, surely Jesus can conquer the coronavirus. So this year as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, at home with our families, on Easter Sunday, April 12th, let us proclaim, Jesus is Lord of All!
WCPres along with schools and so many places of business will remain closed for the entire month of April, but this will not keep us from celebrating the Resurrection. WCPres will stream all of our Holy Week worship services online (details about these can be found HERE). Both the Palm Sunday and Easter online services will include a special message for children. There are Palm Sunday printables available HERE for children to cut and color during the sermon and on Easter Sunday, if possible try to have some M&Ms close by.
Additionally, we have started filming our own weekly children’s video lessons that will begin on Palm Sunday. These lessons are intended for families to watch together at home. They are interactive and include questions for parents and children to discuss together. The lessons are designed to help turn negative emotions into feelings of empowerment and thankfulness, creating Courageous Kids in this Coronavirus Crisis. We hope that you will make time each week to enjoy these lessons with your child(ren), and we pray that these lessons will remind you that we can rely on the power of Jesus in the midst of this pandemic.
Each week the different lessons will use a few simple supplies that can be found around the house. These will be identified at the beginning of each video lesson so that you can gather them. At the end of each video lesson the children will be encouraged to write or draw something in a Journal. If your child already has a Journal, great; if not any notebook or even several blank pages stapled together will work. You might want one too - to record your thoughts, feelings, prayers and memories (good and bad) during this time.
Blessings of Health, Hope, Hosannas & Hallelujahs to All!
Luv Lou
Lou Pennebaker
Director of Children’s Ministry
Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church
Call/text: 702 303 2153
lpennebaker@wcpres.org
