Active Grace/Youth Education at home
Published on March 18, 2020 • Michelle Voelker
Greetings,
As you should already be aware of all on-site gatherings at Grace have been cancelled until further notice. I am grateful that we had the time to get our Pen Pal ministry up and running before this happened, because this is the PERFECT time to be in touch this way. People are scared and lonely and isolated and if we can keep in touch in ways that don’t put us at risk, that is exactly what we should be doing right now. So, send your pen pal a letter and let them know you are willing to support them with prayer and letters. Let them know if you are willing to drop groceries off for them. Maybe you could arrange a time to speak on the phone. Make the most of these connections, as all our human connections will be limited for the greater good. This is what being Church is for us right now.
If you don’t have a pen pal and would like to be connected with someone for mutual care and support, let me know.
Here is a link to some online resources for worship, learning at prayer at home, Good stuff for all ages, including videos and coloring pages. You can sign up to have things sent to you each day or week if that would be helpful. I have also included a coloring page from Illustrated Ministries to use during prayer and quiet contemplation. Who God is calling you to care for during this time of fear and uncertainty?
Also, consider stocking the Little Free Pantry once a week instead of coming into the building for worship.
We don’t know how long we will have to rely on this way of being a community, but it is important that we stay connected and once we can gather back together we will have added a whole new depth and dimension to our faith community here at Grace.
Ellen Rothweiler
Minister for Youth and Family
Grace Lutheran Church
5201 Urbandale Ave.
Des Moines, IA 50310