Help your church put children first - CFN newsletter Week 95

CHRISTIAN FAMILY NETWORK NEWSLETTER 95

> Children and your church: the questions to ask
> News:
> Extension of powers over children ‘outrages’ charity
> Checking out God ... at ASDA
> Damaris takes over Ethos Games
> Sites:
> Praying for the conflict in Iraq
> Gulf Families Support Group
> Talking to your children about war
> Marriage MOT:
> You've got to laugh: Truth at the altar ...
> Members' Zone latest

Dear All

How much of a priority does your church make children?

That's the theme of our final excerpt from Dave Roberts' challenging book God's Plan for Children. Do take some time to consider the questions posed and look at the resources offered - it could change your church's ministry!

There's lots more helpful information, encouragement, humour and challenge in this update - do make the most of it.

And don't forget - if you haven't got round to renewing your membership to CFN, do it today! If you've any questions about your membership, just call our subs department on 01903 602136 or e-mail subs@christianmedia.org.uk

Take care

Russ Bravo
Christian Family Network
info@cfnetwork.co.uk
http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk

PS Christian Family Network is here to direct you to the best in parenting, marriage and family resources; to link you up with other Christian families up and down the UK; and to help you make the most of life as a follower of Christ - at home, at work, at school and college, at play and online.

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ANALYSIS

Does your church put children first?

• Our final excerpt from Dave Roberts' book God's Plan for Children (Children's Ministry/Kingsway)
  

Children as a priority will need to be lived out, not simply theorised about.

Here are some provocative questions that a church might want to ask of itself:

• Do the adults in our church greet the children by name?
  
• Is there any cross-generational conversation?
  
• In the case of toddlers and younger children, are we willing to crouch down to their level to talk with them?
  
• Are the facilities we provide for their classes warm, comfortable, age-appropriate and well kept?
  
• How many times a year does the church leadership meet with the children's ministry team?
  
• Is there a role for a children's activity in the main congregational worship time?
  
• Do we use younger people and children in servant roles in church life, such as ushering, worship groups and a myriad of other tasks, thus significantly increasing their sense of belonging?
  
• Do we publicly affirm those who teach the children, in the same way that we honour others in the congregation who undertake major projects or foreign trips?
  
• Do the children in our church ever get asked to read the Bible publicly or pray?
  
• If our church prays for people who respond to what God may have said to the congregation, are their children amongst those doing the praying?

Go to the rest of this article - with CPAS specialist Penny Frank's assessment of children's ministry, plus resources available for your church - in our Advice section at http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/advice.asp

> THIS WEEK'S NEWS

> Extension of powers over children ‘outrages’ charity

A leading children’s charity has warned that the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill, published on 27 March, will force children further into poverty and a life of crime.

Go to http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/news.asp for the full story

> Checking out God ... at ASDA

An unusual partnership was established last month between an ASDA superstore and a church in Oldham.

Go to http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/news.asp for the full story

> Damaris takes over Ethos Games

Ethos Games, which specialises in developing innovative educational computer games which help young people to explore spiritual and moral issues in general, and Christian faith in particular, is being taken over by Damaris.

Go to http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/news.asp for the full story

> MARRIAGE MOT

> Check out our archived marriage tips in the Members' Zone, plus stacks more marriage resources at http://www.2-in-2-1.co.uk

Love is ... not arrogant!

Pride can make our hearts hard. It prevents us from listening to someone else's point of view. After all, we know best. It holds others at arm's length and destroys relationships.

It can be subtle, too. It can prevent us from admitting we aren't managing our lives and need some help. It’s about: "I can cope, I don't need you". Independence and stubbornness often go hand in hand with it.

Love involves humility. This allows us to have a healthy view of ourselves and our need of others, and to value what others have to offer.

Has pride crept into your marriage?
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> EVENTS

> YOU'VE GOT TO LAUGH ...

During my husband's time as a mature student, we didn't have much money for our family of seven. At a friend's wedding, my four-year-old daughter was sitting next to me when the vicar asked: "Do you take this man for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health?"
Our daughter turned to me and whispered loudly: "You chose poorer, didn't you Mummy?

Source: witandwisdom.org

> CHRISTIAN FAMILY NETWORK THIS WEEK
(MEMBERS' ZONE) - http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/default.asp

> Advice

> How your church can make children a priority

> Resources

> When God seems silent - encouragement in the wilderness
> Moments for Mum with Elisabeth Corcoran
> Bringing Home the Prodigals - the new book from Rob Parsons

> News

> Extension of powers over children ‘outrages’ charity
> Checking out God ... at ASDA
> Damaris takes over Ethos Games

> Top sites this week

> More sites with help on talking to your kids about war
> Scottish mum's site for families with members serving in the Gulf
> Special prayer for Iraq at rejesus
> Screensavers to make your work colleagues think
> Inlovingmemory - a site for the bereaved to remember their loved ones

> Events: More of what's on near you

> Webwatch Index: more than 500 sites at your fingertips

> Site Search Engine: the easy way to trawl our 500-page plus archives

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