Dear Crossroads family,

As you have likely heard, beginning this Sunday, March 15th through at least March 29th, we will be only offering online gatherings we are calling, “Church at Home”. This will be available beginning at 10 am on Sundays and then anytime that is convenient for you via our  website  or the  GOTG0 app . 

Each week there will be a message, special prayers, music, something for children, a way to share communion at home, and an online way for you to share prayer requests. You can do that here or by sending an email to the Nurture Guides .

Please take a minute to watch this short video from Pastor Dave regarding tomorrow's worship gathering.

Our Family and Children's Ministry online gathering is available now. Click here to watch this video, complete with some familiar faces!

We are also working on a variety of other prerecorded resources including guided meditations (for children, teens and adults) and chair yoga to strengthen our immune system and calm our nervous system. We will let you know when these are available so you can share with family and friends everywhere.

This week we are highlighting Mobile Hope as our SERVE opportunity. In response to the additional need created by the school closure, Mobile Hope will collect, assemble and deliver bags of non-perishable breakfast and lunch items to their clients: the children and families in need.

We hope you find the inspiring family resources below helpful for your spiritual growth during these days when we support one another in new ways, and listen for the promises of grace in these challenges.
A Prayer for Young Children-
God says to us:
"I am holding your hand.
And I tell you, ‘Don’t be afraid.
I will always help you."
Isaiah 41:13 (ICB)

*Squeeze your hand tight, like you are holding onto someone hand*

Dear God,
When I am scared,
I will hold Your hand tight.
In my heart You tell me,
"It will all be alright."

God loves me so much,
and God cares for us all.
And when I trust Love,
I can stand brave and tall!

*Raise hand triumphantly into the air and cheer*

Amen!
A Prayer for Older Elementary Children-
"For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but instead a spirit of power, love, and self-control."
2 Timothy 1:7

Dear God, thank you for Your good gifts! Sometimes it feels like fear is everywhere. But You gave me a spirit that is stronger than fear!

My spirit has power. I can remain peaceful and hopeful even when things are unknown.
My spirit has love. I can stay kind and welcoming even when times get scary.
My spirit has self-control. I can choose to serve others and myself even when I am afraid.

I trust in my spirit and I trust in Your love! Amen.
A Prayer for Middle School Children-
Jesus said,
“I am leaving peace with you.
I give you my peace.
I don't give what the world gives.
So don’t be troubled or afraid."
John 14:27

Dear God, thank you for giving us peace.

Right now, the world is giving us anxiety, stress, and uncertainty. It can be hard not to take it. When I see or hear scary and confusing information, it would be easy to take fear...

But Jesus tells us he is giving peace! When he left the world, he left peace behind for anybody to take. That peace can remind us not to feel afraid.
It can remind us that we are all connected and loved in Your world.
It can remind us to continue loving and serving our neighbors and ourselves.
It can remind us to have hope everyday and shine that hope out to the world!

Right now, I am choosing to set aside the world's fear. I am choosing to take the gift of peace.
Help me to keep choosing peace over fear. Amen
A Prayer for Teenagers-
I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!

If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the grave, you are there.

If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.

I could ask the darkness to hide me
and the light around me to become night—
but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.

To you the night shines as bright as day.
Darkness and light are the same to you.
Psalm 139:7-12

Dear God, I am grateful that Your presence is always there for me. All around the world, there is uncertainty, confusion, sadness, and fear. Information changes quickly and it is hard to know what is true. These days can seem hopeless and dark. Thank you for the reminder that there is always hope!

Your guidance and support is constant and unwavering, no matter what things look like.
Your unconditional love is relentless and steady, no matter what emotions arise.
In joy and sadness, excitement and fear, confidence and confusion, light and darkness-
You are with me, forever and ever.

I inhale this reassuring peace, then exhale it out to the world. Amen.
A Prayer for Parents and Caregivers-
If the Lord hadn’t helped me,
  I would live instantly in total silence.

Whenever I feel my foot slipping,
  your faithful love steadies me, Lord.

When my anxieties multiply,
  your comfort calms me down.
Psalm 94:17-19

God, right now, I lean on Your love to steady me.

My anxieties can multiply from minute to minute. My foot can slip off the path I am called to walk along. My words and thoughts can be crushed and numbed by fear.
But in this moment, I turn toward You.

Thank you God, for Your relentless, comforting presence.
Thank you God, for Your gentle guidance and stable support.
Thank you God, for Your help- shown in the resources and community I am blessed with and shown in Your unconditional love.

In this moment, I turn toward You. I am loved. I am seen. I am united with You and united with every person, creature, and part of creation. May I radiate Your love to the world. Amen.
1) Don't dismiss or ignore any emotional responses or feelings
Telling a child or teen "just don't worry about it!" or "you're fine, get over it!" demands that they abandon their pain, instead of guiding them through processing it. Feelings are meant to be felt, and they should not be categorized as "right" or "wrong." To the best of your ability, sit with your child and listen. When they have shared all they need to express, comfort them with empathy, understanding, and love, before moving on to reassurance or facts.
This reminds children of all ages, "I can acknowledge and express my feelings."

2) Maintain routines, and rituals
While this can be difficult with schools closed, children feel safer and more secure when the tasks and cadence of the day is simple and familiar. Families may emphasize keeping to the regular times and routines for waking up, getting ready for bed, taking baths, and eating meals. You may also design a rhythm for your family's times for play, relaxation, and reading or online classwork, studying, and educational programs.
This reminds children of all ages, "I can trust my home and family."

3) Help children to feel in control
Inviting your child or teen to make simple choices and express their own desires and opinions reminds them they have agency and presence in the world. "What would you like for lunch, PB&J or mac & cheese?" "When would you like to get your math worksheet done, before reading or after?" "What movie should we watch tonight?" "Would you like to play outside and get some fresh air?"
This reminds children of all ages, "I matter and I can be trusted to make choices."

4) Let children lead the discussion
Ask your child or teen broad, open-ended questions during a quiet moment together. "Is there something you're worried about? Maybe we can talk through it together." This invites calm conversation, rather than offering up the latest headlines, statistics, or declarations, or letting the chaotic and fast-paced news play non-stop at home. Using a feelings chart or wheel may help your child name what they are specifically experiencing. 
This reminds children of all ages, “I can ask any questions and process the trusted information I learn.” 

5) Talk about how to be safe and reinforce what schools are directing
Wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds (the time it takes to sing Happy Birthday twice or say the Lord’s Prayer). Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Remind your children that we are practicing social distancing to keep elderly, sick, immunocompromised, and vulnerable people safe!  
This reminds children of all ages, “I can do my part to keep myself and others healthy.”
During our Fear-Less, Hope-Full series, small groups read Unafraid by Adam Hamilton.
He offers this simple acronym to practice facing fear in a healthy and helpful way:
F- Face your fears.
E- Examine your assumptions in light of the facts.
A- Address your anxiety with action.
R- Release your worries to God.

  • Face your fears- Encourage your children through words and modeling to discover and name what they are specifically afraid of. Is it being sick? Missing school, sports, or activities? Death or dying? The unknown? By naming the fear, you can understand and show grace and love to yourself and others more fully.

  • Examine your assumptions in light of the facts- Verify assumptions, rumors, misconceptions, social media posts, and "I heard from so-and-so" with resources from the CDC and the school district. Facts are straightforward, unbiased, nonjudgmental, and based on the information scientists and researchers have to date.

  • Address your anxiety with action- Distractions are a welcome and legitimate tactic for getting out of a thought spiral or worry! Try playing a game, going for a walk, reading, crafting, cooking, or getting outside together. Something that requires putting down phones, turning off the news and alerts, and being in the moment with gratitude and presence.

  • Release your worries to God- Use a simple prayer to conclude conversations about your child's fears and conversations about COVID-19 in general, such as:
"Thank you God for being with us always.
We give our worries to You.
We trust in Your love for every person, every creature, and every part of nature,
including ______ (your child's name) and me!"

Close by taking a deep inhale, filling your lungs all the way up.
Then release the air with a long, loud exhale, letting go of worry and concern.
Additional resources available to you and your family:

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