Kidzone: March 27 Update

Good Morning Kidzone Parents & Guardians,
 
I can’t help but think of the ways that you are trying to figure out how to create a ‘new normal’ in your homes, with your children now present full-time. Some of you are figuring out how to couple that with having to work from home, or how to best care for them as you physically go to work. Some of you are battling the potential of losing your job or may have even already had that happen. Many are feeling the pressure of suddenly having to become a home-schooling guru on top of your growing list of responsibilities. It’s a lot. But you are NOT alone. We at the bridge want to partner with and support you. Even in this moment, I am praying that we can all pause and clothe ourselves with an attitude of grace: for others around us, but also ourselves. 2 Corinthians 12:9 reminds us that the Lord said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness…” Rest in that truth. If all you can do right now is to love and be present for your kids: it is more than enough. They will remember this season as a time where they got to grow in relationship with their family- and that is life-changing in and of itself. I’m praying and cheering for you all! May the knowledge of His grace in our lives be more than enough.
 
A FUN event I’d love to invite you to take part in this Saturday March 28 at 4:00pm is our VIRTUAL FAMILY LUAU! Put on your beachwear, set up a Zoom or Facetime call with your Lifegroup or family and friends, and have some FUN! Check out more details HERE.
 
Easter is around the corner! Check out https://easterinmarkham.com/ for more information. A couple of dynamic family devotional options are available to go through with your kids as you prepare your hearts for Jesus’ resurrection.  
 
As I mentioned last week, while I am providing resources for you, PLEASE see them as a gift and not a requirement. There is no expectation tied to them: they are simply an offering of tools to help equip you if you need them. I am so excited that we can still be WITH you and CONNECT with you and your kids because of the gift of technology! I love that we continue being the church for your kids, and continue to encourage your kids to BE the church in others’ lives! You can access this update and past updates anytime at: https://thebridgemarkham.com/kidzoneonline/
 
1) Keep having your kids participate with you in worship through song for the bridge online experience each Sunday! If you take a photo of your family and post it on Instagram, please tag @bridgekidzone & @thebridgemarkham, and we would LOVE to repost and share the way your family is utilizing our online platform to gather together to worship Jesus.

• Our Kidzone “worship song of the week” is, “Give it Away!” You can access it here. Let’s keep encouraging our kids to GIVE AWAY the love of Jesus to everyone around them in creative ways! 
• On Fridays, you’ll also receive an email for your child’s specific age grouping with a video of a leader or volunteer sharing our Gospel Light curriculum lesson of the week, and an attached follow-up activity. We are excited to continue to dive into Jesus’ teachings with your kids and equip you to disciple them.

2) There is an attachment here that includes a list of resources organized by category for you (Biblical tools, outreach & mission ideas, COVID-19 explanations for kids…), to help lessen your time and need to search. It is always evolving and you can access that list here. Please feel free to share it with your friends!
 
3) We’d love to have your kids join us at our @bridgekidzone Instagram account LIVE Monday to Friday at 12:30pm for lunch-time stories! We are reading a wide variety of books at varying levels and can’t wait for your kids to join in community together each day. Invite your friends to join us!

In addition to our lunch-time stories, starting this Tuesday at 1pm you can head on over to our good friend Moreen Maskery’s Instagram account @stouffvillemusicroom for “Kids Make Music with Mo!” We are partnering with Moreen and her awesome business to provide an online music experience for Kidzone each week!
 
4) Our weekly devotional time called, “Kidzone Klub” has started! These are devotionals delivered FOR kids, BY kids every Wednesday! Our first one is posted on our @bridgekidzone Instagram account and was also emailed. You can also access them at: https://thebridgemarkham.com/kidzoneonline/.
 
5) THANK YOU for all your encouraging posters for the doctors, nurses and health care workers of MSH! Check out the photos on our Instagram account!
 
We hope that you all were able to take part in this week’s outreach: putting together a non-perishable package for the Markham Food Bank! If you haven’t yet, please prayerfully consider doing so! Our local food banks have such large needs right now to service families who do not have enough. What a wonderful opportunity to talk with our kids about how we can share what God has blessed us with, in order to bless others.
 
This week, our outreach challenge is to come up with a way to encourage a neighbor or someone in your neighborhood! This may be by taking some sidewalk chalk and creating encouraging messages on a road or driveway to brighten someone’s day. This may look like creating posters to put in your windows letting people know they aren’t forgotten. It may be dropping a plate of cookies on someone’s doorstep. Be creative! Make sure to tag us @bridgekidzone on Instagram with how you creatively love your neighbors.
 
If you or your child ever need a listening ear, a specific resource, or simply someone to talk to and pray with, it is my joy and honour to do so. Cheering for you all as you journey with Jesus.
 
In His Love,
Pastor Shauna
[email protected]

P.S.
If you’re looking for worship songs to play throughout the week at home for your kids, check out:
Lifetree Kids here.
Yancy Worship Playlist here.
Bethel Kids worship here .

Kidzone Weekly Calendar

Feel free to print this calendar and post it on your refrigerator as a helpful reminder!