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River Families Blog

Thoughts of the week

1/21/2022

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After only two days of being in school, I received another message that a person in my child's classroom has been diagnosed with COVID-19, so the children need to be picked up and quarantined again unless we submit a negative result from the at-home kit by the next morning. My guess is that many of our families are experiencing similar things lately, but my hope is that the vaccine rollout and the new quarantine policy can provide a (small) sigh of relief and help us ride out this "strange" season.
If you find yourself with more at-home time or are simply looking for something new to do as a family, you may find these resources to be helpful: 


  • Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing (Winter) by Sally Lloyd Jones.
    This is a great follow up to Caroline's message about partnering with God and becoming new again and again. It is a short Read & Reflect that you can do together as a family to wind down for the day. 


  • Shapes Breathing Exercises
    When things become overwhelming and rough having a tool to help us pause and breath can 
    be helpful for children and adults alike. I created these exercises to help removing the focus from the anger or anxiety outburst, and moving the attention towards a totally different activity that requires concentration and precision. 

  • Lunar New Year: Craft and Cookbooks 
    The upcoming Lunar New Year (Feb 1) will probably still be different for many who celebrate it this year. However these resources may inspire new ways to celebrate at-home and to connect creatively with distant relatives. 


If you are coming this Sunday, please RSVP your attendance. This will help us plan, especially if you need childcare. In the meantime, please review our updated health protocols. To expedite our check-in process, you can email your (and your children's) vaccination card to [email protected].
The RiverKids/Youth volunteer team and I are looking forward to welcome your children in our classrooms again next Sunday, Jan 30.
​

Amelia Cunard | RiverKids Director
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Becoming with God

1/11/2022

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Last Sunday, we had the pleasure of having Caroline Park speaking about: "What does it mean to live with Faith? Becoming with God". Caroline spoke about us and every being in the world as partners and co-creators. She said "God calls, but it is the creatures that respond, that choose. Every moment, the world becomes. The world puts forth more life, diversity, and beauty".  Click here to listen to the full sermon. 

With the ongoing uncertainties that we are experiencing in this world, it is encouraging to hear that God is always present and is speaking to us, all the time. One of the spiritual practices that we often do at RiverKids/RiverYouth is practice noticing and listening to God. Now, this is not always easy, because we have our own thoughts and feelings and it is difficult sometimes to distinguish them from God's. Caroline suggested that we could start by listening to ourselves first, maybe writing down or praying out all of our thoughts and feelings, then see if there's anything new that comes to mind. We also recognize that sometimes God speaks to us in pictures. So you could choose to draw, instead of writing down your thoughts and feelings. Colors, patterns, and images are a kind of language too. And for those who prefer to move your body, you can certainly respond, communicate, and express in movements. I truly believe that God is not only speaking to us, but God is also listening and watching us with delights. 

As promised, although we are not meeting in classrooms in the next couple of Sundays, we can continue thinking and wondering about God and how God is working with us and in our lives. Here are just a few tools to help you get started: 


  • Illustrated Story by Caroline Park 
  • Seed to Tree Yoga exercises.
  • Becoming with God Drawing Prompts.

RiverKids/Youth will resume our lessons on Jan 30th. Childcare is available in the meantime. 
Please RSVP your attendance to help us plan. 

Amelia Cunard. 

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Happy New Year! Wishing you a year full of hopes, joy, and good health!

1/11/2022

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With the new surges of COVID cases, I understand how this new year can feel different. Our family started off the first week of 2022 with remote schooling and some worrying symptoms. Between the limited availability of COVID tests and ever changing guidelines, the next few weeks can be challenging and disruptive for many....However we can be hopeful. I am hopeful, as I am reminded: "...those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:31)
And while the spread of the virus in its many forms seems uncontrollable, we are not seeing the levels of mortality and disorder we experienced a year ago. The fact that many of us have taken the step to get vaccinated, get tested, stay masked, and stay home when sick, has helped all of us individually and as a community. So in order to continue to prioritize the health of our community and to make room for the various implications, we are making some adjustments: 
​
  • We are resuming in-person service this Sunday, Jan 9th with CHILDCARE only. 
    RiverKids/Youth will resume our lessons on Sunday, Jan 30th
    .
    We want to give both our volunteers and families time to stay home and quarantine if they feel unwell, to get tested and booster shot as needed, and to get their children fully vaccinated if they are eligible -- Please review our health protocols, as we currently updated it and make sure to
     RSVP your attendance to help us plan.


  • Stay tuned for more information. We will provide your children with some materials (digitally) in the following weeks to stay connected.

Last, but not least please let me know how to best help and serve your family and your children during this time. If you have any questions or concerns, you can email me or catch me in person on Sundays. I would love to connect with you. 
Thank you for your continued support and understanding. 


Amelia Cunard | RiverKids Director


Missed out on our Christmas Service?
 
We had a wonderful Christmas celebration on Dec 19. Thank you for all the children who participated in the reading. For our families who missed the service, please contact me for the link to our RiverKids/Youth Video presentation. This video summarizes what we have been doing in our classrooms since the beginning of the semester. 
Also, if you miss a Sunday or two, you can always check out our Sunday Worship videos on our YouTube channel. 
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  • Home
  • About
    • What We’re About
    • LGBTQ+ Affirmation
    • Who's Who
    • Our Partners
  • Sundays
    • What to Expect
    • Kids, Youth, & Families
    • Listen to a Sermon
    • Sunday Service Music
  • Connect
    • Get Plugged In
    • Upcoming Events
    • Groups & Gatherings
    • Get In Touch With Us
    • Join a Sunday Team
  • OUR BLOGS
    • The River Blog
    • Families Blog
    • Resource of the Week
  • "40 Days of Faith" Guide
  • Give