Is your suntan fading as quickly as the leaves change colour? It must be Autumn!
At the start of a brand new academic year; you might have people in your family starting at new educational settings and moving up a year. With changes, come new opportunities:
New school year? New opportunity to build faith! – Faith in Kids
Whether your children are starting school, changing school or moving up a year, it is a time of transition for the whole family and it can be a challenging time. Here are some articles that might help as you navigate these changes with your children:
Starting School – Faith in Kids
https://mkcc.org.uk/back-to-school
Going to school can be expensive, here are some practical tips to make things more affordable: How to save money on school costs | CAP UK
Whether your children are starting school, changing school or moving up a year, it is a time of transition for the whole family and it can be a challenging time. Here are some articles that might help as you navigate these changes with your children:
Starting School – Faith in Kids
https://mkcc.org.uk/back-to-school
Going to school can be expensive, here are some practical tips to make things more affordable: How to save money on school costs | CAP UK
Were you avidly glued to the TV over the Summer watching the Olympics and Paralympics? I’ve found myself surprisingly interested in Breaking, Skateboarding and Artistic Swimming…although I doubt I’ll be ready to qualify for 2028! This article has some great questions to prompt discussions with our families and friends prompted by the sporting events: If Jesus was at the Olympics, what would he be doing? Where would God finish in a race?
Parenting for Faith | Learning from the Olympics and Paralympics (brf.org.uk)
As the Summer fades and evenings draw in, we might find ourselves getting more frazzled with our nearest and dearest. It can be tough to keep giving out when we feel exhausted. These articles acknowledge that and offer some practical suggestions for everyone, whatever their family circumstances:
Additional needs parenting: finding the strength to keep going – Care for the Family
If finances are causing stress, this might be worth a listen:
There may also help available at Church via the Barnabus Fund, so do get in contact with me if we can help.
At the end of October, it will be Halloween. Like it or not, it seems to get bigger each year but we can have a fearless faith and choose to celebrate light instead of darkness:
Faith in Parents #72 | Doing Halloween for Christ with Nay Dawson (buzzsprout.com)
If you’re arty, this is a fab way to light up your neighbourhood at this time of year and encourage people to see light, love and hope: https://www.streetsoflight.co.uk/
The end of November is Thanksgiving and also nearly the start of Advent. Why not get organised ahead of Advent and start thinking now about an alternative advent calendar that can benefit others and also encourage us all to reflect on what we can be grateful for:
It will soon be Harvest, a time, traditionally, when we think about sharing with others. This year at Church we will be finding out more about the work of Compassion and their efforts to support children around the world to escape from poverty. Here are some ideas for explaining their work to your own children:
https://www.compassionuk.org/blogs/things-to-do-kids-holiday/
If you’d like any support, prayer or just a listening ear about anything that is going on for you and your family, please do get in touch with me. You can catch me at church or email me: lauraevans@stlukesmaidstone.church so that we can make a time to chat further.
God bless you and your loved ones over this Autumn season,
Laura 😊
