Plugging Into National Grandparent’s Day

National Grandparents Day, September 11, 2016, is a day scheduled to celebrate grandparents throughout our country. Many families capitalize on this day in order to experience uplifting family times and to send greetings of love and appreciation to grandparents. Is it possible for your Kids Ministry to plug into this secular day of celebration? What might be the benefits? Consider these ideas that could enrich the lives of your kids in your church as well as the lives of their grandparents and grandparents in your community:

• Plan for your kids to have a special time just prior to September 11, 2016, to create Grandparent’s Day cards expressing their love and the love of God for their grandparents. Show kids ways to include the Gospel as part of their cards in order to witness to “non-believing” grandparents. Be sure to include a plan to actually “mail” these cards.
• Encourage each of your kids Bible study groups to plan a “Grandparent’s Day Party.” Invite local grandparents to a time of refreshments and fellowship time in their grandkids’ Bible study rooms. Consider putting together a brief presentation by the kids to help remind their grandparents how much God loves them and cares for them.
• Challenge each of your kids Bible study groups to “adopt” a class of senior adults in your church. Devise a plan to take the members of these senior adult classes treats and notes of love and appreciation.
• Invite grandparents in your church to visit some/all of your kids Bible study classes. Ask them to read to the kids or possibly even tell stories of how they came to be Christ followers. Some of your kids do not live close to grandparents and will greatly enjoy a time of “loving on” grandparents in your church who can share much wisdom and encouragement.

Even the smallest efforts on your part to plug into this day of celebration have the potential to love on potentially lonely grandparents. This generation often feels forgotten and separated from the families they love. Use your creativity to even add to this starter list of ways to share the love of Jesus with grandparents!

Jerry Vogel serves as an Editorials Ministry Specialist for Lifeway Kids. He is married to Janie and has four children and thirteen grand kids. Jerry is committed to enriching the lives of those who teach kids as well as making eternal investments in the lives of children.