but what can I learn about raising children from a fourth century Priest?

"As a baby, of course, I knew no Latin either, but I learned it without fear and fret, simpy by keeping my ears open while my nurses fondled me and everyone laughed and played happily with me.  I learned it without being forced by threats of punishment, because it was my own wish to be able to give expression to my thoughts.  I could never have done this if I had not learnt a few words, not from schoolmasters, but from people spoke to me and listened when I delivered to their ears whatever thoughts I had conceived.  This clearly shows that we learn better in a free spirit of curiousity than under fear and compulsion."

This passage was a reaffirmation to me to the need for parents to be intentional about teaching our kids.  I love those times when conversations naturally lead toward God and spirituality, and we need to not be afraid to go there.  We may not know the answers, so what?  Our kids need to know that.  They need to come along on our spiritual journey.  They need to see that they do not have the answers, and they need to see our response.  

OK...for those of you who know St. Augustine, you know that the passage does not end there...

"But your law, O God, permits the free flow of curiousity to be stemmed by force.  From the schoolmaster's cane to the ordeals of martyrdom, your law prescribes bitter medicine to retrieve us from the noxious pleasures that cause us to deset you."

This does not disqualify my comments.  Yes, we know this is reality.  

"I would not have studied at all if I had not been obliged to do so, and what a person does against his will is not to his own credit, even if what he does is good in itself. Nor was the good which came of it due to those who compelled me to study, but to you, my God. For they had not the insight to see that I might put lessons which they forced me to learn to any other purpose than to the satisfaction of man's insatiable desire for the poverty that he calls wealth, and the infamy that he know as fame." - St Augustine

However, it should not stop us from striving to teach our kids in a way that takes advantage of that "free spirit of curiousity."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHIqOHU6Dhg&feature=related

We will continue to focus on waiting in the remaining weeks of advent.

The response to our Angel Tree was amazing.  All 107 angels were taken the first day.  This means 107 children will be receiving Christmas presents.  We always think that they are receiving presents that they would not have got.  Their parents try very hard to make Christmas enjoyable for them.  However, this causes a huge pinch in January.  By providing presents to these children, you are lessening the load on their parents.  However there will still be extra expenses.  If you have not done so, please consider taking a ornament and buying hygiene and personal products for these same children.  You may also bring in non perishable food items and drop them in the sleigh in the atrium.  If you have All of these items will be distributed at sharing days Dec 15-16 at the Centreville Chicopee Community Centre.  

December 19th is our small group celebration day.  The students will have worship, and a short teaching time talking about community.  After that, each class will be participating a group activity.  Most of these activities we will be crafts, and with any craft there is the possibility of mess.  Please try to send your children in clothing that you will not be devastated if something gets on it.  I will have t-shirts that the students can put on if they forget, or are unable to wear something appropriate for craft time. 

December 26th will be a Grandview Worships Together service.  All Grandview Kids will check in upstairs at the check in desk (inside the front doors).  They will worship with their families during the service.  Immediately before the sermon, JK - Grade 4 students will invited to their own teaching time in room 207.  Grade 5-6 students are welcome to join us, however they are the senior students, they will be expected to set a example for the younger children, and assist when necessary.  Children need to be picked up from room 207 after service. 

After a month of Christmas celebrations, and just coming off our New Years festivities, I thought it would only be fitting to for January 2nd to be a PJ Sunday.  Children are encouraged to come to Grandview in their pajamas and slippers.  Our beat team will be leading us in worship.  Afterwards will have a time of sharing about our favourite Christmas memories, talking about God's goodness and having some goodies.  I am striving to make these goodies peanut and milk free.  If you have any other allergy concerns, please let me know at aleruez@grandviewchurch.ca
 
May you and your family have the merriest of Christmases, and the happiest of new years.  May the wonder of the birth of our saviour fall fresh upon your heart this December.

Aimie

Our team arrived on Saturday in Uganda.  To find out more details check out their blog at http://wakisivillage.blogspot.com/

The information below is not necessarily to be used to educate our children.  Rather, this overview of Uganda is to educate ourselves on the environment Ugandans live in. 

Civil war continues to rock Uganda and has caused the displacement of 1.7 million people.  This armed rebellion is led by Joseph Kony and his Lord?s resistance army against the Ugandan government.  The group adheres to a blend of Christianity, Mysticism, traditional religion and witchcraft, and claims to be establishing a state based on the Ten Commandments and Acholi tradition .  International warrants have been in place since 2005 against Kony and his officials, for human right violations including abduction, murder and slavery.  The Lord?s resistance army abducts children and uses them as soldiers or wives.  These soldiers are taught that God has instructed them to rub shea oil on their body as protection from bullets, and to never avoid being shot.

Uganda is a land locked country in Eastern Africa.  The country is divided into 2 regions by Lake Kyoga.  The climate differs between the two regions.  The Northern region is much drier and experiences times of drought.  The southern region is much wetter.  Jinja, the city in which our team is ministering, is located in the eastern portion of the Southern Region.  The Nile leaves from Lake Victoria via Ripon Falls near Jinja.

Uganda is one quarter of the size of Ontario, but has 10 times the population.  The median age of the Ugandan population is 15.  78% of the population lives under the international poverty line of $2 US/day.  Uganda is considered a HIV success story, with rates decreasing from 13% in the early 90s to 4.1% in 2003.  However, HIV has left 1.2 million children as orphans and the number continues to grow.

 The 2002 census shows that 82% of Ugandans are Christian, equally split between Catholic and Protestant.  However the prosperity gospel is prevelent in Uganda, and Islam is erecting large beautiful churches in the area.  Islam is gaining followers as people do not believe that God could be present in a meager church.  However, the pastors that using the knowlege that they have been educated with.  One pastor reports that he went home, and began to live what he learned, and that many muslims have come to him to ask him how he lives as he does.

Please be in prayer for our team.  Not only that they will have safety and that God will use them, but also that they will allow God to change them through this.  As they return and adjust to coming home, pray that they will be able to share what they learned with those that did not go with them.

Activities to do with your children;

Let?s compare the population of Uganda with that of Ontario.  Take one 8.5 x 11 piece of paper and cut it in half.  The population density of Uganda is 139/km2 while Ontario is 13/km2.    We are going to draw one 3 inch stick person for every 10 people.  You will end up with one piece of paper with 1.3 stick people and one with almost 14.  Discuss with your children what they think it would be like to live in a country with so many people.

Let?s look at their finances.  78% of Ugandans live on less than $2/day.  Figure out what you spend on food today, and compare it with the amount of money a Ugandan family has.  Discuss how you as a family could live on that amount of money (food choices, not everyone eating, etc).

I was happy to put the Christmas decorations away on the weekend.  It meant the toys all were put away, the boxes were in the recycling and that my house felt less cluttered.  After it was all away, I felt sad.  My time with my family and celebrating my Saviour's birth was over.  I read this over the holidays, and thought I would share it for you.  I know that Christmas can be a stressful and harried time, but this is how I want it to be, and will strive to make it.  Even though Christmas is past for this year, I can still strive to make these points a reality in our family's lives.

I believe that Christmas is more than a time for parties and ornaments; it is a time for remembering Christ and the incarnation of God?s love in human flesh.

I believe there are gifts more important than the ones under the Christmas tree, the things we teach our children, the way we share ourselves with friends, and the industry with which we set about reshaping the world in our time.

I believe that the finest carols are often sung by the poorest voices; from hearts made warm by the wonder of the season.

I believe in the angel?s message that we should not be afraid?that the Child of Bethlehem is able to overcome all anxieties and insecurities.

I believe in prayer and quietness as a way of appropriating Christmas?that if I wait in silence I will experience the presence of the one born in the manger, for he lives today as surely as he lived then.

I believe in going away from Christmas as the wise men went "another way." I want to be different when these days are past?more centred, more thoughtful, more caring.

And I believe God will help me.