DCE Announcements

A few months ago, I asked the youth to write down on a card “One Thing I Wish Grown-Ups Knew.”  Below are the twenty answers from those cards:

• Learn that just because you are older doesn’t show more wisdom.  Most kids experience things you haven’t.
• Always put yourself in the other person's shoes.
• You never know what somebody is going through.
• Always listen to the 2nd side of the story.
• I wish they knew how much stress and work I go through and can’t always remember doing everything.
• Sometimes we just want you to listen.
• Listen
• Listen to what we have to say before yelling.
• Its hard when people think you can’t be sad or have something going on just because of your family or how you act at school.
• They need to know after games and stuff when and when not to talk to us.
• Gotta teach us for us to know how to do it.
• Growing up with tech and the modern world is(n’t) bad unless you make it bad
• My advice is to always be there for your kids no matter what.
• My advice to adults would be to chill out relax, but to also match everyone else’s energy.
• Just because you think you have went through it before doesn’t mean it’s the same for me.
• Don’t wait for the world to do it, you be the one to do it.  You be the one to take the chance if you fail do it again.
• Always give 2 chances.
• It’s harder to express or find the words to our feelings that you might think.
• Why get mad at us when we are just being kids.
• IDK

I present this list to you without editorializing it.  What sticks out to you?  Adults, do you ever remember feeling like this when you were younger?  We will explore some of these suggestions in future postings.

I am not a doctor, but I will treat my child’s illnesses.

I am not a nutritionist, but I will make sure my child eats fruits and vegetables.

I am not a police officer, but I will protect my child.

I am not a teacher, but I will read with my child.

I am not a chauffeur, but I will drive my child to where they need to go.

I am not a chef, but I will prepare meals for my child.

I am not a coach, but I will give them pointers.

I am not a counselor, but I will listen to my child.

I am not a maid, but I will maintain a clean home for my child.

I am not a dentist, but I will make sure my child brushes and flosses.

I am not a pastor, so I cannot teach my child about the faith.

I am not a Sunday School teacher, so I cannot teach my child about the faith.

I am not a DCE, so I cannot teach my child about the faith.

I am not an expert, so I cannot teach my child about the faith.

What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.  So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.   The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.  For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building (1 Corinthians 3:5-9).

Parents, you are a continuation of this service.  You are a co-worker.  You make more of an impact than you will ever know.  Think back to your own faith journey.  Who modeled the faith to you?  How did they model it?

LCMS Youth Ministry research found that today’s active LCMS young adults were more likely than those who had left the LCMS to report having a good relationship with parents where they could discuss questions of life and faith (http://www.youthesource.com/). 

How can we walk beside you to turn your “so” into a “but?”

Have you ever been asked the question, "What exactly do you do here?"  As a Director of Christian Education, I am often asked that question or something similar.  In addition to offering cradle to grave education opportunities, the role of a DCE is to equip parents to teach their children.  DCE's are not coaches in the strictest sense of the term.  You entrust coaches to teach your child, and in theory, stay out of the gym as they build up your child's skillset.  DCE's sometimes coach, but it is not all they do.  We are also similar to physical therapists.  They lead you as you do different exercises, but they also send exercises home for you to work on to regain mobility and strength.  This description fits, but also does not fully capture what a DCE is supposed to do.

My goal and my description of a DCE's role is to walk alongside individuals, families and the congregation as they grow in faith.  Growth looks different at different ages and life circumstances, but the goal of the church is to bring you closer to Jesus.  It is our hope to play a part in making you a disciple.  

This page will be used to share different things for parents and families as we walk this path together.  If you have a certain question or issue you are dealing with in your family's faith walk, please reach out as you are not alone.  I will make every effort to find something to help you and the others who are dealing with those questions and answers.  There will also be advice, suggestions and informational articles.  I encourage you to take the morsels of truth that apply to your family and leave the rest until perhaps they apply to you.  Mostly, know you are in my prayers throughout this process.

Hopefully this first article shows you that you are not alone in your concern or your child's faith formation.  You can also find these items and more under the DCE Announcements on the church website.

Registration for our preschool to Kindergarten VBS is now open!  Click on the picture for student and volunteer registration!