Parents Guide

Hi Ren parents!

On the second and fourth Sundays of each month, we will have our kids alongside of us in the neighborhood gatherings. (If you need more info on these gatherings, find details here.) I'd love to equip you with some tips to help you and your kids get the most out of the gatherings.

Here's a quick overview of what you can expect:

  • Connect: social time for everyone to chat; kids are welcome to play (a collection of toys will be provided)

  • Worship: a time of singing together; kids can sing, dance, and move around (shaky eggs and silk scarves will be provided)

  • Bible storytelling: everyone listens to a story from the Bible, designed to engage kids and adults together

  • Breakout groups: we respond to God's word and apply it to our lives; kids are mixed into the small groups and encouraged to engage as much as they are able (quiet toys and activities will be provided, especially for younger kids)

  • Potluck meal: everyone shares a meal; kids are welcome to play


Here are some ideas to help prepare your kids for these gatherings:

  • Help them learn the songs. We've created a small collection of about 30 songs to make it easier for kids to learn them and sing along. Here is a Spotify playlist and a YouTube playlist; you can play these songs in the car or around the house. Another idea is to choose one song every week or two and sing it together in the morning or as part of your bedtime routine.

  • Talk about the Bible story beforehand. You can take a look at the Bible content for upcoming weeks here. It's not at all required, but you can help give your kids some familiarity with the content by reading or talking about it ahead of time.

  • Spend time with the other families in your group. This takes effort, but getting to know the other families in your group can really make a difference. It builds trust amongst parents and helps create a "village of support" that makes it easier to help with each others' kids in the gatherings. This of course will happen over time as we meet with our small communities, but some intentional playdates and get-togethers to build bonds between families can help the process along.


Lastly, please know that there are people in each small community who will be paying attention to how things are going for the kids in their group and coming up with creative solutions to support them. Please share your ideas if you notice anything that could be improved!

-Alli