From the Pastor’s Desk:

With all that is happening in country, our community and in our schools, I urge parents not to forget the most important part of educating our young people–their spiritual life. All outside activities need to be balanced. Perhaps the best way to keep our families together and our young people strong is to keep God in the picture always. Don’t wait until a crisis comes into your family’s life to come to church on a regular Sunday basis. Pray together as a family. Work your spiritual life and language into everyday conversation. Jesus lived by example His whole life. It was His great love that moved Him to work the great healing miracles. One of the most important things that we can teach our young people is to be patient, gentle, kind, and compassionate–totally loving as was Jesus. School also brings new opportunities for parents to teach their young people respect, service, and to take responsibility for their actions. Parents who always come running to straighten situations out for their children are missing good teachable moments. Don’t pass up an opportunity to give your students practice figuring things out for themselves while they are still young. It is many times tempting in our fast-paced world to do things that kids can do for themselves. It’s quicker, and we are pressed for time. No parent wants to see their kids in trouble, but they need to learn that poor choices bring consequences that sometimes are not pleasant. As I taught school my response to students was, “I will honor your choice of behavior,” but “that choice comes with consequences.” All of the choices we make effects the community in one way or another. There are many ordinary opportunities to explain to young people that just because their friends are allowed to do something does not mean that they should also. The sooner parents become parents, rather than their children’s best friends, the more respect their children will have for them. They have best friends; they need parents who will teach, guide, set limits, and provide discipline. All of this will help them deal with peer pressure today, bosses and co-workers in the future, and following and respecting laws and rules in all areas of life. As I write this letter I pray for all our teachers, administrators, and students as they begin in person learning in the classrooms. These first days are going to be a learning experience of how well we have thought out our safety protocol, how safely we can be in school. I ask everyone to please be patient as we learn together.