Dear OSC Families,
If your household has been feeling the weight of what’s happening in Los Angeles and throughout California lately, you are not alone. Many of us - grown-ups and kids alike - are wondering: Why does the world feel so broken right now? Where is God in all of this?
Each Sunday in our children's classes, we talk about the God who dreams of a world where everyone is safe, cared for, and treated with dignity - a world that “matches who God is”! And right now, it does not seem as if we’re living in a world that matches that dream.
So what do we say to our kids when the news is scary and unfair?
We start by telling them the truth - that God is always with us, especially when people are hurting. That we are not powerless. That God invites each of us, even (and especially!) the youngest among us, to help build a better world. We remind them that kindness, courage, and compassion matter, and that our faith calls us to respond with love.
You don’t have to do this alone. Below, we’ve linked a few helpful resources from Instagram that offer age-appropriate ways to talk about hard things with kids. And if you want to learn more about how Oceanside Sanctuary is responding to current events with loving-kindness and generosity, please reach out to any of our ministers - Jason, Jenell, or Claire. We are here for you.
With hope and tenderness,
Pastor Claire Watson, OSC Family Minister