Helping kids engage with an online festival
Going to Sligo every year is a huge part of our family’s summers. Sadly we can’t physically meet in Sligo AGAIN but the NEW WINE Ireland have prepared wonderful, creative content that we can access and still engage with God. Let’s embrace the newness because God is still King, God is still wanting to talk to us and our families, in our living rooms, in our gardens or in our bubbles.
So how can we make Sligo at home a worshipping experience for all?
It doesn't take long to give your home that venue feeling. Why not try one or two of these ideas?
Settle into your tent (i.e. the living room) or prettify the garden, with bunting, balloons and blankets on the floor.
Get in some paper plates and picnic food.
Introduce a 'dress up' theme - for example, ask everyone to wear their most colourful outfits .
Make your own name badges so you still have your New Wine Pass!
If you're feeling brave, invite some of your children's friends, see this as a mission opportunity!
Draw up a schedule for a day so the children know what to expect and when; or give them optional activities in different corners of the room.
So now the stage is set: get ready to enter the New Wine Ireland festival.
Engaging with the festival is important for you as much as our families. Get refreshed spiritually, model worshipping, reading your Bible and how you pray and receive the Holy Spirit. New Wine at home opens up great opportunities for families to worship and pray together and discuss easier what we have learned or even what we feel God has been saying. Don’t force the conversations but instead use open ended questions to prompt ideas. It is truly mind-blowing where these gentle conversations have gone with my little ones! Their insights both tickle and amaze me.
Have fun. Embrace the bits of the programme that suit you and your family. This is not meant to be homework but a family worshipping experience.(Give us feedback of what works and what doesn’t )
Tell us your stories of how you met God. Stories build faith and encourage everyone. Stories are amazing evangelism tools and stories keep us connected.
We miss meeting together, catching up with friends, the freedom to worshipped dig deeper in faith. This doesn’t have to stop because we are at home, try and see if there are ways that you can replicate the things you value most about Sligo.