Together/Apart

When things seem to change to quickly day to day, as we respond to COVID-19, we're having to 're-learn' how we gather, support and care for one another. In many ways it feels like someone just threw out the "church rule book"... And while there may be underlying uncertainty in what this looks like, we truly do believe that when Jesus is at the centre of the local church, we can shine with the light of the world. And the world needs an extra bit of light at the moment! 

We've seen some amazing glimmers of hope over the last few days, as churches across NZ come together to re-think, re-learn and dream up creative ideas to shine even brighter than before. Our Strandz team are working hard behind the scenes to make sure we can support our churches well, as we work out how to do this season together. We will add to this page when we can. We know some amazing, creative, courageous and adaptive leaders who can help - and maybe when someone throws out the "church rule book", we all get to play a slightly different game. 

Kia kaha everyone x

FREE resource to download and print for families isolating in your community

Download pdf

Resources for home

Over various levels of Lockdown, many resources were created to support faith at home. 

Parenting for Faith journal resource  to help you and your children capture a little flavour of what God was doing in your lives and home during this Covid-19 season.​

• Feeling safe and stuck at home (Parent Cue)
• Creating routines for households (All Belong)​
• Link A document from the Waitemata Whanau Collective

Sunday worship as a whānau

With the restrictions on public gatherings, we need to find new and creative ways of being church together, apart. 

Bible Explore
Bible Explore is our primary platform for collecting and sharing lectionary based all age material for Sunday worship. We are hoping to keep these pages updated with 'bubble friendly' activities. 

House Church Liturgy resource – Service of the Word with Prayer​​

Prayers

We are not people of fear:
we are people of courage.
We are not people who protect our own safety:
we are people who protect our neighbours’ safety.
We are not people of greed:
we are people of generosity.
We are your people God,
giving and loving,
wherever we are, whatever it costs
For as long as it takes, wherever you call us. 
​Amen
(Prayer from Church of England)

Story time

Storytime, from the Nelson Diocese

• Flit the Fantail
• I Grow in Grandad's Garden
• Let's go home, little bear
• Wow! The good news in 4 words
• Goodnight World

Fun activities

• ​The Great Indoors - lockdown activities (Scouts)
• Science at home - STEM activities and experiments for kids at home (Nanogirl)
• Go home, stay home: 10 more ideas for surviving self-isolation (Parenting Place)
• Families, fitness, fun, faith (Family Fit)
• Together at Home
• ​Fun, biblical boredom busters (Ministry to Children)

Family Faith & Covid

Family Devotions from Scripture Union International
This series, written by Annette Osborne in Auckland,  is specifically for families confined to their homes during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

• Introduction to the series
• Anxiety v peace
• Boredom v purpose
• Looking after number one v caring for others
• Loneliness v community
• Fear v faith​

Video conferencing
​with young people
Safety guidelines

DOWNLOAD HERE

Digital World

In many ways, we've found ourselves navigating the digital world in a whole new way.  With the speed at which we have had to shift to online platforms for connection and worship, it can present us with some problems and hurdles. Here are some tips from Parenting Place and our Anglican Diocese of NZ recommended guidelines for video conferencing young people. 

• Video conferencing guidelines with young people (Anglican Dioceses of NZ)
• Connecting with friends and whānau using technology (Parenting Place interview with youth leaders from Attitude)
• 10 tips for leading a small group on Zoom (Upper Room)
• ​Some tips for Playgroup via Zoom (Christian Playgroup Network)

Parenting and caregivers

General Parenting/caregiving resources​

• SKIP - evidence-based information and resources to keep kids safe and nurtured in tricky times.
• Parenting Place - providing daily support for whānau through COVID-19.
• Grandparents Raising Grandchildren - support for grandparents and whānau caregivers through COVID-19.  
• ​Pepi Penapena – Cherish Babies - a campaign to share the beautiful parenting practices of our tūpuna.
• Caring Families Aotearoa - support, advocacy and training for caregivers. 
• Helping our highly sensitive children through the lockdown? (Parenting Place Facebook Live interview)
• Child Wellbeing in a pandemic webinar  (Faithful Generation) 

Articles and Reading ​

• Faith in Kids – Mum what does God think about Coronavirus?
• Annette Osbourne SUNZ – Kia tau te rangimārie