by Alice Sanderson, Family Ministries Program Coordinator
“Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children...” –Deuteronomy 4:9
Fr. Marcus and I discussed the importance of a ministry for grandparents at St. Peter’s when he first came here in November. His church in Sumter has had a thriving grandparents ministry called Grandparents at Prayer (GAP). Since he nor I have yet to have the privilege to be grandparents, we called in a professional, Cathy Jacobs. Cathy hails from South Carolina’s Low Country and has a passion for increasing the impact of a grandparent’s influence on their adult children and grandchildren's hearts. She has authored the book Pass the Legacy: Seven Keys for Grandparents Making a Difference, and is a charter member of and speaker for the Legacy Coalition, a national organization for Christian grandparenting. Cathy has joined us to give encouragement and ideas about being intentional in the relationships with our adult children and grandchildren.
What is St. Peter’s GRANDparents Ministry? This ministry was created to equip and encourage grandparents to live into their calling and to make Jesus known to their children and grandchildren. Many St. Peter’s GRANDparents are already doing this “diligently”, but others find it a challenge to have a spiritual impact in their grandchildren’s lives. Either way, grandparents need tools, and the hope is that this ministry will equip them with the right ones.
Who is invited to be a part of this ministry? All GRANDparents of St. Peter’s! If your adult children and grandchildren are seeking God or not, you are welcome and encouraged to come. You will learn how to pray for your grown children and your grandchildren, speak blessings over them and find ways to intentionally reach them and love them when there is a distance between you, either physically or spiritually.
When does this group meet? Our next meeting is Thursday, August 19 at 6:00pm in the Parish Hall. Dinner will be served, and for those unable to attend in person, a Zoom option will be available. As this ministry grows, the group can decide what the best time to meet is, how often we meet, and how we want to use the time to encourage one another.
As you think about whether you will participate in this ministry, I ask you to ponder the verse above from Deuteronomy and from Psalm 103:17, “But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children”.