The strangeness of this time continues to change the ways that we experience ministry and fellowship at our churches. Even though we are not meeting in person for worship yet, I find it easy to reach out to adults in the congregation through email, Facebook posts, and even texting. But it has become clear that keeping in touch with the children that I minister to is more complex. Most kids in my congregation are not connected to email. I have emailed notes to families in hopes that parents will share their contents. But over the summer I have come to find that one wonderfully old-fashioned mode of communication is not only easier to rely on but delights the recipients—a card mailed and delivered by the postal service.

I like to write notes and short cards to the children in my church as often as I can. It can be a lot to write to every child, but I love knowing they are receiving mail and opening a card addressed to them. I like to write words of encouragement, thoughts about the beauty of the season, reminders of how the church is a place for them and they are still very much a valued part of our congregation, even when church is happening away from the building. I know most of the kids in our church very well, having worked with them since they were infants. I like to include a note about their hobbies or sports, their favorite characters or interests when I can. It isn’t always easy to think of something personal, but it is easy to tell every child that they are loved by God, they are precious in the eyes of the Lord and they are created in God’s image.

The simplest and most foundational parts of our faith are the same whether we are in kindergarten or many decades out of school. It is always nice for someone to take a moment and remind us of God’s deep love. It feels even more profound right now to send notes and cards when we are so far from each other and missing the personal interactions of worship, fellowship hour, Sunday school, and choir. A piece of mail, a little note of hello, shares my care and joy for them and reminds them that there are people in their church family who remember and rejoice in them.