I’ve just experienced this, having been caught in a thunderstorm with torrential rain yesterday. Stepped into the rush of stormwater and immediately my feet/shoes/socks were soaked. The analogy worked for me. I was drenched to the skin and my shoes are still sopping wet! God’s grace lavished upon me.
Either way, it's an agenda. My favourite childrens books are The Cow that fell in the Canal, The Wolf, the Duck and the Mouse, Dreadful David, and The Tale of Little Black Sambo. I know, I know...
That's a great list. Mo Willems is a gem. I also enjoyed your other article about books and stories. Sometimes the books that initially annoy us, as did The Runaway Bunny, go on to become favourites. Children have a knack for enjoying a story just because it tickles them somehow. No analysis required.
Books to read with and to children should not have an agenda that appeals to the adults. We should let the kids choose the book. Sit alongside them and see how they see the world in the book. Talk about it. Or just laugh with them. There are lots of books out there that are simply funny.
Many years ago I put my 45 Sunday school kids in a room with dozens of cardboard boxes, adults with box-cutters, plenty of things like tapes, string, paint, brushes, lengths of fabric, and more. Then I let them loose to make “church”. It was big: 4 x 5 metres. It had everything in it including a keyboard and mics. Without any prompting they went from creating the space to playing church.
The key to this outcome is to give the kids all the time they want. And no pressure to clean up the mess.
This looks like a lot of fun, and it would stimulate good conversations. How would it work for churches that have few of the traditional practices. Preachers dressed as for a day of gardening, baby dedications without baptismal font or gown, no pulpit, and a rock concert band? And what of the churches that have no children in the service, on purpose?
I love these kinds of stories and I try to write them myself. The theology can be tricky. I believe that linking the story to Acts and the account of what happened to Ananias becomes problematic. And the tone of the story changes to 'preachy'. It's also good to think of who your listeners are. Children? Adults from the same background and church experience as you?
The last paragraph says it all. Entering this time for all with an attitude of reverential worship is the key. The children also need to see their involvement as worship.
i would also add that the prayers the children read should be written by them. This requires sitting with them beforehand to discuss the prayer's focus, and construct a prayer in their own words.
Assistance Fund and Assistance Deacon falls short of the word Benevolence. In my opinion. I agree with other comments that the congregation and the recipients of this benevolence need to be enlightened as to its meaning. It really is a lovely word. Assistance means help; benevolence means good help. It has many sister words such as benefit.
Posted in: Living as People With Squishy Shoes
I’ve just experienced this, having been caught in a thunderstorm with torrential rain yesterday. Stepped into the rush of stormwater and immediately my feet/shoes/socks were soaked. The analogy worked for me. I was drenched to the skin and my shoes are still sopping wet! God’s grace lavished upon me.
Posted in: What Faith-Forming Children's Books Do You Love?
Either way, it's an agenda. My favourite childrens books are The Cow that fell in the Canal, The Wolf, the Duck and the Mouse, Dreadful David, and The Tale of Little Black Sambo.
I know, I know...
Posted in: What Faith-Forming Children's Books Do You Love?
That's a great list. Mo Willems is a gem. I also enjoyed your other article about books and stories. Sometimes the books that initially annoy us, as did The Runaway Bunny, go on to become favourites. Children have a knack for enjoying a story just because it tickles them somehow. No analysis required.
Posted in: What Faith-Forming Children's Books Do You Love?
Books to read with and to children should not have an agenda that appeals to the adults. We should let the kids choose the book. Sit alongside them and see how they see the world in the book. Talk about it. Or just laugh with them. There are lots of books out there that are simply funny.
Posted in: How Covenant CRC Created a Play Church to Communicate Belonging to Children
Many years ago I put my 45 Sunday school kids in a room with dozens of cardboard boxes, adults with box-cutters, plenty of things like tapes, string, paint, brushes, lengths of fabric, and more. Then I let them loose to make “church”. It was big: 4 x 5 metres. It had everything in it including a keyboard and mics. Without any prompting they went from creating the space to playing church.
The key to this outcome is to give the kids all the time they want. And no pressure to clean up the mess.
Posted in: How Covenant CRC Created a Play Church to Communicate Belonging to Children
This looks like a lot of fun, and it would stimulate good conversations.
How would it work for churches that have few of the traditional practices. Preachers dressed as for a day of gardening, baby dedications without baptismal font or gown, no pulpit, and a rock concert band?
And what of the churches that have no children in the service, on purpose?
Posted in: Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
I love these kinds of stories and I try to write them myself. The theology can be tricky. I believe that linking the story to Acts and the account of what happened to Ananias becomes problematic.
And the tone of the story changes to 'preachy'. It's also good to think of who your listeners are. Children? Adults from the same background and church experience as you?
Posted in: Retelling Childhood Stories
These are great questions for so many people to ponder on. Thank you for sharing this.
Posted in: And a Child Shall Lead Them. . . in Prayer
The last paragraph says it all. Entering this time for all with an attitude of reverential worship is the key. The children also need to see their involvement as worship.
i would also add that the prayers the children read should be written by them. This requires sitting with them beforehand to discuss the prayer's focus, and construct a prayer in their own words.
Posted in: If Ever There Was a Need for Integrity, It Is Now
End of paragraph 4 - should that be a ‘bribe’?
Posted in: What Do You Call Your Benevolence Ministry?
Assistance Fund and Assistance Deacon falls short of the word Benevolence. In my opinion. I agree with other comments that the congregation and the recipients of this benevolence need to be enlightened as to its meaning. It really is a lovely word. Assistance means help; benevolence means good help. It has many sister words such as benefit.
Posted in: Some Dos and Don'ts from My Recent Attempt to Memorize Psalm 1
Colin Buchanan has a whole album of scripture verses in song.