Church School: Laughter 10/4/09

This week in Church School we are exploring the story of Abraham and Sarah. God has promised to Abraham and Sarah that they will have descendants that number more than the stars, even though they currently have no children. God promises that Sarah will have a child, and she laughs at the very idea because she is so old. Yet God keeps promises. Many months later when Abraham and Sarah's child is born, Sarah names him Isaac, which in Hebrew means laughter. 

What I love about working with Bible stories with children is that because at different ages children are at different stages, we get to look at the same Bible story in many ways. We as adults might look at the story of Abraham and Sarah and consider how God is able to make impossible things possible. How many things might we think are impossible for us, so much so we might laugh? In this story we see a glimpse of might God can turn our cynical laughter into laughter of joy. 

For many younger children however, it might not seem so strange that an older woman would give birth to a child. Very young children are still learning about patterns, so everything can seem possible to them! In the younger classes this week, we will be thinking about how God gives us surprises and God gives us laughter. We will be talking about what it means to be patient and how good God's surprises can be!

For older children this week, we will be looking at how we know ourselves to be descendants of Abraham and Sarah. All of us are the stars of descendants that Abraham and Sarah had difficulty imagining.  

It will be a fun week with many surprises, many gifts, and much laughter.

Discussion Questions for Families

(Young Children) Abraham and Sarah are promised that they would be parents of a great nation, more than all the stars in the sky! Have you looked at the stars at night? 

God gave Abraham and Sarah a gift as a surprise. What does it feel like to receive a surprise? To give a surprise?

Is there something in your life that once seemed impossible, that God helped happen?

This Week:

3's and Under: Lambs!

Pre-K-4th grade: Abraham and Sarah Children's Bible #14 "God's Promise" and #16 "Special Visitors" 

Noah's Promise 9/27/09

This week in Church School the elementary aged kids are learning about Noah's Ark. It is a great week for crafts because we have so many options: Rainbows! Animals! Funny Shaped Boats!

It is a bit surprising that the story of Noah has become such a "kids story." The very idea of God flooding the entire world can be very frightening. Yet in this story we can find hope from two acts of faith and courage. We see the hope of Noah, who completed a huge and seemingly impossible task, fueled by his faith in God. We see hope in the promise of the rainbow, that God would never again flood the world. We see hope in the promise of a new beginning, that each generation has the chance for a new beginning with God. 

Discussion questions for families:

(Younger Children) Part of the task God gave to Noah was to care for the animals, that they would be safe. Do we have animals we care for?

God asked Noah to do something that seemed very foolish to the neighbors. What are times when doing the right thing can seem foolish to others?

God made a promise to Noah and us all, and made a sign with a rainbow. Sometimes when we make promises, we have signs as well with a handshake or signing our name. What promises do we make to each other as a family?

This Sunday in Church School

3's and Under through Grade 4: Noah and the Rainbow

5-6th Grade: 10 Commandments

7-8th: Nooma Video Discussion

(Photo by Eric Rolph )

Welcome Home Sunday: Sept 13

Come join us this Sunday for the joyful kick-off of our new year together.

In service we:

Gather together after our Summer Adventures

Have a 15 minute "mini-Church School" to allow children of the church to find their new classrooms, meet their new teachers, and get a taste of the new year ahead.

Hear reflections from PF of their experiences in the last year mission trip.

Following worship join us for a Potluck Picnic!

Join us for hotdogs and bring a side to share as we fellowship together!

And Charlie Churchmouse might be there. I can't say for certain, but I've heard some squeaking...

Middle School Youth Group in the Guilford Courier

The front page of the Guilford Courier this week features a photo of the Middle School Youth Group making snow-people (and some snow-critters) from the last big snowfall. See the post here or check out the paper!

The Middle School Youth Group of First Congregational Church meets weekly for fun, faith, community, learning, and service. Now, the group is also famous ;-). 

Blankets and God's Family

This week in vacation church school, we will be learning about our Church School mission project, supporting Church World Service in Blanket Sunday. 

We will be learning more about what Church World Service does, how we as the church help support people in need around the world, and how the children can help.

As part of the lesson, we will be spending time with a teaching of Jesus in Matthew 25:34-40

In this teaching, the people stand before the king, not knowing what to expect. The king says to the people, "Come into the kingdom, for I was hungry and you gave me food, thirsty and you gave me something to drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me." The people are very confused, and say to the king that they never saw him hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked or sick! The king replies "Just as you did this to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me."

We as the church are called to respond to the needs around us and all over the world, as all people are member's of God's family. In church school, we will talk about many of the ways that we can respond to the need's of God's children all over.

Family Discussion: The kids will have learned a lot today about things that CWS supports. You can ask about what they've learned. How do you as a family support the needs of others, "the least of these" who are members of God's family?

For next week: Children are invited to bring a blanket from home for "show and tell" on blanket Sunday.

Inside church school chapel: The Offering

The Third Grade class lead us this week in responding to the word, and invited the children of the church to write or draw their joys and concerns to share. 

We learned about how joys were something that made you happy, something that you were grateful for, or something that we wanted to thank God for. We heard about some great friends, gratitude for food and shelter, sports teams that were in championships, and loved parents.

We also learned about concerns: things we were worried about. Some of the concerns were for big things happening in the world, for family members who were sick, and also some movies that were scary.

The third graders gave out paper and pencils for all of the children of the church to write or draw their joys and concerns and then collected them all in the offering plates. We ended with prayer as we lifted all of the joys and concerns of the children up to God and placed them up on the alter to entrust to God's loving care.

Thank you to teachers Peggy and Mary Jo and all of the third graders who lead us in prayer.

Inside the classroom: Good Sam I am (6th Grade)

This week in chapel, our sixth graders lead us in "the Word"--the middle section of worship that includes scripture and a response to scripture. The 6th grade taught us about the parable of the Good Samaritan.

The Sixth graders started with two teams on the soccer field with one unjust injury (and you should have heard the Kindergarteners around me gasp!). Several of the injured players teammates walked by or pretended not to notice. Finally, a player on the opposing team, came over to help the injured player up and get them to help.  Mr. Grant closed our work by reading from the Bible the story of the Good Samaritan 

Inside the classroom: "Daily Bread"--1/2nd Grade

This Sunday, three individual classes lead the church school in worship and we hope to give you a peak into both the final product and some of the thought that went into the kid's creation.

The 1/2nd grade class lead the group in a prayer that they had created based on their study of the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13)throughout the year. When talking about the phrase "give us this day our daily bread," Kate lead the class in a discussion of what is our "daily bread?" The children came up with a wide list, of everything from shelter to love to special people in your life.

In a follow-up class, they discussed the story of Jesus inviting disciples to be "fishers of people" (Luke 5: 1-11). Since Jesus didn't really intend for the disciples to cast rods to catch people, the class talked about these needs--our daily bread--as "how we fish for people" with acts of kindness and love. The class then worked very hard to write and practice over the next few weeks, and last Sunday they lead the church school in this wonderful prayer:

We pray to God for Everyone to

Be Safe

Have Food

Have Clothes

Have Shelter

Have Fun and Laughter

Have a Helping Hand

Have Friendship

Have Love

Take Care of Nature

Have Faith

Love Jesus

Amen

And all the people say "Amen!"

 Thank you so much to Kate, Sarah, Danielle, and Ann for your thoughtful and creative teaching in our 1/2nd grade class.

Discussion for Families: What are the things that make up our "daily bread"? What are the needs (physical, spiritual and emotional) that we need filled every day? How can we help to be "daily bread" for those around us?

Middle School Youth Group

The Middle School Youth Group has a lot of fun and projects on Thursday afternoons.

Pictured here with "the assembly line of teamwork and love."

Lead by the valiant Liza (above) and Andrea (not pictured).

And with many a game of dodgeball ;-). You can see what they are working on in these pictures on Sunday!

Church School Chapel

At a recent Church School Chapel service, we ended with a time of joys and concerns. From the youngest to the oldest, we heard voices of joy and concern, for everything from homework, to illness, worries about the adults in their life and life in school yards. Listening to the children of the church lift their prayers up to God, it was a holy time and a sacred space.

Life in the church is made up of many things: prayer, study, service, friendship, fellowship, etc. But one of the largest parts of our regular "life in the church" is worship. For many, if not most, adults in the church, worship is a key part of church life and a part that teaches, inspires, fills, and draws us together as a community. I know for me, worship is part of what makes "Church" Church for me, and I hope that this is something we can share with children. Children can learn through Family Worship services and prayers in classrooms, through your teaching at home and also through the Chapel program.

Through the Church School Chapel program, we hope to give children of the church a chance to experience and participate in kid-friendly worship. We hope that they get to learn a better sense of what we are doing when we gather, when we hear scripture, when we give offering, and when we pray. We gather as "Church School Chapel" program several times a semester to have programs that are kid-lead, kid-friendly, and with pace of service fitting for a kid-attention span.

The first "Church School Chapel" of 2009 will be happening on Sunday February 8th (a week from Sunday). In preparation, three classes (1/2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, and 6th Grade) will be working this Sunday (Feb 1st) to prepare parts of the worship service. If your children are a part of these three classes, we hope that they will be able to join us both weeks to have the opportunity to lead worship. If your children are in other grades, we hope that they can join us for Church School Chapel on the 8th. 

We hope that all of the children of the church might find in their own way, a holy time and a sacred space.

The Greatest

This week in Church School (2/1)

Pre-K to 4th grade: Jesus speaks of True Greatness (Luke 9: 46-48 Children's Bible Stories #280)

Grade 5: Transfiguration of Jesus (Luke 9: 28-36 CBS #295)

Grade 6: The Good Samaritan (Luke 10: 25-37)

Grade 7-8: Temptation of Jesus (Luke 4: 1-15)

This week is quite a week for "greatness." Smack dab in the middle of movie award season, we hear a lot about "Best Picture," "Best Actress," and depending on the magazine "Best Dressed." This Sunday many of us will celebrate a sporting event that comes complete with the title "Super," in which clever big-budget advertisements may steal the show. And we know that between the couches and commentators, there will be many discussions of "who is the greatest." 

For the kids in the younger classes on Sunday, we will be talking about greatness. We know that kids learn from all over what "greatness" looks like: on the soccer field or the big screen, in the classroom or in a video game, in business or in fashion. Kids have all kinds of voices telling them what it means to be "great." And even in these times when extravagance seems out of place, perhaps we too are holding an image of "great" as something shiny, flawless, and rich.

In the Bible story for the week, Jesus hears an argument about which of them is the greatest, and instead of engaging in the discussion, he turns to a child nearby and says simply "Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me, welcomes the one who sent me; for the least among all you is the greatest."

Jesus answers the disciples posturing, by kneeling to care for another. Jesus answers the debate by lifting up the forgotten and the vulnerable. Jesus answers the claims to greatness, by revealing greatness in the "least" among us. 

For this week, how can we teach of a greatness that does not have the most friends or score the most points? How can we talk to our kids about a kindness, that seems to make debates about "greatness" unnecessary? And perhaps, how can Jesus see "greatness" in us, even when we are feeling like "the least of these."

Confirmand Sunday

In Worship this Sunday (1/25): John 1: 35-46, Children's Bible Stories #251

Meditation:

On this Family Sunday (1/25), the Confirmation II class will be leading us in worship! We are excited for their contributions and we hope you will be able to join us for worship.

In the scripture the Confirmands will be using this Sunday, there are a lot of names and a lot of people who are drawn or brought to be Jesus' disciples. My favorite is Nathanael, who is the "smart-aleck" of the bunch. People have been talking and bringing others saying "I have found the messiah." And Nathanael, instead of saying "Horrah I'm right behind ya" replies instead "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"

Can anything good come out of Nazareth? 

It's a cynical question. We know the tone of voice and the narrowness of expectations that go with such a response. And perhaps we even know it in ourselves, when irritation, fear, or even grief close a door before its even opened.

Philip in reply simply says "Come and see."

In the midst of such a week in our country, we invite you to come and see the wonderful work that youth in our church have done. Come and see their leadership, thoughtfulness, and wonderful gifts. Come and see how children in the congregation view these "big kids." Come and see how the Spirit of God has done wonderful things with this group of youth, even in the middle of midterms.

Discussion for Families:

Jesus sees Peter (the Rock) in Simon: In the story today, Jesus meets Simon and gives him the new name of Peter, which means the Rock. Even though Simon made many mistakes, Jesus saw that he was the person who would be the Rock upon which the church would be built. As a family, talk about what you see in another person that they might not see in themselves. What might God see in us that we cannot see in ourselves?

Confirmation: After seeing the Confirmands lead worship, ask how your kids are feeling about Confirmation. Do you have hopes for them in Confirmation? How would your kids feel about putting together a worship service like the Confirmands today? 

EDIT 1/26: The confirmands did a great job! If you would like to leave notes to be passed along to the Confirmation II class, feel free to do so in the comments section.

Our stories of faith

This Sunday (1/18) in Church School:

Pre-K to 4th Grade: Jesus calling the Disciples (Luke 5:1-11, 8:1-3 Children's Bible Story # 253) 

5th Grade: Jesus' Homecoming (and quick departure) (Luke 4: 1-13) CBS #258)

6-8th Grade: Ten commandments (Exodus 20: 2-17)

Reflection:

I was once affiliated with a church who had the practice of testimony. About once a season, there would be a Sunday, when the preacher prepared no sermon, and instead the pulpit was opened to several church members to share a part of their journey of faith. What struck me about such Sundays was how moving these personal reflections were. People shared personal stories of how they had been nurtured by grandparents, parents and family members that had mentored them in faith. We heard stories that sounded like the prodigal son, who had lost but been found. We heard stories of people who came to the church with questions and stayed in the church to question still. And even in this very intellectual church, we heard stories of miracles.

What struck me about each of these stories was both how compelling and how surprising they could be. Someone would come to speak and you couldn't help but be moved. Each story gave you a new vision of that person and a glimpse into their life and their mysterious walk of faith.

This week in church school in the younger classes, the children were learning some of the famous stories of Jesus calling the disciples. Simon, James and John, after a full night's work haven't caught anything. Jesus tells them to move out into the deep water, and let out their nets. Their nets are suddenly filled so full that they are afraid their boat may sink! In the face of this miracle, the disciples are afraid, and Jesus calls to them saying "From now on, you will be fishing for people." And then we hear the dramatic line that the men pulled the boat up to the shore, left everything, and followed him.

This lesson also includes a less famous reading about other disciples of Jesus, and in each of these readings we get hints at their own dramatic stories of their decision to follow Jesus. 

If you were going to tell a story of your journey of faith, how would it begin? What are the things that make it personal now? What would it be like to share with your children or your students? What stories could we tell, that would give children a glimpse into our own journey of faith?

Church School Meditation 1/11--A lost child

This Week in Church School:

Pre-K to Grade 4: Jesus as a Child in the Temple (Luke 2:41-52, Children’s Bible Story 248)

Grade 5: The Temptations of Jesus (Luke 4:1-13 Children’s Bible Story 252)

Parent Meditation:

In the story in the younger classes this week, Mary and Joseph have traveled to Jerusalem for Passover, and accidentally leave Jesus behind in the crowd. They very anxiously hurry back to the big city of Jerusalem, only to find him unconcerned in the Temple, explaining scripture to the teachers. Jesus calmly replies that of course, “Didn’t you know I would be in my Father’s house?”

Several years ago I was entrusted with the task of supervising eight children at an amusement park in the middle of July. While the kids were having a great time on those spinning traveler rides and drinking pop from giant sippy straws, I spent most of the day counting. “12345678” I counted, as all eight kids got in line for the 3-D movie with rumbling chairs. “12345678” I counted, as all eight kids spent their tokens at the video arcade. “12345678” I counted, as we got in line for the roller coaster, and it wasn’t until we were halfway through the switchback line that I realized that there were only seven kids with me. I looked again and it was true: Phillip wasn’t there! With a pit in my stomach, I left the seven kids together with very explicit instructions and weaved my way back through the line frantically searching for my suddenly “lost child.” I frantically looked at kids with baseball caps who were not Phillip. I looked at families with flocks of kids that were not Phillip. I looked at school groups in bright colored matching t-shirts who were not Phillip. Until finally, I reach the very entrance of the ride, there beside the opening gate is Phillip, standing by the railing nonchalantly… even looking a little bored.

“Phillip!” I say to him, as my relief gets a slight twinge of fury, “Why did you leave the group?” He looks up at me blankly and states “I don’t like rollercoasters.”  I was surprised. My long lecture on safety precautions was briefly interrupted. In surprise, I realized that in my rush to keep these children safe, I had forgotten to get to know them. I had forgotten that they were each people to care for and not numbers to count, with likes and dislikes, histories and stories, loves and concerns. I had forgotten that these children’s spirits are more in God’s care, than their bodies could ever be in mine.

Working with children who apparently have legs of their own, teachers and parents know the anxiety that Mary and Joseph must have felt when Jesus was missing. I am sure you also know the astonishment of the scribes and the teachers at the Temple, when sometimes when you least expect it, you hear a child say something deeply true, insightful, and that makes you stop. My prayer this week is that you may hear children who speak with an authority all their own and trust that in the loving arms of their Parent, no child is ever lost.