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.