Children in Worship

An update

2010-07-04T11:44:00.000-07:00

I thought it would be a good time (better late than never) to capture some of the communication we do via email on our blog for history's sake. February 5th and 6th, 2010 we had a wonderful two session seminar with Dick Gibson of Charlotte, NC. He shared with us a model of how Godly Play can be used to faciliate worship with children. It was a great time for us (teachers, helpers and observers alike) to share some of our concerns, joy, and hopes for the program. While there were many topics discussed I have attempted to summarize our notes below. There may be additional posts to elaborate of these at a later time. A video capture was made of his time with us for review of others if desired. We will be attempting to implement some of the immediate items in preparation for the Fall start of our children's programming. Please comment other additions or corrections.

Revised Order of Worship:

Get ready (not really practicing this unless they "need" it)
Pass offering basket
Do greeting/prayer
Get story off of shelf and show how to put away after telling
Short work time (while I do roll and get friend to help with calendar)
Come back to circle
Do the liturgical calendar
Light the candle while we read the scripture for the day
Have prayer time (haven't had a chance to let the children join in this)
Leave with a blessing from teacher

Important items for immediate consideration

Permanent/rotational greeter (door person) - we all loved the idea of having 8 people besides our storyteller to help us faciliate the program. I will attempt to describe volunteer descriptions in a later post.
Use parents as helpers -- bathroom - sitting with latecomers
Directed work time with prepared craft or limited coloring sheets encouraging children to reflect on the story that was told or the season of the year.
Practice time with 3k in the Fall during Sunday school

Important items for future consideration

Make bookmarks to show where the stories are in the Bible
Keep track of what lessons each child has seen
Have all work day - review a few lessons or lay them out and ask for responses
Organized way to choose helpers for the liturgical calendar.
Feast implementation

Remember items

"Wondering time" does not require an answer - you can tell when they are taking in the questions
Don't force a story - if a storyteller isn't ready to tell the story or the children can't get ready don't be afraid to call for a work day. The children will sense if a storyteller isn't ready.

Jesus makes Lazarus Alive Again, FJ16

2009-05-08T20:50:00.000-07:00

Anointing Oil for this lesson, is on the top shelf near the air conditioner. We don't leave this out for children to work with.

We don't use the water jar and cotton balls for washing, we just pretend with hand motions.

Wrapping of Lazarus instructions are complicated -- just try to get him covered adequately.

Who is the Greatest, FJ15

2009-05-08T20:46:00.001-07:00

If you place Jesus at the back of the house, it is hard to put the child in His lap, so you may want to move Him closer to the front of the house.

Jesus Heals a Boy, FJ14

2009-05-08T20:41:00.001-07:00

Use the mountain from FJ2 and FJ6 "Follow Me" story, for the Mount of Transfiguration in this story.

Jesus Heals Two "Daughters", FJ11

2009-05-08T20:36:00.000-07:00

Every time you say Jairus' name be sure to emphasize that he was a ruler of the synagogue.

Jesus and the Tax Collectors, FJ5

2009-05-08T20:30:00.000-07:00

You just have to remember to remove the standing Jesus and standing Levi as you place the backdrop for the house.

Dorcas, FJ32

2009-05-08T20:14:00.000-07:00

At the time of this posting, we didn't have a land of Judea underlay, but I will try to get one. I did not use a water jar or the cotton balls to pretend to wash Dorcas. I just made the hand motions for cleaning her.

Peter Heals a Lame Man, FJ30

2009-05-08T20:07:00.000-07:00

I added the wooden city of Jerusalem as a backdrop to the temple since we do not have an outline for the temple courtyard as is pictured in the book. You can also use the temple from the "Boy Jesus in the Temple" story - YCW22.

Pentecost, YCW43

2009-05-08T19:53:00.000-07:00

I have added a large brass candlestick to this story. We always talk about the "flames of the Holy Spirit" when we do the Liturgical Calender, so I believe we need to have an actual flame with this story -- you know how they love fire !! On the top of page 210 you could light the candle and then pretend to transfer the flames with your hands as they suggest over the heads of the other people.

You will also need to get additional people for this lesson - you can borrow from "Jesus and the Children" and "Jesus and Blind Bartimaeus."

You can talk about this being the birthday of the church, but you don't need to bring cake!!

Ascension YCW 42

2009-05-08T19:47:00.001-07:00

I have done this lesson two ways - with and without the bronze risen Jesus. You can decide if you would like to include it and remove it as Jesus disappears into a cloud (at the bottom of page 207.)

Good Shepherd and Lord's Supper Combined, YCW 40, 41

2009-05-08T19:10:00.000-07:00

The view from children's standpoint (top photo), sheep will follow shepherd out to your right to the bottom of the circle and then over to top of the other circle. Good Shepherd goes behind the table. Sheep are then replaced with the people as in second picture.

Important wording changes -- substitute the word Pastor for the word Celebrant, also when the story states (page 205 half way down) that "The Good Shepherd is still with us....." we will continue with saying "every time we have the holy bread and the holy wine." We don't use the word "IN."

Jesus Appears to Disciples and Peter FJ27 and FJ28

2009-05-08T18:49:00.000-07:00

This is a combined lesson. You will use all of lesson FJ27 and then the end of lesson FJ28, starting on bottom of page 159 when Jesus turns toward Peter to say "Peter do you love me more than these?"

We are short on fish at this time, I will try to pick some more up. I think they may be lost in the desert box !!

When I did this lesson with older children I reminded them about Peter denying Jesus 3 times, and this time Jesus lets Peter verify that he loves Jesus 3 times.

Response Time Art

2009-05-08T14:27:00.000-07:00

Quick Tips for Teaching

2009-04-28T18:08:00.000-07:00

Leader sits on the floor in front of the CD Player.

The slow deliberate smoothing of the underlay helps prepare the leader and children.

Try not to have eye contact with children once the story begins. Look at story material.

Move slowly. Speak slowly. Speak softly.

Use only essential words - usually just what is printed in book.

Use silences effectively. Don't be afraid of Silence, enjoy it.

Use wondering questions even though children may not have immediate responses, as these help them to process the story.

Disciples Song

2009-04-28T17:45:00.000-07:00

Disciples Song
(Sung to tune of Jesus Loves Me)

(Words for song are in bold and large font. Information or other names for disciples are in small font and you don't sing that part.)

Jesus called them one by one
Peter (Simon Peter the fisherman)
Andrew (Fisherman)
James and (Fisherman son of Zebedee)
John. (Fisherman brother of James)

Then came
Philip (Fisherman)
Thomas, too (A twin)
Matthew and ( Levi a Tax Collector)
Bartholomew (Also called Nathanael)

James the one
they called the less (son of Alphaeus)
Simon also (Simon the Zealot)
Thadeus (Judas the son of James)

The 12th disciple
Judas made (Judas Iscariot)

Jesus was by him betrayed.

Ten Commandment Finger Rhyme

2009-04-28T17:34:00.000-07:00

Ten Commandments or Ten Best Ways to Live

( use fingers to help remember)

(Hold up one finger)
One - One God – there is only One God.

(Two fingers – make a scissors)
Two – Cut out idols.

(Three – make a “W” trace inside of fingers)
Three – Watch your words – be serious when you use God’s name.

(Four – fingers together and push hand forward as if saying stop)
Four – Stop and rest on Sunday. Think about God and what he has done for you and what he has made.

(Five – use five fingers and salute)
Five – Respect your Mom and Dad – always obey them.

(Six – use the “one finger” hand and turn it to make a gun)
Six – Do not murder. All life is precious.

(Seven – trace a “V” on the “two finger” hand)
Seven – Protect your marriage Vows. Don’t do anything to hurt your marriage.

(Eight – touch the thumb and finger that are down on the “three finger” hand as if they were cut off)
Eight – Do not steal. Do not take what belongs to someone else. In some countries they cut off your fingers if you steal – but not in our country.

(Nine – take one hand and then the other and place over your mouth)
Nine – Do not lie. Always tell the truth.

(Ten – hands in front like you are grabbing something)
Ten – Do not covet – do not want what others have. Be happy for them.

These are the “Ten Best Ways to Live.” The first four are the “best ways” we can show God we love Him. The next six are the “best ways” we can show others we love them. All ten were given to us because God loves us and wants us to have the “best” life.

Classroom Management Tips

2009-04-28T17:06:00.000-07:00

Tips for Leaders and Volunteers

* Welcome children at doorway. Have children leave jackets, books or anything distracting, in the hallway against the wall. Help them to enter quietly and sit in the circle if a Greeter is not available. Shoes maybe taken off before the story begins and put behind them.

* If a child is speaking during the story you will say, “I need you to save your words until the story is over.” If the child is invading other children’s space with their legs or hands, say to them softly, “I need you to get ready.” The parent volunteer/helper should sit behind the child, if they are having a hard time getting ready. If these approaches are not working, the parent volunteer/helper should say softly in the child’s ear, “I need you to come with me so we are not disturbing other children.” Remove child from circle and sit behind the circle with the child. Then say "This story is still for you but we need to sit here."

* During “work time” children are to work as independently as possible. Only assist them, if they ask you, or you see that you must help to “show them” how to use something. Stay back from them, so they learn to work without our attention. This is their time to respond to the story.

* When children are working, they may speak softly to others. They are to handle all work with “gentle hands.” If you see someone handling a work inappropriately, you remind them the first time of how we use this work with gentle hands. If you notice that they still are having a problem, you say “I see that you are not ready to work with this and you need to put this work away and choose something else.”

* If child is talking too loud, remind him of how we talk in a soft voice in our special place. You may also need to remind a child of how we walk in our special place, if you see them running, or stepping on someone else’s work.

* Children are to get their own work and put away their work. If they forget to put something away, gently remind them that they have left something out. Ask them to show you how to put something away. It helps to suggest that they only work with one story at a time.

* The helper(s) can assist any child who may need to go to the bathroom.
* Clean up time is signaled by turning the lights off and then on again.

* The class follows a basic four-fold pattern of worship:
1) Entering and “getting ready” to be with God;
2) hearing and responding to the Bible stories
3) sharing in thanksgiving through prayers and singing;
4) and leaving with a blessing of peace.

* Our special place to worship will help the children learn to use the language of faith in making meaning for her/his life. The wondering questions are used to enable reflection and deepen their knowledge of God and what God desires. This activity is the foundation on which theological thinking is built. Wondering produces thinking Christians who can share their experiences of God and together discover God’s calling for them.

Teaching Guidelines

2009-04-28T16:43:00.000-07:00

To better understand the purposes behind our Children and Worship ministry, you will want to read the following pages from our two teaching sources. Don't feel like you have to read it all at once, as it is easier to absorb if taken in small parts!

Following Jesus pages 3 thru 53

Young Children & Worship pages 13 thru 81

I would start with the Following Jesus as it is a more concise version and much of the suggested pages are notes on particular lessons, that you can skip and return to when you are getting ready to teach that particular lesson.

You will notice that we do not do everything that they suggest in the book, mostly because we do not have a full hour, however, they have many wonderful suggestions that we may want to incorporate in the future.

Kathie

Curriculum and authors information

2009-04-28T16:22:00.000-07:00

Curriculum Sources We Use:

Young Children and Worship
Following Jesus

The authors Sonja Stewart and Jerome Berryman wrote Young Children and Worship. Sonja Stewart then wrote Following Jesus and Jerome went on to write 8 volumes of Godly Play, a series for older children.

You may also be interested in viewing their websites. Jerome's is GodlyPlay.com and Sonja's is WorshipWoodworks.com. We order lesson materials from both companies and they are located in Kansas. Godly Play has recently been bought out by a larger company and I don’t know how that will change our ordering procedure.

Sonja Stewart died a few years ago but her staff has continued her work. On her site they also have a few stories written by Dick Gibson. Dick holds several training sessions a year, at his church, The First United Methodist Church of Clover, SC right outside of Rock Hill. These sessions or gatherings as he calls them are very beneficial. My hope is that we can all find time to attend so we can see the whole program demonstrated.

Kathie

Wondering creatively...

2009-04-26T12:23:00.000-07:00

Kathie encourages us to use the words suggested by Stewart and Berryman in their book Young Children in Worship when releasing the children to go and do their work:

“I wonder of you would like to make something that shows how you feel about this parable [or story]. Or perhaps there is some other work you’d like to do.”

Today Kathie made this suggestion to the children during the 8:30 worship. One of the children followed her prompting and here is what was created!

Small room, Big work.

2009-04-25T18:39:00.000-07:00

The following quote from Eugene Peterson hints at the importance of the particular type of work we are doing with the children:

"Imagination is the capacity to make connections between the visible and the invisible, between heaven and earth, between present and past, between present and future. For Christians, whose largest investment is in the invisible, the imagination is indispensable..."