Creative Family Ministry

  • Home
    • Family Stories
  • Pam's Blog
  • Podcast Ponderings
  • Put your mask on first.
    • Poems
    • Good Reads
    • A few more good reads
    • Art Retreat >
      • Art Retreat Sites
  • Family Bookclub

Re-imaging Sunday School

8/26/2015

3 Comments

 
Picture
Long gone are the days of memorization, sitting in rows and doing worksheets in Sunday School. Those of us called to church work, whether formally or informally, know there is no uniform way of doing Sunday School anymore. We know there is a better way but it is not always obvious what will work best in our own context. We know faith formation centers around relationship: God's relationship with us and our relationship with each other and all God's creation. But how to do that in each of our own settings is the not-so-obvious missing piece.

And so...we are re-imagining Sunday School again at Faith Lutheran Church. Re-imaging how it can reflect the values of who we are and help learners of all ages know the welcome of Jesus and the peace of God in their lives. The school days of even our youngest children have increasingly become more full and require constant focused energy. I imagine a place on Sunday morning where they can slow down, are welcomed by name, encouraged to explore the world and be creative at their own pace. Surrounded by a culture that values achievement, I had been second guessing this idea of slowing down…until this afternoon. Now I am confident we are moving in the right direction.

I had invited the parents of our preschoolers-2nd graders to come and help prepare supplies for their child’s Sunday School class. A few moms came to help and one brought her preschool daughter, Maggie. We all had our work station, even Maggie. The adults were laminating game pieces and assembling kits of manipulatives and felt board stories. Maggie was the field tester! She checked out and tried just about everything. My confidence was growing as she played and chatted to herself, mixing and matching the supplies, using them in ways I had not thought of. It was a pure childhood moment watching her innate creativity, discovering new ways to play.

Then I brought out the altar complete with paten, chalice, and vase…all Maggie-sized. We dressed the altar in a green cloth and she put the sacred objects on the altar. We talked how it is just like the one that Pastor Jim stands behind in church. She nodded. She is in church every Sunday, so she knows.

Then she asked, “What goes on the plate? What goes in the cup?” I told her in church we put the bread on the plate and the wine in the cup. She nods. She knows because she is in church.

Then…she pulled up a small chair to the table, looked at me and said, “Come on. Let’s have the party.”

And there you have it. Faith. Church. Jesus.

Maggie showed me that we need to simply create a space of welcome with playful, creative and sacred objects and then let the children find themselves in God's story. That is the reason we come together each week, in worship and in learning, to hear the story and find our place in it. It is about transformation. God enters our life and we are changed – whether we are 3 or 83.

We are re-imaging Sunday School with all the Maggies in mind: slowing down, creating a culture of wonder and play, telling the stories of Jesus, and inviting each other to the party.
And so, as Maggie says, “Come on. Let’s have the party!”

~Pam


 


3 Comments
Christine Hides link
9/2/2015 03:50:53 am

Pam, this is one of the most touching and thoughtful pieces I have read about creating space for children to slow down and experience the sacred. We are re-imaging in a similar way where I am. I'd like to use this piece to tell the story of Maggie to my congregation this Sunday. This is our first Sunday with all ages in worship. We'll be having the party, too!

Reply
Pam
9/2/2015 07:48:47 am

Christine,
Thank you! Certainly, you may share Maggie's story. We are constantly adapting, trying to find the best way to be with the children and help form their faith. Because the size of our classes and rooms do not let us do Godly Play in the way it is designed, we have adapted many of those principals over the years.

This year we are using the Whirl Curriculum from Augsburg Fortress for the storytelling time. We used it last year and the kids and teachers really liked it. The rest of the time will feel more like a Montessori class.

Where is your congregation?
We do not have Sunday School at the same time as worship so that families will worship together. It doesn't always make for a quiet service but the kids are certainly paying attention - as Maggie shows us.
Good luck!
Pam

Reply
Christine Hides
9/6/2015 11:02:25 pm

Pam,
Thank you, the story worked so well. Children and adults got another glimpse of how we do Sunday school and how children experience faith practices. At the end of the service, an usher helped one of our youngest carry out the Christ light - it was another beautiful reminder of how children are a valuable part of worship.

We are not too far from you, I'm in Lake Bluff, IL. We, too, use a modified, Montessori style approach. Thank you for being a great resource on the web! I blog at www.blesseachone.wordpress.com if you ever want stop by my digital home.

Blessings,
Christine




Leave a Reply.

    Pam Voves

    On my own journey as a dabbling artist, a lover of stories,
    and grounded by my call to accompany people on their journey of faith.

    Picture

    Archives

    October 2020
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    June 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    August 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012

    Categories

    All