08 August 2011

getting ready for Fall

(photo by stf)
We were back in Junior Church yesterday for the first time since Pentecost (me) or Trinity Sunday (the children). This was a sort of "taster" before we start up properly in a couple of weeks. I told the Holy Family story and we had an extra-long work session.

Because I'm starting ministry training, I won't be able to continue leading on a weekly basis, and stf will also be unavailable for much of this year. But stf has kindly volunteered to kick off the autumn schedule with a session on the 21st. I've got a Sacred Story curriculum planned for the autumn (including both Godly Play stories and Bible-based children's stories for reading aloud), and I believe that several parents are willing to help out in order to keep Junior Church going. We're still looking for leaders and especially adult helpers to ensure that we can offer sessions every Sunday, but it's looking good!

The children came in as if it has been no time at all since we last met. The room was familiar to them and they fell comfortably into familiar routines, most of them being the way we ( = I ) prefer to do things, and a few being behaviors that I'd like to curb - *wry grin*. We had two new children in the circle, and after the session they told their mother that they'd like to come regularly!

When it was almost time to go home, a grandmother, visiting from abroad, helped me clear up. Her grandson came into the room again as well, and acted as a guide for her. I was amazed and delighted that he identified the Pentecost story (I haven't blogged about this yet, but I felt that my presentation of it was not a success), even using the word Pentecost.  He also answered her questions about the Church Clock (It's about telling time. These are all the Sundays, and this is Christmas).

Here's a photo of the two of them looking at the Advent / Christmas materials:


Heavenly Father,
please guide us this Fall.
Provide the leaders and helpers we need.
Reveal yourself to your children, young ones and grown ones.
Help us to recognize the Green Grass and Cool Water that you shepherd us to,
And give us courage and wisdom for the dangerous places.
We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

2 comments:

  1. seethroughfaith11 August, 2011 19:42

    thanks for posting this

    ReplyDelete
  2. seethroughfaith21 August, 2011 20:08

    and today I was asked

    WHY had there been no junior church during the summer!

    It was a good question

    I wonder why ....

    ReplyDelete

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