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Friday, July 15, 2011

Planning for the Advent and Christmas Season - Year B

5:15 PM | Posted by jamila | Edit Post
The Advent calendar this year poses logistical challenges.  First of all Advent is as long as it can possibly be – the full 28 days.  Then, the way the days fall presents challenges.
- Christmas falls on a Sunday which means Christmas Eve is on Saturday night.
- January 1 falls on Sunday and could be seen as The First Sunday After Christmas, New Year’s Day or even Epiphany (if you do not celebrate Epiphany mid-week).
- January 8 is The Baptism of the Lord – and then it’s into Ordinary Time.
Advent is long and Christmas is short.  The Advent readings are more abstract and therefore difficult for children than were the readings for Year A.  Therefore, this is one year when it would be especially wise to find ways to slip some of the Christmas carols and stories into Advent. 

One way to do this is to emphasize some of the Advent rituals and arts.  They may be familiar to you, but they are new to children who encounter them only one month each year.  So, plan to explain and enjoy them fully in worship.  The children need the introductions and most adults enjoy watching the next generation claim their treasure and in the process learning things they did not know about familiar rituals.  Below are summaries of ways to use Advent wreaths, crèches, Chrismon trees, and carols this Advent.  Detailed information on each will be found in the materials for each week of the seasons.  You might also want to check Planning for the Advent and Christmas Season - Year A  for slightly different ideas.


Most congregations love lighting the Advent Wreath.  But lighting the wreath with a collection of people reading a verse and a prayer each week can be an awkward spot in the service.  Often people in the pews lose all the words and simply enjoy the candles.  There are other ways to do it.




1.      Instead of lighting the wreath at the same time in the service, tie it to different parts of worship.  Rather than following a verse-prayer-match format, light the candles as part of that element of worship.  Specific directions are offered each week this year.  The general flow is

Ø  Week One:  Prayer of confession to name darkness, assurance is the lighting of the candle
Ø  Week Two: Offering or affirmation of faith
Ø  Week Three:  set the Joy theme lighting the candles at the Call to Worship or during a rejoicing hymn or carol
Ø  Week Four:  Sing “Here Am I” at affirmation time to stand ready with Mary
OR paraphrase Romans at the benediction

2.      Instead  of reading as the candles are lit, sing a song.  Three below have both good choruses that can be sung each week and child friendly verses that can be added as the weeks progress.

“When Hope Was a Child,” by Brian Wren.  (This could be sung responsively with a choir or soloist singing the verses and the congregation singing the choruses.)

“Christ Be Our Light”, by Bernadette Ferrell  (Another way to use this is to sing the chorus only each week as that week’s candles are lit just before the call to worship.)

“Christmas is A Coming, the Church is Glad to Sing,” by John L. Bell



This creche graces the sanctuary at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville, VA. 
The tallest figures are 15 inches tall.  They are all lightweight and unbreakable.


Children do not have as many opportunities to hear the nativity store as they once did.  So, displaying a large (for visibility), unbreakable (for fearless handling) crèche in the sanctuary and referring to it often during Advent is a good way to build children’s familiarity with the story.  It might be used different ways in different years.  Some years the figures might begin advent scattered throughout the sanctuary making their way to the manger over the weeks.  Other years all the figures may spend the season in a one place with individual figures being moved out for special attention each week.  If you use the later approach this year, there are several possibilities for each week.  Find details in each week.

Week 1:      Unpack and set up the figures talking about what each one is doing and wishing for before Christmas.
Week 2:      Feature a shepherd to either explore Isaiah’s shepherd who feeds the flock OR  to stand in for John the Baptist OR the empty manger
Week 3:      Feature a shepherd to be a John the Baptist look-a-like OR maybe Mary (if not saving her for next week)
Week 4:      Feature Mary
 C’mas Eve/Day: baby in manger//shepherds.....


If you have a Chrismon tree, feature a different ornament each week.  In early Advent display it in the worship center.  Once the tree is up, point to it with a flashlight.  Connect it to the theme for that day.  Possibilities to consider this year include:
Ø  Advent 1:  hand of God who is at work in the world
Ø  Advent 2:  alpha-omega ornaments or a shepherd crook cross
Ø  Advent 3:  stars for joy – maybe, but probably need to save for epiphany
Ø  Advent 4:  Rose for Mary ornament
Ø  Christmas Eve: ……
Ø  Christmas Day: …..
Ø  Epiphany: ……..


Advent hymns and Christmas carols are among the favorites of many worshippers.  But, they are generally sung during a very few weeks in worship.  We used to depend on the schools to teach them to the children, but that no longer happens.  Indeed, I listened to a podcast in which three Lutheran seminary professors suggested that in order to “save our heritage of Christmas carols” we need to find ways to include them in Advent worship.  Many congregations already do that.  Now seminaries seem to be recognizing the wisdom of that.  So, choose Advent-Christmas hymns carefully and plan to do more than just sing them.

Ø  Walk through them with the congregation before singing them.  Put key words or phrases into your own words and point to the message of the carol.
Ø  Choose songs with simple choruses that can be rehearsed with the whole congregation before singing so that young readers can join in the singing.
Ø  Sing the songs in different ways to call those familiar with the song to really hear what they are singing and to help younger singers understand the psalm.  Several, such as “Watchman Tell Us of the Night,” beg for responsive singing.
Ø  Replace generally spoken parts of worship with verses or whole carols. 
Ø  Lace sermons with references to the carols – even directing worshipers to open their hymnbooks to review a given carol.  If you are comfortable doing so, sing a phrase or two.  If you are not a public singer, enlist the help of the choir, a soloist, or the whole congregation to sing a verse or a chorus before or after your comments in the middle of the sermon.

Many of these can become children times just before a congregation hymn, but they are best addressed to the whole congregation.  Again detailed suggestions for this are found in posts for each week.

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Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Back To School!

5:49 PM | Posted by jamila | Edit Post



The return to school, starting a new grade with new teachers and students, even new schools is huge for children and their families.  It sometimes feels more like the beginning of the new year than does January 1.  When the church includes this in the congregation’s worship two things important things happen among children.
1.       They realize that they and their lives are important to the church.  They  see themselves as significant members of the congregation. 
2.       They hear that God is with them at school and that their church cares about what happens there.  God and church are not “off to the side” or just a Sunday thing. 

There are many ways to raise the beginning of the new school year.  It can be a simple as including it in the church’s prayers or as elaborate as a back to school festival.   This post offers some background on children’s concerns as school begins again and a collection of ways to raise those concerns in worship.  Where specific August lectionary texts have a back to school connection, I will note it and offer ways to raise it in worship in the post for that day.


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VOCABULARY HEADS UP     Vocabulary is important.  Most elementary aged children think of themselves as “children” more than “students.”  Since my focus is on including these children in worship, I will use “children” in my suggestions.  Teenagers are not likely to respond well to this.  So, if you want to include them in this day, use the “student” in both publicity and liturgy.  Consider taking time early in the service to talk about what a student is and does to make sure the youngest know that they are students too.
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Questions Children are Obsessing Over the Week Before School


Will I like my teacher/s?
Will my teacher/s like me?
Will I like the other kids in my class?
Will my friends be in my class?
Will kids who were a pain last year be in my class again?
L  the kid who was constantly picking on you and making fun of you?
L  the kid who always out-spelled you, counted further, and made a higher grade?
L  the kid you just did not like and hated to be around
Will I be able to do the work?  Will this be the year I flunk?
Will it be fun?

Ideas to Explore with Children on the Sunday before School Starts 

#God will be with you every day at school.  No matter how good or bad things are going, God will be there.  You can count on God’s presence. 

To explore this idea, include a litany with children.  This one was written by Rev. Karin Fowler  and modified by Rev. Larry Farris

Leader: When it’s the night before going to school, and I’m picking out my clothes and making sure I have all my school supplies…
Children: Jesus is with me.
Leader: When I’m waking up and eating a healthy breakfast to start the day…
Children: Jesus is with me.
Leader: When I’m getting on the school bus or being driven to school...
Children: Jesus is with me.
Leader: When I meet my teachers and new friends in my class…
Children: Jesus is with me.
Leader: When I’m playing with my friends at recess…
Children: Jesus is with me.
Leader: When I’m finding the right school bus to ride home…
Children: Jesus is with me.
Leader: When I’m telling my family about my day at school…
Children: Jesus is with me.
Leader: When I’m praying at night and thanking God for my family, my friends and my school…
Children: Jesus is with me.
Leader: Let’s pray together:
All: Thank you, Jesus, for always being by my side. I know that if I get nervous or afraid, you will be there with me. When I see the cross on my backpack, I will remember that you are always with me. I know that I can talk with you any time – day or night – and for that I am so thankful. I pray this all in your name. Amen.

Give each child a small symbol to remind them of God’s presence with them at school.  It may be a pencil printed with a message,  a plastic symbol to clip or tie to their backpack or a sticker to put on or on the inside flap of their backpack.  Do check to be sure such things are allowed.  Some schools have banned clip ons because the chains of them children were adding to packs created very real safety hazards.  And, some school systems will not allow religious symbols displayed openly.  In either case provide something that can be put inside the bag (maybe under the flap) where the student will see it. 

: God loves you always.  Other students may cut you out.  A teacher may not like you.  But, God loves you no matter what.

% God loves you whether you get As or Fs.  Some children go back to school excited about new things and expecting to do well.  (Think Hermoine in Harry Potter).  Other children dread the return to the classroom where they have not done well.  (More like Ron Weasly in Harry Potter.)  Even the academic super-achievers need to be told often that they are not valued for their success.  God will love them even if, horror of horrors, they get a C.  Those at the bottom of the class need to be assured that God loves them as much as the super-achievers.  This theme needs to be revisited big time when report cards come out throughout the year.

@ Going to school is your vocation.  At school children learn about God’s world and practice skills they will need as they live and work in God’s world.  The challenge in school is to identify your gifts and talents and to become the person God created you to be.  This is an important vocation.

                 
VACATION  and  VOCATION

Display two posters each bearing a large printed word – VACATION and VOCATION.  Note the one letter difference in the words.  Talk briefly about the summer’s VACATION activities and the joy of not having to perform.  Then note that with the return of school, we all take up our VOCATIONS.  Define VOCATION, name a few in your congregation, and identify going to school as student’s vocation.   Note that there is as much joy in VOCATION as in VACATION. 

I Children are Jesus’ hands and feet at school.  They are there on the bus, on the playground, in the cafeteria, and in small work groups in their class.  Neither the preacher, their parents, nor anybody else at church can be there.  So Jesus is depending on them to stand up for justice and to watch for people who need loving care.
If you explore this in worship, give students a hand or foot ornament or symbol marked with a cross to put on their backpack.

The Blessing of the Backpacks

Blessing the Backpacks is one way to celebrate the return to school.  Weeks in advance invite students to bring their backpacks with them the Sunday before school starts.  During the service, ask them to come forward with their backpacks.  After a few words about going back to school, bless the students and the packs.  It is most effective to bless each child and pack one at the time.  Put one hand on the student’s head or shoulder and the other on the pack and say a blessing such as:
God, bless this bag and the child who will use it. Be with him/her as he/she learns and grows this year. Show him/her how to serve you and help him/her to teach us all about your love. In Jesus' name. Amen.
In large congregations in which it would be unwieldy to bless the students individually during the service, the blessings can be done before and/or after the service.  A minister meets, speaks briefly with each child about the coming year and blesses him or her.  I heard of one congregation that sponsors a Back to School Festival with face painting, inflatable jump houses, treats, and a booth at which the blessings occur. 

Some congregations expand this blessing by inviting worshipers of all ages to bring the briefcases, totes, even diaper bags they take with them as they leave home each day for work/activities.  The negative side of this is that it horns in on the kid’s back to school celebration.  The positive side is that kids with their backpacks connect themselves and their school work with worshipers of all ages and their work.  It emphasizes the vocational nature of their schoolwork. 

A Responsive Back to School Prayer

The following responsive ”Back to School” prayer was written by Rev. Larry Farris for use at Ann Arbor Presbyterian Church.  I would replace “school administrators” with the more specific “principals, secretaries, and school board members” and add a prayer for custodians, cafeteria workers, and maybe librarians.  And, you will of course have to adapt the prayer for church programs for children to fit your congregation.


Leader: O Holy God, the time is come when school begins. As these your children begin their studies, we ask a blessing on their backpacks in which they carry the books and note books, markers and pens and pencils they will use to learn. O Lord of Life and Love,
People: Hear our prayer.
Leader: Bless, O God, all who will teach our children in the coming days and weeks and months. Give them the wisdom to find inspiration for each child. Give them the energy and creativity and love that will make their work a blessing to our children. O Lord of Life and Love,
People: Hear our prayer.
Leader: Bless, O God, all school administrators that they may be faithful stewards of the resources entrusted to their care. Make them fair and merciful, able to do their crucial work with a spirit of grace and compassion. O Lord of Life and Love,
People: Hear our prayer.
Leader: Bless, O God, each one gathered here that we will seek every opportunity to grow in our knowledge and love of you – in our church school classes, our 2:42 program, all our classes for youth and students and adult learners. Grant that we may see you more clearly, love you more dearly, follow you more nearly. O Lord of Life and Love,
People: Hear our prayer.
Leader: And bless, O God, these our cherished children, those whom we have promised to love and nurture at their baptism. Keep them safe, keep them excited, keep them ever seeking to learn more and to develop their gifts. Grant that through their study, they may gain the tools to grow in love and faith and service, all their days. O Lord of Life and Love,
People: Hear our prayer.
Leader: Bless, O God, these backpacks and the children who carry them. O Lord of Life and Love,
People: Hear our prayer. Amen.


%  
“Earth and Stars” is a great hymn for this day.  It is filled with concrete language and short words that older children can read.  Even the youngest can join in on the chorus.  To encourage children to sing…

-          Read verses 3 and 4 making the obvious school connections before singing
-          If you are emphasizing the vocations of all worshipers, point to the images in verse 2.  Even suggest phrases for other professions – computers and desks, etc.
-          Practice singing the chorus once so the youngest readers can join in on that even if they miss some of the verses  
“Sing to the Lord a new song! God has done marvelous things. 
We will sing praises with a new song!”


% Invite members of the congregation to help all the town’s children get ready to return to school by filling backpacks with school supplies for children who will need them.  The Boys and Girls Club, a shelter for homeless families, or some other organization can probably provide a list of what is needed for each bag.  Some families will want to pack a bag on their own as they fill packs for their own children.  Others will want to bring one or two items.  A school office can probably direct you to the organization behind this effort in your area.

! Because many families are settling into more structured schedules as school starts, it is a good time to encourage them to make one “new year’s resolution” for the new school year as a family.  Suggest the resolution (only one).  Make it clear and simple.  Then, check up on it over the first month.  The goal is to encourage families to undertake one activity that will enrich their spiritual life.  Possible resolutions:
Ø  Bedtime prayers.  A parent may tuck in each child, taking time to review the day and say thank you to God for what was good and ask God  for help where needed.  In some families all the children and parents may be able to gather for this.
Ø  Attend church school regularly.  Many families start off with intentions of doing this as school resumes, but soon fall off the bandwagon.  When this discipline is named and worship leaders gently check in with the whole congregation about sticking with it, families are more likely to keep coming.
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Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Year A - Proper 13, 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (July 31, 2011)

4:54 PM | Posted by jamila | Edit Post

Genesis 32:22-31

F Most children, especially most boys, are delighted by this story in which God appears as a wrestler.  The idea that God is willing to get down and tussle with Jacob is appealing.  The fact that the fight was a friendly one rather than a vicious one leads them to think God was on Jacob’s side (and our side) all along.  They are also pleased that God is strong enough and gentle enough to leave Jacob lame (with a reminder of God’s strength), but not horribly damaged.  They however will not tumble to all this simply hearing the text read, it will have to be pointed out to them and savored with them.  (If you have a teenage wrestler in the congregation, ask him to read this story after noting the that this text is appropriately read by a wrestler.)


F In the aftermath of all the Harry Potter mania, point young worshipers to The Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis by comparing Aslan the Lion who represents Jesus in these books to God wrestling with Jacob.  In The Lion, the Witch and Wardrobe  (the first book in the series) Susan and Lucy ask Mr. and Mrs. Beaver to describe Aslan. They ask if Aslan is a man. Mr. Beaver replies.


"Aslan a man?  Certainly not.  I tell you he is the King of the Wood and the son of the great Emperor Beyond the Sea.  Don't you know who is the King of the Beasts?  Aslan is a lion - the Lion, the great Lion."

"Ooh!" said Susan.  "I thought he was a man.  Is he -- quite safe?  I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion."

"That you will, dearie, and make no mistake," said Mrs. Beaver, "if there's anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they're either braver than most or else just silly."
  
"Then he isn't safe?" said Lucy.

"Safe?" said Mr. Beaver.  "Don't you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you?  Who said anything about being safe?  'Course he isn't safe.  But he's good.  He's the King, I tell you."


F Celebrate God’s power by singing “I Sing the Mighty Power of God.”  Before singing point out a few of the examples of God’s power and encourage worshipers to listen for others as they sing.

Psalm 17:1-7

The images in this psalm will go right past children.  Let them.  The psalm will mean more to them later in life.


Isaiah 55:1-5

F Bring a piece of “how could I ever have gone out in public in this” clothing and if possible a picture of yourself wearing it, back when it was high style.  (If you were in college in the 60’s as I was, there are probably several excellent candidates for this deep in your closet.  I wore the one in the picture with bright yellow tights!  It is now part of a clown costume.)  Recall how important it was to you to have that item then and how ridiculous it seems now.  Then reread verse   2. 

“Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy? “

Put it into your own words discussing our tendency to go after things we think we have to have, things that we think will make us happy, things that years , or even days, later look so very foolish.

F Create a responsive prayer about the things we want that “do not satisfy” using “Give us this day our daily bread” as the congregation’s response.

Leader: God help us recognize the difference between what we want
              and what we really need.
All:         Give us this day our daily bread.



Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21

Use the adapted version of this psalm (from TEV) as a responsive reading with the congregation reading THE LORD in each verse and the liturgist or choir reading the remainder of each verse.  (And, yes, there are lots of male pronouns referring to God in this psalm.  I tried to make it more inclusive, but failed.  If someone else creates or knows of a better one, please share.)

8     The Lord is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9     The Lord is good to all,
and God’s compassion is over all he has made.
14     The Lord upholds all who are falling,
and raises up all who are bowed down.
15     The eyes of all look to The Lord,
and The Lord gives them their food in due season.
16     The Lord opens his hand,
satisfying the desire of every living thing.
17     The Lord is just in all his ways,
and kind in all his doings.
18     The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
19     The Lord He fulfills the desire of all who fear him;
he also hears their cry, and saves them.
20     The Lord watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.
21     My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
and all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever.


Romans 9:1-5 

F Paul’s concern for the Jews is better taken up with children in other places and in other ways than these verses.  

F The Roman Catholic lectionary suggests Romans 8: 35,37-39 - last week’s list of all the things that cannot come between us and God’s powerful love for this week.  It could be an interesting match with God the wrestler in the Genesis story.


Matthew 14:13-21


JESUS MAFA. Jesus multiplies the loaves and fish,
from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of
the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN.
http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=48287
[retrieved June 21, 2011].
F The story of the loaves and fishes meal appears in all four gospels.  In only John’s is the food offered by a child.  Still, most people will add the child as they hear the other three accounts read.  So, ask an older child to read this text in worship.

F Consider creating the whole sermon around imaging yourselves as different people in this story.  Ponder what they might have been thinking, feeling, and learning as the meal came together. Children may lose you when you explore a more adult possibility for a character, but will be drawn back in when you move to the next character/s.  For starters…

Jesus
* Wanting a little quiet to mourn John the Baptist’s death, he is confronted by a large crowd who want his attention.  What was he thinking and feeling as he responded to their needs instead of his own. 
* Some see this as a turning point.  Jesus has been letting the disciples witness him in action.  Learning of John’s murder makes him realize more fully what is ahead for him and leads him to begin preparing his disciples for leadership.  How does that influence his relationships with his disciples?

The disciples
* How did they feel when Jesus told them to feed the crowd?
* What did they think when they realized that there was going to be enough? 
* What do you think they did with the leftover food? 
* How did this event change them?

The crowd
* How did it feel to be offered free food with no questions asked in a remote place in a time when food was not abundant?
* In that day who you ate with was important.  Jesus often got in trouble over the people with whom he ate.  How did it feel to sit down with huge numbers of strangers to share food?

Us
* What do we in OUR TOWN at OUR CHURCH like about this story?
* With which character/s do we most identify?
* What does this story suggest we need to work on a bit more?
     
F This story will lead many to speak about scarcity thinking in today’s world.  Children engage in scarcity thinking when they ask,
Ø  Will I get my fair share of the fries, the goldfish, the candies….?
Ø  When is MY turn?  And, will my turn be as long as theirs?
Ø  Do they (especially parents, but also other loved adults and peers) love me as much as they love them?  (If there is a finite amount of love, I want to be sure to get some of it.)

F Tie this story to a summer food drive.  Most emergency food banks need food during the summer months when there are fewer food drives, but people still need to eat.  So, after reading and exploring the story, give worshipers a shopping list (most food banks provide one) or a paper plate to remind them to bring food the following Sunday or during the week.  Encourage families to shop for the list together.    This could be launched during the sermon.  Or, the lists or plates could be handed out just before the benediction with Jesus' charge to the disciples “YOU give them something to eat” and followed with a benediction sending them out to do this in God’s presence.

F Do a little worship education about the phrases “Give us this day our daily bread” from the Lord’s prayer.  Point out that the pronouns are plural.  We can’t pray just for our own needs.  Identify things in addition to food that are physical needs for all people.  Then, pray a responsive prayer of intercession for the hungry of the world.  The congregation’s response to each petition is “Give us this day our daily bread.” 

This could be addressed to the whole congregation just before the prayer or it could be the a children’s time just before and during this prayer of intercession.

F Discuss the practice of saying a blessing or grace before meals.  Offer samples.  If you sense that many in the congregation have let this practice go, challenge individuals and households to try it at least one meal each day this week.  Suggest that they agree on a meal and the prayer they will say in the car on the way home from church.  Call it worship homework.

 
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