Ascension Sunday, May 20
Daniel, Tania, Sedline, Samuel, Leila, Lani, Andrew, Parola, and Lorene gathered in our circle for opening prayers and gratitude. Then, under a glorious blue-and-white sky, we climbed up into the jungle gym to blow magenta-colored bubbles and watch them climb. It was our centering activity. Children shared bubbles with each other while we told the story of the disciples in the forty days after Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. Jesus appeared to the disciples, we said. He helped confirm them in what he'd taught them during his life, that all the law and prophets hang on two great commandments: Love God! Love each other!
We shouted the commandments. We wondered at the disciples' fear and loneliness without Jesus, whom they'd followed. We wondered at their unwillingness to shoulder the great work that they'd been given to do. We talked about Jesus' ascension--and the Pentecost to come.
We luxuriated in each others' company, and I asked each child to find some image to hold in mind as a memento of the slow, perfect morning with bubbles floating among us like a prayer.
Meanwhile, William and Jake did acolyte duty. Bless them!
-LC
We shouted the commandments. We wondered at the disciples' fear and loneliness without Jesus, whom they'd followed. We wondered at their unwillingness to shoulder the great work that they'd been given to do. We talked about Jesus' ascension--and the Pentecost to come.
We luxuriated in each others' company, and I asked each child to find some image to hold in mind as a memento of the slow, perfect morning with bubbles floating among us like a prayer.
Meanwhile, William and Jake did acolyte duty. Bless them!
-LC
Our hearts will go on!
reflections on Friday's Sunday School planning meeting
Thanks to all the Good Shepherd folks who - much to their wonder! - joined hands around the supper table on May 11 in the Rectory to pray over, reflect on, and plan for, our ongoing children's ministries. Parents, vestry, staff, and discernment committee were all represented. The Smiths provided a delicious meal, topped off with carrot cake from the Davenports; the kids lived out their sense of community by entertaining each other, and everyone had a chance to hold Elizabeth, whose attentive and welcoming nature is a model to us all! Our thoughts? 1) It's really hard to talk about God when you don't have the answers. 2) It's really really hard to talk about God to children. 3) It's really really really hard to talk about God to your own children. 4) The greatest need is to see that each and every child is loved. 5) Listening can be way more important than instructing. 6) We adults don't have to have all the answers, but we need some practice learning how to respond to the questions. 7) Resources are available. 8) We can do this. We don't yet know quite how, but we're gonna find out. 9) Missing Lorene already is our way of realizing that the ball is now in our court. 10) First steps: plan kids' projects and activities for summer Sundays; get the acolyte schedule ready for fall; figure out the best way(s) to communicate with the kids and parents about the schedule; look over some resources and teaching guides; meet again. More later! - bpb 5/14/12
Two Baptisms in April!
On April 15 we celebrated the baptism of Gwenyth Bishop, whose father and grandparents were active Good Shepherd members for many years. The next week Abby Davenport helped us witness the baptism of her baby sister Elizabeth Claire.
Holy Week 2012
This year, we include our young people in Maundy Thursday's ritual of stripping the altar. Service begins at 7:30pm. Acolytes report at 7pm for instruction and vesting.
Most children do not attend Good Friday services, so Maundy Thursday sets them up to contemplate Christ's passion. We want to thank parents for supporting the children throughout this week.
We also thank parents in advance for bringing children to the rectory at 4:30pm on Easter Eve to prepare for the Easter Vigil service at 7pm on Saturday evening. Here's what we'll do: at 4:30, we'll eat a light supper. Then we'll go to church to practice our readings and illustrations and pageant. Older children will read Creation while younger ones carry posters. For the Exodus readings, we'll enact our simple pageant of the escape through the Red Sea. We'll also practice singing "Go Down, Moses," although, truth to tell, ours is not a group of uniformly enthusiastic singers, so we'll ask the choir to back us up...
The Old Testament stories, as the liturgy says: give us "the record of God's saving deeds in history, how he saved his people in ages past" as we "pray that our God will bring each of us to the fullness of redemption."
We talk about this during dinner, then we practice, and then dig up our buried alleluias, and build the bonfire that Fr. Bob will light to begin the service. It's an ancient, affecting, and intimate service. It allows our children to enter into the mystery of Easter--without fancy clothes or candy or bunnies. There's light coming into the darkness, and memories of those moments along with the fun of diving under the chiffon-blue sea. Fire and light speaks to the kids as it speaks to us.
Parents, feel free to drop your children at 4:30pm and then just come back for the service at 7. Maybe you can have an early supper or walk together. Do encourage your friends with children to join us, and bring grandparents, aunties and uncles. Alleluia!
On Easter morning at 10:30am, there's the great Easter service, with everyone welcome, new pocketbooks and all! Lynette is back with the Easter Egg ministry, but she can always use helpers. We thank Parola in advance for her service this Holy Week. Thanks, too, to all the parents and friends who lend a hand.
The acolyte line-up is on our Schedules page, but here, too, for your convenience:
4/5 Maundy Thursday: Jake, William, Daniel, Ally, Tania, Jonathan, Augie
4/6 Good Friday (at Falls Presbyterian)
4/7 The Great Vigil of Easter: Jake, Bill Dornan
4/8 Easter: Daniel, William, Jonathan
(All acolytes process, recess)
Most children do not attend Good Friday services, so Maundy Thursday sets them up to contemplate Christ's passion. We want to thank parents for supporting the children throughout this week.
We also thank parents in advance for bringing children to the rectory at 4:30pm on Easter Eve to prepare for the Easter Vigil service at 7pm on Saturday evening. Here's what we'll do: at 4:30, we'll eat a light supper. Then we'll go to church to practice our readings and illustrations and pageant. Older children will read Creation while younger ones carry posters. For the Exodus readings, we'll enact our simple pageant of the escape through the Red Sea. We'll also practice singing "Go Down, Moses," although, truth to tell, ours is not a group of uniformly enthusiastic singers, so we'll ask the choir to back us up...
The Old Testament stories, as the liturgy says: give us "the record of God's saving deeds in history, how he saved his people in ages past" as we "pray that our God will bring each of us to the fullness of redemption."
We talk about this during dinner, then we practice, and then dig up our buried alleluias, and build the bonfire that Fr. Bob will light to begin the service. It's an ancient, affecting, and intimate service. It allows our children to enter into the mystery of Easter--without fancy clothes or candy or bunnies. There's light coming into the darkness, and memories of those moments along with the fun of diving under the chiffon-blue sea. Fire and light speaks to the kids as it speaks to us.
Parents, feel free to drop your children at 4:30pm and then just come back for the service at 7. Maybe you can have an early supper or walk together. Do encourage your friends with children to join us, and bring grandparents, aunties and uncles. Alleluia!
On Easter morning at 10:30am, there's the great Easter service, with everyone welcome, new pocketbooks and all! Lynette is back with the Easter Egg ministry, but she can always use helpers. We thank Parola in advance for her service this Holy Week. Thanks, too, to all the parents and friends who lend a hand.
The acolyte line-up is on our Schedules page, but here, too, for your convenience:
4/5 Maundy Thursday: Jake, William, Daniel, Ally, Tania, Jonathan, Augie
4/6 Good Friday (at Falls Presbyterian)
4/7 The Great Vigil of Easter: Jake, Bill Dornan
4/8 Easter: Daniel, William, Jonathan
(All acolytes process, recess)
Youth Sunday delights! 3/25
Welcome back Leila and Lani! We are so happy to have these two much taller girls back in our midst!
Thanks very much to Susan Wright for two weeks' lessons on bread-making. The children's loaves worked wonderfully for communion--and coffee hour.
Finally, Happy birthday, Sedline (10) and Nashay (3), and good job to all of our acolytes who processed and recessed today.
Thanks very much to Susan Wright for two weeks' lessons on bread-making. The children's loaves worked wonderfully for communion--and coffee hour.
Finally, Happy birthday, Sedline (10) and Nashay (3), and good job to all of our acolytes who processed and recessed today.
Parents to the rescue! Thanks be.
Donna Brady is now our email connector, along with parish secretary Barbara Berkowitz. Now Allison Davenport has agreed to be the acolyte reminder. Yay! On Wednesdays, she'll call families to remind you. Much better than Lorene's Saturday night texts!
Celebrating Absalom Jones!
We were a small, mostly young, hardy group today: Andrew, Gracie, Samuel, Augie, Abby, and Allie, and adults Parola, Allison and Lorene. We talked about Absalom Jones' faith, his tenacity and unbelievable hard work--to raise money to pay for his wife and himself while still enslaved in someone else's household!
We talked about how he and Richard Allen and the others in the Free African Society were builders and creators in the name of the Lord.
Then we wondered: What would we want to create? What do the children want to build?
Samuel: a school
Augie: a pizza shop
Abby: a house
The church that Father Jones and others built--the building itself--may be gone, but the organization of people dedicated to worshipping Christ together at the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas thrives. Children and adults among us would like to visit. Hmmm. Sounds like a road trip: http://www.aecst.org/
We talked about how he and Richard Allen and the others in the Free African Society were builders and creators in the name of the Lord.
Then we wondered: What would we want to create? What do the children want to build?
Samuel: a school
Augie: a pizza shop
Abby: a house
The church that Father Jones and others built--the building itself--may be gone, but the organization of people dedicated to worshipping Christ together at the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas thrives. Children and adults among us would like to visit. Hmmm. Sounds like a road trip: http://www.aecst.org/
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Fish for PeopleEven with the littles on the rug, we talked about translations today, that Jesus will not just "teach us to fish," but make us into fishers of people--if we pray for it.
2/5/2012 - Prayers...In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a
deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, "Everyone is searching for you." He answered, "Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do." And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons. |
Then, we ask the kids to imagine the last part of the story: getting up in the dark,
going to a deserted, empty place, and praying. Godly play suggests that we let them wonder
about the story: what Simon was thinking as he looked for Jesus. Why did
Jesus need the time alone, in a deserted place? Why is morning a good
time to pray? Or they could just draw something in form of a prayer.
going to a deserted, empty place, and praying. Godly play suggests that we let them wonder
about the story: what Simon was thinking as he looked for Jesus. Why did
Jesus need the time alone, in a deserted place? Why is morning a good
time to pray? Or they could just draw something in form of a prayer.
Alleluia!
This is a strategic bunch of young folks! We are planning our Lent and Easter activities. This year, we are already making our alleluias, decorated papers with the word that means, in Hebrew: Praise Yah!
Until Lent we will use these as prayer banners. Then on February 22, we will bury them, because during our Lenten services, we do not use the word alleluia. Like the purple altar cloths, the silence after the closing blessing reminds us of Jesus' last weeks before the crucifixion.
Special thanks to Tania for remembering this ritual. Since we've had a warm winter so far, and the ground is not thoroughly frozen, we can dig our Lenten hole today. Then, in February, we will simply bury the alleluias in a glass jar--without having to beat at the frozen ground with an ax as we have had to do in past years. Phew!
Until Lent we will use these as prayer banners. Then on February 22, we will bury them, because during our Lenten services, we do not use the word alleluia. Like the purple altar cloths, the silence after the closing blessing reminds us of Jesus' last weeks before the crucifixion.
Special thanks to Tania for remembering this ritual. Since we've had a warm winter so far, and the ground is not thoroughly frozen, we can dig our Lenten hole today. Then, in February, we will simply bury the alleluias in a glass jar--without having to beat at the frozen ground with an ax as we have had to do in past years. Phew!
Food from God!
That's what yesterday's pageant proclaimed--and how it felt to the parishioners and our Church School troupe. Folks in the parish hall called it our best ever pageant, and we agree. Certainly, the process brought together older and younger children to talk about and wonder at the birth of the Christ child and to share their own experiences of Jesus in their lives. (You can read the process below.)
We are sorry to have missed the Stones, including Solomon as the intrepid shepherd and Ruby as Virgin Mary, and we hope they feel better.
And we were happy to welcome Augie and Gracie into the band.
The adults have been spectacular, from our directors under Allison Davenport, to the parent collective and our amazing parish secretary, Barbara Berkowitz, to the various "procurement" parishioners, to our organist and choir singing everything from "Pidiendo Posadas" to an a cappella verse of "Little Town of Bethlehem" as the "starry sky" appeared, to our parish photographer, church staff, and all the friends who came to share. Thanks to all of you from the children.
Each of us has favorite individual moments, but all of us will remember the peaceful blessing of Elizabeth Claire as Baby Jesus watching us contentedly from her car-seat manger as we sang "Silent Night." The children embody the mystery: "the dawn of his redeeming grace." Our pageants, with the peg-leg sheep and liquor-box angel wings, reminded us that child born out in the stable nonetheless entered as "Lord at thy birth." So, to, do our own children enter this world full of grace--and with spiritual gifts that nourish and refresh.
We are sorry to have missed the Stones, including Solomon as the intrepid shepherd and Ruby as Virgin Mary, and we hope they feel better.
And we were happy to welcome Augie and Gracie into the band.
The adults have been spectacular, from our directors under Allison Davenport, to the parent collective and our amazing parish secretary, Barbara Berkowitz, to the various "procurement" parishioners, to our organist and choir singing everything from "Pidiendo Posadas" to an a cappella verse of "Little Town of Bethlehem" as the "starry sky" appeared, to our parish photographer, church staff, and all the friends who came to share. Thanks to all of you from the children.
Each of us has favorite individual moments, but all of us will remember the peaceful blessing of Elizabeth Claire as Baby Jesus watching us contentedly from her car-seat manger as we sang "Silent Night." The children embody the mystery: "the dawn of his redeeming grace." Our pageants, with the peg-leg sheep and liquor-box angel wings, reminded us that child born out in the stable nonetheless entered as "Lord at thy birth." So, to, do our own children enter this world full of grace--and with spiritual gifts that nourish and refresh.
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Pageant in process!
Dress rehearsal December 11th
This year's pageant, with Tyler's title, "Food from God," is shorter than last year's and simpler. It's still a pageant that can accept last-minute walk-ons, so do bring friends to join in. And this year, we'll post the script online in our blog section in case anyone wants to practice or read-through--or just in case any other churches stumble upon it in a desperate last-minute search for a short, easy-to-do, updated, but not snarky, Christmas pageant for a small to midsize parish.
Lucy Bell Sellers will join us to help the kids practice on the 11th, and we'll be happy to have parents prop folks that day, too.
We stopped during last Sunday's read-through for a short, elementary run-through of the gospel, from baby Jesus straight through, right the way through to the risen Lord, from the baby born into poverty who spoke words of radical love and justice that threatened Rome and threatened the Pharisees. Each of our children's prayers are as important to God as Father Bob's. The prayer of each person lying on the street this morning is as important as the prayer of each person lying in bed, warm and dry. We went right through Jesus' crucifixion and right through to Easter, when he asked why his followers looked for the living among the dead; right through to us in our circle in East Falls, living in each other's love, which comes from him, and of which we remind ourselves each week with bread and wine: Food from God!
It slowed down rehearsal. But what else is the pageant for, but to give us a way to practice the Advent preparation?
Lucy Bell Sellers will join us to help the kids practice on the 11th, and we'll be happy to have parents prop folks that day, too.
We stopped during last Sunday's read-through for a short, elementary run-through of the gospel, from baby Jesus straight through, right the way through to the risen Lord, from the baby born into poverty who spoke words of radical love and justice that threatened Rome and threatened the Pharisees. Each of our children's prayers are as important to God as Father Bob's. The prayer of each person lying on the street this morning is as important as the prayer of each person lying in bed, warm and dry. We went right through Jesus' crucifixion and right through to Easter, when he asked why his followers looked for the living among the dead; right through to us in our circle in East Falls, living in each other's love, which comes from him, and of which we remind ourselves each week with bread and wine: Food from God!
It slowed down rehearsal. But what else is the pageant for, but to give us a way to practice the Advent preparation?
Advent for Good Shepherd kids:
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Pageant, made to order.As we did last year, Good Shepherd kids will interview parishioners and their own family members, neighbors, and friends to create a script for a Christmas pageant that includes stories from other times and places. This year, our children have decided to make food our theme. Here are the questions they've decided to ask. You can get started now with your own grandparents and parents and loved ones and bring the answers to church or email them to: goodshepherdoffice@verizon.net
Is there any food that you only eat at Christmas? Is there a traditional food that you don’t like to eat? Have you ever received or given food as a gift on Christmas? Do you know how certain foods or foods in your family became to be a tradition? How does eating help you experience of worship, especially at Christmas? What foods are gifts at Christmas? What do they have to do with the nativity story? What foods have stories attached to them that tell us about Christmas? Welcome back, Tefo!
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11/13 Empty Bowl: Full heartsSunday School students and moms and friends gave thanks for our many blessings. This week's gratitude list included friends, family, snow, grapes, and, yep, eyeballs. We gave thanks for our homes and talked about how people come to be homeless: through house fires or losing their jobs or getting turned out of a building. And we gave thanks for the work of Northwest Philadelphia Interfaith Housing Network to help people without homes get into new places of their own.
It is important work that follows the teachings of Jesus. We can help. Once a year, the Sunday School can help by making our favorite desserts--not to eat, but to give to the Network's Empty Bowl fundraiser. Look for our cake, cookies, brownies, and pies on Thursday, November 17th at Chestnut Hill College's Sorgenti Arena, 4:30 to 8:30. Minimum donation $15. Then we began to cook. |
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11/6 Noah's Ark on All Saints' Day
We started out with All Saints. The children talked about people in their lives who'd been saints,or saints whom they loved. Sedline's favorite is St. Michael, the archangel who appears in the Old Testament and the new. Others mentioned parents and grandparents, people whose selfless acts bring the love of God to us:
"on earth, as it is in heaven."
Then, we noticed that Andrew was taking animals into and out of the plastic ark. Did he know the story of Noah? He'd placed the birds on the roof and was smiling at them. Sort of; not really. So, we ran through our saints, a little too fast, actually, and then asked Sedline to tell the story of the ark, with the older kids chiming in. We talked about male and female animals, and predators and prey all jammed up into the ark together, and, yes, animal poop. Lots and lots and lots. We also engaged in some luxurious wonder, especially after this September's flooding on the East Coast. That one ark bobbing atop the rushing, raging waters. There's a moment when everyone stops fidgeting, grabbing snacks, drumming on the tables, making little comments. It's kid worship wonder. At the thought of the ark all alone in the world, Noah and his family and those animals, at the tension of fear and faith, for a moment, each mind filled, and we felt our common amazement. Here's a link to the story in brief for children who'd like to read more or listen to a podcast: http://gardenofpraise.com/bibl2s.htm. They drew pictures that we'll scan and share in the bulletins.
For Andrew, 4, Aisling, 6, Fiona, 4, and even Nashay, 2, we also practiced The Lord's Prayer and the Doxology so that they can begin to know by heart the prayers and music of communion. As the liturgical year closes, the big kids are bigger, and the littles are new. Each year brings its own new worship dynamics, and we pray and play and work to make the new group a Church School, capable of cheering each other on, caring about each other's growth, loving each other for no reason except that Jesus has commanded us to do so. We will take the rest of our lives to learn that the Love Commandment trumps everything.
"on earth, as it is in heaven."
Then, we noticed that Andrew was taking animals into and out of the plastic ark. Did he know the story of Noah? He'd placed the birds on the roof and was smiling at them. Sort of; not really. So, we ran through our saints, a little too fast, actually, and then asked Sedline to tell the story of the ark, with the older kids chiming in. We talked about male and female animals, and predators and prey all jammed up into the ark together, and, yes, animal poop. Lots and lots and lots. We also engaged in some luxurious wonder, especially after this September's flooding on the East Coast. That one ark bobbing atop the rushing, raging waters. There's a moment when everyone stops fidgeting, grabbing snacks, drumming on the tables, making little comments. It's kid worship wonder. At the thought of the ark all alone in the world, Noah and his family and those animals, at the tension of fear and faith, for a moment, each mind filled, and we felt our common amazement. Here's a link to the story in brief for children who'd like to read more or listen to a podcast: http://gardenofpraise.com/bibl2s.htm. They drew pictures that we'll scan and share in the bulletins.
For Andrew, 4, Aisling, 6, Fiona, 4, and even Nashay, 2, we also practiced The Lord's Prayer and the Doxology so that they can begin to know by heart the prayers and music of communion. As the liturgical year closes, the big kids are bigger, and the littles are new. Each year brings its own new worship dynamics, and we pray and play and work to make the new group a Church School, capable of cheering each other on, caring about each other's growth, loving each other for no reason except that Jesus has commanded us to do so. We will take the rest of our lives to learn that the Love Commandment trumps everything.
10/30 David and Goliath
Today we talked about the story of the young man who fought the giant. Tania said that the story is about hope. Ally said that it tells us no matter how large of small you are, you can stand up to anyone. William made up rhymes that talked about the young man who became king. Aisling and Fiona felt each rock in turn, especially after hearing what David did with them, wrote the two names on our board--and even typed them here in the headline. All the children photographed the stones, collected from a riverbed, just as David collected his.
Paying Attention!
These are special moments that members of Good Shepherd have shared with us. Of course God is always with us; but these were times when folks really noticed.
this day.
She said, “I can tell by the way you treat people, no matter who they are.”
eulogy, I felt that God was with both of us. When I see the Good Shepherd kids carrying their banner, I feel that God will be there for all of us always.
2. Birth of my children. 3. The death of my son
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Coming up!Christmas Pageant.
What're we doing to prepare for the children's activities and materials in the upcoming seasons? Here's a sketch of a few things--and ways for all of us to participate:
1. Making Advent calendars for children 6 years and younger. Karen Brotherston has agreed to sew them again--yay! We have some fabric, which is in the secretary's office. Please bring in any fabric you have to share: ends, scraps, half a yard or more are welcome! Barbara Berkowitz has started making little stuffed characters to go with the tiny prayers we put into each pocket. If you have an Advent prayer and treat--for example, a breathing exercise and a red balloon, do share it! 2.The older children would like to use food as our theme for the Christmas pageant this year. Why food? This is what they said:
3. Also, who would like to direct the pageant? Help us rehearse? Stage manage? It takes a parish... 4. Help maintain the website. This is a delightful ministry, one with simple updating as well as the possibility for focused work and play with our youth. The actual updating couldn't be simpler with this company; and getting together with the young folks to envision and post never fails to bring us together with worship and laughter. 
5. Join the Sunday School worship circle. Just, please, come sit with us one Sunday. So often churches job out the youth ministry. It's convenient in the short run, but as so many generous Good shepherd grown-ups know, the experience of worshipping with our youngest members is a joyous addition to our faith practice. For sure, Church School helps us its adult members experience more deeply "the peace of God," as our blessing says, "which passes all understanding." Sitting with the children, telling them the Old Testament and gospel stories, drawing, running, cooking, imagining, listening to their responses and their joys and troubles --really listening-- does indeed "keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord..."
Now, of course, once you are there, there's likely to be some job that will emerge...But , please, come anyway. Taste and see. |
