Beginnings...

Teachers & Friends!

This Sunday marks the beginning of Kids' Word for the 2013/2014 school year.  As I have reflected on the task ahead of us this year I was reminded of this word from 1 John:

"We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life--- 3 we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ."

This is our work as teachers - to know the story to which we belong - that which was from the beginning, which was revealed in Jesus Christ and the future hope to which we belong.  This is the story we have internalized - it has become our own, and it is our privilege to share this story, and our lives with others.  As you interact with scripture, with curriculum, with children, my prayer is that your own faith would be enlivened and strengthened.  As you open yourselves to this work I know the Holy Spirit will inspire you with creativity and will bring these students to mind throughout the week in your prayers.  This is not just a Sunday work, it is a greater participation in the spiritual formation of these children - it is a sacred work done in participation with parents and family and with the broader faith community.

This Sunday we will gather together, for some children it will be their first time in Kids' Word; they will not know other children and the space will feel foreign.  Other students will feel fully at home in their classrooms and will be familiar with students and teachers.  We will work to create a welcoming and safe space for all children.  In our dismissal from the service we will have the Grades 1,2 and 3 leave with their teachers followed by the 4,5 &6 children.  I will be working to ensure each child gets to their correct space; you also have class lists so you may know who to keep an eye out for.  We will invite those parents who would like to drop their children off to come downstairs with us.  In your classrooms you will find name tags for each child and an attendance register.  You do not need to formally do attendance - you can fill this out after the class - it is just for our records.

In your classrooms you will see a table covered with a green cloth with an electric candle on it.

The green cloth reminds us that we are in the season of Pentecost - it is a season of growth and new life.  The symbol for the season of pentecost is a tree.

The candle reminds us of Christ's presence with us; it reminds us as we gather that we are all children of the Light.  The flame of the candle reminds us of the fire of the Holy Spirit.  You might ask students if they have noticed candles in the service before?  Some children will remember that they have received them at baptism - to signify that they have passed from darkness into light.  Other children will remember seeing candles or lighting candles during Advent.  Encourage them to notice those in the main worship space.

As you move into a time of sharing - you may choose to simply have students share the memento they brought with them or you may ask them to share about their summer in the context of desolation and consolation - a time when they felt the presence of God and a time when God felt hidden to them or things seemed uncertain.  It might be simple to ask what was one thing that brought them joy in the Summer and what was one thing that was difficult in the Summer. In this practice we affirm that Christ is with us in all of life - in the things that are joyful and in the things that are hard or don't make sense to us.  We can trust God even when he seems hidden from us.

You may close your time together with sentence prayers (an opportunity for each student to speak a prayer if they like), with a repeat prayer that you lead, you may choose to end with students repeating the Lord's Prayer, or you may like to end with a blessing over the children such as Aaron's blessing from Numbers 6:24-26: The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord life up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

If you would like to do an additional activity with your class - a game or a craft, please feel free! If you would like some ideas, I have years of experience with mixers and group games (as I am sure many of you do). Feel free to post any game or art activity ideas in the comments below.  If you require any paper or supplies or ideas, please let me know.  I am happy to prepare them for you. Just remember we will be transitioning back upstairs at 10:15!  I will try and notify each class when we are at 10:10.  Children will go upstairs with you and return to their families.

I am grateful for each of you and looking forward to our first gathering on Sunday - I trust there will be a certain fullness and joy in our time together.

Peace be with you this week!