Kids' Word is Underway for the 2015/16 School Year!

Last week we met with our classes for the first Sunday of this school year.  In our Grade 4 class I asked the students why they come to church.  The responses varied: worshipping God, giving thanks to him, confessing that we need God, being with other people who are Christian - who believe what I believe and who pray with me.  In the responses that were shared I repeatedly heard children mention 'other people'. There was an acknowledgement that we cannot be Christian all on our own, we need each other. Children need the Church! Sometimes as adults we consider far too lightly the need children have for faith community. We think Sunday School has some merit for them but we may not appreciate their need to be formed in God's story, as people who belong to Christ.

This summer I spoke at camp and I was struck with the responses that children had to the Bible; in one week we gave out an entire box of bibles! One girl had the courage to come and ask me to read the bible with her during free time.  She wanted to know how she could read it on her own; where should she start in this big book? Another boy, on the night of the camp out, asked a leader if they could read more of the stories of David from 1Samuel together.  I teach kids from the bible all year long and here I was surprised by the interest Children had in the Bible!  I am slow to learn. Children are fed by the scriptures too and they need to have the word of God opened up for them.

Our children are also in the process of developing a Christian worldview in a very secular context, they are trying to figure out what it means to be Christian in the world they inhabit.  This past week my daughter had to take a "Me Bag" to school; she packed four items into a small sac: a copy of Anne of Green Gables, her soccer jersey, a prized ribbon and her cross.  I know that her baptismal identity and her sense of belonging to our church give her confidence to bring her cross to her class. As a parent I am grateful for the formation she has received from our community of faith, for all of the people who have been pouring into her life.  Children need the encouragement of other Christians. They need to see people of all ages worshipping God, they need the songs, the sacraments, they need a place of contribution within a community, they need a place to ask questions, to learn prayer and be prayed for.  They need church in much the same way we do.  

Last Sunday I was humbled by the ways in which the children confessed their need to gather as the church.  Far too often adults develop cynicism and question the value of gathering as the church.  May the enthusiasm our children have for church instruct us all.

We did self portraits on Sunday; keep your eyes open for them this fall!  And as you see them be reminded: we are the church, together we are the body of Christ on earth!

This Fall we are moving through the lectionary and in particular the book of Mark between chapters 8-13.

September 20: Peter's Faith Mark 8:27-38

September 27: Who's the Greatest, Mark 9:30-37

October 4: Share God's Love, Mark 9:38-50

October 11: Thanksgiving Sunday - A Large Group Reflection/Activity

October 18: A Rich Man's Questions, Mark 10:17-31

October 25: James and John, Mark 10:35-45

November 1: All Saints' Day - An Intergenerational Service

November 8: Bartimaeus Sees, Mark 10: 46-52

November 15: A Widow's Offering, Mark 12:38-44

November 22: Christ the King Sunday/Be Ready John 18:33-37, Mark 13:1-8

I hope we can also encourage our older students to read the book of Mark. Students grade three and up will find a reading schedule they make take home with them; it breaks the book of Mark into 30 readings which they can tackle throughout the next few months.   Perhaps we can offer some incentive for reading the scripture before Advent begins on November 29 (Donuts/Breakfast/Fruit)  Let's encourage students to share some of what they are wondering about/learning as they read the book of Mark and as we study it together.  I have also found the book of Mark as a picture book, it is due for release mid-October and as soon as I have it, I will make it available to your classes.