A theology of childhood and salvation is not constructed, line by line, from propositions. It rests on the works of God on the soil of Palestine. It is not a metaphor in the midst of them, but a flesh and blood child that stuns the disciples inro silence. Jesus does not identify himself with the image of the child but with the real child.
John Pridmore in Through the Eyes of a Child (p.193)
This week
- Play Altars
- Take This!
- St Nicholas’ Day
- Harvest Ideas
- Hands up!
- Children and Parents
- Off the Bookshelf
Play Altars
Maria Montessori knew that children needed to be able to play in order to learn. As part of her original Montessori Classroom she had a children’s chapel – with child-sized altar, lectern and pews. Here’s an American blogger who has a Play Altar in her Children’s Church. An idea worth considering?
Take This!
Take This! is a monthly puzzle sheet written and produced by the children of Hexham Abbey for distribution to children across the country. They have created a special Year of the Child 2009 edition. If you’d like to get hold of copies for your church or school, all the details are here.
St Nicholas’ Day
Sunday 6th December is St Nicholas’ Day – the patron saint of children! On that day the 2009 Godly Play Lecture will be given by John Pridmore in Newcastle Cathedral. But if you can’t get to that, why not keep that Sunday as a Year of the Child 2009 celebration in your church. There will be ideas and resources for services on the Year of the Child 2009 website.
Harvest Ideas
To help you with your planning for the autumn, here are some websites which are offering Harvest resources to use with children:
Must-Have Gifts
Download the catalogue and ask your group to choose what they would like to be able to give as a gift this Harvest. They’ll have to think practically about how the money can be raised – but that might produce some very innovative ideas!!!
World Vision
World Vision’s theme for 2009 is Food not Famine.
Christian Aid
Christian Aid are focussing on the drought in India.
Tear Fund
Tear Fund’s Make life flow resources are focussing on drought-stricken countries.
USPG
USPG’s focus is the Amazon Rainforest.
Water Aid
Water Aid has a range of materials for nursery, primary and secondary schools.
MRDF
The resources from the Methodist Relief and Development Fund focus on India.
CMS
CMS is focussing on Nepal
Together for a Season – Volume 3
And if you just want worship ideas without a hint of fund-raising, Together for a Season volume 3 has a whole section on Celebrating God’s Providence, including a Harvest Eucharist, a Rogatiotide walk and a Pagaent of the Seasons!
Hands Up!
For a good news read, take a look at the Evangelical Alliance’s report Young People Matter. 14 – 17 year olds spend an average of 4 hours a month volunteering, and if they are actively involved in a faith community they are likely to do much more. Teenagers are usually portrayed negatively in the press, so it’s good to read a corrective view!
Children and Parents
Last week I was at the excellent Changing Childhood Conference, hosted by the Diocese of Chichester, Chichester University and the Children’s Society. One of the key note speakers was Marcia Bunge, editor of The Child in Christian Thought and The Child in the Bible. One of her talks was about the relationship between parent and child, and the best family practices which help a child grow in the Christian faith. I’ve tracked down an on-line version of her handout if you’d like to see what she said. There’s a fuller version in the first chapter of The Vocation of the Child.
Off the Bookshelf
Lion Publishing
The latest Lion Hudson Publishing catalogue is now available online, featuring the books for children to be published this autumn. There are lots of new titles, and several reprints of old favourites, including The Three Trees and The Very Worried Sparrow.
