It Started with a Book Report

It was somewhat of a challenge late May of this year to find a Newbery-award winning book for my 5^th grade son to read for a book report. He reads significantly above his grade level and is easily bored. Self-described as an “I don’t believe in God person,” helping this literal child and Star Wars aficionado select a book that piqued his interest was no easy task. And then, searching for something else on my office bookshelves, I came across Madeline L’ Engle’s, A Wrinkle in Time.

The book is the first in a quintet of young adult novels that deal with deeply biblical themes. Published in 1962, A Wrinkle in Time explores salvific love through the emerging concepts of quantum physics. It sounds daunting, doesn’t it?

However, the story is more than readable and, for Christians, its themes will sound familiar. L ‘Engel was an Episcopalian who served as the librarian and author-in-residence at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City for much of her adult life. The main characters in this story, Meg Murry and her younger brother, Charles Wallace, set out across time to rescue their scientist father. The story is set in the cosmic drama of good against evil – love against lovelessness. The prologue of John’s Gospel echoes through the story and Christian readers will recognize Scriptural passages and familiar –although not named as such – biblical characters.

The book proved such an amazing way into a conversation with my son about Christian beliefs, values and practices, that we both the read the second book in the quintet, A Wind at the Door separately and then talked about it together. This book brought Psalm 139 to mind for me as we talked about height and depth, and the ways in which all life is connected to the source of Creation. My son found the science in this book interesting and it gave me the opportunity to really engage his newly emerging formal brain operations in thinking theologically. The discussions have delighted us both to the degree that we ordered the other three books in the Quintet and decided to read them out loud together over the summer months. We have just begun the third book, A Swiftly Tilting Planet and already we have discussed the balance of darkness and light in the Creation and some of the ways which that balance has been distorted by the choices human beings make. Genesis sings out from its pages. We can’t wait to see what happens next.

Early in my career as a Christian Educator, I taught an adult education class on making the theological links between secular children’s literature and biblical themes. And my experience with my son this spring and summer has reinforced my belief in the importance of Christian parents and educators reading the books their children read and drawing on the themes and parallels we find there. I remember reading The Runaway Bunny to my now 23 year-old-son for the umpteenth time and suddenly realizing that what I was hearing was Psalm 139. What books is/are your child/children reading this summer? And how can you help them make the connections between the values you find there and the Christian story in which you, your children and our faith community are living?

Grace and peace,

Dr. Elizabeth

A Work in Progress

Anticipating the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (June 12^th this year), our Church School curriculum has been sharing the stories of Peter, Paul and the community of Christians formed immediately after Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension. These stories are recorded for us in the book of Acts, which follows the Gospel of John in the New Testament and is believed by scholars to have been written as the continuation of Luke’s Gospel by the same author.

The full title of this book of the Bible is Acts of the Apostles – “apostle” is derived from Greek and means “one who is sent forth” as opposed to “disciple” which means “one who follows.” The community who followed Jesus on earth has to shift its focus from following their teacher, Jesus, to sharing his message after he has ascended to Heaven. It’s a bumpy journey for this group as they make the transition.

Acts is a fascinating book – the early Church wrestles with a number of issues from who can be included (do non-Jews have to become Jews before they can become Christians?) to what kind of food can be eaten to how to care for members of the community of faith while still preaching and teaching. Acts is a work in progress as the early Church tries to figure out who and what it is called to be.

It seems to me that we – the Church – are still struggling with the same sorts of questions: who belongs and who doesn’t? How do we serve care for our members and still preach and teach? What does it mean to believe? To follow? To lead? To serve?

While the canon of Scripture is considered to be “closed,” I believe that we are still writing the Acts of the Apostles. Like Peter and Paul, we are sent forth to share the Good News in our homes, our neighborhoods, our faith community and the world. We are called forth to both live and tell the Story of God’s saving action in Jesus. Like Peter and Paul, we, too, are Apostles and it is up to us to continue living out the Acts of the Apostles! How we “go forth” matters!

Grace and peace,

Dr. Elizabeth

"Were Not Our Hears Burning Within Us?" Luke 24:32

The Gospel for this past Sunday, the third Sunday of Easter Year A, is always the disciples' experience on the road to Emmaus. I grew up hearing this story and it never ceases to thrill me. I look forward to hearing it read and preached upon every three years.

The story the two disciples tell of their experience at Emmaus is a familiar and rich one. There is much food for thought and prayer within this text, yet I always find that it is verse 32 that leaps out at me, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the Scriptures to us?"

I suspect this verse catches my attention because, at heart, I am both a teacher and a student. I recognize the thrill and the certainty the disciples feel when they have been in the presence of Truth that opens their hearts and eyes to seeing in a new way. Educators of all kinds refer to this moment in the story as a "teachable moment" - a moment that helps us see and know in a new way. This is the function of Christian education within the Church. Gathered together as the community of faith in both sacrament and teaching, we experience over and over again, the "teachable moments" that faith offers us. We meet Jesus the Teacher again and again - and our lives are changed because of it.

Christian Education - "Church School" as it is more commonly known - is not the glamour place in the Church. It tends to be messy (glitter paint and glue) and noisy (children were not designed by God to be quiet!). Viewed in passing, it can often appear somewhat chaotic. And it is easy to think that it is only one more activity in which our children participate. But something else goes on in Church School that happens no where else in the lives of our children. It is in this place, in this time, in these activities, that our children encounter Jesus the Teacher, just as the disciples on the road to Emmaus. At Church School, our children hear, play, share, sing and explore the teachings of Jesus in community with others of all ages doing the same. As they mature and progress through the different stages of faith formation here at SUMC, children encounter the stories of Scripture over and over. Each moment is rich with the possibility of new understanding, change and growth. These stories of God saving action in Jesus form a foundation of faith that lasts a lifetime and continues to grow and develop as our children mature throughout their lives.

In the larger scheme of life, it is easy to forget the place of Church School in our children's lives. But where else in their busy activities will they hear the stories that transform their hearts, provide a secure foundation of love and trust, and form them into the people God calls them to be? That is the role of the Church School in partnership with you, their parents. We are delighted to have you and your children on the journey of faith with us.

Grace and peace,
Dr. Elizabeth

"What Are We To Say About These Things" (Romans 8:31)?

I have spent much time this week pondering and praying over Osama bin Laden's death and how to respond. This is a difficult and ambiguous issue for those of us who are adults, but knowing what to say and how to say it to our children is complicated. The first thing to remeber is that you know your children best - follow their lead through their questions and be confident the Holy Spirit will be with you as you respond.


Our Scripture tells us "Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, says the Lord God, and not rather they should turn from their wicked ways and live?" (Ezekiel 18:23) and this same understanding of God's mercy is also found in 1 Timothy 2:4, Michah 7:18 and Ezekiel 33:11. Yet, it would seem that Osama bin Laden did not turn from what Americans have know as his "wicked ways." The evil he perpetrated continues to have lasting effect on many of our sisters and brothers and on our country as a whole.



We live in a messy world - one that does not yet resemble the "peaceable kingdom" where both God's justice and mercy dwell hand in hand. Often times, we live in a world where "the color of truth is grey" (Andre Gide). So "what are we to say" to our children "about these things?"



There is an excellent prayer on the General Board of Discipleship's web page. You can find it at http:/http://www.gbod.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=nhLRJ2PMKsG&b=5801541&ct=9377657/. Prayer is always a good place to start talking with our children. Elementary-aged children and up can begin phrasing their questions from the prayer and parents can use the prayer as a guideline for response. The tougher questions are going to be things like "Is Osama bin Laden in hell?" A good answer might be "I don't know, but I am trusting that God knows what was in his heart and knows how best to treat him." Our junior high children may begin really wrestling with good and evil- and questions such as "Why does God let bad things happen?" and "Why did God let it take so long to find this guy?" These are questions that tug on our own sometimes unanswered questions. Often the best way to respond is to ask the young person what they think and talk it out together in conversation. You may find that you know something you didn't and both you and your child may learn from the presence of God in the conversation. On the other hand, very young children will probably not ask many questions and will be reassured by the fact the OBL is no longer a danger to themeselves or those they love.

This is a tough issue through which to wade - both as individual Christians and as Christian parents. I find myself feeling rather ambiguous; I am glad that OBL is no longer walking among us, but I cannot rejoice in the death of another human being anymore than I can rejoice in the pain he caused. The disordered social relations in which we live are the results of disordered human hearts and actions over the long continum of human history. My own reaction is to pray and then to use the resources of our Methodist quadrilateral - Scripture, Tradition, Reason and Experience - to help me come to some form of response. It is slow work in this case.

Please know that these are simply guidelines and my own thoughts - I am happy to talk through any questions or concerns with you - just call or email. And know that I am holding the children and families of SUMC in deep prayer this week.

Grace and peace,
Dr. Elizabeth

Thinking Ahead to Holy Week

It is hard to believe that Palm Sunday is almost here (April 17th). And if Palm Sunday is almost here, then Holy Week isn’t far behind! Parents, especially those of young children, are often confused as to how best handle the crucifixion as we tell the story of the Easter miracle.

The events of Jesus' death are shocking and violent, but we cannot fully live into Easter if we have not experienced Jesus' death. There are ways to approach this with children that make it easier to share the whole story. Here are some of the things I have learned in twenty-five years as an educator and a parent:

1. Children - even very young ones - know that bad things happen. The Easter message is that good always triumphs over evil - even if it doesn't seem to at the moment. This is a message children can hear and understand.

2. When you talk about the crucifixion, always continue immediately with the Resurrection. I have found the following kinds of language helpful: "Jesus loved people so much that some people were scared by it and they put Jesus to death on a cross. But love is so strong, that not even death can destroy it, so God raised Jesus from the dead.”

3. If your children are visual learner, you may only want to share the story in words - the shorter the better. Use art that reveals the empty tomb instead of Jesus on the Cross as you tell the story.

4. Some children are curious about how crucifixion actually kills. They will ask questions such as "Did it hurt?" ("Yes"), "How does crucifixion kill someone?" ("Slow suffocation"). You do not need to dwell on the gore, but an honest answer that is short and to the point is helpful to children and allows you to move on to the resurrection.

5. Other children worry that Jesus was alone. He wasn't - his mother and the Beloved Disciple were there, along with other women. Two other men were crucified with him. And most importantly, God was with Jesus.

Experiencing the events of Holy Week and Easter can be a powerful way for children to share in the defining moment of our Christian faith while being held in a safe and familiar environment. The events of Holy Week are all great places for embodied learning – we shout and parade with Jesus on Palm Sunday, have our feet washed, taste bread and wine, strip the altar and raise the joyous “Alleluias” on Easter Day. With careful planning, parents can help children experience the mystery and wonder of both Holy Week and Easter.

Grace and peace,

Dr. Elizabeth

A Prayer for Parents

In the parent group with whom I have been meeting the past few weeks, we have been discussing what it means to be a Christian parent. A great deal is expected of us as Christian parents and we worry whether or not we measure up in passing on the faith to our children. Looking through some old files of mine for something I never did find, I came across this anonymous prayer that I had cut-out and used on a bulletin board many years ago. It still speaks volumes to God about what is in our hearts as parents and so I share it here:

Oh Heavenly Father, make me a better parent.

Teach me to understand my children, to listen patiently to what they have to say,

and to answer their questions kindly.

Keep me from interrupting them or contradicting them.

Forbid that I should ever laugh at their mistakes,

or result to shame and ridicule when they displease me.

May I never punish them for my own selfish satisfaction or to show my power.

Let me not tempt my child to steal or lie.

Guide me hour by hour that I may demonstrate by all I say and do

that honesty produces happiness.

Reduce, I pray, the meaness in me.

When I am out of sorts, help me to hold my tongue.

May I ever be mindful that my children are children

and I should not expect of them the judgment of adults.

Let me not rob them of the opportunity to wait on themselves and make decisions.

Bless me with the bigness to grant all their reasonable requests

and the courage to deny them privileges I know will do them harm.

Make me fair and just and kind.

And fit me, O Lord, to be loved and respected and imitated by my children.

Amen.

Stories Told in Water, Grapes and Grain

During this Lenten season, I have been having a wonderful time exploring the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion with our 2^nd -5^th graders and their parents. As we “play” with water, fire and different kinds of bread, I am reminded all over again about the power of our Christian Story.

Christians are a people set within the Story of God’s loving and saving actions in the world. The sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion are God’s “show- and- tell” or, as John Wesley wrote in the Articles of Religion, “They are certain signs of grace, and God's good will toward us, by which he doth work invisibly in us, and doth not only quicken, but also strengthen and confirm, our faith in him.” Water, grapes and grain graft us to God’s story. When we pray over the water at Baptism, that water connects us to the water of Creation, the water of the Great Flood, the water the Israelites traveled through on their way out of slavery into freedom, and the water in which Jesus was baptized. We participate in these stories, and through the water, they become part of our experience too. Water is God’s vehicle of new life and it flows throughout Christian life. We are renewed and re-born in it.

As we celebrate Holy Communion each Sunday during Lent, we are given the chance to experience our story as God’s people through the grapes and grain. Just like the baptismal prayer over the water, the communion prayers remind us of who we are, how we got to be that way and what God has done for us in Jesus. As our Pastors lead us in the Great Thanksgiving and then consecrate the bread and cup, listen carefully to the story that is told; the covenants God made with us that we broke, and how Jesus restores us to right relationship with God, “In love you made us for yourself; and when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, your love remained steadfast . . . Blessed is your Son Jesus Christ whom you sent in the fullness of time to redeem the world” (UMH pg. 62). The prayers may differ a bit from week to week, but through them, the story of our redemption in Jesus is told. In the bread and the juice, the new life given us through Jesus in baptism, is sustained, nurtured and grown by the regular family meal at Christ’s table.

As John Wesley reminds us in his sermon, The Duty of Constant Communion,” The benefits of [Holy Communion] are so great to all that do it in obedience to him; the forgiveness of our past sins and the present strengthening and refreshing of our souls.”We are never too young or too old to be reminded that we are formed by God to be part of God’s story. We are never too young or too old to share the family meal. Eating and drinking together at the table is the visible sign of God’s grace – the place where we all belong, where we all are welcomed and valued, where we are forgiven and restored joyfully to our place in God’s story.

See you at the family table this Sunday!

Dr. Elizabeth