I recently attended the annual conference of NAEYC - the national association for the education of young children - and found some of the workshop offerings important to my ministry, while others sent me searching through the catalog for something new and inspiring.  I believe that the UMC could benefit from the newest research on brain development, the changing family, and faith formation through the lenses of other denominations.   

I need your thoughts on one of the topics offered more often than most - learning disabilities.  How are you addressing the needs of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders?  Statistics show that if you do not yet have a child in your congregation or preschool ministry with ASD, you probably will in the next few years.  Children with ASD can find communication, social interaction, and sensory processing difficult; while desiring ritual and routine.  Do you feel prepared? 

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25.40  I, and others who read this blog, would appreciate hearing some of your stories. 

Resources:
Autism and Faith: A Journey into Community http://rwjms.umdnj.edu/boggscenter

A few minutes ago I began looking through the mail that has piled up on my desk in the last several days while I was participating in two of the GBOD’s conferences for churches, conference workers, pastors, and laity; and I opened a new book from NAEYC on the importance of STORY!  Well, I almost jumped out of my chair and ran down the hall to tell anyone who would listen, but I am the only one on the hall on this late afternoon.  The importance of story came up so many times in the last week.

Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables; without a parable he told them nothing. mt. 13.34

The book is entitled From Lullabies to Literature: Stories in the Lives of Infants and Toddlersby Jennifer Birkmayer et al.  They get it!  And we should get it too!  We, as Christians are a people of story.  The bible is filled with wonderful stories of our journey, our traditions, our faith.  For children to know these stories, we need to read them and sing them and act them out.  We need to continue to find ways to help them discover the richness of their Christian heritage, thereby laying a firm foundation for their continued faith formation.

Find a children’s bible, read Runaway Bunny, sing spirituals, tell them the story of the little child in Bethlehem.  They are infants and toddlers for only a short time.  Take that time to give them the spiritual nourishment that they need for spiritual growth.

peace

^“And he took the children up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.” Mark 10.16

   Many young adults today spent their childhood in children’s churches that failed to teach children how to worship in the larger Christian community.  Jennifer, at Old Bethel United Methodist Church in Indianapolis, Indiana, expressed her concerns that many of her friends who “grew up” in church now feel a disconnect for this very reason. 

This past Sunday it was my privilege to be invited [actually I invited myself] to Children’s Church at Victory Memorial United Methodist Church in Guymon, Oklahoma.  Truly the Holy Spirit moves in this space.  Jacque led a group of young children in Godly Play, taking great care to create a space where children are affirmed and actual formation is taking place.  How wonderful it is to hear a child say with the conviction of a four-year-old, ”God is with us” when asked about the meaning of the light of the candle!

On the previous day, I met with several members of the church who talked about their intentional commitment to creating a ministry with children.  They took time to look at the reasons behind children’s church in their community and their responsibility to faith formation of their children.  In that discussion, which included Barry, the associate pastor, we talked about the importance of children learning how to be in worship.  Thoughtful attention now will allow for faith formation across the life span.

What are your thoughts on children’s church?  What does it look like in your church community?  What should it look like?   

Resources for Christian Educators and Parents:

The Children’s Minister by Rita Hays
Children Worship!by MaryJane Pierce Norton
Always in Rehearsal by James H. Ritchie

Resources for Children:

Old Turtle by Douglas Wood

Resources for Parents:

At Home with God: Daily Devotions for the School Year from Upper Room Books

Websites:

Godly Play

“When will we hear Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s call to end poverty in America?” is the focus of this year’s Children’s Sabbath - October 17-19. 

I pondered this question for a while, realizing that maybe we have heard, but have not heeded the call.  I imagine that your life, like mine, is busy and full and not able to tackle one more thing.  But, what does it mean that nearly 13 million children in America live in poverty when our tables are full?  What does it mean when there are more children living in poverty than adults when our beds are warm?  What does it mean that the call to end poverty in America came over forty years ago, yet children still go to school with empty bellies?

In Matthew 25, we are reminded that Jesus invites us to receive the kingdom prepared for us by God.  He qualifies this with those times that we see the unclothed and clothe them, we see the sick and care for them, and we see the hungry and feed them.  It is in those times that we not only show love for our neighbor, but also love for God! 

Children’s Sabbath is a time for us to find ways to help our children and our community extend our hands outward to serve others.  I invite you to visit the Children’s Sabbath website, and find ways or extend how you “feed the hungry” and “clothe the poor”.  Long before Dr. King challenged America to end poverty, Jesus invited us to love our neighbor.

Please share with me:
What are you doing to show love to your neighbor?  How are you and your church planning to observe Children’s Sabbath? 

Resources:

WEB:
Children’s Defense Fund
National Center for Children in Poverty
 

BOOKS: 
Growing Compassionate Kids by Jan Johnson
Let the Children Giveby Delia Halverson

My “regular” readers have surely been aware of my absence for the last few weeks.  So, where have I been?  On quite the adventure!  During the week of July 14-18th, I spent time at the Proctor Institute for Child Advocacy Ministry on the Haley Farm in Clinton, Tennessee.  Imagine being in a place where you are surrounded by people who care about and work for children’s issues in North America?  From the powerful voice of Marian Wright Edelman to the challenge made by the Rev. Dr. Luther Smith, Jr. to help build a community for change, participants were energized and presented with tools to help all of us advocate for the needs of children.

Following a few days of work in my office, I again “hit the highway” to take part in a spiritual retreat - SOULfeast.  Wow, what a blessing!  Again, surrounded by people who care for the soul and/or in search of care for their souls, I stood in awe!  From the Labyrinth to the plenaries led by the awesome Marjorie Thompson, from the re-connection with former classmates to my own transformation as I led a workshop on “Martha and Mary”*, and from the calmness of Lake Junaluska to the powerful lightening storms above the hills, I left SOULfeast with a renewed sense of why I am in ministry for children.

On returning to my office this week, I realized that FOCUS 2009 - the United Methodist quadrennial event for all people in ministry for children - will begin in less than a year.  My prayer for this event is that participants will come with open hearts and depart with full hearts.  We plan to create an event that will ignite that fire within us to go out an continue God’s work with a new zeal!

Next week, I will once again bring a new topic for your thoughts and response.  Blessings to you, my friends!

peace,
melanie

*Luke 10.38-42
38 Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. ³⁹She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. ⁴⁰But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.’ ⁴¹But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; ⁴²there is need of only one thing.* Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.’