Old enough to be spiritual?

Posted on by Carol Hulbert

It always amazes me to catch sight of kids that I haven’t seen in a while; they’ve grown by leaps and bounds!

The long shadows of two girls on a beachOur Rotation this month is a story that kids can relate to – it’s about Jesus as a young boy.

The Bible tells us that at this time in his life Jesus grew strong and wise. (Luke 2:40)

And from the story we can also glean that Jesus was growing in other ways: he was exploring his calling; he was delving into his spiritual self.

 

Do we allow our kids the chance to grow spiritually?

Granted, Jesus was twelve years old in our story but even young children — preschoolers! — are spiritual.

Here are ways to encourage spiritual growth in all ages:

  • Surround your child with people who genuinely demonstrate God’s care for your child. Obviously this is present in your household, but having a church family is important as well.
  • Create a daily time of being intentionally still and seeking God in prayer. This may be best accomplished at bedtime.
  • Share joys and concerns around the family dinner table. (Or wherever your family is gathered together.) This serves as a reminder that God is listening to them and cares about them.
  • Keep a gratitude list. Or follow other ways of counting thankfuls.
  • Take them out into nature. Create opportunities to see and touch and hear the world around them that God has made.
  • Offer daily blessings as a way to reassure your child that God thinks highly of them.
What are ways that you expand your child’s spiritual awareness? Are they growing their spiritual side?

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Photo credits:
Tall shadows by thejbird, who licensed this photo on Flickr under a Creative Commons License.

What was Jesus thinking!?!

Posted on by Carol Hulbert
My two day-old son, freshly home from the hospital, was being laid down for a nap when my two and a half-year-old daughter surprised me. She insisted on singing to him the song we sang to her every night at bedtime – the first verse of the hymn Precious Lord — all by herself!

Has your child ever surprised you with something that you didn’t expect?

Sometimes things your child does will astonish other people. The Jewish teaching community likely experienced eye-opening amazement with a young boy named Jesus who joined their midst in the Temple courts during the Passover celebration. “Everyone was surprised and impressed that a 12-year-old boy could have such deep understanding and could answer questions with such wisdom” (Luke 2:47).

A public domain painting of Jesus amidst the 'doctors' in the Temple

That sort of thought didn’t percolate through Mary and Joseph’s minds, however. No, this event did not invoke a benign well-look-at-what-our-boy-is-doing sort of moment. Mary and Joseph had frantically searched for Jesus for three days. They couldn’t find him anywhere! Describe Mary and Joseph as anxious; worried sick. When they finally found Jesus in the Temple courts, can’t you hear Mary sputtering:

 
Jesus, what were you thinking!?

I’ll bet they are stunned by Jesus’ reply.

Why did Jesus stay behind at the Temple?

(a) He was almost a teenager. He wanted to irritate his parents.
(b) He got so wrapped up in his exciting surroundings that he totally lost track of time.
(c) Your reason here _______.

Mary and Joseph had been searching for Jesus. Meanwhile, Jesus was searching for something entirely different.

Jesus was searching for something that all of us look for!

Aren’t we all looking for an explanation for feelings we can’t explain…

  • What is this sacred reverence which hums within us, when we allow it to escape?
  • Why do certain situations (holding a newborn, catching a glimpse of beauty, the receipt of joyous news…) invoke feelings of deep respect, tinged with awe?
  • What is my purpose here on earth?
  • What can I do to promote peace, justice, love and compassion?

Do you suppose that Jesus found what he was looking for?

Have you?


Photo credits:
Jesus in the Temple a painting in the Public Domain by William Brassey Hole (1846-1917), via Wikimedia Commons.

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Jesus as a boy, in the Temple: September 2013 Schedule

Posted on by Carol Hulbert

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At FUMC on Saturday nights and on Sunday mornings, our Christian education for children is based on the Workshop Rotation Model. In September kids will spend four weeks learning about Jesus when he was a young boy of 12-years old. Each week they will encounter a different kid-friendly multimedia workshop. When they are done they really know the stories!

Read this month’s story in Luke 2:41-52.

Jesus in the Temple as a boy

For Saturdays at the Green Wood location, here is the schedule…

Date Workshop Activity
9/7 Art Workshop Create a unique book of God-given talents. The design of this book makes it a keeper! It will be easy to add more pages.
9/14 Cooking Talk about Passover and make unleavened bread.
9/21 Video Watch a video that tells the story and one that covers the story theme.
9/28 Games Play a game of “Concentration” and learn story details.

For Sundays at the downtown location, here is the schedule…

Date Our workshops…
9/1 Enjoy worship and Communion with your family
Cooking Games Art Video Drama
Social Hall Room 211 Room 212 Pine Room Room 215
9/8 3rd grade 5th & 6th grade 1st grade 4th grade 2nd grade
9/15 4th grade 1st grade 2nd grade 5th & 6th grade 3rd grade
9/22 5th & 6th grade 2nd grade 3rd grade 1st grade 4th grade
9/29 1st grade 3rd grade 4th grade 2nd grade 5th & 6th grade

What’s happening in each workshop?

  • In the Cooking Workshop students will make unleavened bread. They will learn about Jesus’ celebration of Passover and his experience in Jerusalem – feeling at home in his “father’s house.”
  • In the Games Workshop students will participate in a game of Concentration — with a twist! This game will help them to learn story details.
  • In the Art Workshop students will create a “Book of Gifts” to record skills and talents God has given them. Their book will have a unique cover done with a marble painting. Ask them the significance of the cover!
  • In the Video Workshop students will watch portions of the live-action video Jesus, and the video Finding Nemo.
  • In the Drama Workshop students will enact the story using a Greek Drama complete with masks similar to those used over 2,000 years ago.

If you are in the area please join us for the fun learning at First United Methodist Church in Ann Arbor, MI


Photo credits:
Biblical illustration by Jim Padgett, from now-out-of-print Read’n Grow Picture Bible, circa 1984; via Wikimedia Commons, courtesy of Sweet Publishing, Ft. Worth, TX, and Gospel Light, Ventura, CA. Released under a Creative Commons license.

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