"God With Skin": Showing Up for Our Children
CHILDREN FAITH FORMATION
I have recently been reading Anne Lamott’s meditation on love and the necessity of love in this world. One story that she tells is how when she teaches Sunday school she exhausts everyone's patience by repeating this story all too often. The story goes like this,” A mom is tucking in her daughter at night and gives a warm comforting tuck in and says God is with you, always, you do not need to be afraid and leaves like normal. Well this kiddo waits a bit but then calls out, “MOM I’m scared”. Mom comes into her room again and gives a hug and maybe a stuffy and says again, ‘it is OK, God is with you, now float off to dreamland.” Well this happens yet AGAIN finally mom thinks okay this is the last. (if she is anything like me, she will soon fall asleep BEFORE the child). Mom goes in and tucks the kiddo in again and says God is with you. Well the kiddo says “YES I KNOW BUT I NEED SOMEONE WITH SKIN ON!” I love this story because it is so true – children need adults with skin on to be God for them in the world. Intangible words of God and Love are hard to grasp and what we really need is someone to hug us or help us or… in this case join the pool of Sunday school teachers.
I’ve been a Sunday school teacher for the Seekers for almost a year now. The commitment has been once a month. I read over the lesson Saturday night before I teach and then arrive early on Sunday to collect my prepared materials. The Seekers are the 4th and 5th graders and last year was the first time we separated them out from the younguns. These kids now get an age appropriate lesson, get to hang out in the cool upper room, and get to know each other as they age into youth group. We really want to support the growth into Youth Group which can be challenging with kids coming from different schools.
I have personally found teaching very rewarding. It is fun to share ideas together every month. Let me tell you, we have the best kids at this church; smart, creative, lively, opinionated. I was intimidated at first. I come from an evangelistic background and I am still learning how to re-understand bible stories. At the beginning, I felt like I wouldn’t be able to tell our kids the right thing. What I have experienced instead, is how joyful it is to read stories together. I have been so lucky to hear these 9 and 10 year olds share their ideas. I find it liberating to have our kids question these stories and tenants of our faith because I grew up in a very rigid approach where there were right and wrong ideas and asking questions felt unsafe.
I am here to tell you that:
1) Yes even YOU can talk to kids about Jesus, faith, and weird bible things
2) It is less of a commitment than you think – The September to May season goes fast.
3) When you commit, you get to choose your days
4) A commitment to one season doesn’t mean a commitment to all seasons.
And our kids at this church need you. (or at the very least they need about 9 of you)
Did you know that the chances of a young person developing a mental health disorder go down significantly just because an adult outside of a child's family knows their name? I guarantee you that the strongest memories our kids will have of church will be – all of all of us. it’ll be how they felt when they were dragged here on Sundays. This is how we show up with God's love for our kids.
So, our goal is to have:
1) A big enough pool of teachers so that volunteers don’t burn out teaching more often then they wish. We are aiming at Once a Month with a goal of Once Every Six Weeks. If teachers wish to do more frequently than that, we won’t stand in their way.
2) A pool of subs that could step in at the last minute if someone gets sick and can’t teach.
3) Two trusted adults for every class.
So, I know what you are thinking… “I want to, but CAN I ?? I have a busy complex life and I am already involved in church work.” Well I hear you and I’m happy to say there are a range of needs we have. On Sundays there are options to lead story time with preschool or school ages. Our biggest need right now is to have folks sign up to be the support role in all ages. This role does a lot of observing and creating a warm presence. It is also a great way to see if you want to lead a lesson later on. During the week a brand new class of 4th and 5th grade OWL Our Whole Lives curriculum will begin and we need knowledgeable adults to help support this curriculum. And then there is fellowship with the teens! We need adults to co-lead youth group. which is a once a week evening or morning commitment and I hear a ton of fun. Across these areas, we need at least 9 more people to sign up for programming starting in September. We have an upcoming training that we need all teachers to attend, so please consider signing up SOON. I urge you to follow those thoughts and if you can see yourself helping out in any of these areas please reach out to Eli’jah.
Roles
1) Storyteller
Tells the story and they also hold space for questioning. Lessons are provided by the Thursday before the week you teach. When you think of a Sunday school teacher this is what probably comes to mind. We have 5 now and are looking for another 3
2) Doorkeeper
Assists the storyteller with our Adventurers (PreK- Kindergarten) and our Explorers (1st-2nd graders).They shepherd the group and observe with a warm presence. We have 5 and need another 3. Being a doorkeeper is a great way to see if you want to be a storyteller later without having to jump right in.
3) 4/5th Grade Seekers Teacher
The Seekers are our 4th and 5th graders that have a small group story and then do art or have a lesson in the upper room during Sunday school on the weeks we do Godly Play. We have 4 now and are looking for another 2
4) Youth group leader
Youth group leaders run youth group. Join now as the leaders are in the midst of planning which night or morning youth group will be held. There are 4 leaders and would like another 2/ subs.
5) 4/5th OWL Teacher
This 8-week curriculum is designed to help children gain the knowledge, life principles, and skills they need to understand and express their sexuality in holistic, life-enhancing ways. We have 1 person who identifies as female and would like to have a male identified facilitator as well.