I am a little nervous! I have been asked to teach the Ash Wednesday service at a church we once attended regularly. No, no it isn't because I am going to see people I haven't seen for some time, and be asked questions about where and how we are. It is because it is Lent. I do not like to use the word evangelical, but it the word that best describes the setting. This is significant because liturgical actions, Lent, are new to the children-and most of the adults. This creates tension when presenting Godly Play materials. The Mystery of Easter is very abstract, for example there are no colors in the church. Dropping in with that lesson seems lacking and I have had to decide how in incorporate GP into our evening. After all I was asked to come and do Godly Play. Here is what I have come up with- we cannot simply begin with the Mystery of Easter, but I am going end with it. We will begin with, well the beginning, Creation. Transition as smoothly as possible into the Holy Family and finally end with The Mystery of Easer. I worry it is going to be too long.
It is all there in a nutshell. God created the world and everything was wonderful, sin entered and no matter how hard we try we can not conquer it we need a rescuer-enter God as the baby Jesus who grows to be a man and dies on a cross, very sad and also wonderful in an Easter kind of way. Simple right?
I will let you know how it goes.
Here is the material for the Mystery of Easter I made this weekend.
Materials; white and purple poster board glued together, scissors, purple and white fabric (approx 1/4 yard) thread and ribbon.
Be sure to check out and join the Lenten Link Party
I look forward to hearing how it went! Well done for stepping outside of your comfort zone. I can imagine that the Creation story is a good access point to Godly Play for some evangelical Christians because it so clearly follows Genesis 1. (By the way, did you see my and Sheila's Lenten link party? It'd be great if you wanted to join in.)
ReplyDeleteHi there, Coincidentally, I am beginning Easter Club next week with the Creation story as well! Great minds think alike.: ) My reasons are much the same as yours, but also I want to help the children connect the Old and New Testaments. Thanks for joining in our Celebrating Lent Link Party!
ReplyDeleteHow did it go? I share some of your questions when I think about some of the settings I would like to share GP. I would be really interested to know how it was received. Nice to find you!
ReplyDelete