From the beginning of time, storytelling has been a way of passing down the experiences of a community to a new generation. As stories pass from generation to generation, they become a part of the fabric of a community. They become part of what binds the community together. Here at Mustard Seed School, one of the ways that we as a community share in this storytelling is through worship.
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| Listening to a worship story |
On many days, during other parts of our day, we also talk about the worship story together as a class and the children share with each other things that they are thinking about the story or questions they may have. "Why is the cross the symbol for Jesus?", one child wondered recently.
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| Sharing a conversation |
These conversations sometimes become discussions around how the story may relate to the children’s personal lives and experiences. Recently, as children were reflecting about a worship story and the conversation developed into a broader one about God. They are really thinking deeply about the idea of God:
"I saw that God saw me."
"It’s kind of like He’s dust. Cause you can’t see it but it’s there."
"So it’s kind of like we’re all the same size to God because he’s very big."
When we share our questions, thoughts, and reflections together, we help to deepen one another's understanding of these stories and how the children fit into them.
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| Telling the worship story |
Children have further opportunities during our school day to tell the worship in their own way when they work at the worship basket. The worship basket is one of the more popular places for children to work during activity time. It is a place where children who may not spend much time together at other times during the school day can come together to share and experience a story that they both know.
One child may remember more details of the story, or one may want to enhance it with additional scenes, but they are both able to enter into the storytelling and work together from a place of common knowledge. We have seen many relationships blossom from children working together at the worship basket.
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| Storytelling at the worship basket |
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| Drawing prayers |
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| Drawing prayers |
Drawing their prayers allows each child to focus on the piece of the story that stands out to them or that they connect to. It is a different way of experiencing worship stories than at other times during the year.
This season of silence and reflection gives space to each child to really consider where they fit into God’s story. Who would they be if they were in the story? What choices would they make? Might they be the friend helping to lower their paralyzed friend through the roof? Or perhaps they would be someone on the side, wondering about the marvelous works of Jesus? Or maybe a certain part of the story strikes them and stays with them and that is what they choose to draw.
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| Prayer drawings |
These drawings allow children to express their personal reflections, feelings, reactions, and insight into the stories in a different way from how we often experience the story during worship.
Yet, we are all still experiencing it together as a community; looking together, reflecting together, thinking together, being silent together, drawing together.
A few more words from a conversation with children:
"So when I go up in an airplane on trips, and I look out the window, I don’t see God!"
"Cause he’s invisible. You’re always bumping into God because He’s everywhere."
"You couldn’t see him because He’s in heaven."
"Or maybe he was under the earth and he had his hands above him."
We hope that you too will enjoy the time in our community to ponder and wonder during this quiet, more contemplative season of lent.
