Lenten Meditation: Thoughts of the Christ Church Youth

In the Intermediate Sunday School class (2nd-5th graders), the unit for Epiphany has been about parables.  I have started each lesson by borrowing from the Godly Play curriculum, and show the students a box that is painted gold.  We discuss that a parable is like a beautiful gift.  It is precious like gold, and you do not know what is inside until you lift the lid.  After several weeks of this discussion, I asked the class, “What can you do that is a joyful gift to others?” 

Here are their ideas:

• Feed the animals, and put out birdfeeders

• Give to the homeless

• Pray for our friends

• Shovel snow for those who cannot do it

• Help around our house, like doing the dishes or organizing things

• Give people a compliment

• Talk to our friends about being a Christian

• Listen when others are talking

• Give Valentine cards to the people in our class

Each week, we talk about how we have helped others and ways we are kind.  To quote Mr. Rogers: “All of us, at some time or other, need help. Whether we’re giving or receiving help, each one of us has something valuable to bring to this world. That’s one of the things that connects us as neighbors — in our own way, each one of us is a giver and a receiver.”

May we joyfully help one another, each and every day!

~submitted by Stacey Frith on behalf of the Christ Church Youth