Dear Parents and Kids of St. Benedict’s,
I am so excited that it’s time to regather for Children’s Formation. We’re beginning this year with a once-a-month gathering using Building Faith Brick by Brick, a program that I’ve used in other parishes and kids really love. We hear bible stories, do some wondering together, and reflect on the scripture using lego bricks!
Our first story will be John’s telling of the Feeding of the 5,000 (John 6:1-15; our reading for this Sunday!). A whole crowd of God’s people gathered together, all ages and stages, eager to know Jesus among them! I love that it starts with the generosity of a child: a boy has five loaves and two fishes. Jesus blesses the bread, breaks it, his disciples begin sharing. And all end up fed: nourished and full.
I’m hoping this is a sign of what formation might look like these first few months of the school year. We are gathering kids of all ages together: 3 and all the way up to middle and high schoolers. This curriculum is easy for kids of different ages to engage, whatever their developmental stage. We’re also inviting interested adults to come hang out, to learn, to share, to build connections across generations. Over time we hope our older youth might take the lead in telling bible stories and teaming up with the younger kids, building relationships. For now we are going to see what happens when God’s people gather together, different ages and stages, to know Jesus in our midst!
Yours in Christ,
Jenna+
