About a month ago, our Children’s Ministry Network got together for a collaborative ideas sharing around the Liturgical Year. I thought up the concept last fall, just after working with children’s ministers was added to my responsibilities. I wondered what would be most helpful to get the creative juices flowing in the network. As a children’s minister, it seemed I would always find a great idea for a season like Pentecost *after* the season was over, or when I didn’t have the time to prepare the materials. So, I thought – what IF, around thirty people came together and shared our ideas around things we’ve done for each liturgical season with children and families and in worship, and at the end – we’d all have at least thirty ideas for each season!

I had registrants fill out a form that included a question, “What is your favorite liturgical season?” I then contacted one person for each season and asked if they would be a Table Host for that season. Funny aside: several people, when I asked them, responded with excitement, “HOW DID YOU KNOW that is my FAVORITE season?” (They had forgotten they filled out the form with the question on it, haha.)

Table Hosts were asked to bring simple table decorations for their season. For example, Pentecost could be a simple red tablecloth with a dove or fire-colored streamers on it. They were also asked to facilitate the ideas sharing for that season. That way, I would not be talking the whole time and it would ensure that each season had plenty of excitement around it. WOW – did they blow me away with how they showed up! They went all out, decorating their tables with all kinds of beautiful decor AND a ton of resources to share.

Participants were invited to bring ideas too, or simply to show up. (Table Hosts got to be participants the whole time except for during their season.) We put index cards on each table and writing utensils. When participants arrived, we invited them to walk around the room and visit each table. They could add to the ideas on each table by writing down ideas on index cards.

Light music was playing in the background. There were refreshments off to the side. After about thirty minutes, I invited everyone to find a seat.

We started with Lent, because the Table Host had to leave early, but also because it was fresh on our minds. The Table Host introduced themselves and began by sharing what they love about the season and what resources they brought. They invited questions, clarifications, and then read the note cards people had shared on the tables. We then had a large group discussion to offer others to ask questions or share ideas.

Someone took notes in a shared google drive the whole time, so all the resources were catalogued immediately. Each season took about twenty minutes. We covered Lent, Easter, Pentecost (which many of us feel like should be more than one Sunday, but it’s big enough to deserve a whole table), Ordinary Time, Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany (same notes as Pentecost). We now have ten pages of resources to share with people.

At the end of the workshop, I led a debrief where I asked,

• I wonder what are some common threads that stood out to you as we discussed each season?
• I wonder what was most helpful?
• I wonder what questions you still have?

(I did this to model using Wondering Questions, as they are the most helpful tool in children’s ministry.) Common Threads were things like:

● Engaging children in a deeper understanding of worship elements and our faith story through movement, creative activities, and tangible elements
● Engaging all of the generations in meaningful worship practices that incorporate all of the senses and multiple learning styles
● Inviting the elements of Creativity, Imagination, Wondering, and Dialogue
● Incorporating a “take home” element to worship, such as spiritual disciplines, prayers, conversations, or activities to practice together as a family throughout the week.
● Bringing new life to the rituals and liturgies we often use in worship, adding an element of education around these rituals and liturgies

I already have plans for a Liturgical Year Workshop part 2 which will help us live into these common threads even more as we seek the Spirit’s guidance on engaging children in learning about the Liturgical Year.
We are in the process of developing the Liturgical Year Resource to share, but if you’re open to its raw format, I’m happy to share it. Feel free to reach out! I’d also love to hear stories if you do your own Liturgical Year Workshop!

Gratitude & Grace
~S