By now you know (and I hope your Sprouts know) that we are celebrating John Wesley's 300th birthday this year. The lead article in this issue is a wonderful look at "social holiness" by Paul Chilcote. Don't let that phrase frighten you. If you have read the articles in the new Sprouts book, Sprouts: Covenant Discipleship with Children, some of this won't be new to you. At the end of "It's All About Balance," W. Paul Jones reminds us that our personal relationship with God needs to result in "doing" for others. Also, as quoted in "For the Sake of Others," Robert Mulholland's definition of spiritual formation asserts that our own spiritual growth is "for the sake of others." Dr. Chilcote helps us expand our understanding of social holiness and what it means to be a balanced disciple. By the end of the article you should be inspired to practice social holiness and teach it to your Sprouts, even if you weren't sure what it was when you began reading. Who doesn't long to be a "servant of shalom" in today's world?

The Charles Wesley hymn that Dr. Chilcote quotes might be a way of reminding and inspiring your Sprouts about social holiness. Tell them that in order to be a better Sprouts leader, you read ideas in a special journal for people who are doing covenant discipleship. Show them an issue of the Covenant Discipleship Quarterly. Explain to or remind them about John and Charles Wesley. Summarize or talk about Dr. Chilcote's article as much or little as you think helpful for your group, or just read the last two verses of the hymn to them. The language won't mean much to them, but they may get a sense of the rhythm and perhaps some of the meaning. Explain the "old-fashioned" language.

Many children in your Sprouts groups may still be "concrete thinkers"; that is, theories and generalities don't mean much to them. They need specific examples. Here are some ways you can help them explore how they as the church can be mission; you can probably think of others your kids would enjoy and find helpful.

1. On a chalkboard or newsprint list each of the phrases (see below; some are adapted) and see how many examples your group can list that they as individuals or as a Sprouts group are doing or could do. Then decide whether each example is an act of kindness or justice. Some categories may have lots of answers, some may not have many. Perhaps, as you work on this, someone will suggest acts of kindness or justice that don't fall into any of these categories. If this duplicates what you have already done in creating your covenant or explaining kindness/justice or finding a justice project, then you may not want to repeat it. But you might want to refer to this hymn the next time you create your covenant or are looking for acts of kindness or justice.

 
2. The last four lines of the hymn would make a good memory verse (making sure the kids understand the words and the meaning). Love, that over all prevails,
   Love, that never, never fails.
   Love immense, and unconfined,
   Love to all of humankind.

   It is a good "definition" of God. Discuss what it would mean in specific acts for us to be that loving. As individuals or as a group, write a poem or song about love in action or how we can work for shalom for all.


 
3. Create a game board with tokens (think Candyland or Monopoly) or adapt a game board you already have. Make cards to be drawn such as "You gave money to a local homeless shelter. Go forward 2 spaces." "You watched TV instead of making sandwiches for a local homeless shelter. Go back 3 spaces." (Use the names of your local ministries.) Or let the children make up what goes on the cards from things they have done. You could draw a big "game board" on a chalkboard and have the group move through it as they name an act of justice or kindness they have done in order for the group to move ahead ... and confess their mistakes.

In any of these you could also let the children name acts of kindness or justice that the church has done.

Remembering Wesley and all that he preached is a wonderful opportunity to reaffirm the basic tenets of Covenant Discipleship; to rededicate ourselves to the need for a balanced response to God's love and mercy; and to recommit ourselves to a discipleship that encompasses a social holiness striving toward shalom.

Edie Harris is the Volunteer/Casework Coordinator for St. Laurence Chapel: Caring Center for Homeless People, Pompano Beach, Florida, where she also serves on the Methodist Federation for Social Action Board of Directors. With Shirley Ramsey, she co-authored Sprouts: Nurturing Children through Covenant Discipleship.