Peacemakers
Kurt T. Stone, Clinton United Methodist Church, Clinton, Missouri,
sent us these ideas.
Peacemakers: Build a New World" was the theme for a six-week
term. Twenty-one Sprouts met in four smaller covenant discipleship
groups led by a youth/adult pair.
During "Justice Time," the Matthew 5:9 verse was used, "Blessed
are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God."
Some of the activities the Sprouts participated in during "Justice
Time" included:
- Discussing articles about war and peace that they clipped from
news magazines.
- Learning about a peacemaker each week, e.g., Jesus, Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr., Former President Jimmy Carter.
- Going on a field trip to nearby Whiteman Air Force Base to visit
with a pilot and chaplain about actual experiences of war and
peacekeeping.
- Learning and then singing "Let There Be Peace on Earth" in Sunday
worship.
The Sprouts were presented with "Build a New World" T-shirts featuring
the Sprouts logo and "I am growing at Clinton United Methodist
Church" on the front and a "Build a New World" graphic on the
back. Clinton's fall term theme was "Loving God and Loving Others
with Helping Hands." The Sprouts completed a different service
project each Saturday morning (visiting homebound church members,
leading games and art projects at nursing homes, serving refreshments
at Red Bird Mission craft show,etc.).
Acts of Worship
As they report on their worship attendance, Shari McCourt, Westminster
United Methodist Church, Maryland, asks her children what they
liked about worship or what they remembered from the hymns or
sermon. Several times during the term, she encouraged the Sprouts
group to sit together with her in worship during a Communion service.
She spend time teaching about Communion and baptism. And the Sprouts
preached the sermon on Children's Day.
Doing Our Part
Many years ago, I saw a cartoon showing the world with many persons
on it, each asking, "What can I do? I am only one person!" One
of my favorite sayings goes something like, "Between the big things
we cannot do, and the small things we do not do, the danger is
that we shall do nothing at all."
Children (and adults) can be overwhelmed by the magnitude of many
justice issues. We must help individuals understand that each
bit helps. I tried to convince a bagger at the grocery store one
day that my not using another plastic bag was helpful and important,
even though he didn't think one plastic bag would make any difference.
(I take my own canvas and mesh bags with me when I shop.) And
he was right -- what's one plastic bag? But if thousands (and
some day, millions) of us take our own bags, think of the difference
it could make. Help your Sprouts understand the importance eof
each act, each witness, each opportunity to be a peacemaker, an
earth saver, a person lover. If each of us does a little, it will
be a lot.
Responses
Thanks to all those who sent us information on activities and
ideas from their Sprouts groups. Keep those reports coming. It
certainly makes for interesting and inspiring reading as we hear
about new ideas and innovations.
We are trying to determine how many congregations are growing
Sprouts. If you are doing Sprouts, please let us know. If you
have ideas, suggestions, or questions about Sprouts, contact:
Edie Harris
641 NE 6th Street
Pompano Beach, FL 33060
Phone: 954-942-7522
Fax: 954-943-0406
E-mail: bricedie@juno.com
or
Shirley Ramsey
Dayspring United Methodist Church
1365 E. Elliot Road
Tempe, AZ
Phone: 602-838-1446
E-ail: sramsey@primenet.com
This article is from the Spring 1998 issue of Covenant Discipleship Quarterly.
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