Talk with your pastor and find out what your church is planning to do to celebrate this important date. You might need to be the one to encourage your pastor to do something to acknowledge this event. Although it is true that in today's society many people are not bound by denominational loyalty, there are those who are seeking a sense of continuity and security in an increasingly frightening world.

Perhaps the Sprouts might even undertake, as an act of kindness, to help educate the church about John Wesley. Cokesbury (www.cokesbury.com) has two new resources that sound excellent:

Happy Birthday, J.W.
Help children recognize John Wesley through a way they love best — a birthday party! Happy Birthday, J.W. by LeeDell Stickler celebrates the third century of Wesley's birth by providing a drama, directions for making puppets, decorations, food recipes, and other fun activities. $6.50.

J. W. & Company Notebook
Ride through United Methodist history with John Wesley and the early Methodists. Children will experience life in the times of John Wesley and the circuit riders. It's a great learning experience that's fun! One notebook has everything you need:

• Easy-to-follow directions for crafts, games, and music
• Scripts for historical dramas and Bible stories
• Ideas for setting up interest centers
• Interactive "Walk Through Wesley" timeline
• Ways to use the gifts and talents of the adults in your congregation
• A variety of options to create an interactive learning experience that fits your specific situation

Children will learn:

• About our United Methodist heritage and how it has shaped who we are as people of faith;
• That God inspired John Wesley and other early leaders of our church to spread the good news about Jesus throughout the world;
• That God continues to call us to tell the world about Jesus today.

We encourage you to use the resources available to you to get ideas that will help the children gain an understanding of and appreciation for the life, ministry, and legacy of John Wesley:

• General Board of Discipleship, www.gbod.org/worship (click on "Wesley Tercentennial Resources")
• General Board of Global Ministries,
  http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/wesley/index.html
• Director of Accountable Discipleship, General Board of Discipleship: smanskar@gbod.org or toll-free, 877-899-2780, ext. 1765
• Your pastor
• Your church library

In Wesley, you and the children will find a vision and a passion for living and sharing God's love for the world.

Edie Harris is the Volunteer/Casework Coordinator for St. Laurence Chapel: Caring Center for Homeless People, Pompano Beach, loridaL, 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.