Children Stories

Oh to watch the story of Christ's birth as it is told through the mouths, eyes and wonder of youth and children!

My favorite parts of this year's Christmas pageant were the unpredictable moments that gave it character. From the unique perspective brought to his or her character, to the very lively and animated livestock, the pageant was alive with life. I love how the children let their personalities shine through their music, movement and words. I also love how the anxiousness of stage fright, the care of a young girl who gently comforted a baby with his pacifier and the liveliness of a preschooler who wanted to be the loudest lamb she could be made the pageant alive with the feelings and interactions of real people. When I imagine what the circumstances surrounding the birth of Christ were probably like, I imagine Mary and Joseph as both faithful and scared, a crying Jesus, the shepherds trying to herd uncooperative sheep, the angels being a commanding sight and the wise men heatedly discussing directions. I don't imagine a still tableau of prim and proper looking characters, but rather people from different classes, backgrounds, circumstances and importance living into real life alongside angels, a bright star and lots of (smelly) animals. I think our pageant, featuring little ones of all ages, sizes and backgrounds running up and down the aisle and shepherds having a staff fight in the background is a lot more realistic than still and stoic characters. Praise God for the life and liveliness of our children! 

A huge thank you goes out to Jennifer Seiger, Dwayne Holloway and all the costume helpers, prop helpers, wranglers, lunch helpers, musicians, narrators, cast, shepherds, sheep, lambs, angels and parents who were involved in this year's pageant. Thank you for bringing us joy as we prepare room in our hearts for Christ this Advent.  

Last Sunday was such a fun and festive time for the
youth, children and families of CGS as we frolicked together in celebration of
Halloween fun and fellowship. The festivities began early, as a few of the
youth stayed after church or came back in the afternoon to help set up games,
decorate and set out cupcakes and hot dog mummies. At 5:15, the children began
arriving, dressed to impress in their costumes-after a fantastic costume parade
outside the church, Shepherd's Hall was bubbling with the laughter of lovely
princesses, muscular super heros, fantastic Disney characters, Bob the Bob the
Builder, ballerinas, mermaids, lady bugs and other impressive guests; we even
had a visit from Cinderella's stunning evil stepsister! After sharing a potluck
meal, the parents gathered for a meeting while the youth had a fantastic time
caring for the children by providing facepainting, crafts a cupcake walk and
other games such as twister, pumpkin toss, limbo, potato sack races, pin the
bowtie on Mr. Bones and pick up ducks. A fabulous time was had by all! A
special thank you goes out to all the youth who volunteered their time and
energy to make this event a success and to the parents who allowed us to love
on your children!

On Saturday, July 24, dozens of excited young children and many wonderful VBS adult and youth volunteers gathered in the main lobby of the Duncan-Giersch Center getting ready to begin their journey to EGYPT with Joseph!  You could almost see the dust rising and hear the restlessness of camels as the kids milled about before their journey to the second floor for the first destination of the day to see a stellar rendition of the Joseph story related to them by Bob Sawyer, as Joseph, and Bill Bennett, as Pharaoh, in full costume!  Thanks to Elizabeth Gant, the kindergarten classroom had been transformed into Pharaoh' s palace with drapery, columns, signs bearing Egyptian hieroglyphics, pottery bowls, baskets, and a fantastic, colorful throne. The children were enthralled and completely ready to continue their journey through "Egypt" with rotating sessions of singing Celebration Music with Jennifer Seiger, listening to Story Telling through Godly Play with Wren Blessing, cutting loose at the Pyramid Playground with Karen and James Kuhns, and making craft projects with the Shopkeepers, Jenny, Laura and Jack Hart. Thank you to our adult and youth "Shepherds": Kelly Ellis Carrie Rogers, Olivia Bryant, Nancy Daly, Chrissie Moody, Lela Cassanova, Jessie DeShong, and Bob Gilliam.  Also, thank you to our "Lunch Crew": Patsy Rivers, Betty Moore, and Elizabeth Gilliam. At the end of the morning, everyone gathered together to support Operation Kid-to-Kid by making special soft blankets that say "God Loves Me" and to personalize coloring books to send to hurting children in Africa.  World Vision will add these cuddly blankets and coloring books to backpacks filled with health and hygiene items and school supplies. Donations to cover the blankets and coloring books would be gratefully accepted ($11 per set), contact Janet Gilliam at or 831-2003.

Then bright and early on Sunday, July 25, VBS attended the 8:00am service with the gift of a VBS song for the early service congregation!  After a cereal and fruit breakfast in Shepherd's Hall and a chance to see part of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat" in the EYC Room, our VBS children and parents caught the 10:56am train to Rocky Mount with special treats on the way and a return by bus for their own "journey" to dream and reflect on all they had seen and done in "Egypt."  Joseph's journey, and ours, is about dreaming big dreams, holding fast to hope and faith, asking for God's wisdom and grace in times of trouble, reconciling and renewing family life, and always seeking God's grace and forgiveness in our lives. Thanks be to God!

from Janet Gilliam, Director of Children's Ministries

Bible JeopardyEarlier this year, the Church of the Good Shepherd lost a great lady--Susan Stoker. Susan had been a parishioner at Good Shepherd for some 96 years, and her parents were here long before that. Most importantly, she was a warm, loving woman of deep and authentic faith. She was an inspiration, and I am still grieving her loss. She never had children of her own, yet she seemed genuinely charmed by little folks. I caught her many times grinning as she poured over bulletin boards of photographs featuring our children. She occasionally made financial contributions to Children's Ministries.

On no less than four occasions, she told me exactly the same story. "Janet, when I was a little girl, mama and daddy made me go to Sunday school ever single Sunday and ..." Okay, this is the part where your mind races ahead and you think she's going to say, "And that is what made me the woman of great faith that you see before you today." But instead, she says, "And I hated it, because it was BORING!" I was always shocked each time she said it, but then she would add, "But the children at this church are always running off to class laughing and playing. They seem to have so much fun, and I wish I could be a little child in Sunday school again too."

This, of course, was a compliment, but I'd like to explain why she was right. Our Sunday school teachers are the reason Susan Stoker was right. I can come up with support ideas, but the magic recipe for Sunday school is commitment, dedication, creativity, love of children, and a personal experience of Jesus Christ. There are not a lot of people that you can say all that about. In our classrooms I have seen prayer trees and candles, grape vines with children's faces and thumb print pictures, valentines and Christmas cards for shut ins and our soup kitchen guests. I have seen older parishioners share their faith with younger folk. I have seen kids and adults mesmerized in our Grapes and Grains class. I know where the world's best chocolate brownies are made. I have seen killer jeopardy games, and you have not seen hysterically cute until you have seen an enitre class of kindergarteners in turkey head dress in preparation for Thanksgiving! Our Sunday school teachers are magicians who can make all of that and more happen! When you see them, please thank the 2008-2009 Sunday school teaching staff at the Church of the Good Shepherd.