Children Stories

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.

Lent is a season of penitence and discipline.  It calls us to reexamine our lives, reevaluate our behavior, and to return to God.  In Children's Ministries, we make every effort to "train up" our children, so that they are learning that God simply wants us to quiet ourselves in a troubled world, so that He can direct us to be His hands, His feet, and His words.  We are to comfort, to serve, and to heal.

Dear Friends,

Dr. Sawyer and Janet GilliamOur celebration of All Saints' Day on Sunday, November 2, was made even more special with the honoring of our own saint among us, Janet Gilliam.  Bob Sawyer presented Janet with a plaque and informed her that the Nursery in the Parish Life Center will hereafter be named The Janet Gilliam Nursery.  But what many people did not appreciate was the effort that went on behind the scenes to make this possible.

Some months ago, a group of parents was looking for a way to honor Janet. With the Center Campaign just kicking off, it seemed like a good idea to raise enough money to name a room for her in the Parish Life Center.  The Nursery was chosen and the drive to raise $100,000 began.  A letter from parishioners, Kim Andreaus, Meredith Decker, Marsha East and Anna Howard, was sent to all nursery and Sunday School parents asking for pledges and with strict instructions to keep this a secret.

In the end, over $130,000 was collectively pledged, and, even more amazingly, we managed to keep it a secret from Janet!  Anyone who saw her reaction on Sunday can attest to that.  Thank you to everyone who contributed to this effort.  And especially thanks to Janet for all she does for this parish family.

There are angels among us, and you might never guess who some of them are! Do they have wings and gowns? Do they fly? Do they play harps and wear halos? Not necessarily. Here's the secret: they're members of children's Sunday school!!!

Good Shepherd children returned to Sunday school this past week with joy and excitement! On Rally Day, they met new teachers, found new classrooms, put together a craft item, and shared a snack. They were also introduced to this year’s theme. Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches.” He goes on to expand that idea by pointing out that if we live in Him, we will bear great fruit and that without Him, we have no life source and thus, no fruit. This is the same long narrative where Jesus goes on to instruct us to be His disciples, keep His commandments, abide in His love, take His joy, and to love one another as he has loved us. He promotes us from servants to friends. Wow! What a wonderful lesson, both powerful and meaningful, for children to focus on as the theme of children’s Sunday school for the 2008-2009 school year!