Over the course of four Sundays during Lent, our Multiage class explored the dramatic events of Holy Week by reconstructing the city of Jerusalem during Jesus’ time.  From Palm Sunday to the Resurrection, the children followed Jesus’ path through the city and learned through Gospel, images, video, and story how Jesus spent his final days teaching, preaching, dying, and living again.  By studying a variety of images, as well as researching online, through videos, and in books, the children began to form a solid impression of what Jerusalem may have looked like more than 2000 years ago, as well as what the city looks like today.  This entire process, although messy and busy and occasionally frustrating (our Temple fell down four times!), was a wonderful way for our children to begin to understand and make sense of the events of Holy Week while being engaged in true hands-on learning!

As we constructed, we wondered:

Why did the people love Jesus on Palm Sunday, and then hate him five days later?

Why is it called “Good” Friday?

What happened to the disciples after Jesus was arrested?  Where did they go?

Was Judas evil?

What does the inside of Jesus’ tomb look like?

…and many more questions.  What do you wonder about?

Each year, the youth group at WCUC goes on a “field trip” to visit a faith tradition or worship setting that is different from our own.  Two years ago, we attended the Outdoor Church in Cambridge which is a Christian ministry to and with homeless people.  Last year, we attended a Shabbat service at Kerem Shalom in Concord.  This year, we spent one Sunday morning studying some of the basic tenets of Buddhism, discovering the ways in which it is both similar to and different from Christianity.  Then, on March 22nd, we hit the road to experience Buddhism first hand at the Boston Buddha Vararam Temple in Bedford. A very welcoming and gracious host, Prow Sarns of West Concord, helped to make arrangements for our visit and served as our “tour guide” while we were there.  We began by meeting the head monk of the temple who shared some of his insights and entertained our questions with the help of Prow as our translator.  We then got a tour of the temple – the worship space, fellowship area, and the upstairs classrooms.  Finally, we joined in with the community for  their worship time which consisted of chanting with the monks, receiving blessings, and offering food and monetary donations.  This was a unique chance for us to experience the “other” and to spend some time getting to know our neighbors.  We are so grateful for the way in which we were welcomed and enlightened!

On Sunday, February 22nd, our congregation came together after worship to celebrate the first Sunday of Lent at our annual Lent Event.  Lenten resources for both children and adults were in abundance, as were delicious refreshments and fellowship.  We also offered three activities open to all ages:

• Planting Lenten grass seed in two indoor garden containers – this grass will sprout and grow for the 40 days of Lent, cared for by the preschool and multiage Sunday School classes
• Decorating an Alleluia Banner – using a variety of art media, both children and adults had fun decorating our Alleluia Banner, which will be hidden away for Lent and brought out in celebration on Easter Sunday
• Carving Ivory soap – using plastic knives, we carved soft Ivory soap into a variety of Christian symbols (fish, cross, heart, butterfly) to remind us of the themes of Lent and that Jesus “washed” away our sins when he died for us on the cross

What was your favorite part of our Lent Event?

On Sunday, February 1st, our six third graders at WCUC received a gift of their own, personal bible, presented to them during the worship service.  Directly following worship, Jessica invited all the third graders and their parents to attend a special Bible Forum to help the children explore their brand new bibles.  We met as an intimate group, talked about what the Bible is and how we can use it, and then played a fun scavenger hunt with our new bibles, exploring all the features, extra activities, and enrichment tools found within.  The children then designed and created their own bookmarks while parents wrote a special dedication and blessing inside their child’s bible.  Delicious refreshments and fun fellowship rounded out this important faith formation event!

On Epiphany Sunday, January 4th, our congregation celebrated the end of the Christmas season with an energetic and dynamic pageant featuring toddlers, preschoolers, children, youth, adults, and members of Sunday Fellowship - all performing together to tell the nativity story with a few new twists.  As always, our pageant was joyous, musical, funny, heartwarming, and occasionally chaotic.  A special thank you to Melissa Gardner, Joanna Swain, and Kathleen Reidy for making and organizing the costumes, being essential helpers during rehearsal and the pageant, and for providing delicious treats to celebrate our wonderful performers after the service.  Everyone felt the spirit of the season during the performance, and we are already looking forward to next year’s Epiphany Pageant!