On Sunday, the Preschool celebrated Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week by revisiting the book The Easter Story by Brian Wildsmith and recreating the scene of Palm Sunday with donkeys, cloaks, and palms, and blocks (built by the children into the Temple of Jerusalem).  We interacted with our storytelling landscape, played “Pin the Cloak on the Donkey,” decorated our Lenten grass baskets to take home, finished our Easter Mural, which is now hanging from the bannister at the church entrance.  We had a busy, interactive, and engaging day!

~Jessica

Jessica began teaching our preschoolers the lessons of Holy Week on Sunday, reading The Easter Story by Brian Wildsmith.  They created a cross mural, made “new life” playdough flowers, cut and watered the Lenten grass, and shared a snack remembering Jesus’ last supper. 

This past Sunday, Marjorie led our multiage class in a first try of “Bible Legos.”  With the help of Melissa T., Dennis, and 4 tubs of Legos, the class created three scenes from Holy Week: Palm Sunday, Cleansing the Temple, and the Last Supper.  Each group then shared their story with the whole group.  The event was fun and engaging, and the design teams were making real inquiries into the scripture lessons while building their scenes.  Take a look!

More wonderful pictures from our Christmas Pageant…
     

Didn’t get here on Pageant Sunday? Need another look? Here are some moments from our Christmas Pageant. Send more if you have them! Thanks to all who led and participated.

Looking for new ideas to celebrate Advent, I came across a tradition called an Advent      Spiral on a Waldorf School website. The idea is simple, yet magical: construct a spiral from evergreen trimmings, place a large candle in the center, and give each child one candle to light and place around the spiral. Slowly and beautifully the light grows in the spiral, symbolizing pushing back the darkness of Advent and waiting for the Light of Jesus. Melissa Tustin echoed my excitement to try this gorgeous activity, and suggested we add a tree-decorating component, based on another beautiful and simple tradition of creating natural ornaments to trim a wild tree in the woods or in a garden to feed the local wildlife. Yet another example of finding light and life in unexpected places during the dark, cold days of Advent. On the evening of December 7th, Melissa and I invited the preschool children and their families to come experience the mystery, wonder, and quiet waiting of Advent in a whole new way. Sixteen children and 13 adults joined us for a story, a walk in our spiral, delicious refreshments, and an assortment of natural ornament crafts created to decorate a tree in our Welcome Garden (look for our tree the next time you visit the garden!). It was a wonderful evening filled with beauty, meditation, and lots of joy, and the beginning of a tradition we hope will continue for many years to come.  ~Jessica

This Sunday, WCUCers of all ages participated in our Christmas pageant, telling again this ancient story of promise.  It was a joyful morning.

One of the reasons we act this story out every year is to try to really pay attention to it.  We get so familiar with this story, it stops surprising us.  But it was, and is, a very surprising story.  Just listen to these children tell it:

May this be a holy Christmas for you and yours.

After All Saints worship, we gathered for a messier event — digging out seeds, carving faces, and even going bowling with our pumpkins.  Thanks to everyone who helped us celebrate the season.  Look at that great lineup of kids, youth, and pumpkins!