Children and Youth Ministry Update from The Rev. Francesca Fortunato

On Sunday February 2nd, the Park Sunday school children read two different versions of Galatians 5: 22-23. The first version was from their Spark Children’s Bible; the second from the story book, “Maybe God Is Like That, Too,” in which a child searches for God in the city, and, during the course of a day at home, at school, and outdoors, sees the fruits of the Spirit in action. I asked the children to tell me where they had witnessed the fruits of the Spirit in their own lives. Some answers included “At home” (kindness), “In the park,” (peace), “At school” (patience) and “At dinner time” (goodness).Following  our discussion, I taught the song “Fruits of The Spirit” to the children, and asked them to come up with gestures to fit the words. As always, they showed great imagination and creativity, as they devised ways to express these spiritual gifts and virtues, with physical movement.

On February 9th, we will be reading Saint Paul’s “love chapter” (familiar from many weddings),1 Corinthians:13. Discussion will focus on all of the things that “love is” for us. For their creative response activity, the children will make Valentine cards for people they love, writing “love is” phrases on them (either Saint Paul’s, their own, or both).

These big questions (where is God? What is love?) are things that most of us will spend our whole lives pondering. It’s never too early to begin taking them on, consciously and intentionally. It has been a great education, as well as great joy and inspiration for me, to study theology with children, for all of these years and decades. I look forward to the ongoing journey, with these smart, sweet; caring children in the Park community.

Blessings and well wishes as always,
Rev. Francesca Maria (Miriam): Children’s Minister