Catechesis (10)
Christianity in other parts of the world was the focus of the Atrium during 2011. We started early in the year with Spain, then we were off to Japan, the Netherlands and China.
Following on from last week, when we made Spanish fans, learned how to say and write My God loves me on them, we had a real treat. One of the mothers brought in a real peineta, the comb, and mantilla, the lace, for a try on. The castanets came out and with lots of flicking of imaginary skirts and stamping you could have sworn we were in Madrid!
The last session of Term One for the older group was a chance for imaginations to run around the block!
Fiona - one of our mothers - came and taught the children the art of block printing using potatoes and heat set dye on silk.
The timelessness of children being totally absorbed never ceases to impress the catechists.
Given the right environment children are able to be wonderfully still, in fact one of the repeated comments from mothers is that they arrive home calm and peaceful.
At the session prior to Palm Sunday Liz brought little palm crosses to the Atrium. The children held them up while, complete with Lenten stole, Liz blessed them.
The depth inherent in the simplicity of a child - and the future of the church - was clear when fourteen members of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd ran every aspect of the St Andrew's in the Paddock's service on the first Sunday in Lent (27 March 2011), with Bishop Tom Brown in attendance.
Catechesis service with Bishop: What the Bishop wears
Written by Caryl ForrestIn place of a sermon, Bishop Tom and Liz had a "Show and Tell" about what bishops wear. And Liz got a chance to show off her new chasuble.
Catechesis service with Bishop: Service starts
Written by Caryl ForrestAt 10 am, with a lengthy procession waiting in the paddock, the service got under way with the hymn, God is here, as we his people.
By 9 am, with the temperature a bit on the chilly side, the paddock was a hive of activity.
