Artists, Danielle Hammon and Jenna Schrock, collaborated on this learning center installation for our pre-K classroom. They built a table and painted it white with grey roadways. Then, they added wood models of buildings from our neighborhood–a grocery store, a school, homes, and the 930 Art Center. Next, wooden pawns were painted red and placed among the cityscape to represent people. The interactive learning center is used to teach kids that the church is the people called out by Christ (painted red). The church is not a building. The church gathers at a building, and it can also gather in homes or at a workplace.
Tag Archive - What is the Church?
Thursday Book Club: What is the Church?
What is the Church? is Sojourn’s second children’s book, written by Mandy Groce and Bill Bell. What Is The Church? was written to teach preschool children that the church is not a building. It is a people that God has called together and made alive by faith. Unlike other books on the church, this book does not answer the question by first telling about the activities that the church does (gathering, preaching, communion, baptism, counseling, discipline)–although those things are essential marks of the church and they should not be ignored. Instead, this book begins with who God’s people are–recognizing that the church’s activity results from its identity. When we call children to be a part of the church, we are calling them to be a part of a gospel people. And, as a gospel people, the church is a believing family, a community of missionaries, servants, learners, and worshipers. At Sojourn, we call our people to stop going to church and to start being the church. Once God’s people know who they are, we can challenge them to be who they are. In other words, we call them to live as the people that God has made them to be.
We are pleased to announce that the book will soon be published by Christian Focus Publications. The projected date for publication is July 2011. You can pre-order now at their website.
What is the Church? available for purchase online.
Sojourn’s second children’s book, What is the Church, written by Mandy Groce and Bill Bell is now available for purchase online. The book reinforces the same themes as our current sermon series on 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus. What Is The Church? was written to teach preschool children that the church is not a building. It is a people that God has called together and made alive by faith. Pick up a copy at the book table or online today.
Kids Books for Father’s Day!
We hope you’ll be able to worship with us this Sunday, which is Father’s Day. We’ll give a free copy of our children’s book Our Home is like a Little Church to all dads who attend. This book teaches about biblical fatherhood, so bring your dad or any dad you know.
We’ll have a brand new SojournKids book at the book table as well. Mandy Groce and Bill Bell wrote What Is The Church?, with illustrations by Tessa Janes, to teach our children that the church is not a building — it’s a people that God has called together and made alive by faith. You can get this book for $5. Copies of Our Home Is Like A Little Church are available for the same price.
What Is the Chuch? A new Sojourn children’s book tackles this difficult question.
Earlier this week, I ran across a blog post that got me a little excited. Dr. Ray Van Neste, of whom I am a big fan, reviewed a simple little book from Concordia Publishing aimed at young children to encourage their engagement in the worship of the church and explaining key parts of the Lutheran worship service. In the book, comment is made on prayer, congregational singing, Bible reading, preaching, communion, baptism, and giving. Van Neste noted, “In a day when the church is so often minimized or disparaged, it is great to see a children’s book like this… I would like to see my own denominational publisher produce something similar in a Baptist vein.”
Well, I’m pleased to announce that a similar book is in the final stages of production here at Sojourn. Mandy Groce and Bill Bell (with illustrations by Tessa Janes) have been working on a new book for our kids that asks the difficult question What is a Church? Here are some of the opening lines:
Let’s say you ask me, “What’s the church?”
I’d say, “Not what, but WHO!”
The church is made of people just
Like me and just like you.The church is not a place we go
To meet on special days.
It’s us—it’s he and she and we—
Called out to bring Christ praise.God’s church is built of human hearts—
Men, women, girls, and boys.
By faith we’re made God’s family
And that’s why we rejoice!
Unlike other books on the church, this book does not answer the question by telling what the church does (preaching, communion, baptism, discipline)–although those things are essential and should not be ignored. But this book begins with who we are–our identities as a church. As a gospel people, the church is a believing family, a community of worshipers, servants, learners, and missionaries. Stay tuned for more as the project continues.