Friday, August 18, 2006

More Children's Spirituality: Intergenerational Settings/Scripture pt. 2

Some of her references to children in Israel's community:

"God's directives for the Israelites included many opportunities for families and the community to celebrate together, to worship together, to discuss theological matters. In the religion of Israel, children were not just included, they were drawn in, and absorbed into the whole community. They had a deep sense of belonging (Harkness, 1998, p. 436)" (CS p. 270)

. . . [T]he directives for feasts and celebrations illustrate this point best (Ratcliff, n.d.) . . . [T]he purpose of these festivals was to remind the Israelites who they were, who God was, and what God had done for his people in ages past. . .they [teens and children] came to know who they were and who they were to be. And their knowing would carry the sense of the Hebrew word yada ' which connotes more than intellectual information , but rather knowing by experiencing (Fretheim, 1997, p 410) (CS p. 271)

In these settings, God clearly expected the older generation to be available to the younger to answer questions and to explain the reasons for their confidence in God. . . (Exod 12:27)" (CS p. 272)

This perhaps ties more into special events - events commemorating what God has done. Beyond Christmas, Easter, Passover - it might be a church anniversary celebration. Any other times and places to celebrate (with our children) what God has done?

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