At Raymore Christian in Kansas City area, we utilize story within our children's worship time. The "curriculum" used is Jerome Berryman's Godly Play/Children and Worship. Story is integral to the process as children are invited to "wonder" about the Biblical story which is told with the use of wood figures. As the story is "enacted" through the figures, the children enter into the story then have the opportunity to respond to it. Throughout the sessions, Berryman has the leader ask the children "I wonder how this might be your story." We are having good experiences with the program but it is still in its infancy. Thanks for letting us share "our story" with you.

Karen Appleby
kca@hotmail.com

At our church in Kansas City, St. John's UMC, our 4th and 5th grade Sunday school teacher does the following: During the fall her class reads and hears a particular story in the Bible. At the same time, they are building in their room an actual scene of the story. For example, this year they focused on the birth narritives. They build a life size stable with all the animals, props, and trimmings. The Sunday before Christmas the children dressed in the characters robes and invited the rest of the congregation to their room. Then the children acted out the story as they remembered and experienced it. The words were in their own rememberings and was not memorized. They simply acted out the story in their own way. It was very effective.

Corinne Kleppe
ckleppe@pcpartner.net

At Grinnell UMC our Children's Christmas Programs are based on storytelling. In the past we have used published children's books as our basis, for example: The Crib that Zack Built - or - B is for Bethlehem.
We have also used original writings for the basis of our programs. The children are able to tell the Christmas Story to their family and to our congregation through storytelling, acting and through song.