One of the most beautiful presentations in the level 2 atrium is the History of the Kingdom of God and the Gifts. The 6-7 year old is beginning to have a concept of time, and is also moving towards developing a sense of morality. We begin the first year at this age with a series of presentations expanding on their already deep knowledge of the Kingdom of God, beginning to frame it in the context of time and the child's place in God's great plan.
All of these presentations lift up three great moments in our earth's history which are a part of God's great plan to bring us into union with Him: Creation, Redemption and Parousia or the Second Coming. We look at God's plan as a series of gifts and this presentation really emphasizes the amazing diversity and beauty of all of these gifts.
The children were beyond excited about opening and exploring boxes filled with amazing samples of God's creation - tiny sea creatures, the scent of lavender, beeswax and vanilla bean, the tiny mustard seed and the large and prickly pine cone, images of the planets, stars, animals for companions, the list goes on and on.........
.....culminating in the most amazing and wonderful gift of all, the gift of God's own son, Jesus Christ. He loved us so much, that He sent His only begotten Son. God became man, that man may become God.
His Son, the Good Shepherd, continues to be with us in the bread and the wine of the Eucharist, and we look to the day when He will come again and the fullness of the kingdom of God will be established forever.
2 comments:
I love this. Remind me that we should talk about the beautiful Children's Garden at Dormition Monastery. Beautiful Orthodox approach to "hands-on" learning. I think my boys could spend 6 hours a day there and not get tired.
Would love to hear about it, we are about to do some planting around the church this year, would love to get ideas!
Post a Comment