Categories: theology-philosophy
Date: 01 January 2010 12:57:57
I was going to review my year, but having re-read my last post, thought I'd continue with that train of thought ('phew' the reader cries!).
I went to Alien's school nativity service. It was her Reception class and children from the attached nursery / pre-school. They were the only people taking part, along with the headteacher who read the nativity story, and the local vicar who read prayers at the beginning and end, introduced the carols and did a brief talk. The congregation consisted of parents / relatives / friends of the children involved. It was held at their local village church.
Now, for me, this would be a prime opportunity for 'the church' to welcome / invite / encourage parents / children to church and to tell them the christian message. To show potential non church goers that Jesus etc is relevant. But instead it was a chance for the parents to 'show off' their wonderful children and to get bored!
Yes, the children were cute in their costumes and when they acted out their little bits. I was as proud as other parents at my little Aliens role of 'star' who was followed by others. I don't know what version of the story the headteacher was using, but it was very 'traditional' complex language. I doubt very much that the children actually had a clue what she was on about (I'm not sure I did!) and certainly wouldn't have understood many of the words used. The vicar also prayed using very 'traditional' archaic language. Why?? What is that doing but putting both the children and their parents off ever going near a church because it is totally irrelevant to anything today.
My neighbours were planning on going to the Christingle at the same small village church. The children are always allowed to take a handheld games console to play during the service as it is the only way to 'keep them quiet'. Eh? Isn't the Christingle service meant to be for the children, trying to help them to understand about Jesus being the light of the world? Why would they need to be 'kept quiet'? Why bother going? Certainly only one of the 3 (the youngest) was 'happy' to go. The middle one was having to be bribed.
Instead they came with me and Alien to the Christingle at our church. There, the children enjoyed playing in the pews, they played with 'toy bags', they watched with fascination as balloons filled with helium were let off during the service, they joined in the singing, and took part in the nativity bit by dressing up and walking around the church, they listened to some of what was said and enjoyed their candles and christingles, and generally seemed to, if not enjoy, at least take some part in what was a very full and 'buzzy' service.
What extremes.
I still find it slightly bizarre that I'm concerned about children and church, since I don't really 'do' church / religion etc!