Presenting Bibles to Children the how, when, and why

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1 August 2008 Presenting Bibles to Children the how, when, and why It was Third Grade Bible Sunday. There was a certain feeling of exhilaration in the air before the worship service. The freshly scrubbed children were whispering excitedly among themselves, even including those who were too young to receive a Bible. As the parents and grandparents entered the sanctuary, they were chattering in anticipation of the upcoming presentation of Bibles to their children. It was a big day at our church! The pastor was aware that during the singing of the first hymn the third graders were lining up in the narthex in preparation for the Bible presentation. Before beginning, she asked if there were any other third graders in the congregation who wished to receive Bibles that morning. Several children popped up and ran up the aisle to join their classmates. What a wonderful sight to see children running to get Bibles! The presentation of Bibles to elementary children is a long held tradition in the United Methodist church. The exact point during elementary years at which Bibles are awarded is determined by each church. Sometimes Bibles are presented to children who are first graders, but often it is early in the third grade year when children receive their Bibles. The translation or version selected may determine the grade level in which Bibles are awarded. For instance, a book of Bible stories paraphrased from the original scripture might be more appropriate for younger children. Once children reach third grade, however, they usually are well on the way to being able to read and comprehend at a higher level and can enjoy a traditional Bible translation, such as the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) or the New International Version (NIV). It is best to select the same translation that your congregation generally uses in worship so that children may follow along in their own Bibles during worship as scripture is read aloud. Choosing a Bible When making your Bible selection, consider these: Abingdon Press offers its NRSV Children s Bible, (ISBN#10: ), which has wonderful cartoony graphics, kid-friendly study aids, and colorful maps and extras (such as a page on positions in which we are encouraged to pray with scripture references for each). It comes in hard cover to withstand years of use.

2 ZonderKidz NIrV Kids Study Bible, (ISBN# ), comes with a soft cover. It also has wonderful kid-friendly study aids and maps and is illustrated with beautiful color pictures drawn by children. It is a veritable NIV translation but it is written at about a 3 rd grade level (that explains the r in the title which stands for reader s version). For example, the Lord s Prayer begins like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored. May your kingdom come, May what you want to happen be done on earth as it is done in heaven. The NIrV translation makes no drastic changes in words and steadfastly strives to retain the original meaning but uses words that make it easier for today s young children to comprehend. Its easier language and beautiful pictures make it a good Bible to give to children whose first language is not English. Planning the Presentation Selecting the Bible and setting the date for presentation (usually in the fall) are the easy parts. The hard work comes in finding ways to encourage children to read and study their new Bibles. First of all, consider the presentation event. If at all possible it should happen during worship, when parents, teachers, and family members can be present, as it marks the beginning of what it is hoped will become the child s lifelong habit of study and devotion to God s Word, and it is certainly a milestone in the child s faith formation. Think about ways to make the event even more meaningful for children and families: During worship, the pastor(s) might briefly explain to the children what importance the occasion holds for the entire family of faith, and then a prayer could be offered on behalf of the children. A good way to encourage each child to spend time with his/her new Bible is to highlight (using a Bible highlighter) a special verse in each Bible ahead of time, and then tell the children to search, at a later time, for their particular verse and ponder how it might apply to their lives. Read each child s name as his/her Bible is being presented. An easy way to do that, if you have more than a few children, is to give each one a blank 3x5 card and ask each to write his/her name on it. Line the children up and THEN collect the cards in order. As long as the children don t get out of place in line, their names will be in the correct order when read from the cards. Again, if you have more than a few children and you wish to prepare a bookplate to be pasted inside the front cover of each Bible, present the bookplates after the Bibles have been handed out in order to prevent possible confusion. Prepare a litany to be read during worship. Insert copies in the bulletin so children can take theirs home to reread later. Maybe something like: Congregation: Receive the Word of God. Learn its stories and study its words.

3 Its stories belong to us all, and its words speak to us all. They tell us who we are and that we belong to one another, for we are the people of God. Children: We receive these Bibles with our hands, our hearts, and our minds. Thank you. We will read and study the Bible together. Congregation: We rejoice in this step in your journey with God. We pray God will guide you, your family, and us as you use this Holy Bible in your home, in your classes, and in our worship. We will learn together and grow in our love for God s Word. Children: The Word of God is a lamp to our feet and light to our path. Thanks be to God! Ahead of time, prepare a list of the children s names who will be receiving Bibles. Make it graphically appealing and give parents a copy for their scrapbooks or as a keepsake of the special day. Offer Bibles to any child the same age or older (not younger) than those receiving them. After all, that s what we re all about giving away Bibles! (If funding is a problem, ask for donations ahead of time. Many parents, grandparents, and others are willing to pay for a child s Bible.) Follow up later with any who may have missed the big day. Keep a few extra new Bibles in the church school classroom for those who were absent on the day of presentation. Following Up Children should be encouraged to bring their Bibles to church school each time the class meets. The church school curriculum might be altered during the following few weeks after the Bible Awards Sunday to help acquaint children with their new Bibles. In fact, Cokesbury Publishing offers a new eight-week hands-on curriculum entitled Learning to Use My Bible, (CR , teacher guide & CD, and CR class pak, for $45 total), that includes music, maps, games, and charts. Also available from Cokesbury is a great little booklet, Discovering Together, ideal for churches to give parents when their children receive their first Bible. Using it, parents and children can develop useful Bible skills while spending time together ($2 each). Both resources are designed to be used with the NRSV Children s Bible. Another fun way to engage parents and also tap into children s excitement upon receiving their Bibles is to hold a party to celebrate and invite parents. Some churches hold the event the same day as the Bible presentation, maybe right after the worship service or later in the day/evening. It should be a happy, upbeat occasion, with balloons and decorations, possibly called something like Bible Blast or Bible Bash. It s

4 important to stress that the celebration is specifically for the Bible recipients and their parents, which gives younger children something to look forward to when their turn comes. Plan to offer childcare for younger siblings so that parents can spend special time with their Bible recipient celebrating the big occasion. Below are some ideas of what might be included in such an event: Build a life size balloon Goliath. Ask children and parents to read the Bible verse that describes the size of Goliath and then measure and mark it on the floor. Working in teams, have them build a life size Goliath out of balloons so they can appreciate exactly how huge he was. Play Bible Pictionary, dividing participants into teams. Allow each team member to draw a picture of a Bible story or character and try to get their teammates to guess it. Bible beanbag game block out hopscotch-like squares on the floor for New Testament, Old Testament, and 6-8 books of the Bible. Ask children to draw cards giving scripture verses or naming Bible stories and, with help from their parents, throw a beanbag into the square naming the correct part of the Bible in which the verse or story is found. Help children make a Bible bookmark with colorful ribbons so they can mark their favorite verses in their new Bibles. Have a Bible scavenger hunt. Prepare clues to a secret scripture verse, giving Bible trivia on each, and hide them around the church ahead of time. Have teams of parents and children search the church to be the first to find all their team s clues and reveal the secret scripture. End with refreshments, possibly an ice cream sundae bar or punch and cookies. Make it a fun celebration. After all, it is a big day in the life of each child who received a Bible! By Sally Taylor Former Children s Ministries Director, Centreville United Methodist Church, Certified in Christian Education from Wesley Seminary sallytaylor@cox.net Some upcoming Virginia Conference events related to children s ministries: Nuts and Bolts for Life Long Learning and Teaching

5 From funds received from the annual Christian Education Sunday offering, the VA Conference Board of Discipleship Education Division will offer a one-day training event (10 am 4 pm) for leaders and teachers in four different regions of the conference: September 6 at West Point UMC in West Point September 13 at Aldersgate UMC in Charlottesville October 4 at Baylake UMC in Virginia Beach October 11 at Smith Memorial UMC in Collinsville There will be workshops for leaders of children, youth, and adults, including: Nuts and Bolts in Leading/Teaching Adults, Living Discipleship in an Alienating World, Engaging Youth in the Bible, Ministries with Young People, Nuts and Bolts in Teaching Children, Nurturing Faith in Families, Learning Together Across the Ages, Technology in Teaching, and Using Performing Arts in Ministry. The cost is $25 per person which includes lunch. 0.5 CEU is available. For more information or to register, visit the conference web site at and link on the date, or call the Office of Children's Ministries and Discipleship at or ext Effective Ministries Effective Ministries will be the focus of A Day Apart in Christian Education sponsored by the Virginia Conference Christian Educators Fellowship (CEF) on Thursday, September 25 from 10 am to 3:00 pm at the United Methodist Center in Glen Allen. The day will consist of two different presentations: From Urgency to Action: Effective Ministry with Children will discuss the moral and spiritual development of children, and a children's ministry effectiveness model and tool for evaluating your own ministry with children. Led by Liz Perraud, National Coordinator of Regional Teams for The LOGOS Ministry. Ageless Wisdom: Models for Older Adult Ministry will explore current statistics and challenges facing older adults, models for local church ministries, and the latest in older adult ministry resources. Led by Martha Stokes, Virginia Conference Director of Lay Life and Work, Disabilities, and Older Adult Ministries. The cost is $10 per person which includes lunch. 0.5 CEU is available. For more information or to register, visit the conference web site at and under Events link on the date, or call the Office of Discipleship at ext. 138.

6 Let s Get Growing More Children! Reaching Out to Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers Wednesday, October 8, Trinity UMC in Richmond A one-day training event (10 am to 3:45 pm) from the VA Conference Life Span Children s Council to help equip churches to reach out to very young children and their families. The event will begin with a key note by Melanie Gordon, Director of Ministries with Younger Children at the General Board of Discipleship in Nashville. There will also be individual workshops offered, including How to Start and Run a MOPS Ministry, How to Start a Preschool, the Safe and Effective Church Nursery, Safe Sanctuaries for Little Ones, CPR/First Aid for Infants, Christian Parenting, and Nurturing a Little Child s Spirituality. The cost is $35 per person which includes lunch, workshops. 0.5 CEU is available. For more information or to register, visit the conference web site at and under Events link on the date, or call the Office of Children s Ministries and Discipleship at ext Reaching Out to Children and Families Two dates and locations to choose from Friday, October 17 at Williamsburg UMC OR Saturday, October 18 at Calvary UMC in Stuarts Draft A one-day training event (10 am to 3:45 pm) VA Conference Life Span Children s Council to help equip churches to reach out to children and their families. The event will begin with a key note by Nick Ransom, Director of Children s Ministries for the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Kansas. There will also be individual workshops offered, including Outreach Events to Children and their Families, Effective Ministry with Children, Mission with Children, Re-Energizing VBS for Effective Evangelism, Educating and Including Children in Worship. The cost is $35 per person which includes lunch. 0.5 CEU is available. For more information or to register, visit the conference web site at and under Events link on the date, or call the Office of Children s Ministries and Discipleship at ext Safe Sanctuaries Training Basic Safe Sanctuaries Training

7 September 20, Green Memorial UMC in Roanoke At this one-day training event (10 am - 4 pm), workshop leaders will define types of child abuse and neglect, highlight the abuser s profile, identify areas of vulnerability within church programs, and discuss policies and procedures to reduce the risk of child abuse and neglect in the local church. Participants will also be equipped with resources to lead a similar training event in their own church for the teachers and workers with children and youth. The cost is $25 per person which includes lunch. 0.5 CEU available. For more information or to register, visit the conference web site at and under Events link on the date, or call the Office of Children s Ministries and Discipleship at ext Advanced Safe Sanctuaries Training November 15, Crenshaw UMC in Blackstone At this one-day training event (10 am - 4 pm), workshop leaders will explore issues of child/youth abuse and safety related to the internet, how to incorporate new policies and procedures with the use of computers, the internet and cell phones into existing child/youth protection policies, screening of volunteers with national background checks, steps needed to be able to safely welcome released sex offenders into the church, and a sharing of "success" stories and best practices. The cost is $25 per person which includes lunch. 0.5 CEU available. For more information or to register, visit the conference web site at and under Events link on the date, or call the Office of Children s Ministries and Discipleship at ext. 138.