|
Testimonials
The Blessing
Center welcomes comments about its ministry. Below are some of the ones we have
received. For others, be sure to see
Stories to Inspire.
To have your
comments included here,
send e-mail to The Blessing Center.
The Rev. Lee Dorsey
Interim Pastor
Faith Presbyterian Church
Indianapolis, IN
 Affirmation
of Faith: In a world awash in violence that creeps
into the awareness of everyone, children seem most innocently helpless. A
ministry that reassures each one that they are God’s creation, that God loves
them, that God hears their prayers and blesses them is a ministry whose time has
come to fullness.
Children can
tell us about their concerns if we learn how to listen to them and provide them
with many ways to express themselves in an atmosphere of trust and acceptance.
Children will pray their own prayers and the prayers of the church when given
the opportunity.
Teaching and
learning are integral to our developing an identity as Christians. It takes
place through liturgy and music; in classrooms and at home; during study
sessions and church suppers; in the hallways and on mission sites. Whenever the
community gathers, teaching and learning are taking place.
In the words of
a familiar song from our childhood we proclaim the essence of our faith.
Jesus loves me
This I know,
For the Bible
Tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong;
They are fragile, He is strong.
Yes, Jesus
loves me;
Yes, Jesus loves me;
Yes, Jesus loves me;
The Bible tells
me so.
(Quoted and
Adapted from The Blessing Center website and used at Faith Presbyterian
Church, Indianapolis, IN.)
The Rev.
Charlotte Teel
Director of Children's Ministries
St. Luke's United
Methodist Church
Oklahoma City, OK
I had
another wonder-filled experience this morning. At our
3rd chapel time, the 21/2 year old class, 8 of the them, circled around on the
floor, crisscross applesauce, in front of our worship table.
At the
close, after all had received a blessing, several children said "It's your
turn." I responded, "I'm blessed by each of you."
As
children are lining up to leave, 2 1/2 year old Amoris comes to me, puts her
finger in the healing balm that I'm holding, draws a line on the back of my hand
and with her deep dark eyes she looks into mine and says “created!”
I received
a blessing beyond all measure...a little child in our midst leading.
Thank you
for sharing your wonderful preschool chapel time ministry... Now it's spreading
to Oklahoma!”
►Charlotte
Teal is a student in the Blessing Based Spiritual Nurture
Doctor of Ministry Program
at United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio.
Davison United Methodist Church
Davison, MI
Blessings! I was
so happy to receive the Blessing Center news.
On Thursday, I
will be sharing blessings, balm, lambs and blankets with the CE director at my
new church. I shared the essence of BBSN/HL with her at a recent staff meeting
and she is delighted to introduce holy listening and prayer into her classrooms
and children's chapel. I started using a candle ritual and introduced holy
listening at my first meeting with the youth group last night. Stones and prayer
beads are in the "plans" for coming weeks together.
I am learning to
live in Sabbath rhythms and am very sure that the slower pace is what I am to
bring to this new appointment--a suburban church filled with very busy
professionals and over-scheduled children. It is a comfort to be able to take
the time to listen for God and not get caught up in the frantic pace of the rest
of the world. It isn't easy, but it is worth it.
…And as Sister Joan Chittester says...I'm still imagining a world run by holy
listeners!
Every blessing!
Susan Youmans
Associate Pastor
Christ
Presbyterian Church
Madison, WI
 Lisa, a
member of our "Mothers and Others" group here at Christ
Presbyterian Church, gave me a booklet to read through (Baby Blanket
Booklet) with the idea of creating one with our church name, etc.
I understand the booklet was created to
give to new mothers along with baby blankets. I was
quite moved by the concept, the prayers, the blankets, and
the power I could feel in the rituals. Lisa told me you were most
generous in "passing it on" and allowing other churches to use the
booklet…
The moms are so anxious to pass on this lovely gift to a number of new
mothers in our community…
From Renee
I looked, saw, read, marveled
at the renewal and hope inherent in the theology and the descriptions of
this ministry of walking with children as the newest blessings from God. The
theology of prepositions (do to - do for - do with) struck me.
How The
Blessing Center Blessed Jim
by Jim DeWall
Beavercreek, Ohio
 My wife, Gail,
handed me a brochure one evening and stated, “This is a new ministry that the
church is thinking about, and you might want to read it.” I was just glancing at
the brochure not really reading it, when I read, “Finger and Toes Blessing
Prayer” - this got my attention. I read and reread the booklet, Praying With
Your Baby: A Spiritual Journey, by the Rev. Leanne Ciampa Hadley. Thinking about
what I had read I realized that if parents prayed with their babies under the
guidance of this little book, that CHILD ABUSE would go away. I told my wife
that if the Church starts this ministry I will buy a baby blanket for every new
born child in our Church.
Late on a Friday afternoon, I received a call from Jackie (our church Educator
at the time) and was told, to not be alarmed, but my name would be in Sunday’s
Church Bulletin. I asked, why? The response was, “don’t worry about it”. When my
wife got home from the church I asked her, what is going on that would cause my
name to be in the church bulletin. Her answer was, “we (Jackie and my wife,
Gail) decided that since you like children so much that you should be a member
of the Blessing Center Board.
A few weeks later I was asked if I would, “cam cord” the Children’s Chapel, a
part of our weekday Preschool. I knew that it would be much fun and I said yes.
Setting up for the first session in the chapel I saw a small worship center on
the floor, about a foot high. It was draped in white linen and on it was a
Children’s Bible, a candle and a candle snuffer. There was a small lamb, too.
With an adult in the lead, the children came into the church sanctuary and down
the aisle. There were big wonderful smiles; some were gazing about, a little
pushing, lots of giggles and a few high-fives. As the children were seated it
was obvious that they all had a predetermined spot and a person that they would
be seated next too. Some were on their knees, some on their bottoms, some had
their faces in their hands and some stood. Once all were seated, the candle was
lit; there was prayer and singing, The children were asked if they had a special
joy or problem that they to share with the group. Hands went up and some faces
fell. The lamb was given to one child and that child had the floor to pray
aloud, silently, or could ask Jackie to pray a special prayer. There was not
another sound in the room. All eyes were fixed on the person with the lamb. Some
times there were discussions concerning the child’s joy or problem. Some times a
child would just hug the lamb, saying nothing, just wanting to keep its comfort.
The lamb was passed on and on to each person until all had had a turn.
It was when the children first came down aisle that I felt changes in that
sanctuary. I have no words to really describe it. It was calming, it was
peaceful, it was a cool sacred reality that God had arrived and was there. I
have never felt such a closeness to God before. When the children left the
chapel God went with them...
Davison United Methodist Church
Davison, MI
Sunday School
Our Sunday School uses a prayer and blessing ritual in all age groups. Several
adults/groups use candle rituals for every meeting or class time.
Worship
In the worship service we share a back-to-school blessing in each year. On our
ministry/pastor appreciation Sunday, our 4-6 grade students gave the blessings.
UMC District Event
The "blessing balm" blessing is being added to our district youth winter lock-in
for about 300 youth. The evening will include a prayer labyrinth and Holy
Communion. All new for the district event!
In the Whole Life of the Church
I am helping to incorporate BBSN ideas and practices in our new prayer shawl
ministry. This month we are introducing baby shawls/prayer books for new
mothers.
"Holy Listening" is used in our two Disciple Bible study groups. Our Tuesday
morning Bible study uses listening stones about once a month. Yesterday we had a
three year old guest who selected a stone with a heart on it. After
everyone had shared with many words how the figure on the stone reflected their
lives at the moment, Sophia (wisdom!) was asked about her stone.
"It has a heart on it."
"What does that mean to you?"
"It means Jesus loves us, silly."
What else do we need to know?
Every blessing!
Susan Youmans
Associate Pastor
| 
