Our preschoolers have been hearing the Easter Story daily during our worship circle time. Playschool children have affection for the Lord's Word and for their involvement in setting the stage for worship. Each week a child helps to dim the lights, "light" our battery operated candle and open the Bible. Then we hear our Bible story for the day, sing songs reflecting the passage and often participate in role play taking turns to be each "character" in the passage.
We had several role playing highlights. Our first, Palm Sunday's lesson when we joined the Kindergarten class to re-enact Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. Children waved palm branches, lay clothing items down in front of our moving donkey, while singing Hosanna. Each child had an opportunity to ride the donkey as Jesus would have done. Playschool also role played the Last Supper, together drinking grape juice and eating unleavened bread. We recited our Playschool grace, "Our hands we fold, our heads we bow, for food and drink we thank God now. Amen." Our final opportunity to role play came when the women found the tomb empty, the guards struck down and the Angel of the Lord telling them to go out and tell others that Jesus has risen. Playschool loves to sing "Allelu, Allelu, Praise ye the Lord!" crouching and leaping up at the appropriate moments.
And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, "Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it at all. " And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands upon them.
(NAS, Mark 10:13-16)
