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Scottish Episcopal Church produces communion coloring book
2003-007-4
1/15/2003
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[Episcopal News Service]
The Scottish Episcopal Church has launched the country's first coloring book specially designed for use by restless children during communion.
'My Holy Communion Book' takes children through the words of a normal Sunday morning service, illustrating key moments in the ceremony with bright, multi-colored illustrations. In addition to coloring the pictures in the book, children can participate in the service by writing special notes after prayers and the Eucharist.
'As soon as we started using the books, I knew they were working because the noise levels dropped right down,' said the Rev. Steve Butler of Leith who commissioned the book. 'They run for the books now at the start of a service. They really engage with the service. The books become theirs because they have written and drawn in them.'
During the sermon the book advises young worshipers to listen closely if the preacher is addressing them specifically. But if the sermon is aimed at adults, it gives a list of other things they might do, including drawing a picture of that day's Bible story. Each page is printed on special paper that can be wiped clean to allow the children to erase their work and start fresh every Sunday.
After the congregation sings the Gloria, children are invited to 'draw or write something I have seen or heard this week that makes me want to praise and thank God.' During the regular prayers, they are asked to 'write down the names of people who need your prayers. If you can help them during the week, write what you can do for them.' While people move forward for communion, the book suggests that the children 'draw a picture of people in the church and ask Jesus to bless them.'
'People often say that church is boring for children,' said Rosemary Gallagher, editorial director at Redemptorist Publications that produced the book. 'We thought there was a need for something that related to children and looked like the sort of books that they were used to. The whole thing becomes more immediate when they can fill in their own prayer requests for friends or even for a loved pet.'
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