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Engaging Stories for the children’s address
Title: Stories for Children Author: Revd Dr Ian MacLeod Publisher: St Andrew Press Price: £7.99 ISBN: 9780715208489
Children’s Time during worship doesn’t get any easier. At its worst it can be an embarrassing way of involving children for the entertainment of adults. The problem often is a shortage of good material that is engaging, says something, and approaches the audience at the right level. Many ministers would rather preach two sermons than deliver one Children’s Talk.
Lots of stories for children for use in worship have been produced over the years, and Ian MacLeod has been responsible for his fair share. This latest publication is among the best I have read. It offers stories in two sections: one for specific days of the Christian year, and the other for general use. The pattern of each of the 50 chapters is the same. Dr Macleod begins with a story to set the scene and hook the listener. In most cases this is very well done, and subjects include mice, a lost camera, and a tuning fork.
Sometimes a visual aid or prop is suggested. My experience is that the personality of the story teller is actually more important than an object to hold up. An enthusiastic, inclusive, opening approach is the clue, and MacLeod provides that.
Each talk is related to a Bible passage; typically one brief paragraph which highlights a scriptural context for the story told. This is very well done. To labour the point at this moment during a children’s address is fatal to the whole exercise, but to set out the message lightly is the very purpose of having this worship slot.
Each story concludes with a group of suggestions – research, craft-work, further discussion – which could easily be carried forward into a later part of the service when children are undertaking their own activities. Finally, there is a short prayer to close this part of the service. The language is direct and simple, and readily accessible for children.
This collection is sub-titled A Practical Resource for Worship Leaders And so it is. Best used, probably, with children aged five to 11, but with enough subtlety to be palatable for any 12-to-100-year-olds who may be listening!
John R Smith ministers at Morningside United Church, Edinburgh
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