Calvin Synod Herald, 2005 (106. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2005-05-01 / 5-6. szám
10 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD CATHETICAL COMMOTIONS Heidelberg Fever Breaks Out in Brooklyn by Rev. Ron Weinbaum Heidelbergius brooklynitis... It strikes every Wednesday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. Their faces light up and their voices rise to a feverish pitch. Past the hedges, through the gate, they race down the path and wrestle the big, old oak doors open. Contagious enthusiasm is rampant and there’s no evidence of a cure in sight! What’s all the commotion? It’s the Heidelberg Catechism Class at Messiah’s Covenant Community Church. And you thought just trees grew in Brooklyn! Over 30 children file through those ‘oh so ReformationaT doors on their way to the sanctuary where they assemble to sing hymns and pray for requests they share with one another. Following our opening exercises, the youngest children (ages one through five) participate in classes which ready them for future catechetical instruction. This may include Bible stories and memorization of the Ten Commandments, the Lord’s Prayer and the Apostles Creed. Older children (ages six to thirteen) are involved in a rigorous catechism class located in our church library. Catechism questions and answers are recited by the children, followed by a brief dialogue which gauges the level of their understanding. Afterwards, Scripture proofs are cited and applied by the class. As one of Messiah’s pastors, I have had the privilege of instructing the main class during the past five years. It is evident that parents play a major role in motivating their children and are personally involved with time set aside at home for study and memorization. Spontaneous and probing questions are in abundance throughout class and demonstrate a very earnest working out of their faith. And, as for the mechanics of interacting with students between the ages of six and thirteen, it keeps you on your toes as a teacher. It’s similar to a one room schoolhouse model and... it works! There’s no need to ‘dumb down’ the lessons. The older students are genuinely patient and provide encouragement for their younger counterparts. They help raise the bar of learning and the younger ones respond quite eagerly. Other highlights of Messiah’s catechism class include extremely lively ‘Bible Quiz’ times, occasional field trips and viewing biographical videos of noteworthy Christians. We even have a family from Santa Fe, New Mexico who are patched in every week by telephone to join our class! Parents routinely tell us that the Heidelberg class is the highlight of their children’s week, no coaxing necessary. Semper reformanda! Rev. Ronald S. Weinbaum Messiah ’s Covenant Community Church Brooklyn, NY 11229 Email: PastorRon@MessiahNYC. org / \ VIC LOCKMAN CATECHISM CARTOONS Veteran cartoonist Vic Lockman has added a dimension to this grand old catechism penned by Joseph Engels in 1840. It is set to the bouncy beat of 20th Century cartoons. All kinds and races of kids abound throughout each of the two-book set of catechism books. Kids can’t put them down nor can they keep them out of the hands of their parents. Book I, Q. 1 - Q. 71 (48 pages) US$2.50. Book II, Q. 72 - Q. 145 (48 pages) US$2.50 Shipping and Handling: US$3.50 on orders up to US$35.00, 10 percent over US$35.00, Foreign 20 percent. Vic Lockman, 233 Rogue River Hwy #360, Grants Pass, OR 97527 Vic@VicLockman.com \_______________________________________________/
