On a very rainy day this week I visited Westfield Primary School to talk to Year 1 children about baptism. The skies opened as I walked down Hallgate and I was soaked by the time I got there – perhaps appropriately given the subject! We had a lovely time. I ‘baptised’ a doll called Minnie (the children chose the name) with some children acting as ‘Godparents’. We talked about the symbols of baptism: the cross, the candle, the water, the shell, the oil for anointing. And the children asked loads of questions.
One thing I love about working with children is that they will often ask profound questions. Some of my favourites from this week include: ‘Does God go to sleep?’, ‘when we say Jesus is the light of the world is that a good thing?’ ‘can anybody be baptised?’ ‘if you’re baptised does that mean you’re going to heaven?’ Children ask these big questions because they aren’t intimidated by the thought that people will laugh at them, or they ought to know the answers already, and because they’re intensely curious.
We all have questions, though, and I think no question is too silly to ask. In fact, if you have a question about something, it’s very likely someone else is wondering the same thing. Next month we will be starting a new Bible study and also a ‘brush up your confirmation’ class. All are welcome – come and bring your questions!
As I came home from the school the sun came out in the middle of a downpour and there was a beautiful rainbow over church. That seemed to me a beautiful image of hope for the future in those children’s eager questions.
with my prayers and blessings, Nicola