This article by Tim Gossett was originally posted on March 25, 2009.

The "Huh?/Yeah!" Bible Study

Palm Sunday is a fun day for children and adults alike. As we celebrate Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, we wave palm branches and shout Hosanna! Excitement is in the air. Many children (and adults) leave church on Palm Sunday on that wave of excitement, and return a week later. Easter! He is risen! This is the best news of all. It is another joyous morning of worship and Sunday School.

In parts 1 and 2 of this series, I introduced the idea of beginning a writing group at your church. If you have a writing group already at your church, or if you are planning on starting one, I’d be interesting in hearing about your experience and sharing it with our readers. You can post a comment below, or send us an email. As promised, I have four more writing activities that would be appropriate for use in a writing group. If you have other ideas for writing activities, send me those as well, and I will share them in a future article (giving you credit, of course).

When I lead a women’s retreat, I congratulate the participants for being there – for taking the time and spending the money to give themselves the gift of retreat time. (My experience is with women’s retreats, but I believe that everyone benefits from retreat time, regardless of gender.) Although we may long for time away, either alone or with a group, for renewing our spirit, it is difficult for us to make it a priority. And yet, Jesus himself modeled for us the importance of retreat.

There is something about putting words onto paper… In response to my previous article, The Write Idea (Part 1), a reader shared a thought about writing she had heard on an NPR program. The idea is that writing can be a place to express emotions that are so big that they need to be let out, yet are too painful to be expressed out loud. In such situations, writing can serve as a liminal space, a safe place to explore our thoughts and feelings. I believe this is true and it is yet another good reason for starting a writing club!

Ash Wednesday seems like an especially appropriate time to talk about prayer. When I talk with children (and sometimes youth and adults) about prayer, I always tell them, “You can pray anywhere, anytime and about anything.” God is accessible to all of us. We do not need eloquent words or a seminary degree to pray. If asked, most Christians would agree with these statements. And yet…

From time to time, books tied to the larger theme of death capture our collective attention. Two recent examples, The Last Lecture and Tuesdays with Morrie, are engaging reads—not so much because they are representative examples of superb literature, but because they deal with the finality of life in a reflective and relatable way. In case you aren't familiar with them, both books are about college professors who share their wisdom with others before they died.

Although it is often near the end of our lives that we think about passing on wisdom to others, any time of life is a good moment to reflect on what one has learned and would want others to know. (After all, we are never guaranteed a tomorrow.) Today, I'd like you to consider how you might create your own "Last Lecture Series" in your own congregation, but one with a bit of a twist from the usual approach.

You have likely heard the saying “Everyone has a novel inside of them.” (Skeptics sometimes add “most of them are not any good.”) I’m not sure whether I believe that everyone has a novel in them; I do not particularly feel that I do, and I consider myself a writer! I do believe that we all have thoughts! Writing is one way that we communicate our thoughts, feelings and ideas to others. Some people write only for themselves, using a journal or diary as a way to record events or emotions and/or explore them more deeply.

There is something about putting words onto paper that allows us to view things from a new perspective. Regardless of one’s skill level, writing can serve as a creative outlet, a fun hobby and/or a way to connect with others. Consider starting a writing group at your church. A writing group can nurture writers of all skill levels from beginner to experienced. In such a group, people are invited to explore writing as a means of expression in a safe, caring and encouraging community. As writing is shared, both writers and listeners will benefit from the experience.

Families are formed in many ways, and no doubt your church has done and is continually doing many things to be supportive of the families in your church, regardless of their configuration. (And we all know there are MANY ways a family can look in today's world.) Parenting classes are often offered in many congregations, and family ministries councils are frequently charged with coming up with great ways to connect families and offer them opportunities for fellowship, service, and education. But what about those individuals or couples who do not yet have children but who are considering or pursuing adoption or foster care? Have you considered how their needs and interests may be different from those families that already have children?

Two couples go out to dinner together. At the end of the evening, each person gives an account of the evening. Not surprisingly, although there are similarities between the accounts, each story is different. Details and conversations that are prominent in one person’s retelling may be completely absent or just a minor mention in another’s version. (For those of you who were fans of the TV show "thirtysomething", this storyline was used in one of the episodes during the first season.) Point of view affects the interpretation and memory of events. No two people have exactly the same point of view. Hearing the same story told from different perspectives can help give a more complete understanding of what happened. This process can be used with Bible stories both as a way to gain new insights and as a method of keeping children, youth or adults interested in a story they may have heard many times before.