JANUARY: GOD CREATED, AND IT WAS GOOD

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Concept:  God created the world, and declared all of it to be good! This great God who dreamed up stars and an entire universe also created tiny little ants. And this great God also created you. You - and every person in this world - were created by God, in God’s own image. You are created by God, and you are created good.
Photo by 愚木混株 Yumu on Unsplash​
Read It:  Genesis 1:1-2:3 (The Peace Table pg 20, Shine On pg 12)
*This is a long passage! If you want to read just a little bit from the Bible to come alongside the story Bible versions, try reading just Genesis 1:27 and 1:31.
Notice as you read:
  • The “wind from God” in verse 2 is the Hebrew word ruah, which is interpreted “Spirit of God” in other places in the Bible. The Holy Spirit shows up right here in the beginning!
  • If you read on in chapter 2, you’ll notice that there’s a second version of the creation story there. The two stories don’t exactly line up with each other. And that’s okay. These stories are about who God is and what the relationship is between God and creation (including humans).
  • The first thing that happens after humans are created is a day of rest. Take a deep breath!​​​​
​Pray It:   God, help us to look at ourselves, other people, and all of nature and know that you created all of it good. Amen
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Do It:   
  • Artistic interpretation: As a household, do some kind of artistic interpretation of the story. Draw it, or create a scene with clay or playdough. Or gather natural materials to make a diorama of the story. Keep or take a picture of your creation so you can build on it with stories in the months to come.
  • Fingerpainting: Give everyone a piece of paper with blobs of fingerpaint on it. Then listen to a recording of the story or have one person read it. As you listen to the story, see what your fingers create with the paint. You may want to read the story several times as you paint. Some people may come up with representational art (like a tree), and some may be more abstract - anything is okay! The idea is to let your body do the interpretation as you listen.
  • Lego Storytelling: Particularly if you have a few older children, this can be a fun project. Create a couple of scenes from the story using Lego bricks (or other building materials). Then make a video of the story, recording what you created as you read or re-tell the story.
  • Get outside! Take a walk somewhere in nature. Point out God’s creation as you walk: “God created that creek.” Follow that up with, “And it was good!” For young children, the repetition of this can become a game.
  • God created us: Take your entire household to a mirror and look in it together. Notice the ways you look the same and different from each other. In all our similarities and differences, we are all created in God’s image. 
Recite the Story: God created, and it was good.  *You may want to make up motions to do with this recitation of the story - or make up a simple tune for it so you can sing it.   
​Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash
Explore It: Notes from Tami
It is easy for us adults to become too concerned about the finished product - both for what our children make and for our own artwork attempts. The experience is much better if we let loose a bit and enjoy the process!  One can purchase fingerpaint  - or you can make it! This is an economical recipe from my own childhood that I carried forward to make for my children as well as for my preschool classroom.
Homemade Fingerpaints
  1. Mix in small pan: ½ c corn starch and 3 Tablespoons sugar
  2. ​Add and mix well: 2 cups cold water
  3. Cook, stirring, to a boil
  4. Immediately remove from heat and add a squirt of dish detergent
  5. Divide into cups and add cake coloring or tempera paints (Regular food coloring can be used, but the color is more transparent) 
  6. Let cool