Notes for Sermon by Diane Adams
Opening:
Bless the beasts and the children
For in this world they have no voice
They have no choice
For the world can never be
The world they see
Light their way
When the darkness surrounds them
Give them love
Let it shine all around them
(The Carpenters)
I’m a teacher at CSUSB – Children’s Literature and Expository Writing.
- 80% first generation college students
- 62% low income
- 61% Hispanic
I see poverty, homelessness, fear of deportation, hunger, and transportation issues.
Just like this church, my classroom is a friendly, safe place.
Even in my Expository Writing class, we read children’s books. Everyone needs to be read to.
Read No David together as a congregation.
A student learned to read in English using this book thanks to a kind teacher. It teaches us that we all do wrong sometimes, but we all need love.
Read Love Is to the congregation.
How we should treat each other and encourage each other.
Illustrated by Claire Keane of Frozen fame. Her grandfather did “The Family Circus” comic strip.
Split up congregation and read Yo Yes as a conversation.
A story of friendship and inclusion, which is how Scott and I feel at this church. It is how I try to set up my classrooms, including donuts and coffee!
Chinese student – car drove him straight to class on T/Th, it was so happy to be there! Afraid to speak at the start, one of my most popular students at the end.
Bless the beasts and the children. Bless this congregation. Amen.