SharePoint
Sign In
Help
ADN logo

Scripture-based Play
 

  • Home
NavigationSearch
  • Home
    • About
      • Our Mission and Vision
      • Our History
      • Who Are Anabaptists?
      • ADN Staff
      • Field Associates
      • Board of Directors
      • Annual Reports
      • Staff Openings
    • Get Involved
      • Congregational Advocates
      • Partner Congregations
      • Accessibility in all aspects of church life
      • Barrier-Free Grant
    • Newsletter
      • Latest issue
      • Previous issues
      • Subscribe
    • BlogCurrently selected
      • Latest Posts
      • Subscribe
      • All Posts
    • Resources
      • Accessibility and Awareness
        • Barrier Free Grant
        • Accessibility
        • Awareness
        • Changing Attitudes
        • Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals
      • Caregivers
        • Circles of Care
        • Families
        • Support Groups
      • Faith Formation
        • Classroom Accessibility
        • For Church leaders
        • Baptism & Membership Curriculum
        • Children
        • Youth
      • Worship
        • Preaching and Teaching
        • ADN Speakers
        • Speaking Topics
      • Published Resources
        • Baptism & Membership Curriculum
        • Disability Language Guide
        • Congregational Accessibility Survey
        • Books
        • Accessibility Resolution and Study Guide
      • Speakers and Trainers
      • Webinars
      • Disability Topics
        • ADHD
        • Autism spectrum
        • Covid-19
        • Disabilities of Aging
        • Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
        • For the Deaf
        • Hearing Loss
        • Hidden Disabilities
        • Intellectual Disabilities
        • Mental Health & Illness
        • Mobility Impairment
        • Vision Disabilities
      • Mental Health & Illness
        • Children and Youth
        • Depression and Anxiety
        • Healthy Boundaries
        • Mental Health Education
        • Mental Health Resource for Congregations
        • Mental Illnesses
        • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
        • Suicide
      • Book and Media Recommendations
    • Donate
      • Legacy Giving
      • Honor And Memorial Gifts
      • Building the Future Partners
      • Annual Fall Fundraiser
    • Contact Us
Left Menu
  • Pictures
  • Lists
  • Libraries
  • Recent
  • Blog
    • Latest PostsCurrently selected
    • Subscribe
    • All Posts

Scripture-based Play
Engaging the Imagination

Posted by Emily Hunsberger / Ambler, PA
5/11/2023
Page Image
Lego construction showing Mary outside of Jesus's tomb, talking with the angels
Image Caption

​A Lego illustration of Mary talking with the angels outside of Jesus's empty tomb. (John 20:11-16)

Photo credits: Jacob Curtis

Opening paragraph

When you attend Ambler Mennonite Church's worship services, you may notice some toys sitting on the worship table. No, a child wasn't playing and forgot to clean up. At Ambler Mennonite, Lego are used as a tool for interpreting scriptures.

Page Content

Jacob Curtis, the congregation's co-pastor, explains that this practice of hands-on interpretation got its start during the early months of the pandemic, when church services were held on Zoom. "We realized that when everyone was looking at a screen, it made sense to use Lego to illustrate our children's stories. We could build scenes, take pictures of them, and then share them on Zoom as we talked," says Jacob.

Lego sculpture of Peter walking towards Jesus on waterLego sculpture of Mary Magdeline anointing Jesus's feet

At first, Jacob built the scenes himself, but as health restrictions eased up and the practice continued, he invited other congregation members to represent the Scriptures through Lego. Children and adults alike got involved, showing their interpretation of Bible passages.

"I'd say using Lego is, most of all, fun," Jacob shares. "It gets people reading and interacting with Scriptures who might not otherwise do so. They can be creative and playful, and they can interpret Scripture outside the box they normally put it in. It's also easy to work as a team because I can assign different people to build different parts of a scene. And the congregation loves seeing what we create. Since COVID, we've continued using Legos from time to time, putting whatever we've built on the worship table, and showing pictures of it on our projector screen."

Lego sculpture of the council of priests and pharisees: many types of Lego people from various movies togetherLego sculpture of women ministering to Jesus and the disciples

As congregations continue to strive for greater inclusion of people with disabilities, Ambler Mennonite's practice of using Lego as a tool for children's stories, sermon illustrations, and scripture interpretation is an example of creative thinking that can invite people with intellectual disabilities and us all to engage the playful and imaginative parts of our brains in ways that invites us into a deeper understanding of their faith and community.

 

 

Emily Hunsberger is the communications director for Anabaptist Disabilities Network. With a bachelor's degree in biblical and theological studies from Bluffton University, Emily developed an enthusiasm for creating healthy communities in college, and she remains convinced that communities are healthiest when everyone is welcomed and embraced as they are. Emily believes that members of the community function best when needs are met, and she is passionate about breaking down the barriers that prevent true community from forming.

Subscribe to Opening Doors Subscribe to Opening Doors

 Related posts

  • Wounded and Whole
    Why does the Resurrected Jesus have wounds? Laura Stone muses in her sermon on disability and wholeness. Plus a sneak peek of Laura and Peggy Gilbert's performance poetry.
  • Youth Ministry for All Abilities
    Resources and reflections from The Gathering Place on youth ministry that includes people with disabilities, from eight Anabaptist writers and speakers.
  • A Worthy Part of God's Family
    Chrissie Denino's church celebrates her baptism after she expresses her faith using sign language.
  • Community Transformation at L'Arche
    Community transformation means offering a stranger a cup of cold water and through that cup of water transforming the relationship into a friendship.

 Latest posts

  • We are Able Workcamp
    Jonathan Shively reflects on the blessings and growth of the 2023 workcamp week.
  • Church for Kids with ADHD, Too
    Denise Reesor offers ways to accommodate children whose brains work differently than the norm.
  • New Baptism Curriculum for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities
    With captivating illustrations, activity-based learning, and an Anabaptist perspective, this is an important new tool for full inclusion.
  • (Un)Loved
    ​Jasmine Duckworth shares vulnerably about her struggle for self-acceptance after a chronic-illness diagnosis.
  • Immanuel's Accessibility Survey Insights
    Immanuel Mennonite Church takes steps towards greater accessibility and inclusion.
  • Waterford's Accessibility Survey Insights
    Waterford Mennonite Church takes steps towards greater accessibility and inclusion.

 Read more about

Contact us

P: 877-214-9838 (Toll Free)
P: 574-343-1362
3145 Benham Avenue
Suite 5
Elkhart, IN 46517-1970
Visit the Anabaptist Disabilities Network on Facebook!

Support ADN

Use your credit card to contribute online:

Donate Now Through Network for Good

Donate Now Through PayPal

    Resources

  • Staff
  • About
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Donate
  • Employment
  • Sign In
  • © Anabaptist Disabilities Network 2019