Chapter Two: The Threshold at Good Shepherd

At the beginning of chapter two, Berryman introduces the idea that the spaces we inhabit do indeed "speak" to us. Even though Good Shepherd meets in an exercise room, we take great care to make sure that the space doesn't say to us, "Time to pull out the mats and start stretching for a workout!" All of the hard work that goes into setting up the room each Sunday morning transforms it into a place that invites us to worship God together.

This is no less true for our children. We need to create a physical space for our children that "prepares them to be mindful of where they are going," where they can "learn the language of the Christian People…a language for reflection and creativity" (28).

The first aspect of this is the threshold our children at Good Shepherd cross to enter their worship space downstairs. The empty hallways of the Y practically beg children to tear at lightning speed through them (I would've done the same as a kid!), and for much of last year, the race began as soon as Kyle dismissed them. I like to think of the stretch between the sanctuary and the entrance to the children's classrooms as a big, long threshold.

Toward the end of last year, we worked on walking quietly out of the service, and continuing to walk quietly all the way downstairs to the classroom. Once our new year starts, we'll keep working on it.

Though it may seem like a small issue, how children enter their worship space matters. As Berryman points out, we want our children to be " 'set up' for deep concentration and learning" (29).

I look forward to working together as a team to think of ways that we can help our children learn how to "get ready."