From an Interview with Pastor Truax by Ben Fisher ’27

Earlier this week I had an amazing conversation with Pastor Bree Truax from Emmanuel Lutheran in Rock Falls, Illinois. During our talk she shared her time working with the Nourishing Vocation Project and the implementation of her project for the Nourishing Vocation Project for Children. One of the main points she discussed was the project’s goal in establishing intergenerational connections between the different age groups in the church. For example, one of the project’s initiatives was to have all members dip their thumb in paint and put it on a sheet to contribute to a collective image of a cross. As a result, both kids and adults could contribute to honoring God through art and connectedness. This activity also reminded kids about their importance to the church and God’s love for them.

The liturgy reminded kids that they matter. That the congregation can experience God’s story through them

Pastor Bree Truax

In the words of Pastor Bree, “the liturgy reminded kids that they matter. That the congregation can experience God’s story through them”. Another important component of the liturgy was that it encouraged the kids’ leadership in the church by giving them tasks during worship such as delivering offerings and the sending. This initiative for child leadership continued in liturgy when kids acted out important biblical stories to help them engage with the text and grow more familiar with each other. For example, one of the lessons had the kids reenact the story of Jesus and the paralyzed man in the beginning of Mark. 

Another central part of the liturgy was having the kids build a treasure chest that they could then add each of the weekly items to after each session. Some of the items included a small mirror, space stickers, and playdough, all of which gave the kids a physical reminder of the week’s message. The liturgy’s use of Wonder Pods was another unique activity that had kids engage with the stories inside decorated domes. Both the treasure chests and wonder pods also contributed to the artistic enrichment of this activity as kids began to be immersed in new ways of seeing worship. In May, Pastor Bree hopes to use the Ascension liturgy for future child worship and prayer as her congregation “is ever endeavoring to incorporate young people’s input into the life of our congregation”. She is a huge inspiration in the development and application of the National Vocation Project for Children and I can’t wait to see what wonderful work she’ll do next. 

(We are) ever endeavoring to incorporate young people’s input into the life of our congregation.

Pastor Bree Truax