Pastoral Crafting: Peg Disciples

The curse of being a pastor with hobbies is the lack of time you get to do said hobbies if you aren’t intentional about carving out time. For the last 6 months, however, I have folded my hobbies into my pastoral duties and ignited a fire inside of myself. Holy Week (especially Good Friday), Vacation Bible School, and the peg dolls have all been sources of creativity that spiritually filled me.

Disclaimer: If you care extensively about historically accurate clothing or aesthetics, this post will not be for you. The character designs were built entirely on “vibes.”

Since Holy Week of 2024, I have been on the lookout for Bible character dolls or action figures. I have been on a journey to incorporate play into our worship space to include kids and neurodivergent minds to engage with their faith. Much to my dismay, there was nothing even close to affordable for a small country church. Fortunately, I am a crafter with ADHD and a “How hard can it be?” attitude. I turned to Amazon, yes, the evil Bezos empire, and purchased some wood peg dolls. (unaffiliated link)

The first rendition was Jesus, the original 12, and Paul & Matthias. They were imperfect, and I didn’t have any women represented. I was satisfied for the moment; ministry was calling my attention to other duties.

Maybe it was a year or only 6 months later, I finally got myself organized enough to create more peg dolls. Here are some slightly better photos of all the dolls. The guys got a few updates (because of the lack of sanding I did; they were already showing signs of wear), and now we have some of the original female disciples from the Gospels.

I’ve learned a lot about this medium. I loved using acrylic paint for it’s quick drying properties and ability to layer colors. However, I really should have sanded the pegs first. I tried to work on the guys too fast, and the paint is muddy in a few spots. I am considering putting a clear-coat varnish on the dolls, hoping to protect the paint.

Dolls include:
- Jesus (heart on his chest)
- Mother Mary (heart on her chest)
- The 12
  - the fishermen/inner circle
    - Peter (fish & keys)
    - Andrew (fish)
    - Sons of Zebedee: (fish & lightning bolts)
      - James (the Great/Elder)
      - John
  - Judas Iscariot (bag of money)
  - Philip
  - Thomas/Didymus
  - Bartholomew/Nathaniel
  - Matthew/Levi
  - Jude the Zealot
  - Simon the Zealot
  - James of Alphaeus/ James the Less
- The women
  - Mary Magdalene (fancy clothes & a money bag)
  - Mary of Bethany (scroll & pen)
  - Martha of Bethany (apron)
  - Susanna
  - Joanna
  - Salome
  - Mary of Clopas
- Acts Characters
  - Paul (scroll & chains)
  - Matthias

If you have ideas of items the other characters could carry in their hands or be represented on their body, let me know! I created these from memory and would like to add more details.

I am placing an order for a few more dolls, including a few different sizes. Naturally, my ADHD wants to go all in, therefore i’ve started making a list of future peg dolls.

Near Future Peg Dolls:
- Gospel characters: woman at the well, healed woman, man born blind, John the Baptist, Pharisees, Sadducees, Roman officials, King Herod (Luke 2), Herod Aggrippa (Easter), Zacheus, Elizabeth & Zechariah, Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea
- Acts & the Epistles – Lydia, Priscilla & Aquilla, Phoebe, John Mark, Luke, Timothy, Onesimus, Philemon, Stephen, Eunice, Lois, Syntyche & Euodia, Barnabas, Cornelius, Dorcas, Ethiopian Eunuch, James brother of Jesus, Philip (not the apostle) & his daughters
Eventually: Hebrew Scriptures Peg Dolls
- Abraham & Sarah
- Moses & Zipporah
- Aaron & Miriam
- Jochebed (A, M & M mom)
- Isaac & Rebecca
- Jacob/Israel + Rachel & Leah, Zilpah & Bilhah
- Hagar & Ishmael
- David, Saul, Jonathan, Micael, Abigail
- Dark stories:
  - Adam & Eve, Cain & Abel
  - Noah & Family

Okay, I had to stop listing characters… I was about to list everyone in the Bible. You get the point.

Tell me if you’ve made any peg dolls. Do you have tips or tricks?

Stations of Holy Week: A hands on learning experience

The background

As a lifelong Protestant and dyed in the wool Baptist, I have traditionally steered clear of Catholic practices. Growing up, no one ever explicitly told me that Catholics were “bad” but the insinuation was always in their tone. We never said the Lord’s Prayer or the Apostle’s Creed because that ritualistic behavior was too “catholic.” How could anything meaningful happen from something you do so frequently? PLUS, the apostles creed specifically has a statement about “the catholic church.” I can’t confess a belief in the catholic church if I’m protestant!

Years later, I feel so silly. I had to come to terms with the truth: my foundational need to distinguish myself from Catholics was built on a strawman’s argument. While I am in my core a Baptist and not Catholic, I see God’s beauty in their denomination. Catholics are my siblings in Christ. I can even have a holy envy (here’s a nod to Barbara Brown Taylor’s book!) for Catholic traditions. You may detect I’m still deconstructing unhelpful and divisive language and I ask for grace as I’m learning.

After many years of pondering, I built a hands-on Holy Week experience akin to the Catholic Stations of the Cross. This creation is not to critique the Catholic practice but to identify a practice rooted strictly in scripture alone. After all, how can Baptists celebrate Catholic traditions!? (I say with clear sarcasm).

This idea all fell together when I found, through Pinterest, a Holy Week Scavenger Hunt kit sold on Teachers Pay Teachers. Grateful for a framework to build upon, I purchased the download and got to work. I ask if you intend to follow my trend, go to the curriculum link and support this teacher!

My actions were quite simple: purchase the curriculum, create posters from the curriculum, print the handouts, and collect elements to represent each specific day. Below, I will show you my end results.

I ask if you intend to follow my trend, go to the curriculum link and support this teacher! I also used these two maps to highlight where things were happening each day during Holy Week.

Map Of Israel In The Time Of Jesus Christ With Roads (Bible History within Printable Bible Maps – Printable Maps

The set up

Palm Sunday

Poster
palm branches, crown, & coat
olive branches
scrolls & printed scripture
sheep
reflection question: which famous person would you be excited to meet?

Monday

poster
fruit in basket (for fig tree)
whip, coins, and birds in cage
reflection question: what is something that makes you feel scared?

Tuesday

poster
kids books l & scholarly books on the Gospels
world globe (I forgot to inflate)
donation box & coins
reflection question: what is the difference between a dream, a wish, and a hope?

Wednesday

poster
30 pieces of silver
sheep & cross
flannel board of Judas & religious leaders
reflection question: how do we know secrets are bad?

Maundy Thursday

poster
chicken (rooster)
door with blood (passover reminder)
scrolls & 10 commandments
pitcher & basin of “water”
Jesus praying in the garden
handcuffs
activity: communion supplies plus fake grapes & goblet (I also had kid snacks of grape juice and animal crackers)
reflection question: name a time you got caught in a lie.

Good Friday

poster
crown of thorns, purple cloth, & whip
activity: nails, wood, hammer
cross w/ railroad tie nails
tomb terrarium & Mary doll
book- photo of the temple
reflection question: name something that is gross to share (like a tomb)

Holy Saturday

poster
candles & angels for our grief
closed tomb with action figures standing guard
2 reflection questions
- what is your favorite way to rest?
- name someone you miss and love

Easter Sunday

poster
activity: toddler Easter wooden figures
activity: cars & road toys
women dolls & Jesus dolls
reflection question: write down some good news you are excited to share!

Ascension Day

poster
disciple dolls- I made ours from dolls in the nursery and added fabric
Holy Spirit symbol
snack: fish gummies & gold fish
activity: camping toys, pretend to cook food with Jesus
reflection question: how will you be part of the Great commission?
bonus question: write down any questions for God

other pictures

We have a small congregation and usually very small attendants on Good Friday. we had about a dozen families attend and every single one of them were very grateful for a Hands-On Holy Week.

I will add another bonus here to say our Monday Thursday service had a little kids space set up. normally we just have a small service including communion and foot washing. this year we set up our tables with candles like normal and added a little kids spot with coloring pages and snacks and activities for them.

Surprise Business Meeting!

Notes: In an act to increase engagement in the business of the church, we opted to suspire the congregation with a worship service & business meeting merge. I included scripture and some intentionality behind the spiritual act of the business of the church. Here are the scripture readings and pastor’s report from the meeting.

7/16/2023

Scripture Reading 1: Genesis 25:19-34 19 These are the descendants of Isaac, Abraham’s son. Abraham became the father of Isaac. 20 Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean and the sister of Laban the Aramean, from Paddan-aram. 21 Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, since she was unable to have children. The Lord was moved by his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. 22 But the boys pushed against each other inside of her, and she said, “If this is what it’s like, why did it happen to me?” So she went to ask the Lord. 23 And the Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb; two different peoples will emerge from your body. One people will be stronger than the other; the older will serve the younger.” 24 When she reached the end of her pregnancy, she discovered that she had twins. 25 The first came out red all over, clothed with hair, and she named him Esau. 26 Immediately afterward, his brother came out gripping Esau’s heel, and she named him Jacob. Isaac was 60 years old when they were born. 27 When the young men grew up, Esau became an outdoorsman who knew how to hunt, and Jacob became a quiet man who stayed at home. 28 Isaac loved Esau because he enjoyed eating game, but Rebekah loved Jacob. 29 Once when Jacob was boiling stew, Esau came in from the field hungry 30 and said to Jacob, “I’m starving! Let me devour some of this red stuff.” That’s why his name is Edom. 31 Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright today.” 32 Esau said, “Since I’m going to die anyway, what good is my birthright to me?” 33 Jacob said, “Give me your word today.” And he did. He sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 So Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew. He ate, drank, got up, and left, showing just how little he thought of his birthright.

Scripture Reading 2: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 That day Jesus went out of the house and sat down beside the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he climbed into a boat and sat down. The whole crowd was standing on the shore. 3 He said many things to them in parables: “A farmer went out to scatter seed. 4 As he was scattering seed, some fell on the path, and birds came and ate it. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground where the soil was shallow. They sprouted immediately because the soil wasn’t deep. 6 But when the sun came up, it scorched the plants, and they dried up because they had no roots. 7 Other seed fell among thorny plants. The thorny plants grew and choked them. 8 Other seed fell on good soil and bore fruit, in one case a yield of one hundred to one, in another case a yield of sixty to one, and in another case a yield of thirty to one. 9 Everyone who has ears should pay attention.” …18 “Consider then the parable of the farmer. 19 Whenever people hear the word about the kingdom and don’t understand it, the evil one comes and carries off what was planted in their hearts. This is the seed that was sown on the path. 20 As for the seed that was spread on rocky ground, this refers to people who hear the word and immediately receive it joyfully. 21 Because they have no roots, they last for only a little while. When they experience distress or abuse because of the word, they immediately fall away. 22 As for the seed that was spread among thorny plants, this refers to those who hear the word, but the worries of this life and the false appeal of wealth choke the word, and it bears no fruit. 23 As for what was planted on good soil, this refers to those who hear and understand, and bear fruit and produce—in one case a yield of one hundred to one, in another case a yield of sixty to one, and in another case a yield of thirty to one.”

Pastor Report July 2023

Monthly breakdown

Recap:

January
1. Sermon series: Revealing Revelations
2. Bible Study: Creation
February
1. Ash wednesday
2. Sermon series:
  1. Revealing Revelations
  2. Seeking
3. Bible Study: Post Christian
March
1. Sermon series: Seeking
2. Bible Study: Post Christian
3. Pastor’s Planning retreat (sermons & music)
April
1. Easter & Baptisms
2. Pastor vacation
3. Sermon series: Living the Resurrection
4. Bible Study: Christian Faith 101
May
1. Sermon series: Living the Resurrection
  1. Pentecost
2. Bible Study: Christian Faith 101
3. Funeral
June
1. Sermon series: Made to Be (Genesis)
2. Bible Study:
  1. Service project
  2. Spiritual Beings
3. Wedding
4. Pastor Biennial: Continuing Ed & lead 2 Workshops
July
1. Sermon series: Made to Be (Genesis)
2. Bible Study: Spiritual Beings
3. Heather’s last day as Sound Tech is July 31st
  1. Abby J will step in temporarily until we find a permanent solution

Future:

August
1. Backpack Blessings 1st Sun
2. Sermon series: Made to Be (Genesis)
3. Bible Study:
4. Pastor Vacation: August 29- Sept 5th for wedding
September
1. Homecoming Sept 17th
2. Sermon series:
  1. Forgive, Really? (Matthew 18)
  2. Imposter Syndrome (Phillippians)
3. Bible Study
October
1. Sermon series:
  1. Imposter Syndrome (Phillippians)
  2. Wholly, Holy (1 Thessalonians)
2. Bible Study
3. Fish Fry
4. Harvest Fest
November
1. Veteran’s Day
2. Sermon series: Wholly, Holy (1 Thessalonians)
3. Bible Study (typically a break thanksgiving week)
4. Pastor vacation Nov 20-26
December
1. Jubilee
2. Christmas Program
3. Sermon series:
  1. Advent starts Dec 3rd
4. Bible Study (typically a break the week of christmas & new years)
5. Pastor vacation Dec 25-31

Comments:

Average attendance: 42 (26-52 since April) //online attendance: 5 avg (3-15)// 400 “visitors” 3sec views
1. Why do we invite people to church? Who could you invite to a Liberty event?
2. How could we create a calendar that isn’t a burden but a place to recharge?
Outside of liberty pastoral support asks: 9 regular contacts**
Bible Study attendance: 6-8 avg

Needs:

**Pastoral Visitation team: looking for individuals available during the week (ideally Tues, Wed, Thurs from 11:30-2:30) who would join Pastor Meriah on visitations. Also to help create a clear visitation cycle plan.
Worship Team meeting to pick music for 2024 and not have Meriah’s snafus with picking the wrong version of a song.
Need help with the mission committee – I want it to be more than just giving $ or drives. I would like a few people to help with coordinating small group service projects in the community.
Deacon Retreat & Sermon Workshop for preaching during 2024 calendar
1. Stay at a cabin or at St Joseph Retreat center
2. Looking for 5-8 people (deacons included) to be interested in learning to write a sermon and having it ready for 2024 when the pastor is gone for vacations or retreats.
Decluttering of closets & creating better organization structure

Ideas: Specific request for creating a family atmosphere and bonding opportunities:

Family camp out & worship at a campground June 2024?
1. Mississinewa? Chain O’ Lakes? Lake Salamone?
Brainstorming more connection events to include unchurched (may not be “churchy” programming but bonding opportunities) – Over 55 or Harvest fest are great examples
1. Church picnic at a park?
2. “Speed Friending” – women’s event?
3. All folks welcome cookies and painting night
Adult outings at restaurants or pastor’s house – fall campfires?