Advent koru fun for the Childrens' Ministry at St Heliers Presbyterian Church
Contributed by Emma-Jane (EJ), Children, Youth & Family Ministries Coordinator, St Heliers Church
Throughout Advent, our Children’s Ministry journeyed through the season by creating an Advent Koru, inspired by the article we encountered in the Eco Church newsletter. It was a wonderful weekly, collaborative ritual that wove together faith, creation and the rhythms of summer in Aotearoa for our children.
From the article we learnt that Jill Kayser (who served for many years at the St Heliers Church and Community Centre) was instrumental in the creation of this tradition. So the children were keen to bring this tradition back into the life of our church. It felt like a natural and meaningful way to celebrate Advent, one that honoured both the focus of Advent and anticipation of Jesus' birth and the place we live in.
Each week, the children were invited to bring something from their own gardens, the beach or neighbourhoods - something recycled, something seasonal such as seasonal flowers, greenery or even shells and natural treasures that had caught their eye or sparked their curiosity and joy. Together as a ministry, we rebuilt the Koru each week in our Children’s Ministry space, a process the children especially loved and each week our Koru looked slightly different depending on what the children had bought in. It encouraged teamwork, creativity and a shared sense of ownership as they decided how the Koru would take shape, taking it in turns to place our river stones to form the base on our Koru and then dress it with all our natural and recycled items.
This simple practice grounded the Advent story in the world around us. By drawing on the beauty of creation and the abundance of the summer season, the children were able to connect the anticipation of Christ’s coming with the land they live on and care for. The Koru became a visual reminder that Advent is not only about waiting but about noticing and paying attention to life, growth and God’s presence already unfolding in our midst. It became a much looked forward to part of our Sundays and a tradition that is here to stay!
The end of year can also be an exceptionally busy time of year for our children and families and the ritual of the Advent Koru offered space for participation, wonder and storytelling while weaving creation into the Advent narrative. Thank you Eco Church for inspiring us to bring back this tradition.
