pieces for Passover

I attended Catholic school as a child. I paid exquisite attention to the stories and pictures and art about the saints and mystics, and some heady practices and stories such as saying Novenas and seeing angels and lighting a certain number of candles. But I did not read the Bible. I did not even pay very close attention when our lesson for the day was about the Bible. I remember two vaguely religious events from those years: 1) playing a green-gossamer winged angel in the 2nd grade Advent play (and being miffed that I didn't get to be pink-gossamer winged) and 2) singing back-up in the play about Noah's arc in Vacation Bible School (but pretending to be sick on the day of the performance because I was too nervous to go on).  As an adult, I pursued many other interests, but religion was never among them. I--to this day--have not even seen "The Ten Commandments," which apparently places me in a very tiny population in America mostly shared by those under the age of 12...

So to tell truth, I did not learn many of the Judeo-Christian stories until I got a church job and started teaching Unitarian Universalist religious education. But what an entree! To be able to read, hear, consider, grow to love, then prepare, share, and reflect upon such a rich legacy--one that UU's place alongside stories from other sacred texts from other traditions, and words and deeds of great teachers from any number of religions, and no religion at all--this is what makes my life-learner's heart sing. My heart cracks open for Buddha; Jesus; Rumi; Starhawk; MLK, Jr.; Rachel Carson; Mary Oliver; Maya Angelou... the list goes on, and there is always room for more.

Next month is Passover. So, I researched the story. I thought about what pieces were the most compelling, and how to present the story to a multi-aged audience, and how to make its telling rich and intriguing in order to invite the deepest connection to the content. And then I thought about what I, myself, might actually be capable of creating in under a month.

And this is what I came up with:

Something new I tried for this story was making reversible and moveable pieces. I think to share this one, I'm going to want to do a video. (So hey! That will be another new thing!)