class=MsoBodyText style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'> WORSHIP WOODWORKS: Sending biblical figures around the world from Protection, Kansas.
Since 1995, Worship Woodworks has grown from a “one person,
in the family garage” endeavor to a growing business with 7 employees in a
well-equipped shop, and several others who work from their homes. It all started when Rev Richard Gibson of
Rock Hill South Carolina wanted some of the characters from “Young Children and
Worship”, a book co-authored by Dr. Sonja M. Stewart and Dr. Jerome W.
Berryman. Tom Berryman of Godly Play
Resources suggested to then employee Sally Selzer, “Start your own
business”. Sally did just that! Soon she met Dr. Stewart who also encouraged
her to continue making “Young Children and Worship” materials. Worship Woodworks has since opened a second
woodworking shop in neighboring Coldwater Kansas, not only for additional space
but also allowing two employees who live in Coldwater to work near their
homes. Worship Woodworks’ products have
been used in virtually every state plus world-wide in countries such as South
America, England, Japan, China, Australia, Korea, Ethiopia, Mexico, and Canada.
Dr. Sonja Stewart has left this world, but the materials
Worship Woodworks handcrafts continue to be made to the specifications of Dr.
Stewart and Dr. Berryman. The materials are used in presentations Sonja and
Jerome developed using the Montessori Method for teaching young children Bible
stories and how to worship, in a setting limited only by each child’s readiness
to learn. Sally added, “The materials teach kids how to listen and talk
to God and how to prepare to hear the stories. The children become involved
with the story, the materials, and wondering questions which draw them into the
stories.” She also said, “Adults often say they have a better
understanding of these favorite Biblical stories after observing them in this
children’s worship setting.”
Dr. Stewart wrote “Following Jesus”, a sequel to “Young
Children and Worship” as an additional educational resource of new stories to
introduce 3 - 12 year olds to the wonder of worship. Worship Woodworks
soon added these stories to their inventory. The “Following Jesus” stories may
be used on their own or intermixed with the forty-four stories in the “Young
Children and Worship” curriculum. The
same clear instructions for teachers on how to create the environment needed
and using the felt and wooden materials, is contained within these
presentations. Patterns for creating
figures along with diagrams to show the movement and placement of the figures
for each session are also included.
“Following Jesus”
uses the Gospel of Mark as a framework for thirty-four presentations. The first
section begins with the story of baby Jesus being presented to God at the
Temple in Jerusalem. The next two sections establish the ministry of Jesus in
Galilee and Jerusalem. The last section deals with the risen Jesus and His
disciples, the Commission, and how the disciples continue Jesus’ work after His
ascension.
With “Young Children and Worship” and “Following Jesus,”
children move through the entire Bible, from “The Creation” to “Pentecost” with
several parables included. Colorful felt under-lays set the scene for wood
figures to play out the stories and allow children to expand their imagination.
Textures of the various materials used and the wondering questions allow even
more senses to be stretched and developed. The figures, buildings, mountains
and other tangible materials stimulate the visual and imaginative senses of all
ages.
Sally emphasized, “We try to satisfy our customer’s needs
with more than one option. Our customers have a choice of style
preference as they make selections throughout the online catalog. Worship
Woodworks hand crafts two styles of figures for the “Young Children &
Worship” book and the “Following Jesus” book. The most popular style of figure
is made using a solid color wood. An alternative style of figure is made
using an assortment of multi-color woods, for example: pine, black walnut,
cypress, maple, zebra, and several other exotic woods.” The suggestion is
a solid color wood draws attention to the story and movement of the figures
rather than the figures themselves. Although identical in shape to the
solid color wood figures, the multi-color woods suggest we are all different,
while the solid color wood teaches that we’re all alike. Both have their
benefits in teaching young children.
Figures in either of the two styles vary from 3/8” to 3/4”
thickness, depending on the story in which they are used. The Old
Testament figures are specifically made to stand in the sand which is confined
in the Desert Box. The New Testament figures easily stand on the felt
under-lays and are a perfect size for little hands to manage. The figures
are available in several different scales from 3 inches to 3 feet. And
since Jesus is presented differently in some of the stories, the Jesus figure
is available in 10 different representations.
Each figure is carefully sanded and buffed to a smooth finish.
Most of the structures used in telling the Biblical stories
are handcrafted from Baltic birch. The wall of Jerusalem and wall of
Bethlehem are available in two styles: as solid color Baltic birch structures
or multi-color structures using the same beautiful multi-color woods of the
figures to indicate the various architectural elements on the Baltic birch wall.
All of the structures are sanded and finished with a MSDS approved wood sealer
for protection.
The colorful pieces used for the parable stories are
two-dimensional characters cut from 1/8” Baltic birch. Laminated color
prints, ready to cut out, is a second option and a third choice is
purchasing the color print and the customer preparing it for telling the
story.
The mountains and the tomb are made of resin. This
material has the look and feel of a real rock. The tomb is also available
in wood.
Most of the customers of Worship Woodworks are churches;
their products have also been used in children’s hospitals, home school
organizations, Christian schools, summer school programs and Vacation Bible
School programs. While the figures and settings are not clinically authorized,
Sally said, “It’s amazing to see children who have been diagnosed with ADD and
other disabilities responding positively to the story.”
Sally and her employees design all of the stories in a
non-denominational format, but she’s seen some denominations modify them to fit
their denominational services.
Worship Woodworks doesn’t just stop when they sell you
their products. They offer a church calendar to help their customers select the
proper story throughout the year. Stories can be purchased one-at-a-time, all
at once, or even just a single item with shipping by UPS or USPS. Worship Woodworks is the scheduled UPS
pick-up and delivery point in the Protection KS area.
Sally also works
closely with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States
and Canada (Homeland Ministries) which offers non-denominational training
for Dr. Stewart’s books. The training is offered nation-wide and Worship
Woodworks maintains a complete event schedule. Worship Woodworks still makes materials
commissioned by Rev Dick Gibson who has allowed WW to include his teaching
stories and materials to be included in the Worship Woodworks color
catalog. Worship Woodworks also makes
many wholesale materials for Faith Alive in Grand Rapids, MI and Godly Play
Resources in Ashland, KS. A few materials are also made for “Spirit
Play”, a program used by some Unitarian churches. “We are continuously designing new materials and doing research
to make our products authentic in appearance while keeping costs minimized for
our customers.”
All of the materials at Worship Woodworks are made with
safety and usability in mind. If you have any questions, please contact
Sally Selzer at (620) 622-4568 or 1-888-689-6757 or by email at
mail@worshipwoodworks.com. The website is www.worshipwoodworks.com.
Worship Woodworks welcomes visitors, either scheduled or
drop-ins at 207 W. Walnut Street, Protection, Kansas.