Anglican Communion News Service

On 9th January the Scottish Episcopal Church launches the country's first colour-in communion book, to let children scribble and scrawl their way through a service.

The groundbreaking "My Holy Communion Book" has been specially designed for the hundreds of youngsters worshipping at 'Pisky' churches across Scotland.

It takes children through the words of a normal Sunday morning service, and illustrates key moments in the ceremony with bright, multi-coloured illustrations.

Children can colour in pictures through the book and take part in the service by writing in special notes after prayers and communion.

The Scottish Episcopal Church commissioned the book after Leith minister the Rev Steve Butler was impressed by other work by publisher Redemptorist Publications.

He has already started using the books in his services. "As soon as we started using the books, I knew they were working because the noise levels dropped right down," he said. The children were all busy writing and drawing.

"They run for the books now at the start of a service. They really engage with the service. The books become theirs because they have written and drawn in them."

During the sermon, the book advises young worshippers to listen closely if the preacher is talking specifically to the children.

But if the sermon is aimed at the adults, it gives a list of other things to do, including drawing a picture of that day's Bible story on a blank page opposite.

Each page is printed on special wipeable paper, to let young artists erase their work and start again fresh every Sunday.

After the congregation sings the Gloria - "Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth" - children are invited to "draw or write something I have seen or heard this week that makes me want to praise and thank God".

During the regular prayers, young readers are asked to "Write down the names of people who need your prayers. If you can help them during the week write down what you can do for them".

While everyone queues up for communion, the book suggests that youngsters "draw a picture of people in the church and ask Jesus to bless them".

"People often say that church is boring for children," said Rosemary Gallagher, editorial director at UK-based Redemptorist Publications, which produced My Holy Communion Book.

"We thought there was a need for something that related to children and looked like the sort of books that they were used to," she added.

"The whole thing becomes more immediate when they can fill in their own prayer requests for friends, or even for a loved pet."

Copies (£1.60 plus p&p) can be ordered from:

The Scottish Episcopal Church
The General Synod Office
21 Grosvenor Crescent
Edinburgh,
United Kingdom
EH12 5EE

Please email press@scotland.anglican.org for foreign orders and more details.