Hettie’s Story (Part Two)
Children’s Time for Lent 1
February 26, 2011

The worship leader who tells the children's story should improvise according to what is appropriate for the children of their congregation depending on their ages and abilities. Perhaps some children could go on the UCC website (www.ucc.org/vitality/what-matters/we-are-people-of-extravagant.html ) for what it means to say "We are People of Extravagant Welcome."  Or they could look at the Global Ministries website (http://globalministries.org/get-involved/child-sponsorship/ ) for partnerships/sponsorships with children.

Hettie was an eight year old Muscogee (Creek) girl who was growing up in Okmulgee, Oklahoma.  She heard the English language spoken all around her until she entered the third grade.  In third grade, she heard Muscogee words spoken and recognized some of the words from when she went to church where Muscogee hymns were sung. However, on the first Sunday of Lent, she went to the "Cowboy" UCC church south of Okmulgee.  Her parents called it the "Cowboy" church because most people who attended were farmers and ranchers.

Like the Muscogee church of her grandmother's where they often spoke the Muscogee language, the Cowboy church spoke "UCC."  Hettie tried to learn some of their language too: 
✓	"We are People of Extravagant Welcome." 
✓	"The Season of Lent" where people give up something for a good cause. 

✓	The minister said maybe instead of giving up something, people could do something extra like
✓	"Go Green," or "give generously" to a special offering. 
✓	"Fasting and praying" to get strength for life's challenges. 
✓	"Inward Journey" going inside one's self to think about Jesus' life examples .

Hettie liked the minister who spoke specifically to her and the other children while they sat on the carpeted steps leading to the pulpit area. The minister's hands were busy showing photographs of children from the Global Ministries calendar. She enjoyed hearing about what children were doing and experiencing around the world.

Hattie decided for The Season of Lent she would try to Go Green and inside herself she would pray for good climates where children live - which is everywhere.

The minister asked for help with the children's prayer.  Hattie added, "Mvto," (pronounced "mah-doh") which is the Muscogee word for "thank you."  

"Mvto God for children," the minister said.

Hettie’s Story Part Two: Children’s Story for the First Sunday of Lent was written by the Rev. Rosemary McCombs Maxey, a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and is retired clergy and a member of Fellowship Congregational United Church of Christ, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Copyright 2014 Local Church Ministries, Faith Formation Ministry Team, United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH  44115-1100.  Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in services of worship or church education.  All publishing rights reserved.