Water into Wine
The Gospel at Hogwarts children’s ministry event was born in 2016 from some energetic and faith-filled lay leaders, who are also super fans of anything Harry Potter. Each year, most of Holy Family Episcopal Church, Fishers is transformed into Hogwarts, the School of Discipleship. Children are sorted into houses and spend the evening attending classes such as potions, astronomy, and exploratory studies. The children’s lessons are centered around specific scripture readings, often Gospel passages. The class professors read the Bible stories, and children discuss the meaning and any connections they can make to their own lives. For example, in Herbology, while children plant Mandrakes (a magical and quite noisy plant), they hear the story about the farmer sowing seeds on good soil and rocky ground. The parables, words, and action of Jesus are the focus of each class and are experienced in a fun and interactive environment. The lessons are careful to never associate Jesus with magic itself.
This is evangelization for everyone as parents also attend the classes. Plus, the professors and character volunteers study the scripture used each year so they can answer questions the children may have. The goal is to tell and show the Good News of Jesus. Because this event is free and open to the public, it reaches children from not only the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis but those from other denominations. Most importantly, it draws children and their families who do not attend church regularly, closer to a faith community through a shared love of the Harry Potter fandom. In several cases, families who participated in the Gospel at Hogwarts began attending church at Holy Family, and several youth members have then stepped up to volunteer as house prefects or professor’s assistants. The “Holy Spirit moments” encountered while planning each year have been meaningful and continue to astonish and uplift the organizers. Plans are already underway for next year’s event which will celebrate its tenth anniversary. For more information about this magical adventure in discipleship, please contact Holy Family’s Children’s Ministry Director, Jolene Johnston.
