Creating Access and Inclusion in Worship

Children's Bulletin Page

Mary Virginia Merrick was not afraid to use her gifts to help children less fortunate than she was. This often took courage because Mary needed help herself. She hurt her back when she fell from her tree house when she was a young girl. She used a wheelchair to get around after her accident. Mary wanted to help a new baby in her neighborhood whose mother did not have enough money for baby clothes. Mary had the courage to ask her friends from her parish to help her sew baby clothes for the new baby. Soon Mary heard of more babies who needed her help. Mary and her friends began to sew hats, blankets and gowns for many new babies in need.

Mary heard about some children who did not receive Christmas presents because their families could not afford them. She suggested the children write to the Christ Child, the Giver of All Gifts. Mary and her friends raised money to buy toys for the children. They placed tags that said "from the Christ Child" on the gifts and gave them to the children.

Even though Mary had a disability, her church saw her gift of being able to enlist the help of others to meet a need. Her parish supported her in her work. Mary's bishop encouraged her to start the Christ Child Society to continue her efforts. Today hundreds of babies and children in need still receive baby clothes and gifts from Christ Child Society chapters all across the United States. Some day we hope Mary will be named a saint. In medieval times, courageous knights used shields as protection when they went into battle. These shields had family crests and other important symbols on them. Draw a shield like the one below on a large piece of paper. Decorate your shield showing the courageous things Mary Virginia Merrick did. Or write your family name on your shield and add symbols to your shield for things that you've done that took courage or that you've seen someone else do that took courage.