New children’s book is a Presbyterian story of creativity, calling and Christmas

Every once in a while, a story comes along that captures what is beautiful about being Presbyterian. It reminds us that we are part of a larger ecosystem, a network of congregations, colleges, seminaries, teachers, artists and disciples who shape and support one another’s ministries in ways that are often unseen. One such story is unfolding in Nebraska through the creativity and calling of the director of Christian Education at First Presbyterian Church of Hastings, Rosalie Koepp.

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In November, Koepp published a new children’s Christmas book titled “While By Their Flocks,” a beautifully written and illustrated retelling of the Nativity through the eyes of three young shepherds.

The book invites children and families to enter the Christmas story with wonder, curiosity and childlike faith. Its publication is a milestone worth celebrating in its own right, but it is also a testament to the rich web of Presbyterian connections that helped make it possible.

Koepp’s journey began at Hastings College, a Presbyterian- related institution committed to the liberal arts and the formation of compassionate, thoughtful leaders. She and her collaborator, songwriter Hannah Jensen-Heitmann, are both graduates of the Hastings College Teacher Education program. Their partnership first bore fruit in 2024, when they created an original children’s Christmas program for First Presbyterian Church of Hastings, which can be seen here. It was a joyful, imaginative retelling of the Nativity from the perspective of three young shepherds that quickly became a beloved part of our congregation’s Advent worship.

Following the program’s success, Koepp discerned that the story needed to live beyond one December morning. With the encouragement of our church community, she partnered with children’s author Casey Martin of Freckled Color Publishing to adapt the script into a full children’s book. Martin guided the manuscript from script to storybook and connected Koepp with Sri Lankan illustrator Oshadi Sandareka, whose expressive, vibrant artwork brings the shepherds’ journey to life.

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This project also reflects another significant Presbyterian connection. Koepp is a Master of Divinity student at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, where she is preparing for ordination as a Minister of Word and Sacrament. Her theological training at Louisville Seminary is evident in the spiritual depth of the book. While the story is written for children, it is also grounded in thoughtful, pastoral imagination, the kind of imagination that seminaries nurture as they shape future church leaders.

As her colleague, I see “While By Their Flocks” as something more than a children’s book. It is a Presbyterian story. It is the fruit of a church that encourages creativity, a college that forms educators, a seminary that nurtures theologians, and a denomination that values the gifts of all its members, especially when those gifts are offered for the sake of the next generation.

Presbyterians are at our best when we embody what our tradition teaches. Faith is formed in community. Learning is lifelong. God often works through collaborations that span generations and geographies. From a liberal arts college on the Nebraska prairie, to a seminary in Louisville, to a congregation committed to nurturing children in the faith, this book is a reminder of how deeply connected we are as a church.

In this Advent season, as we tell and retell the story of God coming to us in the flesh, I am grateful for the way Rosalie’s work helps children enter that story with joy and wonder. “While By Their Flocks” is more than a book. It is an expression of what it means to be the church together. And that, too, is good news worth sharing.

The Rev. Greg Allen-Pickett is pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Hastings, Nebraska.