One of the reasons I am so slow in going through 55 years of stuff to "downsize", is that keep stopping to read something that I have written. When I came across this from 2008, I thought more folks should have seen this than did. It is a simple message about a simple reaction from a simple pastor as I attempted to address a teaching moment.
What do you think?
Wasn't it great to see so many children in Church on Easter?
They added a certain “aliveness" to the event, didn't they?
The parents that brought the children cannot possibly know what delight they gave to the rest of us.
For us, the whole experience was one of “anticipation of the unexpected" — certainly an appropriate feeling for Easter celebration.
I began to see again that Jesus' words, "Let The little children come to me," were not idle chit chat.
"Unless you can see the world as this child sees if, you don't understand yet".
Those kids do not come with an understanding of the solemness of our assemblies,
or the somberness of our “celebration”,
or the soberness of our church visages.
They do not come with an innate understanding of what it means to be one of Gods Frozen Chosen.
No, they come as who they are:
nascent beings full of wonder and openness to all they encounter.
Miracles are expected and routine to them.
Thankfulness is a reality and grace a daily experience.
If they heard our Easter story at all, they understood.
[And they might ask of us, "Why do you think it such an unusual story?"]
Just for them to be here among so many people - most of whom they have never seen before -
in such a large room,
with such strange sounds coming from the organ,
with everyone in the room trying to out-sing the others,
and observing the antics of that white-headed man with a beard in a swishing black robe up front are experiences they will have no where else.
It may actually be good for them to be there to experience the acceptance and interest of so many people at once — and perhaps to pick up on the natural rhythms of the worship service that we may tend to overlook.
We say, Christ Church is kid-friendly.
Just as important as what the kids may experience here is what they bring to us and our worship:
The openness.
The spontaneity.
The ability to coo and grin and laugh at will.
The sense of wonder and delight.
The inability to hold grudges.
The trust.
I feel the children enhance our worship experience - they do not distract from it.
Let us encourage parents to bring their children.
Let them never receive any messages that we do not approve.
But, let us thank the parents for bringing their children.
And let the children know that we are glad that they are there.
Let us welcome the children in real ways.
Let them know they are family, and that we care about them.
(Perhaps we should send birthday cards and notes.)
One of our young parents, Adam Castner, looked around one Sunday and noted words to the effect: “You know it looks like we are doing a pretty good job of starting awhole new church here."
On Easter Sunday there were probably half a dozen children under the age of two - and at least two more on the way.
Most of us know it is not easy to get a child ready on Sunday morning to go to church. So, kudos to those parents who do.
Hopefully, our service is pertinent to the daily experiences of the parents - and as more children come on a more regular basis we can begin to integrate worship elements that will be more meaningful to them as well.
Bring on the children!
Remember Jesus said “When you welcome one of these children because of me, you welcome me.”
It is important to Jesus.
It is important to us.
See you in church,
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