I really, really hope you can be here as our children and youth lead worship, provide music, read scripture, usher, sing, and enact the Gospel of God’s love in a delightful skit.
I once was the interim pastor in a church with a sorta sad tendency for many members to undervalue the end-of-the-year finale for the Sunday School because it was after the last Sunday the choir sang and it was just the children’s pageant, and so it wasn’t “really church.” So lots of people took “kids’ Sunday” off.
Bzzzzzt!
I am so glad this congregation really supports our children and youth and joyously shares the children and youth Celebration with them. It is a fun chance for them to demonstrate what they have learned over the past semesters of classwork and mission projects and discoveries and accomplishments. It is amazing to see how each age group has grown, how each child has grown, as the Bible says, “in wisdom and stature and God’s favor.” Contemporary Christian Education has gone way past memorizing scripture passages or the stories of Jesus, or coloring and cutting activity sheets. Our students are far more open to the needs and contributions of people all over the world, far more engaged in mission, and far more concerned about others-- involved in things like Linus’ Blankets at the younger ages and going on the Habitat for Humanity work trip in July for the older youth. Sunday School seeks to connect the Bible and our personal faith with how we live in this world and help others and celebrate God’s love for all. There is as big a change in the how and why we develop our rising generation’s spiritual formation as there is between their classroom videos and use of tablets and computers from the old flannelgraphs of the past.
Sunday we will also marvel in the musical gifts of so many of our young people, not just in the songs the Sunday School sings but the junior handbell choir and the youth band. We will also delight (seriously, I’ve listened to the rehearsals, it’s delightful) in the skit they will present. Even this preacher thinks their way of recounting the Gospel of God’s love is a lot more appealing than listening to some guy talk. As a wonderful moment this year, we celebrate the faith of four folks in the confirmation class, including one being baptized.
I close with my huge appreciation for the involvement of not just the youth and children and their parents and grandparents who help them get here, but also the faithful and creative Children and Ministry Youth Team who not only plan and support so much but do it while folding themselves into those little chairs in the upstairs classroom for their meetings. Many souls have taught and helped, and we will say thank you to them, too. And I have been amazed all year by our CYMT staff, Diane Beckwith and Stacy Wilder. Thank you all.
First Congregational has a fantastic knack for growing thoughtful and compassionate young Christians, and this is the week we celebrate that ministry. See you Sunday!
In Christ,
David
Texts For Sunday Worship:
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