One of the true joys for me in ministry is interacting with the young children in our congregation. Perhaps it is because I am just a child at heart myself and have never quite grown up, but I seem to be a real big hit with the 3-5 year olds. We have several children in that age range and when they are in worship, I never know what to expect. It keeps me flexible and usually fills me with delight.
When one young lady accompanies her parents forward to receive communion, she generally has to tell me something about her attire, expecting the appropriate expression of admiration from me. She is also insistent that she gets to dip her hand in the baptismal font in remembrance of her baptism. She has been giving me 'blessings' for over a year now and recently has begun granting the same privilege to her younger brother.
I have a couple of toddlers who aren't happy (or quiet) unless they can explore the front of the nave and chancel. I have learned that the best thing to do is invite them to take my hand and stand with me while I say prayers, creed, or whatever. It helps parents relax, the kids' have their curiosity satisfied, and who knows. maybe someone will grow up feeling at home leading worship and consider a call to ministry.
However, I am learning something very important from my young congregants; something more than just to be flexible. In spite of occasional appearances to the contrary,they LISTEN during worship. And they do not miss a trick. One Sunday in a sermon I was referring to our human tendency to be a little obstinate and sinful and I referred to us humans as "knuckleheads." From the rear of the nave comes a small voice loudly and very clearly - "Knuckleheads? She said knuckleheads!" No one in the congregation has forgotten that day, nor are they ever going to let me forget it.
This morning however I heard two really great ones. According to his mother, one of my young guys was with his family at a funeral visitation recently. When his mom went to leave him in the toy room and join the family in the viewing room, he was fine with her leaving. Then he said, "Hey, Mom! If God comes down come and get me." No one is quite sure where that came from, but he is obviously getting something out of church. He's expecting God to come down and, by golly, he wants to be ready!
The other one is classic and may change the way I lead worship. I remember the old days when we used to begin the proper preface with the words, "It is indeed mete, right, and salutary ..." I imagine that these days very few people other than church leaders know what mete and salutary even mean. Now in recent years, the language has been changed. It is more accessible and understandable. We begin, "It is indeed right, our duty and our joy ..." Indeed, much more understandable. Why even a 4 year old can understand it. I know this because after worship his grandmother informed me that he was definitely paying attention. He heard those words, nudged grandma and joyfully proclaimed, "Hey Grandma, Pastor Katie did her duty." Yeah ... I don't think that was exactly what the liturgists had in mind. But it is good to know that my young friend thinks that I am ... hmmm... regular! I honestly may have to go back to the "mete, right, and salutary" because I am not sure I can say it the other way with a straight face ever again.!!!
Yeah - be careful what you say in worship, or anywhere else for that matter, because those kids do not miss a thing.
Jesus said to let the little children come, and so I will ... that, too, is a duty and a joy!
Blessings -
PK (+)
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