Becoming the body of christ...

It was still storming when we left for worship this morning - we got about another 5" last night - and it looked intense when we pulled out of our driveway.  But about 65 hearty New England souls showed up for the celebration - and it was a blessed and sacred time.  A few thoughts cross my mind before my Sunday afternoon nap...

+ First, my emphasis today was on what do we learn when the whole family worships together on a regular basis?  It was a good conversation, but incomplete as became clear because sometimes not everyone in a family can be part of worship on a regular basis. Sometimes work schedules make it impossible; so, too with blended families and the complicated nature of visitation schedules. There are also some families with profoundly different spiritualities and theologies that make regular participation in shared worship complicated.  I want to honor these realities - and pray that families will take the time to honestly sort all of these things out and share their decisions with their children in age appropriate ways - because honoring our differences is important.

+ Second, I also want to be clear that sometimes the self-centered nature of our culture needs to be challenged.  On behalf of the common good - and the spiritual formation of children - there are also times when partners need to practice a little generosity of spirit and make the effort to be present in worship.  Children learn by what they see the adults in their lives doing so showing up matters.  An old salt told me a story from the life of Marva Dawn who was once told by a man after church, "You know, I just didn't get anything out of worship today." To which the educator replied, "Well you know we didn't come to worship you, right?"  Hmmm.... a little theologically snarky, yes but also to the point. 

IF - and this is a big if that warrants serious family conversation - if the spiritual formation of a child is important, than there are times when we adults have to "suck it up" and show up.  That doesn't mean theology can't be argued, nor that people must stoically endure life draining liturgies and sermons.  Not at all - just know that your participation (or lack thereof) communicates a great deal about what is important to your children - and should be part of the equation, too.

+ And third, people shared some great insights today about why it matters to be a part of an inter-generational community of faith.  "We learn about God's presence in our life no matter what our circumstance," said one young woman.  "We get to see how our small family is a part of a larger community born of God's love," said another.  "Children show me how to get over myself and my worries," said yet another.  And there was almost unanimity about how the generations - young, old and middle aged -can learn from one another if we are committed to showing up.  Proximity matters...

... so when we all gathered in the Chancel around the table to serve one another Eucharist, there was just one body this morning.  We were still filled with all our differences and clearly different ages, sizes and races, but we were much more one than before we started.  As the invitation says:  This is the joyful feast of the whole people of God. Men and women, children and youth, come from the East and the West, from the North and the South and gather about the table of the Lord.