Children are not just the future of the church, they are the present

Have you seen the YouTube video of the two little pageant shepherds who use their crooks to start their own Star Wars lightsaber battle? You’ve probably seen this or another viral video, or have many stories from your own childhood or from your own children, of kids doing hilarious things at church. You know: the member of the children’s choir who sings too loud and off key, the acolyte who leads the procession in the wrong direction, the wise man whose crown obscures his vision and causes him to bump into a wall. In the moment the congregation elbows one another and chuckles. As the years go by we retell these stories, smiling and chuckling at the fond memories.

St. Andrew’s is such a welcoming church for children. With welcome bags, children’s church, acolyte participation, and more, we make it clear that children are important members of our church. Perhaps you’ve heard Rev. Marc or someone else say, “Children are not just the future of the church, they are the present.”
 
On Sunday, February 5, our children’s church participants are singing “This Little Light of Mine” during worship. The way we receive their song will help determine how our children view themselves and their membership in our community. We are not just training them to take over one day (although that’s certainly part of it), nor are we being entertained by their adorableness (although they will certainly be adorable). Their song is a gift from them to their church family. We are here to look at them with the eyes of a loving family member because that is indeed what we are: a church family. We are here to feel strengthened in our own faith by witnessing what our children have to offer. What a blessing this is for our children, and for all of us.
 
Ginny Chilton

What gives you hope?

Dear friends,

The clergy coach I work with texts me twice a week to check in.  She sends me questions that she and I have agreed upon ahead of time, and they arrive in my phone on Tuesdays and Fridays.  One of the current questions is, “What gives you hope about the future of St. Andrew’s?” 
 
I am really enjoying working with that question.  Just this past week, I was privileged to witness all kinds of things at St. Andrew’s that give me hope:  our dedicated staff problem-solving and supporting one another; parishioners providing tender pastoral care, including taking a vulnerable parish friend out for lunch, washing the hair of a parishioner recovering from surgery, and delivering yet another fresh-cooked meal; loving adults leading Children’s Chapel for a growing group of youngsters (17 on a recent Sunday!); quiet, competent, faithful ministry behind the scenes by our finance folks and counters, the altar and flower guilds, our hardworking junior warden, and so many others.
 
Like all churches, St. Andrew’s faces many challenges in this post-Christendom society.  But then again, the early church faced many challenges (including persecution and martyrdom!) in the pre-Christendom society, and look how that original, uninspiring group of 12, with Jesus’ help, changed the world. 
 
When you get tempted to despair about the future of the Church, I encourage you to try the simple exercise of identifying the things happening here in our midst that give you hope.  You’ll be glad you did.
 
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom 15:13).  That is my prayer for you, and for me.
 
Blessings.  -Anne

The Art of Being

As we now are fully in the midst of the Epiphany season of Light, the following is a reprint from a now out-of-print book entitled The Art of Living by Wilferd A. Peterson (Simon and Schuster, New York, 1961).  In it is a chapter on The Art of Being.

The art of being is the assumption that you may possess, this very minute, those qualities of spirit and attitudes of mind that make for radiant living.
 
It is a philosophy of being today, instead of becoming in a tomorrow that never comes.
 
It is recognizing that courage, joy, serenity, faith, hope and love are immediately available now, and proceeding to open yourself so these qualities can be expressed through you in everyday living.
 
It is following the maxim of Shakespeare: “Assume a virtue though you have it not”…knowing that the dynamic power of habit can build it into your character.
 
It is being great now, being forgiving now, being tolerant now, being happy now, being successful now, instead of postponing positive and constructive living to some vague and indefinite future.
 
It is knowing that when we move into the future it becomes the now, and that now is the appointed time!  [2 Cor. 6:2]
 
It is facing the fact that your biggest task is not to get ahead of others, but to surpass yourself.
 
It is wasting not time dreaming about the rich life you may live next year, or ten years from now; it is beginning to live at your best right now, today.
 
It is heeding the wisdom of the ancient Chinese seer who observed: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” and it is taking that step today.
 
It is beginning today to be the [person] you want to be.
 
It is developing an awareness of the infinite possibilities in each magic moment.
 
It is enlarging the now by pouring into it intense creative energy.
 
It is immortalizing the present moment that your life may have eternal significance.
 
It is coming into a full realization that the Master voiced the secret of victorious being, when He declared that the Kingdom of God is not afar off, but that it is within you now! [Luke 17:21]
 
To this I will add a little verse that keeps me focused on the art of being:
being still
being
be
 
The art of being: being fully attentive to God’s Light through the remainder of the Epiphany season (and beyond).
 
--Marc

Happy New Year

 I came that they might have life and have it abundantly.

John 10:10, NRSV
 
The new year is often a time when we set new year’s resolutions. When I was growing up, popular culture would always remind me that January 1st is the time to turn a critical lens on every aspect of my life. Whether it was my home, my finances, or my own body, it was time to list what was wrong and make a plan to fix it.
 
It doesn’t take long to realize that starting from a place of negativity–being constantly critical of yourself–makes our own noble goals doomed to failure. For all the ills that it has brought on our society, one positive product of social media is allowing people of different body types, income levels, and lifestyles to have a significant influence on my life. Through social media I follow parents who remind each other that we clean our homes because we love ourselves and our families (not because we’re disgusting slobs if we don’t). I follow people who saute up a tasty meal because it makes them feel good (not only because it satisfies a certain calorie goal). I follow people who find joy in consuming less, and who also give themselves grace if they don’t always meet their own standards. I’m reminded that focusing on life gives us life, which is exactly what our tradition believes about Jesus. Jesus came not to condemn but to uplift. As we step boldly into 2023 I’m grateful that the God who came to earth in human form, who at Easter proves that life always wins, is the God who fills our hearts and goals with abundant life.
 
Ginny Chilton

God comes down that we may rise

Dear friends,

I love Christmas carols.  Despite my lack of singing ability, I have many happy memories of caroling with friends and family in my childhood Pittsburgh neighborhood and later in the hill towns of western Massachusetts.  I gladly added my warble to the joyous blend of voices, singing the familiar words with gusto.  I still do (while, blessedly, our hard-working sound technicians make sure my microphone is muted!).
 
Our hymnal, which is arranged by season and theme, has a “Christmas” section (hymns 77 to 115).  In addition to beloved carols, it contains Christmas hymns that may be completely unfamiliar to you.  One such hymn, I’m guessing, is Sing, O sing, this blessed morn (#88).  In its third verse, it encapsulates the whole story and purpose of Jesus’ life in 26 words:

God comes down that we may rise, lifted by him to the skies;
Christ is born for us that we born again in him may be.
 
The tender, touching account of Jesus’ birth that we celebrate each December is only half of our story as Christians.  The full significance of his birth becomes most apparent in his death and resurrection.  This Child of whom we sing was born to suffer, and to save.  That was good news 2000 years ago, when God took on human flesh and entered our broken, sinful world as a helpless infant living in dark times.  And it is good news to us today, in our own dark times. 
 
I look forward to celebrating with you God’s gracious coming down into our midst, and I very much hope that you will take part in one or more of our upcoming Christmas services:

• Christmas Eve Family Service, December 24 at 4:30 PM with Children’s Pageant, Festival Eucharist, and Candle-lighting
• December 25 at 10:30 AM, at which The Rev. Phillip Shearin and parishioners from St. George’s and St. Augustine’s will be joining us for Christmas Day Eucharist
• January 1 at 10:30 AMService of Lessons and Carols

As is customary here at St. Andrew’s, there will be special Christmas offering again this year. There will be Christmas offering envelopes available in the church beginning this Sunday. You may also give online by clicking here.
 
I hope that your Christmas celebration this year will be a happy one.  Even more, I pray that this holy season will remind you once again of the central truth of the Incarnation:  God comes down that we may rise. 
 
Blessings and love.  -- Anne