Recently I visited First United Methodist Church in Salt Lake City, Utah, where Reverend Brian Diggs preached one of his final [and may I say powerful] sermons as pastor of this congregation, and I am still processing my experience.

First, when I opened the ”bulletin”, I was so pleased to see “The Affirmation of Faith” and ”The Lord’s Prayer” as part of an order of worship that reflects who we are to be as a gathered body.  The Passing of the Peace was an actual Passing of the Peace.  People offered, “peace be with you” or “the peace of Christ be with you”.  Sure, a little chatting followed, but they are practicing a sharing in God’s grace.  And, speaking of grace, communion is offered every Sunday - not at the “communion service”, but at “Sunday worship”.

Second, I love walking into a church where children’s cries and loud whispers and laughs are heard.  Yes, I have heard the arguments against children in the sanctuary, but community is not complete without children.  Do you think that Jesus was bothered or distracted by children?  He welcomed them to gather close to him and used them as an example for us all.  The children of First UMC were noticeably present, and it was a delight which allowed a tiny boy to quite comfortably share with the congregation the impending arrival and the Ethiopian name of his new little sister. 

What does this have to do with young children?  EVERYTHING!  What better place to raise a child than in a community where they are loved, respected, and given the opportunity to be a part of the lives of people from many walks of life!  What better place to raise a child than in a place where they experience what is beautiful about our United Methodist liturgy?  What better place to raise a child than in a place where they are striving for the ”Kingdom of God and God’s righteousness”?

I am not a member at First UMC in Salt Lake City, so I cannot speak to what happens in committee meetings.  But, it seems that this is a congregation that might just “get it”.

RESOURCES:

Come! Come! Everybody Worship! by Carolyn Tanner
God’s Paintbrushby Sandy Sasso
Matthew 6.28-7.4
Galatians 3.23-4.4
Luke 18.11-21

"Will you nurture this child in Christ's holy church?"

This week, two of my colleagues from divinity school welcomed new babies into their lives.  How wonderful it has been to hear about the first hours and days of the babies’ lives instantaneously through Facebook.  The chance that I will see these children in person before they are walking and talking and graduating is very slim since they live in Washington and Texas, so I appreciate these parents taking the time to include the larger community in their joy.

We will all now look forward to the day that these babies are baptized, the day when the church community will announce to the world that “this child is a child of God… God’s own”.  It is the community of believers who take on the responsibility of passing on what has been given us through the grace of God - love of God and neighbor, communion, gathering as the body of Christ, Scripture, and a host of other gifts.

One of the most wonderful rituals of my former church home ocurred after the Baptismal Covenant.  The pastor carried the baby or walked with the child or adult through the congregation so that everyone could sing to the newest member of the body.  He ended by lifting the infants at the altar.  I found it a wonderful way to think about the power of the words of the covenant.

I am excited for my colleagues, and excited that we have welcomed two more children of God!

RESOURCES:

Your Child is Baptized by Bishop William Willimon
This Holy Mystery: A United Methodist Understanding of Holy Communion for Children and Youth by Carolyn K. Tanner
Water, Come Down! by Walter Wangering, Jr.

Imagine that you are a small elementary school child and something at school has upset you to the point that you do not feel safe.  Now imagine that your church sits right across the street from your school.  Would you be tempted to run away from school to your church? 

Recently in a small town in South Carolina, that is just what a little boy did.  When asked why, he responded “my church is my safe sanctuary”.  Of course, I do not advocate running away from school, but what a wonderful testament to what is happening in that church! 

My church is my safe sanctuary

All of our children should see the church as a safe sanctuary.  The church should welcome them as Jesus welcomed the children when he spoke to the crowds in Judea.  We are people called to care for our children, and we must make a concerted effort to do all that we can to create an environment where our children feel welcomed, loved, and secure.

How many children in your church community can say “my church is my safe sanctuary”?  How many adults in your church help to make your church a “safe sanctuary”? 

RESOURCES:

Safe Sanctuaries - Reducing the Risk of Abuse in the Church for Children and Youthby Joy Thornburg Melton

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown

Safe Sanctuaries Website

Romans 12 churches that list children’s ministries as one of their strengths frequently follow up by commenting that they attract married couples with children, single parents with children, and families with children to their church community. Once these families enter the doors of the church, how do churches faithfully form young children by cultivating intentional and mutual relationships in the church community?

Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington D.C. describes the way that they accomplish this as building faith memories through infant baptism, fellowship events, and other experiences that build relationships. Over the past two years, their children’s ministry has experienced rapid and significant growth not only in numbers but in commitment to the children in the community. Their Children and Families ministry bridges the gap between Foundry and Spead Children’s Park adjacent to the church. At the Annual Family Camp families with young children learn about God and nature in unique relational ways. Most of the children in their children’s choir are younger than eight, and they sing in the community frequently and with the adult choir twice a year.

Numerous Romans 12 congregations reported that they were known in the community for their early childhood programs. At St. Philip’s UMC in Round Rock, Texas, the pre-school is known for a family atmosphere and as being part of the community. One mother commented that the “teachers make the difference” by offering small classes with individual attention to the developmental, emotional, and spiritual needs of the children. She added that the pre-school led them to become members of St. Philip’s.

Questions for Discussion

• What does your church do to build faith memories for young children?

• What opportunities are you providing for both corporate and individual faith formation for the youngest members of the congregation?

• What type of training is provided for those who would like to continue to be in service in children’s ministries?

The National Day of Prayer takes place on May 7th, and I see signs of religious communities preparing for this day with announcements and postings and e-mails.  What I have yet to see is anything about children’s participation.  Maybe it is my responsibility to send out that type of information, but honestly it only occurred to me to pray FOR our children, not necessarily to pray WITH our children. 

What a wonderful opportunity for young children to experience a time to pray with people from coast to coast!  Think of the conversations that could come out of this… our connection with one another… our freedom to pray aloud without fear… our opportunity to pray to a God who loves us…

Here is a simple prayer from Marian Wright Edelman to share with our young children:

“I pray for peace

in myself

in my family

in my community

in my country

and in all the world”

The Lord tells us that “where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them”, so let us show our children the transforming power of so many gathered and in prayer. 

RESOURCES:

I’m Your Child, GOD: Prayers for our Children by Marian Wright Edelman
The Children’s Defense Fund
Matthew 18.20 - NRSV