For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth –Psalm 71
How do we trust that things might be happening even when we can’t see them? This is one of my challenges…the challenge to be patient and trust in the work of the Holy Spirit. I would much rather DO something, maybe even just for the sake of DOING, than wait. But sometimes in the waiting, I can look back and see how richly the Spirit was working, but I was too impatient to understand or notice.
So, when we began to contemplate a direction for Christian Education, it was tempting to just jump in and DO something, anything, and see what happened. But the Holy Spirit spoke through wise voices who said we should pray about it first. And so, as a church, we intentionally prayed for our young people and for guidance in ways to bring the good news of the Bible, and of being a Lutheran, to them.
During that month of prayer, it seemed like young people were everywhere! Families joined the church, bringing their children with them; our confirmation class, choir and bell choir grew; familiar and new faces were volunteering to serve as acolytes for worship…it was wonderful!
We then held a meeting to discuss ways we might begin doing Sunday School. As this school year winds down, it was agreed that we wouldn’t jump in to a formal, organized Sunday School at this time, but continue to celebrate the presence of young people in our midst, rejoice in the ways RLC is providing Christian education already, and actively plan and prepare for a Sunday School program in the fall.
And so, we are glad for the faithful, eager, curious, delightful young people in worship, whether they sit quietly or wiggle-worm their way through the service. We make time for their questions and instruction in worship with the children’s message. We give thanks for parents and students who make time in busy schedules to be a part of the confirmation class. We give thanks to Kurt Wade who, for several months, offered a children’s devotional time after worship. We give thanks for Lucy Merrell, who leads the Alleluia People and Ring Out! Bell choir, teaching the faith stories of the Bible and the seasons of the church through music.
We are moving forward, with plans afoot to have some after-worship summer projects, to make Sunday School space useable and inviting, and to develop curriculum modules that don’t require a year-long teaching commitment.
In the meantime, trust that the Holy Spirit is working in and among Resurrection Lutheran Church, and continue to pray for our young people and God’s plan for their instruction.
In joy,
Pastor Sue
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