In Scripture, we hear Jesus invite children into his presence. “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it” (Luke 18:15-17; see also Matthew 19:13-15 and Mark 10:13-16). Biblical scholars tell us that the point of Jesus inviting the children to him is not so much that little children are innocent but that they represented some of the most vulnerable in ancient society. So, Jesus lovingly welcomes the most marginalized and helpless. Point taken. But does this also have to mean that we adults can’t learn something profound from children? How many times have you seen a young child understand the mystery, joy, or humor of God more easily than an adult? For me, at least, I find it quite helpful to learn from the genuine openness and receptivity of children who have not yet been jaded by a difficult, harsh world. I think this has a lot to do with the posture required to enter the kingdom of heaven.
This past week at Good Shepherd was a reminder of what children can teach us in our lives of faith. Friday concludes our third annual children’s summer camp. Eleven children, more than half of whom were from outside the parish, spent five days learning about the ways in which God’s goodness is echoed in God’s good creation. Our theme was “Let All Creation Praise the Lord.” Each day, we began with prayer and then a story from Scripture, most of which were from our Godly Play curriculum. We sang, danced, made beautiful art, played games, and took field trips around the campus each day. The porch of our retreat house was a fantastic venue for art and play. The week culminated in a skit created and produced by the children that tells the story of creation, using pieces of music that represent the seven days of the creation story. It has been a delight to watch the children put their whole minds and heart into this imaginative enterprise.
Just three years ago, there was no children’s formation here at Good Shepherd. But with interest from a couple of families, and the support of the parish, we began a ministry for children and families at the height of the pandemic. It has grown by the grace of God over the past three years, and I pray this ministry will continue to flourish. There are many children in our neighborhood, and I often wonder if they have a church. Do these young children know God and his endless love and mercy? I hope so, and if not, I hope our parish might be a place where they can know God in Christ. Our annual children’s summer camp is just one way in which we reach out our hands to the local community to show God’s love to all.
I’m grateful to our camp helpers this week: Gail McCown, Heidi Kolberg, Sarah Austen, and Kit Apostolacus. Margaret Helminska and Anna Helminska provided snacks for the week, and our parish staff offered support to ensure that camp went smoothly. It’s a great gift that a parish of our size can support an endeavor like this week’s.
May God continue to bless this parish with children and families. May we always seek to be a community where children can see the love and joy of God visibly expressed in Christian witness. And perhaps it will be the children themselves who help us appreciate more fully the boundless forgiveness and compassion of a God who is always welcoming us home.
Yours in Christ,
Father Kyle