Abba Poemen's brethren said to him, “Let us leave this place, for the monasteries here worry us and we are losing our souls, even the little children who cry do not let us have interior peace.”
Abba Poemen said to them, “Is it because of voices of angels that you wish to go away from here?”
Today is the first day of the Christmas craft program being headed up by Laurel, and we are both hoping for a good turnout. Laurel did this last year and I thought it was a success. Not everyone came to every session, but it was well attended and the kids produced some wonderful gifts that were sold at the Christmas bazaar. And, more importantly, everyone seemed to have a good time.
Besides the weekly after school Christmas craft program, we are also looking at a way to incorporate those same children into the 5:30 Christmas Eve service. Some kind of pageant seems to be the main thought right now, but we are unsure of what, if any, form that will take. If everything works out, we could have a sizable youth presence right around Christmas time; and that's exciting.
Besides the above, if you were here on Sunday, October 26, or if you read the latest Luke's Log, you will recall Michele's talk about why St. Luke's is important to her and how she is looking to be more involved in the life of the parish. One of the things she said was that she would be praying specifically for families with children to become part of the St. Luke's family.
This would be a good thing. Not only because we would once again have families with children as part of our parish life, but because it would mean that we are beginning to once again live out the commandment of making disciples of all nations. If we want families and children to be part of St. Luke's because it would be good for us, we are misguided. We should want families and children to be part of St. Luke's because it would be good for them.
However, having a parish full of families and children comes with a cost. Very often I hear, or have heard, people bemoan the lack of children and families in the Episcopal church in general, and at St. Luke's in particular. Comments usually sound something like, “We aren't getting any younger,” or, “They are the future of the church.” In response, the church begins a concerted effort to attract those people.
What seems to be a common result, though, is that the same people who the church tried to attract soon become the subject of irreverent behavior, squirmy and wiggly children in pews, unannounced crying by babies during the sermon and the like. And then, like Abba Poemen's brethren, the established members begin complaining of a lack of peace.
I do not know what will come of these efforts or of Michele's prayers. If we are to become the spiritual home for families with children, I would encourage you to make an effort to hear angels, not disruptions.
Amen.
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