What's The Matter With Kids Today?

The short answer to that rather tongue-in-cheek question is....absolutely nothing! That question is a song from the famous 50's set musical, "Bye Bye Birdie." Throughout history, some older people have probably asked themselves that question in one form or another, in the case of the musical, people were concerned about the effect of rock n' roll on the younger generation. Part of humanity, is that we always wonder what the next generation is going to do. What direction the next generation is going to take us in.

But the truth is that children are smart and inquisitive and sponge-like. Especially in this day and age, when information is more accessible than ever, it is important to expose our children to the wonders of the Lord as early as possible. It's important to give children their own space so that they can learn all those wonderful Bible stories on their own terms and in a way that is totally accessible to them alone.

St Nicholas is restarting it's Children's Program during liturgy this weekend. It will run for April and May, take a summer break, and then start again in the fall. I look forward to all our families taking advantage of this program. We plan to bring high energy and fun and creativity to sharing the liturgy with our younger members. I hope it will become an ongoing dialogue, where entire families will think and talk about the lessons learned and the ideas shared through this process.

Children can bring a natural sense of wonder to things. And wonder is infectious. I don't know about you, but I could always use a little more wonder in my life.

-Ken Lopez 

Sunday night past, one whopper of a storm came rolling through.  I've always been fascinated with a good storm...loud, peals of thunder, lightning that makes the night sky as bright as day and the harder the rain, the better.  And with this storm, at least up here in the northwest suburbs where we live, there was plenty of hail, too.

I remember a storm of many, many years ago, when I was maybe 8 or so years young.  The storm started slowly but boy, did it pick up steam in no time flat.  It woke me up from a sound sleep.  I jumped out of bed and headed straight to the window in the bedroom I shared with my brother Charlie ( I had the lower bunk, thank you) to take in this sound and light show.   The lightning just kept up and the thunder, I swear, made the house shake.  Within minutes, my 8 sisters and brothers and I were all huddled around my Mom, who sat very calmly in the large, black recliner that was nestled in the corner of the living room.  She told us not to worry...God was watching over us and there was nothing to fear.  Being the youngest of the 4 boys in the family, along with my little sister, we two were afforded the pleasure and honor of sitting, safely, on her lap.  We couldn't have been any safer than where we were that very moment...the loving and protective care of my Mom filling my heart with warmth and an immeasurable love.  There are times I wish I were 8 years young again and my Mom was still with me; for there are times I still need her protective care and motherly love.  Perhaps we all, in some way or another wish for some thing from our past that brought us comfort and protection.  So, we hang tight to memories that bring us happiness and joy as we work at creating future memories today. 

Blessedly, I have memories, many of them, all of which keeps me comforted and affords my heart such warmth.  Memories carry me quite a ways and I'm grateful for this.  Fortunately, there are the daily blessings received from the people in my life right now...namely, the community of St. Nicholas.  You've heard me say this before, as it is true and bears repeating...good people of St. Nicholas, we are an amazing community!  No doubt about that, we are a place of many colorful and enchanting characters that are loving to a fault, charitable beyond measure and filled with the grace that is made gift to us from the Good Lord. 

Remember my speaking of the safety and love I felt sitting on my Mom's lap during that long ago storm?  Well, I feel and sense a safety and love much the same here at St. Nicholas.  There is the constant and ever present care generated from each member, one toward the other.  There are the lessons we teach one another and the guidance we share and offer to those in need.    There is sharing going on here that is scripturally inspired, as often times we give from our want and not from our excess and surplus! 

Yes, spring has many sounds and colors and we are quite familiar with the visual and audio spectrums here at St. Nicholas.  We are diverse and unique, while we are much the same in many ways, too.  God's love does not see any distinctions, nor does God's love come in greater of lesser degrees, one person to the next.  And if I may dare say so, my Mom's love for her 9 children reminds me very much of God's love for us, His earthly children...all of us receiving, in equal share, His benevolence, grace and guidance, all wrapped up in thunder and lightning, in the silence of the early dawn and the comfort of His arms that encircles us and holds us just so. 

Let's continue this Lenten journey, as we savor these glorious, spring days.  Take time to see God's handiwork, too.  If you see the first of the tops of a green plant pushing its way out of the dark, black earth...stoop down, see what it is and smile...it's just a little present from our God who is throwing us some beauty and color and wouldn't it be a shame if we didn't take time to enjoy that gift?  If we hear a songbird singing to its mate...listen to their song and tuck that beautiful music into our heart and remember the music of that lovely bird when we need a song to cheer us up.  There's more spring to come and assuredly, more of God's love, too.  My, but aren't we blessedly fortunate!

Peace,

Manny

manny@stnicholasepiscopal.org

Blessing of Easter food and baskets on Holy Saturday, April 23, come anytime between 11am and 2pm.  How wonderful...sharing not just dinner, but blessed food with family and friends.  A new tradition for all of us to celebrate at St. Nicholas.

Easter Egg Hunt...Easter Sunday morning after the 10am Liturgy.  Weather permitting, the hunt will take place outside.  Remember...look for the golden egg!  Children of all ages and those who are young at heart are welcomed!

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