|
Sandy Prouty
Minister of Children and Families
Dear Friends,
This Sunday morning, we will join together in blessing our children. As a congregation we will say a Call to Blessing adding all of our voices to the family liturgy that follows. Parents will stand with their children in the aisles of the sanctuary holding their hands and repeating words of love and hope to them. If your children are not with you on Sunday, please hold them in your thoughts and repeat these words with us from your place in the pews.
As we think of this blessing, our children might come into more clear focus. Our focus can be blurred by the pace of our days with them or by the years that have passed since we were. Before Sunday we have an opportunity to pause in preparation for this blessing and think of the last time we sat with a child, just sat with a child.
When we did we might have seen a tiny girl pass a piece of paper back and forth to us many, many times with continued delight each time. We might have watched a little boy get into a chair in the most complicated, puzzling and determined way and clap his hands when he finally accomplished a seated position. We might have seen a child dance to silent music with such rhythm and joy that it seemed everyone should hear his personal orchestra. Sitting with an older child might have shown us the amazing growth and competence a few years can bring.
When we sit with children, their spontaneous happiness, their nearly startling, surprising happiness, repeats these important points for us. Children know things that we have forgotten. As Jesus said the kingdom belongs to them and we must learn to be like them.
Yesterday was September 11, a day filled with memories and sadness. On this day and each day, our children point to the way of love for all humankind. May we follow them.
On Sunday we will try to put our adoration for our children into words knowing that words will always be inadequate. As our large, multigenerational faith community tries to tell the children what they mean to us, may our hearts be once again broken by their beautiful gaze and may our hearts be healed and strengthened by their simple, remarkable and genuine grace. Thanks be to God.
We hope that you can be with us. Please contact me if you have questions about this liturgy.
Peace and happiness,
Sandy
|
|
|
The Rev. Ian Gregory Cummins
Lead Pastor of Spiritual Life
Hello Everyone,
Next week I will resume using my side of this weekly email to give you some spiritual food for thought like we did last year. But with all the new things starting up here this fall, there are just too many good things to tell you about.
Hopefully you picked up a copy of "Montview Events and Activities" last Sunday. If not, we'll have more available this weekend or you can get one by clicking here. We've worked hard to put everything we know about for the entire year in the booklet so you can sit down with your calendar and mark the things you don't want to miss.
One of the gems in the booklet that could easily be overlooked is a new weekday program called Montview's "Lunch and Learn" Series. This is a once-a-month gathering at the church for lunch and some stimulating conversation. We've asked Russ Wehner to facilitate the program and he will begin with a video series called, "The Path of Descent", by Richard Rohr. Rohr is a favorite resource for many of us and I think this is going to be a fantastic chance to connect with other Montview folks and have your spirit fed.
It will meet on the first Wednesday of every month, October through May, from 12:00 to 1:30. This will obviously work well for retired folks, but we also hope others - maybe stay-at-home parents or people with atypical work schedules will enjoy this chance to reflect on their faith during the week. The cost of the catered lunch is $10 and we ask you to register and pay online by clicking here.
Check out the booklet for all the other great things going on at Montview this year as we question, think, serve, and grow together.
In Christ,
Ian
|
|
