At a Deaconess Board Retreat, this question was posed:
“Think of one person in your context…what is that person teaching you?”
The first person who came to mind for me was a 4 yr. old in my congregation. When she’s there on a Sunday morning, this little girl sits with her parents until the children’s sermon. When it’s time for the children’s sermon, she runs up and sits directly next to the pastor on the steps of the altar space. She listens intently to the children’s sermon, with her own stream of comments and questions that show she’s thinking…sometimes about what the pastor is talking about. At the end of the children’s sermon, the pastor says, “if you are age 3-grade 5, you can follow Sr. Michelle to KidsTown.” I start walking down the aisle, and as I get to the baptismal font near the entrance to the sanctuary, almost every week I hear this voice calling out, “Michelle! Wait for me!” I turn around and see this 4 yr. old running down the aisle, passing the other kids to get to the front of the line, where she slips her hand into mine and says, “I’m coming to KidsTown today.”
So what is this 4 yr. old teaching me about my call, about my ministry, or about what God is saying to me at this time?
1. It is important that this little girl knows she can sit at the feet of the pastor and learn with and from him at the foot of the cross in the presence of the altar and the community of faith. This little girl knows that this time of the worship service is ‘her time.’ It is not so important whether the children’s sermon is top quality, uses a ton of great illustrations, or even really speaks to whoever she understands God to be. What’s important is that she feels welcome to run forward, sit next to the pastor in the presence of the community, hear a Word of encouragement, and be able to offer her thoughts on that word as she understands it.
2. It is impotant that I am with the pastor and the kids during this children’s sermon time. By joining with the children up front for the children’s sermon, the invitation to go to KidsTown for additional learning, activities and play clearly flows FROM the altar space TO the classroom or playground. This weekly rhythm helps the kids begin internalizing that in the context of corporate worship we sing, pray and hear a message, but then we go together from that place into ongoing learning. For my ministry of faith formation to be meaningful, it’s important that it flows from worship.
3. It is important that I wait for those who are calling my name and trying to catch up. If I have a super duper lesson plan, but walk so fast that this 4-yr. old can’t catch up with me, my lesson plan is pointless. Regardless of my training, preparation, objectives or expectations, I need to make sure I’m waiting for the kids behind me who are calling out, “Michelle…wait for me!”
4. It is important that this little girl trusts that she can put her hand in mine and we will walk together. This girl trusts me and wants to follow me from worship into KidsTown because she knows me. I spend time with her, listen to her, play with her, and let her sit with me. Because she knows me, she can confidently put her hand in mine, knowing I will walk with her and ask her about her week. If my ‘job’ becomes so important that kids don’t want to walk with me, that’s a problem. It’s important that these kids know I want to walk with them, I want to hear about their week, I want to hear about the new shoes they got or the tooth they lost.
My role as Director of Faith Formation is wrapped up in this weekly call from a small child in my congregation. With the pastor I invite kids into worship and create space in the community for them to hear the Gospel and know it has something to do with them. I lead the way from worship to ongoing learning and activity, but not so fast that they can’t keep up. Regardless of what the content of the lesson I have planned is, the walk to and from the classroom, listening to their stories and noticing life with them is REALLY important.