~ by the Pastor and guest writers ~
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The Church and Summertime (May 16, 2003) The summer vacation time is here and I know for many it will be a time of rest, relaxation, and recreation. Teachers who work long hours during the fall and spring anticipate some time for themselves. It’s easy to assume that teachers have an easier vocation because they “only work nine months out of the year.” If you think about that for a moment you know what a false assumption that is! The teachers I know and respect put in as much time in the summer months as in the school year. Summer is NOT a time off for them. If you are an astute reader you can imagine where I am going with this thought. I know there is a growing trend to think the life and activities of First Presbyterian Church, at least by the end of May, cease or slow down from June through August. Life goes on with budgets to meet and bills to pay. I am well aware that our members travel and vacation during these three months. But I want to offer not so much a challenge to you but perhaps a request, an encouragement? Do not forget our church in your summer plans and travels. Here are a few things to think about and do. I have worded them as commitments you can make:
I hope you will pray and consider what I have encouraged you to do. Your staff will be here to serve and pastor this church during the summer months. We have Vacation Bible School in June and our Sunday School will continue during the summer. Come, make this a summer to remember!
 Children in the Worshiping Community (May 7, 2003) As I listened to and observed a host of children at play this past Sunday at our church picnic I marveled at what a gift they are to our faith community. On Monday morning my thoughts took me down the corridor of worship on Sunday morning and our children in worship. Along with the blessings that come with the joyful inclusion of children in worship has also come some confusion of practice. Adults worry that children, many of them preschool age, are not able to follow the flow of worship or understand the significance of its actions. Worship leaders worry that they do not communicate with children nor know how to accommodate to their levels of interest and knowledge. Parents are concerned about their children’s behavior during services that seem beyond their attention span and designed more for adults than for children. And many adults quite frankly do not wish children to be present to interrupt and distract sacred and solemn worship. In our Reformed worship we believe and practice the appropriateness of children in the congregation’s corporate worship. If so, how can this be done so that the integrity of worship is not violated, and the interests of the children honored? I scanned some old copies of Reformed Liturgy & Music, a publication that has now been replaced by Call to Worship. The older publication had some timely articles on the subject of children in worship. Here are some gleanings:
I am an advocate of the belief that parents model worship behavior for children. Children learn “how” to worship when they are with adults in worship. “What did you get out of that service?” is a question asked on the way to brunch on many a Sunday morning. There is nothing wrong with critiquing worship, but this is the wrong question because it again aims the vector of worship straight at us. It assumes that “my” needs and expectations or more important than God’s. It assumes that worship is another form or entertainment, educational opportunity, or therapeutic session. The better question for you and children might be: What did you lose in that service? What burden did you drop at the foot of the cross? What pride did you shed? What gnawing anger are you going home without? What lie do you no longer believe? If we and our children enter worship facing anywhere but toward God, the experience may please us, it may inform us, it may comfort us, but it will hardly transform us. I hope you will spend some time thinking about worship. If you have children talk with them and model worship with them.
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