People were bringing little children to Jesus in order that
he might bless them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus
saw this, he was indignant and said to them,
“Let the little children come to me; do not stop them;
for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God
belongs.
Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child
will never enter it.”
And he took the children up in his arms, laid his hands on
them, and blessed them.
***
I have never seen a congregation as good at welcoming
children as you. Just last week Ed and Jim Kauth suited up Sydney and Silas in
the acolyte robes and walked behind them, Ed picking up Sydney whose face
scrunched in concentration as she lit the each candle with the help of her
grandmother’s guiding arm. Ditto the the same for the offering plates and the
patient hand on the shoulder to wait to pass them over until after the prayer
of dedication. The thing is any of you, not just their grandparents, would have
jumped up to do the same. You do it for Vacation Bible
School, where we welcome
kids from all over the community, our church rooms are full and squirming like
an ant colony and your leadership and attention equally an organized chaos. You
are comfortable with the chaos of children, and during the children’s sermon
many of you are rooting for the kids, rather than their pastor. The kids
winning doesn’t look like perfect angels quiet and attentive. Instead it looks
like perfect angels silly and disruptive. If I win it looks a little too much
like the disciples winning in this passage, keeping the kids away from Jesus.
If the kids win, in the crazy kid-ness, it looks a lot more like Jesus
describes the kingdom
of God. It looks like
coloring sharing cards, running down the aisle, and jumping off the chancel
steps. Its a kid-dom of God in this place, and it doesn’t stop with our little
ones.
We are a tiny church with a full time youth director, with
adults who volunteer their time to go on mission trips, cook Presbyterian Youth
Group (PYG) dinners, and serve Open Door Breakfasts or play a round of ping
pong. The youth have an auction and your generosity is astounding, its not
because you desire some help raking leaves. Its because you want each kid to
know they and their gifts are supported. Likewise, we have a youth elder and a
youth deacon who help give voice to different perspectives and a different look
to congregational care. Their voice and their care often means more than those
of the adults around them, in the same way that watching Sydney and Silas
brings us more joy than an our adult ushers. Kids are valued in this church and
that is half of what Jesus is saying. The other half is harder.
The other half is for us to be like children. We are a
congregation of doers and sometimes we have to be reminded to play. I know
often times I rush in like a whirlwind, each minute a checklist prior to worship. I
wonder how much of you feels the same. How do we enter this space? When is the
last time you jumped from the chancel steps because it looked fun or ran down
the aisle without care. If this would would be the end of you, when is the last
time you simply smiled at the thought. How do we enter God’s space? Do you want
grab a kids coloring bag, because I think it would be okay, pick up a sharing
card and decorate it like the world is a blank page, or if you knit, knit, or
if you have to giggle just let out (though we all know, part of the kid-dom of
God is laughing when your supposed to and how much funnier things become when
your trying to hold it in, especially in church. I think this is a God thing.)
How do you enter God’s space? Little Grace sometimes walks in with a
totwo and Kathryn Gentry likes sparkles, Maddie princesses, and Jake his boots,
and Coleman his cowboy hat. What would you wear if each day held the
opportunity of a dress up box because it does in the kid-dom of God? How do
express your concern in the kid-son of God? Cards and phone calls and flowers
are great but don’t limit yourself. Once when I was having a hard day Maddie
asked Melissa if she was going to dance to cheer me up, so the Irvine kids made
hopping, dancing, Maddie subsequently falling and getting right up - video,
just to make me smile and brighten my day. It worked and I have taken it on,
and I have got to tell you, making silly, jumping, dancing videos for people is
about the most fun way to cheer someone up. Its about living in the kingdom of God. How do you sound in the kid-dom
because its about singing at the top of your lungs no matter how you sound, or
whose around, whether or not you know the hymn. Its about exploring and
adventuring, and making the most of three day weekends even in the cold. Its
about giant hugs given at the knees and the bend over to rub the little back
and say thank you. Its about sitting with Dale and Shirley in fellowship hour
and laughing contagiously like Zach Allen, or being as witty as Julie Gentry
and Mark Ferns who also excels at making faces. Its like Sharon Defrees reading
a Bible story or Luke leading the guitar. Its like the silly photo booth
pictures we took last Christmas with antlers and red noses and frankly they
were some of the best, most happy pictures of you I’ve ever seen. Its like Tom
Kulog who would help Magnolia when she was younger feel comfortable at church
or each of the volunteers who have signed up to help watch the nursery. There
are people in our congregation who are closer to the kid-dom of God. Perhaps
they can help show us the way but it takes a letting go, so we are going
practice. On the count of three, I want you to make the silliest face you can
think of 1, 2, 3, okay, that was decent, but lets get even sillier, 1, 2, 3,
silver 1,2,3,
that my friends is the kid-dom of God. How did that feel?
What did you experience? What did we have to let go to make a silly face? The
fear of being the only one? Wondering how our face looks? The idea that silly
faces don’t belong in church? We know they do, because we welcome them in our
kids, but it takes an effort to welcome them from ourselves. There is doctor
who has studied relationships and he says that one of the most important ways
that relationships last is if during the middle of disagreement if someone can
lighten the mood, make a joke, a silly face, ask for a hug. I have watched countless
parents do this, the kid is wailing and the parent, knowing that this is not
the end of the world validates the kids feelings but then does something silly,
tickles the kid, points out a duck or a caterpillar going by. Its one of those
moments where adults practice kid language, the language of God, of love, and
care, and sheer joy. Can you imagine if our world leaders did this? What if
during official visits and discussions there was a golden retriever who
wandered around the room smiling and nudging the speaker? What if our parades
in town focused on throwing kids candy and being a community instead of protest
march? What if our congregation colored and did art together? What if more
Sundays were in the park and more hikes to heaven? What if we did these things
not just for the kids, but for ourselves? What would you do as you leave the
sanctuary? Go listen to Jazz in the park? Go for a hike or even a mushroom
hunt? Lay on your back and watch the clouds? What would you do in your work?
Write with colored pens? Keep stickers in your purse? listen to music while you
work? What might interacting with your family change? would there be game
nights, and dance parties before bedtime, or stories told with laughter and
open grace?
Next week is Children of God Sunday. Its geared to our
preschoolers and elementary, that once a year they may have worship at their
age level, geared for them, but next Sunday, I want you
to remember you too are a Child of God, so come in your totoos, your sparkles,
running down the aisle, singing at the top of you lungs. Come and learn from
those who already belong, for the kingdom
of God, is in many ways
the kid-dom of God and you belong.
