My season at Plymouth as Interim Director of Christian Formation for Children (I won’t miss typing that) is coming to an end just as the back-to-school season is creeping up on students of all ages, as well as parents, grandparents, teachers, principals, and professors. And of course, all the other folks who make schools run. Let’s hear it for the lunch ladies, custodians, secretaries, aides, nurses, and school resource officers! It does take a village.

But, what would the new school year look like if “God Time” got as much time as back-to-school shopping? As much thought as which backpack or planner or new shoes to buy?

One lesson from the pandemic is that we are all responsible for our children’s Christian Formation. Sunday School, when it is functioning, is at best an hour a week. We all have said the panicked prayers when we are fearful for them, but what faith are we sharing with our children? They may only hear the sigh of relief when they show up on time, or the lost is found. What are we teaching them about our relationship with God? How are we allowing for their relationship with God?

In her chapter of The Sandbox Revolution, Dee Dee Risher writes of how the Christian tradition is a path of love and “a spiritual corrective for basic human tendencies toward selfishness, violence and ego-centered living.” Rev. Risher suggests families participate in twice daily prayer--from the heart, not the rote ones, and reading, not from one right list, but books from many different kinds of cultures and characters. You’ll learn a lot, and have some cuddle time too.

You may have received my last mailing from church. It went to families with young children. I love the suggestions from Illustrated Ministries, especially the one about taking a deep breath before you open the car door when dropping your children at the myriad of places we drive them. You all pray for what is about to happen.

And please take one suggestion from me. The long drives to violin practice with my son were some of our best times because there was time to talk.

Take time for every season,
Tricia

So I had to look it up. What is the difference between being thankful and being grateful? My quick google research says being grateful is appreciating what you have. This is a most excellent pandemic practice in a society that continues to stress the need for bigger, better and of course newer...and did I mention you can have it all with a few keystrokes?

Thankful acknowledges what you have been given. Thankful encourages thinking of others. Google writers say it improves mental health and boosts self-esteem. Thankfulness involves empathy, an emotion that seems to be sorely lacking in 21st century America.

Theologians say we mortals are ultimately thankful to God, who provides it all, well all we need. One of our jobs as the recipient, is to give thanks. Thanks, with words and deeds. Church of course offers an opportunity to do both, to sing hymns of praise and thanks and, to walk the walk as we pledge our sponsorship of church and support of so many people we will never meet with the Alternative Gift Fair, or the youth sleep out.

Long, long ago at a church not that far away, a pastor I followed said Thanksgiving was his favorite holiday because it was everything Christmas was not. Not commercialized, not promoted months is advance, not about costly gifts purchased after a frenzy of shopping. And recently, a holiday hardly even mentioned at the grocery store.

Thanksgiving is about family. Family traditions, be it food, activities or stories. Too much to eat and too much to clean up in the kitchen, but a time of togetherness. A day to remember blessings and give thanks.

But then there is this year, COVID- tide as Hal says. A year of, well maybe not so much. Who will be at your table this year? Who is missing because of travel restrictions, hospitalization or death? Will you create multiple dishes and pies for one or two at the table? Will you haul the Christmas tree out if the family isn’t home to decorate it?

This year will be different.

But we still have reasons to be thankful. I’ll ask you to list a couple right now. I can list the election being over. A vaccine does seem to be on the way. Now, perhaps a thankfulness walk is in order. Can you remember something from each month for which you are thankful? What prompts do you see on your walk? Be thankful to have a safe place to walk, to be able to walk.

Are you Zooming with family? Maybe you-or the kids-want to dress up. Can you dress like a Pilgrim, or a turkey? Will your family dance like no one is watching?

Who will share memories of a first Thanksgiving? First with the new house, spouse, or the new baby? Share your family stories. Get out the photos. I’m happy to share a picture from a Plymouth member who sadly remain nameless so my missive can go out on Facebook. Let the little children lead us!

Perhaps you’ll share the blessing below from Rowsofsharon.com:

“Lord, some people have food and no friends.
Some people have friends and no food.
We thank you that today we have both. Amen.”

Look for the things you are thankful for this year, and do keep the faith.

Tricia

Please hear I'm singing a variant of "I Hope I Get It" from A Chorus Line. In that musical, all of the actors desperately needed a job and were singing and dancing their hearts out. I, however, was assumed to be retired and was minding my own business when Jane Anne called. Would I be the interim Children’s Minister?

My husband raised his eyebrows. We are still settling into retirement and we know we love to hike on weekdays when trails, and parking lots, are not so crowded. What would a return to work for me look like?

But I was CALLED. if you hang around church much, you know being “called” has an additional meaning besides picking up a phone.

Children’s Christian education is what i have done for a long time. And one of my earliest memories is singing “Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam.” Yeah, that one hasn’t been on any charts for a long time; but it may have been my first call.

I’ve been a Director of Children’s Ministries for over 12 years in Texas and 4 years in Colorado. I was the interim at Plymouth for 9 months before Mandy arrived. I’ve taught at Plymouth and served on Christian Formation. Some of you might recognize me as the woman helping dress the kids for children’s Christmas Eve service.

So assuming I get get around the technological hurdles -- and for me they look like Long’s Peak -- why would I want this job?

I feel like there are so many possibilities for faith formation in the home that were not there when our children were small. My dad died when our son was five, and the only thing out there was The Fall of Freddie the Leaf. That left both of us cold, and was pretty short on theology. I’d like to act as a sieve for all the faith forming materials that are available now. Each month I can share a few, praying that I can help share the faith in the right size bits for you to feed your family at the best time.
Occasionally I’d like to do a Children’s Moment in worship.

Church is on a slippery slope. Will it survive? Let’s work together to make it so.

Tricia