All our lives, we need physical spaces where we are warm, sheltered, and safe. Spaces where our bodies can rest, relax, and prepare for our forays into the activities of living. During the month of February as we explore the idea of sanctuary, we will consider many aspects of the concept and ask ourselves, where … Continue reading Finding Sanctuary
One of the great joys of my work is that I get to witness, or sometimes just overhear, the spiritual wonderings and discoveries of people from the nursery to the nursing home. I am eager for this new year, eager to continue the journey with you, eager to think and act together, to reflect on our experiences, and perhaps … Continue reading Learning About Inclusiveness from our Kids
It has been a wonderful month to be your Minister of Lifespan Faith Development. I have received hugs from toddlers who feel safe and loved here at church, overheard a 10-year-old telling his Sunday School teachers that they were “doing a great job” and seemed very experienced because they both knew a lot, laughed with our teenagers as they … Continue reading Faith Formation is in Full Swing
What is joy, and where does it come from? Is it necessarily fleeting, a height we cannot realistically hope to maintain, or can it be a daily disposition, the ground in which we plant ourselves? I believe that joy – both the dizzying kind and the more ordinary experiences of happiness and contentment – is a side effect of … Continue reading An Ode to Joy
Last Sunday as I was sitting at my desk in the Church School office, I heard two familiar voices in the hallway – one of our six-year-olds, in animated conversation with one of our elders. “I’m a liberal,” I heard the child declare confidently as he opened a door and made his way into the children’s choir rehearsal. A … Continue reading Faith Development Happens Everywhere
Our worship theme for April is Equanimity, and I will freely admit that equanimity is not anything I’m famous for. I laugh easily, cry easily, and while I can be extremely patient with other people’s children, my own personal children? My older son, now 22, came home to visit and got a volley of criticism … Continue reading Equanimity: a Theme for All Ages
As someone who recently moved and experienced my mother’s death, our December worship theme of “Letting Go” resonates strongly with both my outer and inner self. Reckoning with letting go is a lifelong spiritual task for all of us, because change is inevitable and yet holding on, too, is a human necessity. We are social … Continue reading Letting Go
The church school year is under way, in our second year of re-imagined faith development. Sunday School in the hour before church is becoming the new “normal” for us, and it is a delight to see families arriving – some children bouncing down the hall greeting everyone they meet with big smiles and fresh energy, … Continue reading The Church School Year is Underway
Sunday School Classes – Orientation Sept. 17, First Class Sept. 24! We are excited to be expanding our offerings for all ages on Sunday mornings before church this year! From 9:30-10:15 am, we will have faith development classes and activities for everyone, providing an opportunity for us to deepen our understanding and practice of our … Continue reading 2017-18 Faith Development Programs
As this church year comes to a close, there is much to celebrate about our Lifespan Faith Development program. We had a fantastic group of teachers for our children’s programs and made the transition to meeting before worship, allowing those teachers to both serve our children and feed their own spirits in worship. The Children’s … Continue reading Faith Development Year in Review
