Random theological musings on this week's lesson

It's occurred to me for the first time, in preparing Sunday School on Matthew 26, that Jesus' response is not so much one of principle but of pastoral care. Judas says, "you could have taken all that money this woman wasted on perfume for you, and given it to the poor." Jesus' response is "the poor will be with you always, but I will not be. She has anointed me with oil as for my burial." The anointing was an act of love - possibly misguided, possibly OTT and a bit embarrassing for Jesus, possibly not the most effective use of 300 denarii. But it was an act of love, and standing there vulnerable in front of her Lord, the woman needed that love acknowledged. Judas is practical, and he may be right in that Christians should care more about the poor than about how expensive our worship materials are. But that woman needed Jesus to publicly recognize that her intention - love - was what mattered to him. And he did.

Things I'm Working On Learning

There have been a few occasions over the last few months when a parishioner has come to me with an idea that's so obviously fabulous that I've metaphorically kicked myself for not thinking of it.

I think each of us have one or two pet theories, ideas, projects, etc., and use those as the basis for all our thinking and planning.  Sometimes we can forget there are whole other categories of things to do.

So here's a little checklist to help us remember to break outside our own mental boxes sometimes.  Some of these may be more relevant for older children and youth groups than for nursery and primary-aged children.

What opportunities are there for children and young people in your church to do the following? 

1. Have quality Sunday School time, including stories, worship, and a non-proscriptive activity?

2. Learn about and celebrate the festivals of the Christian year?

3. Engage in All-Age worship that includes them in meaningful ways?

4. Take a role as a leader of worship?

5. Assist in worship in other ways, e.g. as a sidesperson or greeter?

6. To be involved with decision-making in the church, e.g. as a youth rep on the PCC?

7. To have their thoughts and opinions shared with the church as a whole?  (note: I'm not talking about putting a child on the spot during a sermon and asking them to come up with something cute and/or profound in the moment.  I'm talking more about a process - talking with the children and young people over time about prayer, or about Jesus' life, or about what the church should be doing better - and then sharing the results of their thoughts with the congregation or PCC.)

8. To teach others?  (i.e., give a presentation about Fairtrade issues in place of the sermon during Fairtrade fortnight)

9. To have their artistic achievements seen by the wider congregation?  This can include visual art as well as drama and music.  One youth group I know prepared a modern dramatic re-telling of The Prodigal Son and did it in place of the Gospel on Sunday (you can see it here.)  Children's banners can be used in worship, children's work displayed in your church hall, children can sing and dance in worship, and so on.

10. To become involved in charitable projects?

     10a. To plan and research their own charitable projects.
     10b. To get involved in large national charitable projects, e.g. Run for Life, Circle the City with Christian Aid, etc.

11. To be involved in cultural events that may have some resonance with the Christian faith, e.g. trips to see films, plays or exhibits that can spur discussion.  Our youth group had a movie night with The Hunger Games and then used this study guide to talk about its relevance to Christianity.

12. To be seen in a positive light by the congregation as a whole?

13. To get involved in Diocesan or national events, meeting Christians their own age fro

Mothering Sunday Prayers

I'm really proud of our youth group.  At our meeting yesterday, we wrote the prayers for next week's All-Age Eucharist for Mothering Sunday.

I asked "when we pray, what do we pray for?" and provided very little input beyond that.  Here's what they came up with - the compassion, thoughtfulness, and awareness these preteens display is wonderful to see.

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Loving God, we pray to you so we can talk to you and feel secure and safe.  We pray to tell you our fears and thoughts.  We pray for your trust and love.  We pray for help and guidance over obstacles.  We pray to relax our bodies and help us get calm.

Lord, in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

We begin by saying thank you for all that you have done for us.

That we may realize and be grateful for how much we have.

In thanks for the community of people who love us.

For giving human beings the gift of language, so we can read and communicate.

For scientists who make amazing discoveries that save lives and make our lives easier, like Gregor Mendel, Marie Curie, and Albert Einstein.

We thank you for people who make the world better, like Gandhi.

We thank you that there are good people in the world, because sometimes it seems like there are so many bad people in the world, it is easy to lose hope.

Lord, in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

We pray for ourselves.

For guidance when we ask the big questions about life.

And we pray for people close to us who are sick.

Lord, in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

We pray for people and animals who need help.

For places like Syria, where there are wars.

For people who live in refugee camps, or people trying to get into refugee camps.

We pray for poor people in London.  That we may remember that there are poor people in our own communities, and not just remember stereotypical pictures of poor people in other countries.

We pray that we may be moved to action, instead of just listening and forgetting.

We pray for animals who die in experiments.

And we pray for people who have addictions, like smoking.

Lord, in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

Because it is Mother’s Day, today we pray for mothers.

We are thankful for mothers who are always there when you need them.

We are thankful for the organizational skills of mothers.

We are thankful for the joy that mothers receive in watching their children grow up.

Lord, in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

We pray also for the hardships of mothers.

For children whose mothers have died or abandoned them.

For children and mothers who live in war zones.

For children who are separated from their parents.

For children who have been abused by their parents.

For mothers of missing children.

For people who are forced into becoming mothers.

For women who would like to have children but are unable to.

For mothers whose children have died.

For mothers who are driven to do painful things for the sake of their children, like Fantine in Les Miserables.

Lord, in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

And we pray for people and pets we love who have died,

That they may receive new life in your kingdom,

Where you have promised to wipe away all tears from our eyes.

Lord, in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.