From the Pastor

September 2007

We are a people of the water!
We worship a God whose love flows through water.      
Love, like a wading pool, inspires the delight of children, jumping, splashing, spraying each other with wet joy... 
- Baptismal Liturgy

 I'm writing in the midst of a lot of activity here at the church.  It's the last day of Vacation Bible School and I'm really tired, but what a week it's been!  The kids have been really great, enthusiastically participating in all the things we have thrown at them ­ songs, stories, crafts, even science.  At the beginning of the week some of the kids were a little shy and hesitant, but by Friday they've blossomed into a wonderful community.

 As VBS winds up, I'm also preparing for Confirmation Camp at Camp Edgewood.  Though the kids are older, it's been my experience that the same thing happens ­ at first there is some drawing back, but by the end of the week the group has coalesced into something wonderful: the body of Christ worshipping, sharing, laughing, and living together in a bond of faith.

 Maybe it's an age thing.  Maybe as we grow older we learn cynicism.  Maybe it's all about appearances or responsibility.  I'm not sure.  But something is definitely holding many of us back from fully diving in to God's Word (a VBS metaphor from this week) and the joyous life God wants for us and has made possible through Christ.  We're not divers, we're not even waders; we're toe-dippers hesitantly and warily testing the waters, but often immediately withdrawing again.

 The truth is: the water's just fine!

 Yes, there will be a bit of a shock at first splash, but that soon passes and God's warm water of grace and love flows over us "like a warm shower after a hard days work," as our Baptismal Liturgy says.

 It's true, VBS children and Confirmation kids don't have bills or mortgages or other adult responsibilities to distract them from `spiritual' things ­ it may be easier for them to dive right in.  But what we do as a community of faith is not meant to draw us away from our real-world responsibilities like a fairy-tale or fantasy.  Rather, congregational life puts our responsibilities into perspective and into the context of God's love and grace for us, our families and communities and all of creation.

 And don't kid yourself. Everyone, even VBS children and Confirmation kids, are dealing with real `stuff' in their lives.  I think that their willingness to dive in even in the face of all that stuff is a great example for the rest of us.

 So, welcome back!  And come on in, the water's fine!

Peace,
Pastor Brian