Beloved, Intergenerational Community

As we live into our Let the Children Come intergenerational worship initiative, we are working to create a more welcoming worship environment for our youngest members.  It has been a joy to see the various manifestations of this work: having children present and participating in the entire Eucharist liturgy; worship bags for the kiddos; the “prayground” that provides a child-friendly space during the liturgy; and year-round Children’s Chapel.  Speaking on behalf of the clergy, I can say that we are thoroughly enjoying our turns doing Children’s Chapel.

At the same time that we are focusing on ways to more intentionally bring children into our worship, a momentous occasion occurred this week: our beloved Ellen Eller celebrated her 100^th birthday on Wednesday!  Ellen has been a faithful pillar of Saint Alban’s for decades, serving in numerous ways to help our parish become the healthy and vibrant community of faith that it is.  The picture above, taken by Carmen when she visited Ellen on her birthday, captures her beautiful spirit.  Even as she has slowed down, she continues to be a beacon of wisdom, grace, and joy. 

This juxtaposition of our Let the Children Come initiative and Ellen Eller’s birthday is a beautiful manifestation of what it looks like to be an intergenerational church; a place where all, young and old alike, are made to feel welcome and xperience God’s love through the gift of Christian community.  It’s the kind of community that Jesus created throughout his life and ministry, insisting that his disciples “let the children come to me”, while always showing care and compassion for the aged.  It’s the kind of community that the Hebrew prophets demanded, prioritizing care for the orphans and widows.  It’s the kind of community that acknowledges and welcomes the energy, wonder, and openness of youth, while at same time respecting the wisdom, dignity, and grace of our elders.  It’s the kind of community that acknowledges generational differences, while insisting that we are all better together, finding ways to bridge those gaps, care for each other, and learn from one another.  It’s beloved community.  It’s the Body of Christ.