Worship for Everyone

“We will.”

This is our response to the question asked of us during every baptism: “Will you who witness these vows do all in your power to support these persons in their life in Christ?”

When we make this promise, I hope we really mean it. As the newly baptized are welcomed into Christ’s family, more experienced Christians are given the opportunity (and the expectation!) of nurturing those with less experience, to help them “grow into the full stature of Christ” as the Book of Common Prayer puts it.

As we embark on some exciting new initiatives through our participation in the Let the Children Come project (read more about LTCC here!), I am asking every adult who has ever promised to support a child’s life in Christ to follow through on this promise in one or more of the following ways:

• Make space for families. I mean this literally. Imagine a family of four or five arrives at 10:29 a.m. on Sunday morning. They meant to get to church earlier, but somebody forgot their glasses in the house, or the baby spit up all over Dad’s clean shirt, or there was traffic on Route 115, or it took a while to park. When they come in, they look around for enough seats for them to sit together in the nave. There are still some open seats, but not together, because folks tend to leave a “buffer seat” open between themselves and the next household in the row. If those arriving earlier would be willing to sit up front or towards the middle of the row, and sit directly next to someone you may not know well, then this would leave more seats on the aisles and towards the back available for latecomers or families to be able to sit together. I know it is hard to change ingrained habits. We gravitate to what feels familiar and comfortable. But please try—it is a matter of basic hospitality. As our church family grows, this is essential. We must make the nave accessible for families if we want families to worship here.

• Teach the faith. I mean this one literally, too. We are greatly in need of more Sunday School teachers. Now that Sunday School will start at 9:45 a.m., it is no longer necessary for those teaching Sunday School to miss worship, so if that is what has been holding you back, please take this as your gentle nudge. We are debuting a beautiful and simple new curriculum that anyone can use successfully. The ideal Sunday School teacher is someone who loves God, and enjoys children and/or youth. No special knowledge of the Bible is required, because the curriculum will guide you, and if you get stumped, you are just modeling for the kids that grown-ups have questions too. Grandparents, aunts and uncles, empty-nesters, and single folks all make fantastic Sunday School teachers. What better way to live into your promise to support a child’s life in Christ? Other opportunities for serving include volunteering at Vacation Bible School, helping in the nursery, serving on the Preschool Board, serving as a Confirmation Companion, being a Kindergarten Prayer Pal, or as a Youth Group chaperone, but Sunday School is where the greatest need is right now. Reach out to Courtney if you sense God may be tapping you on the shoulder.

• Practice patience. If we want our parish’s children to grow into adults with active faith lives, we must welcome them, teach them, encourage them, and have patience with them. Children learn how to worship by being in worship. The changes we are implementing through the Let the Children Come project are designed to help children and their families know that they belong in church as much as anyone else. I hope these changes will also be beneficial for adults too. As children are welcomed more fully into the church and as they learn more deeply what worship all about, they are less likely to be disruptive. And when a child does make noise, please give their parents an encouraging smile, and thank God that they are here in this thriving community of faith. It’s a small miracle they made it to church in the first place, and they are doing their best. You all are already so good at this, so all I am really saying is…keep it up!

• Make an Effort. Get to know the names of the children and youth. Ask them questions. Sit with them at parish events. Thank them for singing, acolyting, or serving in worship. There are very few spaces in our society in which healthy, intergenerational friendships can be built, but church is one of them. Even if they seem shy or uninterested, young people notice your effort, and it makes an impact on them.

• Pray for our young people. They need it. It is not easy to be a kid or a teenager right now. Perhaps this has always been true, but it is definitely the case these days. Social media, AI, overloaded schedules, high expectations…the list goes on. So take some time to ask God to bless, protect, and strengthen them as they grow. Do this often. It makes a difference.

These are a few simple and rewarding ways to ensure that we mean what we say when we promise to support someone in their life in Christ.

I also want to be clear that even as we are trying to be more welcoming and inclusive of our young people, this does not mean that we are neglecting the needs of our more senior worshipers. I see these efforts as a way of elevating the worship experience for everyone. Because the Episcopal Church worships God in more formal and traditional ways, it is especially vital that we are intentional about sharing these traditions with our young people, so that they have the chance to grow in their understanding and appreciation of worship.

Thank you so much for your faithfulness and encouragement in these efforts. I know you will do everything you can to be supportive. How do I know this?

Because you said, “We will.”

Yours in Christ,

Carmen