Last week the Fellowship Hall was transformed into an underwater world. Brightly decorated cardboard fish dangled from the ceiling and a river of blue sparkled on the floor. The kids gathered for a new adventure each evening in the GREAT BIBLE REEF where they learned about what it means to be God’s people. The daily themes?

• God’s people CARE.
• God’s people HELP.
• God’s people TRUST.
• God’s people BELIEVE.
• God’s people LISTEN.
  
  This morning they came together again at the 9:30am service to lead the congregation in song and participate in worship as little leaders. The shortest lector needed a stepping stool to reach the microphone and they all spoke with grace while their parents beamed with pride. And God’s people LISTENED.
  
  It was beautiful to glance around the chattering, chaotic sanctuary. It was filled to the brim with families keeping their baptismal promises. They were bringing their children to God’s house, teaching them the 10 Commandments and the Lord’s Prayer and helping them grow in faith and love.

That’s the good news, but it gets even better. Whether or not these parents kept their promises, God’s promise keeps working in the children anyway. God loved us first, chose us first and will never break his promises made at baptism.

Not only did I create you, but I also choose you. You are clothed with Christ and I am sealing you with the Holy Spirit who will create and preserve your faith. You are mine and nothing you do right or wrong will change that. I love you in big and gracious ways.

Thank God for the waters of baptism that bring us together and build a family out of random people and their faith. After all, God’s people BELIEVE. The beautiful scene of so many children celebrating the joy of God had me a bit distracted and suddenly it was time to take the offering. I waited for ushers to magically appear and take them from me (I love that all the behind the scenes stuff falls into place thanks to volunteer power!), but no one came. “Do I have any ushers this morning?” I asked, feeling rather dense. And then four children toddled forward, no taller than my hips, and each took a plate.

The whole congregation watched them sweetly while I dressed the table for the Lord’s Supper. Soft laughter danced and soon everyone was feeling blissfully inspired by our small ushers. It seemed no one had given them instructions about spreading out and passing the plates in a snake formation. They huddled together like a four year old soccer team around the ball and collected the gifts of the church as inefficiently as possible.

And it was wonderful. Not one adult rose to show them how to do it “correctly”. God’s people TRUST. Everyone knew that it would work out in its own time and to enjoy being led by the children. So together, we watched and smiled with love for the next generation of Church. The offertory hymn was over by the time their little legs found their way to the altar. Each face beamed with pride and I thanked them for being God’s people who HELP. Then everyone joined me around the altar for the Supper.

There’s nothing more beautiful than a toddler who gets the giggles while you lay your hands on him and bless him. They cling to their parents’ arms or legs and watch them receive Christ’s body and blood intently. Their parents kiss them on the heads and take their hands on the way back to their seats because God’s people CARE.

After the service several children stood and my side in the narthex. They offered their handshakes and Good Morning! greetings to everyone who walked by. I noticed that during the service several gardeners from the congregation had dropped off bags of goodies from their labors to be shared. I asked one young man to give a verbal invitation to those leaving the sanctuary and many left with handfuls of fruit and vegetables.

Some were laughing at my handshaking helpers and one woman clutched me tightly with tears in her eyes. “Those children were just what I need today. They’re so beautiful.” And then she reached down for the boy’s hand and kissed him on the head.

It feels good to come together on Sundays for worship. We bless each other, bestow the peace of Christ Jesus to each other, and keep our baptismal promises by raising each other in scripture, song, creed and meal. Then we take a zucchini for the road and have a laugh over a cup of coffee before heading out into the world to bless and love everyone we meet in the name of Jesus.

Thank God for the little children, who help us to see worship and life through new eyes and teach us that giggling in church can be quite holy.