Love First

You may have heard that our monthly, Sunday afternoon church experience called “Messy Church” has been appealing to a number of families who have been attending regularly. We are excited to have just been named Messy Church of the Month through the Messy Church network. You can find that announcement here: 
https://messychurchusa.org/august-2022-messy-church-of-the-month/

I want to sincerely thank Sue Van Oss and all the leaders and volunteers who have helped to make Messy Church such a success. When we undertook this effort, we began with the question: what can the church offer to families that they can’t get somewhere else? Research shows parents want their kids to be good, kind, loving people, but they sometimes have a hard time teaching that in today’s culture. Messy Church is a creative, fun, inspiring, intergenerational way to help shape and form children and adults in the Way of Love.

Now a few families are asking for some kind of children’s program on Sunday morning, and so we will be launching our Love First Children’s Chapel during the 9:30 service on Sunday morning. The children will process to the Children's Chapel (the room formerly known as the Sunday School room) at the beginning of the service. There they will experience story, songs, games, crafts and activities around the theme of love: love for God, others and self. They will return to church at the sign of peace time so they can receive communion with their family. Again, many thanks to Sue Van Oss for making this happen.

You will note that we are no longer calling it “Sunday School” because faith is not just taught in a school setting. Rather, we refer to it as Christian formation: faith formed in community. It doesn’t just happen on Sunday, but every day at home, school, work and neighborhood. Christian Formation happens through liturgy, prayer, fellowship, learning, study, service and outreach. 

As it says on page 8 of the Love First guidebook:

“Children need something from us, to belong and be included, to be accepted and be loved. What the church should be offering children is exactly that, a safe place where they are loved, even if they don’t always feel lovable; where they feel included, even if they’re not sure why, where they belong, no matter what; and where they are given purpose and where their presence matters, even at a young age. School and home are not always the haven the children desperately need. Church can and should be that place by tending to their struggles as children in authentic and loving ways through a commitment to one another in our faith community, to God and to the greater community.” 

The world needs more love, love for God, self, neighbor and for the earth. Love for those we know, love for those we don’t know. Love for those we like, and even love for those we don’t like. When the church is at its best, it is the place where people, young and old, can find it and be shaped and formed in the Way of Love. 

Peace,

Bill+