This Sunday we will celebrate the ministry of our Church School as we focus on the generosity of God and the call that comes to us to be generous and self-giving in response. Our young ones will be readers, ushers, will share their own brief reflections on the gifts of this past year, and they will sing two songs — “Fill My Heart With Love” and “Help Me Grow” composed by Bev Krol, who will lead the singing on guitar.
There will also be an art installation in two parts that gives visual form to our Gospel lesson. In Luke 7:36-50 Jesus is having dinner with a prosperous religious leader who is very stingy with his hospitality. At the dinner a woman—who has had many problems—appears. She anoints Jesus with expensive oil, washes his feet with her tears, and wipes them with long hair. It’s clear that she owns very little—except for the mysterious flask of very expensive ointment that she uses to anoint Jesus. She is the embodiment of hospitality and generosity. I’ll focus on this idea of generosity in speaking with the children and later the adults. Jim Day, our summer Peirson Intern and artist, will create two flowing images made of colorful cloth, fruit, burlap, and sand to give visible form to our Gospel lesson. My Children’s message will be a hands-on experience of these two art displays that will give our children a ‘feel’ for our story! And the images will help us all hear the challenge of the story to choose day by day whether we will respond to life/God with attempts at control and tight fists or willingness to open up and share what we have and are.
We will also give thanks for the generosity of our teachers and volunteers, especially Ann Roche. Ann has such a marvelous vision for this ministry of education. I am so grateful to have such a partner in the pastoring of our children and their families. We will also celebrate all the other helpers and volunteers, including Bev Krol who is providing a wonderful musical component to church school!
Our guest organist for the day will be Tim Pyper who is a young man with marvelous musical talents. Many thanks to Cindy Dickinson for lining up guest organists and pianists for this coming summer season. She has musicians ready to come through the end of August. At the same time we have begun our search process and are forming a search committee. Cindy will be the Chair and conversations are ongoing. We’ll keep you up to date. Last Sunday was such a beautiful and wondrous service of giving thanks for the ministry of Bob Blafield. The entire service is online — Bob Hill was able to record it in elegant fashion. Check it out!
Keep Shirley Guidetti in your prayers. I just received a call that she is not doing well. I will be going to be with her soon. Blessings on your day and may the generosity of God—experienced in the beauty of this day and the gift of each breath—open your heart and hands in love, care, and justice. Peace.