Dear Ones of St. Columba's,

You may have noticed, our congregation gathered on any given Sunday morning is diverse in many ways, not least when it comes to age. Inter-generational community is one of the great gifts of church, and we are blessed to be a congregation that is anywhere from 25-30% children and youth most Sunday mornings. The presence of children is not a given in many churches. 

When I first came to St. C's, the desire for a church that was bursting at the seams with children was one of the deep desires this community articulated to me. God heard the longing of our heart, and wow - God answered us with a huge, resounding YES.

We have a particular approach to kids and youth at St. Columba's, an approach that is both operational and aspirational. We believe that children are full members of our congregation, and full members of the human race who deserve to be seen, listened to, and met with love and joy where they are in their development as people. (We believe this to be true about adults as well!) We also believe that children already have a relationship with the God who made them, and what they lack is the permission, vocabulary, and creative space to articulate that experience and relationship with God. This is where we, the parents, godparents, and fellow parishioners who love them, come in. It is our job to create the spaces and opportunities for them to grow in faith, and to provide learning and formation environments where they can explore faith and relationship with God.

Lately you may have noticed that our children have been in the service more on Sunday mornings. There are a couple of reasons for this. 

First, worship is a primary way for us to be formed as community and in faith. It is good for children to experience worship alongside adults, and for the music, rhythm, and shape of our liturgy to become part of their spiritual experience. We provide a carpet space for kids so they can learn in the ways that are developmentally appropriate for them, which often includes stretching out, moving around, doing busy work with their hands, and other activities that may not appear to fall into the category of "paying attention." We remember that children learn, attend, and absorb their environments differently than adults. I am no longer surprised when one of my children - who did not appear to to pay one bit of attention during Sunday service - begins to sing one of the songs from that morning, or asks me a question about the sermon. And, we shape our primary worship to be both aware and inclusive of children. 

Yet we also know that children need to be met and formed in ways that are unique to them. This is why we have a Godly Play program, and a youth group program. These are experiences of the Word of God in community that are designed for kids and youth specifically.  If we were to fully staff our youth and children's programs on Sunday morning we would need 6-8 people called to volunteer with our youth, and 12-16 people called to volunteer with kids, each committing to invest at least one Sunday a month in this way. 

I am a big believer in working with what we have, and trusting that God will provide us with what we need. Right now God has provided us with so many beautiful human beings who are children and youth to be in our community. I know that each child is seen, cherished and valued here. Elaine, our children and youth minister, works incredibly hard and with a deep level of intention to know and care for each child and youth who walk through our doors, and so do many of you. And, we don't have the volunteers to fully staff our programs, which means that on Sundays when we don't have volunteers the kids stay in the service and experience the Liturgy of the Word with us. We look for other ways for them to be involved on these days - acolyting, greeting, bringing up the elements, etc. We are immensely grateful for the volunteers we do have. 

I also believe in praying for what we need. So as we grow and work together to form our kids both in worship with us and in their own liturgies of the word apart from us, I invite you to join me in praying for people who feel called to invest in the spiritual formation of our children on Sunday mornings. I also invite you to discern prayerfully if God is tugging you in that direction.  

Starting this Sunday, both Meghan and I will periodically attend the Liturgy of The Word with our kids. This week you will see me leave with our children so that I can tell them a Godly Play story, and return with them at the peace. On a different Sunday Meghan will do the same. Whitney, our volunteer priest associate is also an active Godly Play Storyteller for us. This is good - we want our children and youth to know that their worship is important, and their priests see them and want to be with them. And - this is not a task that can be done primarily by clergy.

Together as community, we will spend time this year looking at our kids programs, and discerning together what we want to offer our children, and how we welcome and form kids and youth in faith. Please keep an eye out for more information about how to participate in this discussion. I believe that we are not done growing in the area of families with children and youth. I also believe that the work we are doing here, to create truly welcoming, loving, safe community for our kids is the work of God's kingdom, and a primary source of the vitality and joy we experience together at St. Columba's. 

I am so glad to be in a place that is doing this work. I am so glad to be working on this alongside and in community with you.

with care and gratitude,

Alissa