As we look to hire a Children, Youth and Family Ministry Worker at St. John’s, I am so grateful for how far we have come over the years, with God’s help.


From not very much at all.


I remember when we built a stand and assembled some children’s activity bags at the entry of the sanctuary. I remember when we began to add a children’s time into the service every Sunday (before there were even children regularly in the service).


This was all part of shifting the culture at St. John’s, preparing the ground of our church community for good things to grow, and communicating (I hoped) to children and their families that they were welcome and valued here.
And things did grow.


The nursery was wonderfully refreshed as Edie’s playroom, the seed of which begat our thriving Tot Time program, which in turn has begat our busy, life-giving, monthly Family Feasts.


Who knows what will be ‘begatted’ next.


I think we can celebrate that by being faithful with what we had, even when it was not very much, we have built up something quite beautiful and exciting together.


Thank you to all who have held and continue to hold that vision. Through your support, your prayer, your time, and your care, you have helped make young people and their families feel welcome, safe, known and loved in this place. 
Thank you, also, to the families – the parents, grandparents, and children – for coming and helping make this a beautiful intergenerational community where we can experience, learn about, and share the love of God side by side. 


As we look to what is next, hopefully with a new staff person to support it, I invite you to playfully wonder with me what that “next” will look like. I invite you to pray and dream and discern together where God is calling us.
Thanks be to God!

 


CG+