Welcoming the Children

How appropriate that we're starting up our children's formation again (in a modified format), and this Sunday's gospel reading is from Mark 9.

In this story, Jesus is sitting with his twelve disciples.

Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”

Children in the ancient world were particularly vulnerable. Some scholars think that only about 50% of children in ancient Rome lived to see the age of 10.

So, when Jesus places this child at the center of their circle, he is highlighting for them one of the most defenseless people in their society. And he's identifying himself with that same vulnerable person!

"Jesus welcomes the children" from the Jesus Mafa project

It made me think of this painting from the Jesus Mafa project. In the 1970s, Mafa Christians in Cameroon did dramatic recreations of scenes from the New Testament. They sought to envision the most important scenes from Jesus' life in their own cultural context. Photos were taken, and French artists transcribed the photos into paintings.

In this painting, we see Jesus, wrapped in a red robe, surrounded by children. He has several in his lap, and others are gathered around smiling. Clearly he has a magnet-like effect on the children of this village. And they have his undivided attention.

The gospels record Jesus prioritizing children several times in his public ministry. I wonder what he means when he talks about welcoming a child in his name? He seems to have a soft spot for them, in the same way he has special love for sick people, tax collectors, and scorned women.

If welcoming children is equivalent to welcoming Jesus, then our supporting our children's formation program is crucial work. We're still looking for teachers for 2021-2022, and we'll be doing fundraising activities throughout the year that will need your support, as well. I invite you to discern how the Holy Spirit might be nudging you to take action to welcome children in Jesus' name.

For more Jesus Mafa artwork, see the collection online at Vanderbilt University's Jean & Alexander Heard Libraries. And let me know which ones are your favorites!

A Visit with the Neighbors

Since I started serving St. Paul's in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are many staples of our common life that I haven't yet had the chance to experience: e.g. famine weekend, the Apple Harvest Festival, and volunteering at Bread for Life. A few weeks ago, I was invited to Bread for Life so we can restart that connection.

Executive Director Donna Ayer and Missy Cipriano, Director of Operations, showed me around the dining room, kitchen, storage facilities, and garden. I also got to see the new bee hives! It's truly a remarkable operation. I had the pleasure of touring these facilities with (and getting to know) Michael Pavano, the new Director of Youth Ministry at the Catholic Youth Ministry of Southington.

The genesis of this re-connection came when we were launching the St. Paul's Little Free Pantry. (Read more about that process here.) Missy generously agreed to speak about food insecurity in Southington to those gathered at the blessing of our Little Free Pantry. So, I was thrilled when she invited me for a tour of this place that's so important to people in our church community—and in our town.

Missy Cipriano, Rev. Helena Martin, and Michael Pavano outside the garden at Bread for Life

Bread for Life feeds people with 130 meals per day, which is impressive. But what stood out to me even more was their commitment to serving their clients with utmost dignity at every moment. Their kitchen is as highly certified as a restaurant. In non-COVID times, they serve food on real plates and offer real dining chairs to sit in. No paper plates or folding chairs in sight! To keep everyone safe during COVID, they wrote a grant to create a similarly dignified outdoor space for the people they serve.

You probably know that Bread for Life bought the property for its building at 31 Vermont Avenue from St. Paul’s a handful of years ago. And then two or so years ago, they bought the land with our garden so they can grow fresh produce to serve to their clients. I loved getting to see the ways they’re using this land to serve our whole community.

Missy and Donna speak with passion about their love of caring for people by feeding them. During the tour, I kept thinking of all the times that Jesus fed hungry people and commanded us to do the same. I'm really looking forward to the time when Bread for Life invites volunteers back into their space!

Finding a New Bishop

As you may know, I'm one of the 21 clergy and lay leaders who constitute the Bishop Transition Committee. (Bishop Ian Douglas announced his coming retirement back in April.)

But the process of discerning who God is calling to be our next Bishop Diocesan begins with each of us. Our bishop will be part of our community, and their role grows out of the distinctive qualities which make up the Episcopal Church in Connecticut.

With that in mind, I want to invite you to join one of the Bishop Transition Committee's listening sessions on Zoom. They began on August 30, and there's still time to sign up for one! The sessions are designed to encourage us to share from our own unique contexts and experiences. We will gather together to pray, share, and discern together our current strengths and areas of growth as ECCT, as well as where we sense God inviting us next. These holy conversations will then form the backbone of our Bishop Profile.

All the listening conversations are held in a spirit of confidentiality and anonymity. You can see a list of them all and register here. The one that is particularly relevant to members of St. Paul's is:

Thursday, September 16, 2021

Bishop Search and Transition Listening Session: North Central Region

6:30pm-8pm

Register here to receive the Zoom link.

We look forward to our time together as we pray, listen, share, and discern God's calling as we search for our XVI Bishop Diocesan.

Whether or not you join one of the listening sessions, please keep the Bishop Transition Committee in your prayers. We have shared the following prayer for people to use:

God, Grant the Bishop Transition Committee the gifts of wisdom, humility, and empathy as they discern your will for a new shepherd, inspirational leader, and willing advocate as we further your work in the Episcopal Church in Connecticut. Amen.