People who look different than us bring special gifts to worship and grow in the faith through their regular inclusion and participation in the worship of the congregation.
Single moms bring special gifts to worship and grow in the faith through their regular inclusion and participation in the worship of the congregation.
Autistic adults bring special gifts to worship and grow in the faith through their regular inclusion and participation in the worship of the congregation.
People who are unable to sit for longer than 45 minutes bring special gifts to worship and grow in the faith through their regular inclusion and participation in the worship of the congregation.
People who are uneducated bring special gifts to worship and grow in the faith through their regular inclusion and participation in the worship of the congregation
Retired ministers bring special gifts to worship and grow in the faith through their regular inclusion and participation in the worship of the congregation.
College students bring special gifts to worship and grow in the faith through their regular inclusion and participation in the worship of the congregation.
Stay-at-home dads bring special gifts to worship and grow in the faith through their regular inclusion and participation in the worship of the congregation.
People who are out of work bring special gifts to worship and grow in the faith through their regular inclusion and participation in the worship of the congregation.
Parents bring special gifts to worship and grow in the faith through their regular inclusion and participation in the worship of the congregation.
Even people who shush children and give parents "the look" bring special gifts to worship and grow in the faith through their regular inclusion and participation in the worship of the congregation
Every person brings special gifts to worship and grows in the faith through their regular inclusion and participation in the worship of the congregation.
I recognize that some of the things listed above are changeable and others are for a season. I also recognize that many more people could be highlighted in the list. Being a child is only for a season too. May we recognize that the season of childhood is brief. May we recognize that how we honor and include children impacts more than children - it impacts their parents, friends, the community and more. May we grant to every person the honoring of even the simplest gift of their presence.
Comments
What I take away from this conversation - and what you've really helped me figure out in this post - is that once again, we're kinda focusing on one little problem and thinking about how to solve it, when the bottom line is this: When worship becomes what worship really ought to be - across the board - then this issue and most other worship issues tend to become much less troublesome. When worship becomes what worship ought to be, we will love having kids in the room, the parents will be glad they're there and won't be stressed, the other folks will be happy and joyful about the kids' presence, and most of all THE KIDS THEMSELVES will feel invested so much in the fellowship they won't be looking for mischief & mayhem.
And yes, you could cross out "kids" and put pretty much any other marginal group in there and it still applies.
