Boy at Piano

Green is on display in this summer
Church Season of Ordinary Time

yet it feels extraordinary!

Expectantly, the people
watch as this nine-year-old boy sits down
on the edge of the bench placed
by the grand piano.

With appropriate posture and
hand-shape, Beethoven’s Ode to Joy shines

and even ends with a flourish!

We rejoice in another
Saint Paul child who has joined a long
line of musicians in this
church and played his first song.

How grateful we are for the gift
that touches our souls and hearts with

music that we never tire of.

We love the children in our Saint Paul
family and delight in seeing
them grow week by week
and year by year.

We celebrate gifts and faithful
parents for whom God’s love is primary.

Matthew 19:13-15 – Jesus Blesses Children

13 Some people brought children to Jesus so that he would place his hands on them and pray. But the disciples scolded them. 14 “Allow the children to come to me,” Jesus said. “Don’t forbid them, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to people like these children.” 15 Then he blessed the children and went away from there.

Let the Children Come

Children were not valued in the Bible times culture. Yet Jesus counted it as a gift to bless the children and wasn’t afraid to let those around him know how important they are to God.

The sense of family is strong today at Saint Paul and the gifts of children are valued and applauded. We appreciate these parents who go against social norms to bring their children to church, Sunday School, and youth group. As a family, they explore the scriptures and find ways to apply the teachings to their lives. Together they live out treating others as they’d like to be treated. Especially in these times we support, celebrate, and love each young person throughout their developmental years.

In Galatians 3:28 we read the Apostle Paul’s words:
Why should we believe there is a new or better life possible?
Look at these people. They’re different. This is a new social order…
All of you are one in Christ Jesus.

Author Marilynne Robinson reminded us that there are traditions of the church that are timeless for people of all ages when she said,
“One of the most important things that churches have to tell people is that you’re a part of the stream of humankind—that if you listen carefully, you can hear something that was said 500 years ago that you will feel as true in the marrow of your bones. We don’t have to scrap the brilliant hymns and the brilliant articulations.”

It remains true that no matter what our age might be, we are united with our ancestors of faith through our music, prayers, and love of God.

You are in our prayers and loved,
Rev. Marta Wheeler

To view or download a PDF version of this devotional, click here:  Devotional MW 2022-07-13