Dear Church,
It’s been a bruiser of a week for your pastor. I’ve been swamped with work for my doctorate. I have about three different services and sermons dancing around like sugar plum fairies in my head and we’ve been spinning plates in the office trying to accommodate funeral luncheons, family Christmas parties, worship services and congregational treats. I’ve also spent a great deal of time walking in darkness with people. Marriages. Relationships. Finances. Parents. It just seems like the Advent season exemplifies both joy and pain. And as hard as I try to separate myself from the darkness, all of those conversations and tears with friends stay with you. So, my soul needs some TLC.
I got just that for one minute this past week Tuesday. Every square inch of my desk was covered with either books or papers as I was plodding along through some D.Min work. My door was half open, which usually means that I can hear what’s going on out in the office, but implies that unless you really need me, I sort of have work that needs to get done! I heard, “Is Pastor Matt around?” I lifted up my eyes from the computer screen only to see a dozen 4 and 5 year olds standing in my doorway along with Kathy Verhagen. Kathy asked if her class of students from Family Christian Life Day Care could show me something that they have been working on since September. I obviously was all eyes and ears to what they were going to show me. Kathy said just three words as if she was a drill sergeant in the military. “A is for?” And immediately on command her dozen 4 and 5 year olds said confidently, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23.” Then Kathy, in that same tone said, “B is for?” Again, on command, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. Acts 16:31.” And they kept going through the first half of the alphabet! Think about that, four and five year olds tucking the living, breathing Word of God into their hearts. Just hearing them recite the Bible was a boost of spiritual Vitamin C to my soul.
If you’re anything like I was growing up, I just assumed the bulk of ministry taking place in the life of a Church happens on Sunday mornings from 9:30-10:30am, and outside of that hour, the Church is a rather quiet place; maybe a coffee time here and there, but mostly an empty place. My friends, nothing could be further from the truth at First Reformed Church. Nearly 100 kids are taught the ABCs, fed lunch, take naps and sing songs through the ministry of Family Life Christian Day Care. Did you know this ministry has been around nearly 30 years? And in a lot of ways their teachers and directors are missionaries on the front lines. They deal with moms who are scraping the bottom of the barrel to come up with this weeks’ tuition payment. They are dealing with kids who are being raised by grandparents. The are dealing with kids that need their noses wiped and help tucking in shirts after the kids use the washroom. That’s ministry. That’s being salt and light. That’s being faithful.
I needed to hear those dozen or so kids recite those Bible verses this week. I needed to be encouraged and refreshed. And I needed to be reminded that there’s joy in hearing a whole army of little ones call me, “Hey Mr. Pastor Man.” It was TLC for a tired soul. And this weekend we have an opportunity to shine a little light into dark places during a Christmas dinner and concert on Sunday night at 6:00pm. If you haven’t signed up for the dinner, no worries, but c’mon out for the concert beginning at 7:00pm. Marinate your soul with the songs of the season, the lighting of the Advent candles and characters who witnessed the incarnation first hand. In the midst of such busyness, pause. Be still. Breathe deep. And let the TLC of the Holy Spirit invade your life.
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Matt
