Soccer Ball

I brought a soccer ball to chapel today. The kids really wanted me to kick it around, but I decided to hold it instead. There is something wonderful about being a part of a team. The best team experiences teach us to use our talents to benefit the whole, to take turns, to support our teammates and respect our opponents. The best coaches select players who bring something to the team that allows it to be great, without trampling on the skills of others. The best players are the ones who allow themselves to be coached.

Jesus had a great team of disciples. We don't know why he selected who he did to be on his team. They weren't necessarily the brightest or most religious or the best in their fields. Perhaps they were the ones who, when he called them, they came. Are we listening for the call to join the team? Are we allowing our coach to use our gifts and talents to His glory? Are we team players?

The Good Shepherd

Today I had a sheep in my box. Every year we have someone bring sheep, goats and a donkey to our Palm Sunday procession. The children (and adults) get to pet the sheep and the goats and watch as they wander all over the grass. And then the procession begins. I always have lots of volunteers to lead the animals in the procession at the beginning, and it is only once we get started that the children realize how hard it is to get the sheep to walk in the right direction. They can pull as hard as they like on the lambs, but it is only with just the right coaxing that they can get them to move. How wonderful it is to have a good shepherd who knows each of our names. A shepherd who leads us to green pastures and cool water and who was willing to lay down his life for us. A good shepherd who is always there for us, no matter how difficult we are to lead.

Dove

Today I brought a dove to chapel. It wasn't a real dove, but one that we fly overheard on Sundays when we want to more visibly celebrate the power of the Holy Spirit. We always have it in the procession on Baptism Sundays, and today I talked about the baptism of Jesus by John. When we baptize our children, we make certain promises on their behalf. We promise to resist evil, and follow in the apostles' teaching. We promise to seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbor as ourself. We promise to strive for peace and justice among all people. And we promise to respect the dignity of every human being. It is only by making the choice, every day, to allow the Holy Spirit to enter into us that we can have the strength to follow through on these promises. Daily prayer with our children teaches them (and us) to have the daily habit of asking "Come, Holy Spirit, come".

Epiphany

This morning I had two things in my box. The first was a big star balloon. It hovered around the altar for all to see. It is the same star balloon I had for the children at our service on Christmas Eve. The second was a king. He was one of three who left St. Mark's on Christmas Eve to travel through the parish in search of the Christ child. The kings and the star remind us to keep our eyes and hearts open for signs of God in our world. If we aren't keeping Christ in our heart and watching for him, we might miss those wonderful opportunities to see his love in action.