This week from Caitlyn

Friends,

Many of us are feeling extra squirrely these days. We're missing our friends and all the events that we have come to look forward to. These days are especially hard on our littlest ones, who wear their hearts on their sleeves and work out their feelings with their feet. I know in a church with tile floors, parents sometimes worry about the noise their wiggly ones make. Sometimes our parents feel as though they worship with one eye on God and one eye on their kids, being sure that neither makes a surprise run down the aisle. This anxiety only grows when our current circumstances make our kids even more wiggly and noisy and fussy than they might usually be. (Zoom meetings also make me extra wiggly and noisy and fussy!)

This is one of the hidden blessings I've found about outdoor worship this year. The Point is covered in grass, not echoey tile. It's perfect for picnic blankets with storybook Bibles and coloring pages. There's room to dance and wiggle and run and stretch out!

Know that always, but especially now, your children are welcomed and encouraged to be in worship with us. No matter how they come. It is good for the development of their faith to see you worship and to get to worship with you. It is good for their souls to pray with you. It is good for them to get to see all the parts of the service. They always pick up more than we think. If you see the clergy watching your child run around during an outdoor service, know it is not because we are judging, but because we are jealous. We want to go play tag, too! Their giggles are the best music we could offer. So let the little children come with you. Follow along with them in the Prayer Book and let them learn to read the words. Point out the parts of the service. Let the wiggles happen and the sprints around The Point go on! When we say "all are welcome," we mean it.

Caitlyn