Or you can join Facebook Live to view our video stream. Go to the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church Facebook Page.
You can watch it anytime after the service as well as it will be recorded.
Dear Prince of Peace and friends,
Distractions and noise are part of everyday life. The church is no exception to this – as much as we may wish it was. No matter how hard we try to focus, there’s always some kind of commotion from people coming and going or shuffling through their bags; there’s a random cell phone going off or those loud kids. (I realize my 3 contribute heavily to the decibel level often enough –despite Alicia’s best efforts). Up in the chancel area or preaching from the pulpit I’m a little immune to it, but when I had to sit in the pew with Alicia on our vacations this summer, I got a full dose of what most Sundays are like in the trenches with 3 kids. Thanks be to God for all those who help parents with the “littles”.
This week a friend posted this note that’s made the rounds in some form or another over the years. I wanted to share it with you all - even though it’s addressed to parents with little children, it applies to all of us as God’s children and whatever else besides the kids might be on our minds, troubling or distracting us, or keeping us from worship. I hope that it gives encouragement wherever needed, and a bit of perspective to all. Everyone is going through struggles of some kind – even if we can’t see them. No matter what, it is good that you all are here, in the Lord’s house.
Dearest Christian Parents struggling with little children during worship,
I know you feel like a mess on Sunday mornings.
I know you feel like every resonating sound in the church nave is coming from your row. I know you feel like every eye is aimed at you in disgust. I know you feel like everything you are doing is useless and that the little ones in your care just can’t seem to settle in.
I know you feel like you’re not getting anything from worship because you’re just too busy doing everything you can to ensure your children and, perhaps, the people in your immediate blast radius are getting the barest scraps between fidgety whines.
I know you feel overwhelmed—like the struggle is never-ending. I know you’re often teetering at the edge of calling it quits before you even roll out of bed.
But don’t.
Know that your children belong right where they are. Sure, take the kids out when it’s clear they need recalibrating, but get them back into the service as soon as you can. Do this knowing that you’re being faithful. Know that the struggle will end one day, and as you venture toward that day, your kids need you to do what you’re doing right now. Know that your gracious God promises to bless your every effort all the way there.
Know that you are being fed in worship. It may not feel like it but know that you are. Know that all of us—an assembly of people with countless distractions unavailable to human senses—are gathered by faith into the presence of our gracious Savior, assured that His reaching into us with His loving kindness hardly depends on our acumen. Again, rest assured He’s at work there for you just as much as He is for everyone else in the room.
Finally, you need to know that your pastor is rooting for you. I’ve got your six. I’m watching the folks watching you, and if I ever get the sense they have forgotten what it was like to be in your shoes, I’ll be there in a heartbeat to remind them of the Lord’s words to “Let the little children come to me and do not forbid them,” and to steer them to the familiar relief they experienced when others gave encouragement rather than scowls.
Again, don’t give up. Your laboring—worked by the Holy Spirit for faithfulness to Christ and in love for your children—is by no means in vain.
With gladness, appreciation, and admiration,
Your Pastor
