September 11, 2007
Dear St. Paul's Family,
I never had the privilege of meeting Vida Rice, but I can surely sense her legacy. Born in 1897, Vida lived all 104 years of her life with a passion for life and a love for her God. And, she had a beatiful gift for tatting - handcrafting delicate but durable lace creations with patterns of knots and loops. For sixty years, Vida made tatted crosses for every third grader of this church, presente d to them when they received their first Bibles. One estimate claims that she made close to 2,000 tatted crosses in her life, each one uniquely hand-made, each one taking nearly two hours to produce.
This past week, her daughter, Ellen Henderson, came to my office to show me newspaper clippings about her mother and a sample of her work. Ellen continues the family tradition of making the tatted cross bookmarks, which she has done for this church for the past six years. And this Sunday, when we present eleven third-graders with their first Bibles, they will receive what countless generations of St. Paul's children have received - a cherished, handmade symbol of love and faith.
In a way, this reminds me of the poignant exchange between the apostle Paul and his young ministry apprentice Timothy. Remembering how Timothy's faith had been passed to him from his family, he wrote: "I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you." (2 Timothy 1:5) It is a primary responsibility for every church to ensure that the Christian faith is passed to the next generation. It is no less than what our spiritual ancestors, the Vida Rice's of our lives, have done for us.
Jim Harnish, the senior pastor of the church I served prior to coming here, is fond of saying that handing a Bible to a third-grader is one of the most dangerous things a church can do. This same book, which toppled menacing regimes and liberated oppressed people, has the power to transform their lives forever. This Sunday, we will celebrate the unleashing of the unchained Word in their lives, and participate in the greatest gift they will ever receive - new life and hope in Christ.
We will also begin a new sermon series called "Let the Children Come to Me: How to Have a Child-Like Faith in a Grown-up World." We will be studying the words of Jesus that call us to live with the trust, love, and faith of a child, despite the anxie ties that threaten the world in which we live. I hope you will join us for this powerful series, and invite those you know who aren't coming to church to come along for the journey.
See you this Sunday!
Grace and Peace,
Magrey
Luke 18:15-17
15 People were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they sternly ordered them not to do it.
16 But Jesus called for them and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.
17 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it."
Matthew 18:1-5
18:1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
2 He called a child, whom he put among them,
3 and said, "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
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