Dear God...

September 22, 2010

Dear St. Paul’s Family,

Over forty years ago, authors Eric Marshall and Stuart Hample wrote a small book titled Children’s Letters to God. It contained actual letters revealing a wide range of reflections from children across the country: curiosities, suggestions, complaints, and acknowledgments. The book reminds us of the surprising capacity of children to ask tough theological questions in the midst of life’s harshest realities. Consider these examples:

"Dear holy God: Would you make it so there would not be any more wars? And so everyone could vote. Also every body should have a lot of fun.” - Nancy

"Dear God, Charles my cat got run over. And if you made it happen you have to tell me why.” - Harvey

"Dear God, Do good people have to die young? I heard my mommy say that. I am not always good. Yours Truly, Barbara."

“Dear God, I am writing to you even though you can't write back, I think, and you are not a person. But I wanted to write anyway. Love, Karen"

Decades have passed since the book’s release, but I suspect that these kids, now adults, may still be asking these questions. And so are many of us. We all have that same capacity to ponder the mysteries of God’s activity in the midst of life’s deepest complexities. I think that may be one reason why the gospels record this poignant episode in Jesus’ ministry:

He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. (Matthew 18:2-5)

When Jesus received that child, he was not posing for a cute photo-op. He wasn’t catering to the crowd, or trying to appear adorable. He was performing a radically subversive act, one that flipped the world upside-down. In first-century Rome, children were at the absolute bottom of the cultural hierarchy. Lower than even slaves and prisoners, children had no rights as citizens, and were often bought and sold as property. So when Jesus told the world that children were the “greatest in the kingdom,” he was doing more than praising them for their cherubic complexions. He was inverting the social order, challenging people to re-orient their priorities, in light of a Kingdom that considered the first to be last and the last to be first.

In preparing for this Sunday, I read the following statistics from the Children’s Defense Fund. Every day in America:

· 78 babies die before their first birthdays.
· 404 children are arrested for a drug crime.
· 928 babies are born at low birthweight.
· 1,154 babies are born to teen mothers.
· 2,224 babies are born without health insurance.
· 2,479 children are confirmed as abused or neglected.
· 2,583 babies are born into poverty. [1]

Embodying Matthew 18 today involves a bold assessment of what it means to be a child in the face of such harsh difficulties, and a total commitment to reversing these trends.

This Sunday we observe the Children’s Sabbath, a program sponsored by the Children’s Defense Fund and endorsed by the United Methodist Women. It is a worship service led by the children of this congregation and highlights the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of other kids around the world. Come be inspired to do your part in fulfilling this year’s theme: “Blessed to Be a Blessing.” In conjunction with the service, you are invited to bring a used book to donate to the local Women, Infants, and Children group.

For the Children,

Magrey

The Rev. Magrey R. deVega
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
531 W. Main St.
Cherokee, IA 51012
Ph: 712-225-3955
http://www.cherokeespumc.org

[1] www.childrensdefense.org




PORK FEED
Join us this Sunday for the most delicious fund-raiser of the year! The Parker family will once again be donating some great pork tenderloins, and you are invited to bring a generous side item or salad to share. Desserts will be provided. All proceeds will go to support the Next Generation Fund. The time is from 11:30-12:30, and the community is invited.

PET PROJECT THANK YOU
Wow! What a response to last Sunday’s special offering! You have contributed $1,322 so far to the PET Project, with money still coming in. That will be enough to purchase almost six new transportation units to people around the world who are immobilized in third-world countries due to disease, birth defect, accident, or war. If you would like to donate to the project, make your check payable to St. Paul’s and designated for “PET Project.”

JUDI AND DAVID KLEE MUSIC MINISTRY
Judi and David have embarked on a new outreach ministry sharing the message of God’s love through song throughout the community. They are launching this new ministry at the Spice Rack, on October 2, with a night of homemade desserts and Christian music. Doors open at 6:15, with the concert starting at 7:00, and advanced tickets are $15. In addition, if you know of a community group or church that would like to have the Klee’s provide a concert, contact them at 225-0222.

KEITH WILLIS UPDATE
After church on Sunday, I visited with Keith and his family down in Council Bluffs. He has now discontinued further chemotherapy treatments, and Hospice is now actively involved in keeping him comfortable. He was tired but responsive, able to speak a few words at a time. He is determined to keep fighting, and appreciates all your love, prayer, and support.