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Christian education at home: All things bright and beautiful
Over the last few weeks, our children’s worlds seem to have shrunk dramatically. While they were used to going from school to friends’ houses to sports practices or dance classes, now they’re limited to moving from the bedroom to the living room to the kitchen. Time outdoors is a welcome respite to confining hours indoors — and it is an opportunity to be reminded that God is with us. This activity helps children see God in the natural world and know that God is always close by. Start your time with your children by reading a piece of Scripture that celebrates creation. For younger children, you may want to choose the “classic” creation story (Genesis 1-2:4) since the text will likely be familiar. For older children, choose one of the psalms praising creation, such as Psalm 8 or Psalm 65. (You may even want to use a hymn instead of a reading. There are many wonderful renditions of “All Things Bright and Beautiful” and “For the Beauty of the Earth” available online.) After … [Read more...]
Prayer for the class of 2020
Compassionate God, for many of us these days feel like an exile. We remember that your people have walked through exile of many different kinds. You walked with them, and you walk with us now. We pray for the senior class of 2020. May your grace be sufficient during these strange and chaotic days. We pray for students who did not realize that an ordinary school day just like any other might be their only closure to a lifetime of education when they waved goodbye to each other when the bell rang. Be and abide with the class of 2020. May they find a deep breath of peace and love when the air is thin. Be with them when their grief wells up and when they mourn the loss of experiences that might have been. As cancellations build up, sit with them in their grief: over prom, over sports, over awards nights, over graduation. Be and abide with our students, O God. May they love and be loved. Even in this unexpected “exile,” we hope that they might still be able to discover new … [Read more...]
Pandemic prayer for college students
God of acceptance letters, scholarships and internships, we ask you to comfort: Those whose “best years of their lives” were uprooted. Those who dread going home. Those who are savoring every minute of extra time with family. Those whose family members are quarantined elsewhere because they were likely exposed. Those who frantically packed up dorm rooms and said goodbye for now to friends from across parking lots or outside windows. Those whose graduation celebrations are postponed. Those who are relieved to have online classes because they already had complex medical issues. Those who do not feel safe. Those who wonder how long until they’re allowed to study abroad. Those who are scared they may already have COVID-19. Those grieving losses that have nothing to do with COVID-19. Those who barely figured out the first year of college routine, and now have no idea what day it is. Those who are missing all things typical of senior year. Those who … [Read more...]
Building virtual community as a college chaplain
As COVID-19 continues to grow in cases across the United States, those of us in higher education have been bracing for what life would come to look like for our students. In fact, we’ve spent the better part of our spring semester coming up with plans and systems to help the mission of our institutions continue in the midst of uncertainty. As I watched the spread and the growing number of colleges and universities close, I noticed the panic of our students rise. At that time, with the help of a chaplain network, I created a flyer for our community on ways to remain calm during a pandemic. The flyer listed five steps to help our students remember to be grounded and calm fears that were on the rise. The steps were: remember to breath; unplug; create and cultivate community; ground yourself; and hope. Even as events were canceled, we still entered that particular week knowing that face-to-face course instruction would take place. So, we were to not fear or worry, but rather remember … [Read more...]
Investing in music is the church’s civic responsibility
If the church wants to contribute to a society grounded in empathy and love, it has a civic responsibility to enthusiastically fund and advocate for its music programs. A church that wants to be healthy must treat its music program as a nonnegotiable budget item and prioritize the stability of its musicians. The first step in identifying a pathway forward to a thriving and sustainable music program is to seek the professional opinions of the musicians in your midst. If it has been more than two months since you have asked your music minister about their work and vision, take the step this week to set up a time to listen to them. This gesture alone will set you apart. Here are questions you can ask your music minister, staff or volunteers: How can I help? Do you have what you need to succeed? If you could create any kind of program, what would it look like? What would make the biggest difference in your ability to reach your vision? How can I support you this … [Read more...]
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