Trust God and always be healthy.

After worship and extra meetings today, I recruited two kids, brother and sister, to help me retrieve some items from the sanctuary. We raced through the hall then slow motion down the aisle to get the toaster I had used for a children's sermon. I know, I know - we probably shouldn't run in church - especially in heels and with a toaster because it can be difficult to keep up. Then we went outside to search for the baby hawk that fell out of a tree earlier in the week. We didn't find it but we chatted as we looked, wondering what was for lunch and talking about afternoon plans.

I once worked at a church where the parents of the current Sunday School children had a fear of the senior pastor that had begun in confirmation and .... lingered. Maybe that kind of relationship with a pastor has its place, though I don't see the point in cultivating a withering glance as a tool for ministry. (It never even worked on my own children once they learned not to make eye contact.) In the congregation I serve, I'm so grateful for life-giving relationships at every age.

When I asked the seven year-old if he was still interested in being my worship assistant sometime this summer, he and his six year-old sister quickly hatched an elaborate, marvelous plan: We should meet every Friday to practice church. They would take turns being the pastor and doing the other parts of the service. Having both boy pastors and girl pastors seemed important to them. I would play the piano. Instead of having the kids come up for a children's sermon, adults would be invited to sit on the steps and whoever is the pastor that day would talk to them about life. "What about communion?" their dad chimed in. Oh, yes, the fledgling pastor lit up with excitement and an idea - they would hand out goldfish crackers with the words "Trust God and always be healthy." They weren't picky about the wardrobe when their mom inquired - both albs or regular clothes were acceptable. But they thought we would definitely need a bulletin for what they called "fake church."

It was a lively conversation that tickled my imagination. It makes me wonder - not just about what children hear and take home from our corporate worship, but what others hear and remember as well. I'm going to have to give this "fake church" a try and see what happens.