In the church, as in society, we are constantly engaged in the infinite debate as to who is the greatest but within the church God has provided a continuing possibility of us being surprised by hearing the Word from the least among us.
In the early 1990’s, Richard Wright, a high school student, stood before the congregation and told them how he had learned the value of stewardship from his father when his father stopped providing him the quarter for the collection plate and told him that his offering must now come from his own money. It was a simple but effective way of God’s reminding a congregation that they, too, had a responsibility to support the church.
A congregation prays for and suffers with a family experiencing the illness of a child and we are all reminded of the preciousness of the gift of life. Members of a youth group lift up their idealism about race relations and a congregation is confronted by their own prejudice. A chaplain shares her experience working with college students and we recognize that the vows we took at a child’s baptism does not end when that child leaves our community.
Many youth leaders or Sunday school teachers have learned servanthood through their efforts to work with young people. Through the children and youth of a congregation, we are confronted by the tender fabric of all of our society which requires nurture, patience and forgiveness if we are to be bound together as a people. The hunger of children and youth for affection and affirmation provides many adults the opportunity to hear again Jesus words: “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35)
