From the Pastor's Desk
Reverend David Kaul
“ Whoever welcomes one such child in my name, welcomes me. ”
- Mark 9:37
Thomas talks wonderfully
Dear friends in Christ,
Samuel, our grandson, is playing organized soccer with other four year olds. The final score recorded only part of the story. Another loss! You've seen the kind of game at T-ball, soccer, Pop Warner football. The coach hollers and loudly yells instructions from the sidelines. One kid - one really big kid - listens and gets it! He or she runs effortlessly all over the field, kicks and scores multiple goals. Each is enthusiastically celebrated by raising both arms over head. Meanwhile the other children chase each other around the field playing tag or stand quietly starring off into space as if looking at birds or butterflies, pick yellow dandelions, or wait for gator aid breaks. This day was no different but the final chapter. The coach's wife brought their children and stood on the sideline to watch and to cheer for dad's team. One of their sons is border line autistic and is both physically and emotionally challenged.
The game ended. Sammy came running off the field and excitedly announced to Mom and Dad, "There's Thomas!" Both parents looked at each other as they scanned a field full of more than 100 children and asked, "Who are you talking about?"
"There's Thomas!", "That's Thomas!", Sammy replied and went running as his parents gave chase. Sammy ran over to the coach's autistic, physically and emotionally challenged son and to the surprise of the coach, his wife, Joel and Megan, gave Thomas a big hug! As the boys began to run about the field, the now misty eyed coach's wife inquired, "How does your Sammy know our Thomas?"
Both parents explored this most interesting of questions. They discovered the boys attend the same school. Sammy is learning to speak more clearly. Thomas is learning to confront his own issues. With the brief soccer party concluded, both families returned to their minivans to venture home. Sammy crawled into his seat in the back and proclaimed to all, "Thomas speaks wonderfully!" They were words of both affirmation and benediction! Sammy first heard them spoken at school by a patient and caring teacher. The truth is Thomas seldom speaks!
He and his teacher are working on that. This must be a most remarkable school! I want to visit Sammy's class someday on Grandparents day!
We often wonder what greatness looks like in God's Kingdom! The disciples had argued with one another who was the greatest. Jesus sat down, called the twelve and said to them "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all." Then he took a little child and put he/she among them and taking the child in his arms he said, "Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me ,welcomes not me but the one who sent me." Mark 9:36, 37.
May Our Savior's be a welcoming place. Let us proclaim in words and hugs and everything else, "All are welcome, All are welcome, all are welcome (and loved by Jesus) in this place!"
Would you join my grandson and do some radical welcoming in Jesus' name!
See you at worship. Let's fill the church sanctuary with the Sunday School children and people of all ages that Jesus loves. I can't do it with you!
See you at summer worship,
P. Dave