​Being sponsors for our friend’s son at his baptism has become a family affair. My son is a god brother to baby Spencer. We want to celebrate together- how do live out the promises of baptism together? We will celebrate his baptismal birthday together. We will talk about faith together. We will worship together when we are able. We will grow together. We all have a part to play in being a part of the family of God. Are there families that you can support as they journey? Or is there an older family that you would like to ask to be mentors as you journey in your faith together?  I would hazard a guess that they would be honoured that you asked!

All I want to say in this post is how heartened I have been in the last week by talking to youth who have returned from the Canadian Lutheran Anglican Youth Gathering. The theme this year was Not for Sale: creation not for sale, humans not for sale, salvation not for sale.

There were more than 900 youth at this gathering and something like 750 of them were Lutheran. Who knew there were 750 Lutheran youth in Canada! That is a much more optimistic number than I expected.

But more than merely the good news that there are way more Lutheran youth than I thought… the young people I have talked to have come home motivated by their faith to talk about vital political issues – how their consumer choices affect the world, their connections to human trafficking and the exploitation of creation, God’s grace as far more incredible then the problematic cliché “Jesus saves.”

I guess I am just saying that even though it was impossible to get a babysitter last week (all the good ones were at CLAY or Edgewood!) I want more of this. If this is what we can be as a church then I am all in, and I can’t wait until my kids get to have these experiences. 

​Our world is big! One project that we will be trying out as a family this year is learning about our bigger world through supporting a project from Canadian Lutheran World Relief . Learning about what life is like for another person from another community in the world while supporting the work of CLWR is a great way to explore the world together even when you don’t leave your own house.  
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There are some great activities
​ at this website! http://www.clwr.org/youth/   

​Worship at many churches includes kids during worship. Some churches have quiet bags that have activities that kids can do during service, or a kids worship guide so they have activities geared towards their level.  We have a mat in the midst of our circle of seats that kids can sit on – it has toys and crayons and paper but mostly it’s important where it’s located. It’s in the middle of the action. Kids want to be a part of what is going on- they are an important part of this community too- we show them that by where they are invited to be as we worship together. How do your kids experience worship? 

​We have this poster in our community that people have posted words or pictures of the ideals of our community. EVERYONE can add to it. Looking at it today I noticed the words that are written in wobbly script (most likely my son or another little person) Words like grace and forgiveness and people and caring are in that small kid print. Hmmm. I think that they have so much to teach us. Why don’t we give them a voice at our table? Why don’t we give them a spot on our poster? Why don’t we give them a chance to share what God is encouraging and calling them to be? Kids have valuable ideas too!