Post Celebration Pondering

I've labelled it "Grand Opening Hangover".  It's a completely non-immoral, non-complaining, slightly elated, semi-exhausted, yet fully human response that occurs the day after your church's grand opening celebration.  Yesterday was an amazing celebration of our church building project being completed.  I came into church about an hour later than usual today, and strangely felt no guilt for my tardiness.  I smiled at the sight of fresh cut flowers in vases and stacks of new family visitor cards, remembering with fondness how well the day before went.  My feet remember well how the day before went so I kick off my shoes the moment I sit down.  My desk is awkwardly neat.  First impressions.

Today I will write.

I start writing for our upcoming children's ministry fall training that's less than a week away.  I start searching through files of former vision statements and 'pep-talks', summary notes and Scripture passages.  I intentionally search for the "Embrace the Significance" training from five years ago this fall.
The opening paragraph reads like this:

The love of Christ is contagious, infectious.  As long as we have truly Christ-loving and honouring individuals leading and participating in our children’s ministries, we’ll have kids who grow up knowing that Jesus’s loves them.  However…when we have a team of children’s ministers who not only love Jesus but realize, I mean REALIZE & EMBRACE, the significant role they are playing; a ministry team who constantly steps up their game and plays like the future depends on it; like each child is not their own, but could be; like each child is not only a potential, but a present-day sought after child of God, who they can influence and who Christ is passionately shaping to be like him.  When this happens, not only do children grow up knowing Jesus loves them, but they grow up making Jesus their number one choice.  They grow up Spirit-empowered, community inspired, world-shakers who significantly alter the face of the earth with the message that Jesus is real!  When we have a children’s ministry team who understands their worth, and the significance of what they do; we have a team that not only shows up, but steps up time after time again, just to get one more chance to tell a child how much Jesus means to them.

I smile as I think about yesterday's team of Greenlight Kids leaders.  I watched volunteers, youth and elderly adults served along side one another in children's ministry Sunday.  Their faces full of joy and excitement, no complaints.  I saw a team who has continually 'stepped up', but most certainly in the last two to three years.  They have been through classroom changes, building changes, services time and ministry role changes.  Kids have come to know Jesus, been baptized and full of the Spirit.  Families have expanded, families have grieved, families have been challenged to grow in their faith, even as we've expanded. 

Children are being empowered by the Spirit, because they are a part of a "house" who have grown to realize and embrace the significance of ministry to children.  With the occasional exception, all of our leaders not only show up, but "step up" to tell their story about the life-changing presence of Jesus every time they serve.

Today is a pondering day.  
 
I scroll through files and see a report given to the board two months after the "Embrace the Significance" training was given in 2008.  Under the heading "Vision/Hopes for the Future" it says "The dream of a bigger facility with room to expand."

Yesterday was a good day.  A good day, indeed.