Spirit of Life: Caring for One Another

Ponderings of the Spiritual Life Director

 

Caring for life is essentially the reason why church exists.  We care about ourselves- our reason for being- we care about others, and we care about the Earth.  What I really loved about this last Sunday’s worship service, was that I saw all of this come together in the time we spent creating and reflecting about the Spirit of Life.

 

I gave all who attended a task to create together- a mountain deity, a water deity, and a fire deity.  You worked lovingly together, creating beauty, and inspiring the person you chose to be the “deity” to speak from their heart to the rest of us about taking care of Mother Earth.  What I loved the most was watching all generations work together.  Our “water deities” were 8 year olds, dressed up by caring adults in our congregation.  Our “fire deity” was in her 30’s, and had help with costume design by some of our teens.  To be honest, I’m not sure who helped design our “mountain deity”, but she was smashing!  (This is when I wish I had remembered to take pictures!)

 

In the end, it was really just heartwarming to watch my beloved community create the Spirit of Life together, despite whatever technological “difficulties” may have occurred during the service.  This is what it’s all about- all of us searching for meaning together, like a tribe.  High production matters not and our diverse theologies can’t segregate us.  It’s the quality of how we care about each other that matters most.  I can honestly say that everything I’ve worked for the past 10 years as a Religious Educator and promoter of intergenerational community is blooming before my eyes.

 

In her book “Tribal Church”, author Carol Howard Merritt explains, “in our increasingly segregated culture, older generations, young families, and single people can learn to listen and care for each other.  Mainline denominational congregations can increase intergenerational hospitality through visible signs so growth can flourish and we can expand our biodiversity.”   Indeed, the healthiest environments are biodiverse.

 

Here’s something else that happened this weekend:  The Raven Dinner Extravaganza, lovingly executed by our current Religious Educator, Jennifer Littleton.  We played “The Mummy” game together.  Yep, we dressed up chosen individuals- from 8 to 80 and beyond- in toilet paper.  We were biodiversity embodied!  We cared for one another, even in something as silly as wrapping someone up in toilet paper.  And, we all won!  The Spirit of Life was strong amongst our tribe this past weekend and I am so thankful for Jenn’s work and the work of the congregation towards an intergenerational community.  Let’s keep moving forward in this positive direction!  Enjoy the pictures.