Sermon March 13, 2011

Parenting with Christ

March 13, 2011 – 1st Sunday in Lent – Unity’s 11th Anniversary.

Beginning sermon series on children preached by Linda Jo Peters

Scripture: Psalm 32 and Matthew 19:13-15

INTRODUCTION TO SCRIPTURE
Cameron Howard reminds us that Lent is a season of repentance, discipline, and preparation, so it brings to mind themes of sin, confession, and redemption. Reflecting on Psalm 32 is particularly appropriate for this first week of Lent, as this text provides instruction on the means and results of confession. The psalmist testifies to the relief, both physical and spiritual, that came to him when he confessed his sin to the Lord, and the Lord forgave him.

1Blessed are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
2Blessed are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3While I kept silence, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long.
4For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah
5Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah
6Therefore let all who are faithful offer prayer to you; at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters shall not reach them.
7You are my hiding place; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with glad cries of deliverance. Selah
8I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
9Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding, whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle, else it will not stay near you.
10Many are the torments of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord.
11Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.

Matthew 19:13-15
In the midst of a series of trick questions about marriage and just before being asked about what act would give eternal life, we have this little vignette about parents bringing their children (infants) to Jesus to bless. We all want to see children protected. The parents of these children had heard and maybe even seen the amazing things Jesus had done for others, why not for their children. This scripture is the over arching passage for our Lenten reflections on children and how we as a community of faith provide for them.

13Then little children were being brought to him in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them; 14but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” 15And he laid his hands on them and went on his way.

SERMON
When we baptize a baby the congregation promises to guide and nurture the child to come to know Christ. I hope this sermon series will help us consider how we fulfill this promise.

I found two resources that I thought would be helpful. One was written by Richard Bromfield a psychologist on the faculty of Harvard. His book was in response to 9/11. It is called Living with the Boogeyman Helping Your Child Cope with Fear, Terrorism and Living in a World of Uncertainty. Bromfield points out the value of talking with our children, not at them. Really listening to what they have to say. One parent told me her time driving her son to and from school is a priceless opportunity to prepare for the day ahead or debrief from the day he had. The other book is written by Professors Robert Brooks and Sam Goldstein who wrote Raising Resilient Children. They write that their guiding principal with all interactions with children (I would add everyone) is to meet life’s challenges with thoughtfulness, confidence, purpose and empathy. We as a congregation have an opportunity to reflect on how we guide and nurture not only children but also the primary caregivers for children.

One resource I found was our own Judy Brett who has been a family councilor for a number of years. I particularly liked a tool she uses to help parents evaluate their behavior. She has a chart with the words, “Kind” and “Firm” written the same size in the middle of the page and on each side either Kind takes up most of the page or Firm does. Have you ever noticed that one parent is kinder or more firm than the other parent? One of the parents may actually be driven by the behavior of the other to generate a more balanced parenting model. We do this in many areas of our lives. If you have a partner at work who lets people walk all over him or her, you may find yourself being more firm, even bossy, to compensate. These are often actions taken with little introspection. Judy helps her clients do that reflection of their own behavior before they can help their children change theirs. She also wisely said all parenting must be balanced under the umbrella of respect.

All these streams have been in my consciousness as we began Lent on Wednesday and our devotional resource, “We Are All God’s Children” which begins with the reflection on the over 2 million children being raised by their grandparents. Whoever is parenting a child, they are the first line of defense for that child. They need every support and tool to face the challenges of parenting. Like my research they can be overwhelmed with information and suggestions. Parenting is sometimes like being in a whirlwind of choices. They wonder, “Will the firm choices I make teach my children the right choices to make in the future or will I scar them psychologically for life? Will my kindness bless them with a gentle and loving spirit or make them unable to handle conflict.” I look at parents today in the midst of this whirlwind and I just want them to have the peace that they are doing the best that they can and that God’s grace is sufficient. I pray they find a loving relationship with Jesus Christ, who will calm the storm and wrap loving arms around them. These parents need our prayers, resources, small groups to grow their faith. They need to know that Jesus belongs to every part of their life. His disciples thought he was too busy or important to be bothered with babies, but Jesus stops them and offers his wisdom that, “It is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” This must have turned their world upside down. They were vying for who would sit on his right hand or left when we came into his kingdom. Where did children and youth belong is that scenario? Do we in the church today, sometimes do the same, when our children and youth are seen as obligations, not contributing members of the family of God? Their ideas and relationships can rub against our most precious traditions.

All this was going on in my brain and heart when I turned on the news Friday and was horrified by the devastation in Japan. I prayed for all the people but especially I prayed for the children buried under rubble or washed away from their homes. Those who survived may never find lost family and friends. I pray that every survivor knows the comfort of care and love. That God sends the angels of mercy into their fear and despair. This is what I hope we are for families everywhere – Angels of Mercy who: listen, comfort, pray with and for them, see they have the resources they need of food, shelter and health care for their children. But most of all a community of disciples that say to them bring your child here; here they are welcome and wanted. Here among us they will come to know Jesus and along with us they will know we are all God’s children. Amen.

Resources:

Cameron Howard, Visiting Assistant Professor of Old Testament School of Theology at Sewanee, the University of the South Sewanee, TN

Richard Bromfield, Ph.D., Living with the Boogeyman: Helping Your Child cope with Fear, Terrorism, and Living in a World of Uncertainty, Prima Publishing, Roseville, California, 2002.  Robert Brooks, Ph.D and Sam Goldstein, Ph.D, Raising Resilient Children, Contemporary Books, Chicago, Illinois, 2001.

The Reverend Dawn Curlee Carlson, pastor of First Congregational Church, Terre Haute, Indiana,  We Are All God's Children: 40 Days of Prayer for Children, 2006 (updated 2010)