Children and Youth Ministry Update from The Rev. Francesca Fortunato

Dear Park People,

On Sunday, May 31st, the children had two stories in Sunday school. First, the conclusion of the Book of Nehemiah, in which Ezra exhorts the people of Jerusalem to rejoice in the strength that God gives them. We responded to that call, by doing some exercises (biceps curls, pectoral flies, and lat pull-downs) to build, celebrate, and thank God for the strength in our bodies. The children seemed to enjoy the opportunity for movement, and I enjoyed blending my two vocations, and wearing my dance/fitness instructor “hat” for a few minutes during Sunday school.

After the exercises, we returned to our Bible to read Acts 2 (the story of the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.) We discussed the miracle of tongues, and the way that experiencing that miracle served to unite the followers of Jesus, in those days. Like the first Christians, we are also diverse in our family backgrounds, languages and cultures, and yet united by the love of God, which inspires us to love each other. I asked the children to think about the ways that our diversity finds expression, in the context of teaching them the classic Sunday school song, “Spirit Says Do.” (“You gotta sing when the Spirit says sing…”) Their ideas (dancing, walking, clapping, jumping; praying) became new verses for the song, which we will sing together again next Sunday, as we also continue to read the Book of Acts.

Our children are wondrously Spirit-filled servants of God; we are so blessed to have them as part of this church community.

I hope and strive to be ready, as they are, to participate in much-needed miracles…