Religious Education Musing
by Rev. Ellie Duhamel, Director of Religious Education

May 2007

I am writing this on Saturday evening, April 21. Today was beautiful! I awoke to the song of birds near our window and the further-away raucous good cheer of the neighbor’s rooster. The whole day was sunny and warm. The puddles in the yard are shrinking, as are those in our cellar. The promise of green and growth and gentler weather is coming true. Again. The daffodils behind the church were tightly-closed green stalks three days ago. Today they are open and beautiful, like bits of sun come to visit in our very own yard. The peepers are singing in their spring ponds. I marvel and give thanks again at the grace or good luck that has brought me to this place.

A question has been voiced about the intergenerational Easter service. There seems to be some misunderstanding about the meaning of “intergenerational”. What it means, in relation to a Sunday morning service, is that all parts of the service are designed to be accessible to people of all ages; it doesn’t mean that the service is led by people of all ages. There are people in the congregation who were disappointed that the children were not a more visible part of the service. The RE Committee and I were sorry to hear that there was disappointment, but also glad to hear that there is a wish for the children to take a bigger part in leading intergenerational worship. Please be assured that they will in the future. I want to thank the person who filled out a response card and signed it. We have talked and she was a huge help in increasing my understanding. Another card was not signed, and I invite its author, and anybody else, to talk to me, about that service or any other issue. It is hard work, but I truly believe that kindly, but honest and direct communication is essential to relationship and to community. I believe we need to be for each other the warmth and the rain that brings about growth.

This year’s Spring Fling program is off to a great start. We began exploring “Earth Mysteries” last week with activities and conversations about the connection between nature and human spirit. Everybody went out…in the rain…to gather treasures and as far as I could tell everybody had fun. I offer thanks to the parents who brought their children dressed for outdoors and to the teachers who went cheerfully out to help the children. Wouldn’t it be nice if it didn’t rain on Sundays for the rest of the year. Anybody know a sun dance?
As May unfolds, I wish for all of us a good balance of rain and sun, that our gardens and our souls may grow ever more beautiful.

Love,