Finding Faith ... in the holy moments of faith education

By Intern Pastor Devlyn Brooks

THUMP!!! … And then a whole lot of high pitched laughter.

As I slowly began to wake through the fog of almost sleep, I heard another set of similar noises. And I thought, “Oh, that probably deserves to be checked out.”

I rolled off the air mattress I was sleeping on in the Pastor’s Office, pushed myself up and stumbled through the darkness of the upstairs on down to the confirmation room in our basement, only to find that all four teenage girls who were supposed to be in there … were gone!

I rubbed my eyes, looked again … and yep, definitely gone. All. Four. Girls. … Yikes!

Right then, I heard another set of sounds followed by high pitched laughter, and I realized it was coming from the Sunday school room across the hall. So I walked over, opened the door slowly, not knowing what to expect. And there sitting around the table surrounded by art supplies were the missing four teenage girls, painting pictures and having the time of their life!

They all looked up at the bleary-eyed old guy staring at them in disbelief … and cracked up in hilarity again! … I shook my head with a smile, reminded them that everything had to be cleaned up before they went to bed and made my way back upstairs to put these creaking bones back to sleep again.

But during the walk back to the Pastor’s Office, I couldn’t help but marvel at the holy moment that I had just witnessed: Here were four teenage girls, hanging out in our church basement, laughing and giggling and painting pictures together in an age when so much complexity tugs at them during their normal daily teenage lives. But there, for one night, in our Sunday school room, they were just teenage girls, who had put away their phones, and were talking and laughing about who knows what. … And I thanked God for that moment in time for these teens. What a memory they will have!

Then, on Sunday morning, Renata Smeby, one of our Sunday school teachers texted me to share that during their class that morning, several of the kids who had just participated in First Communion classes this past Lent, invited her into a conversation about our Lutheran sacraments: communion and baptism. We study these at length during First Communion.

Renata shared that when she asked the kids how as faithful people we are fed by Christ’s body and blood, one of the students answered, “The Sacraments!” And the student gave a fist pump when they found out they were right! Renata then added that led to a much larger conversation about how we experience God through our sacramental practices.

I didn’t get to witness this particular experience firsthand, but as soon as I read Renata’s text, I knew this was another holy moment taking place in our children’s faith education here at Faith Lutheran.

For me, one of the greatest memories that I will have from this past year is how the Spirit has been so active in our faith education initiative here at FLC. Despite the limitations because of a global pandemic, our kids have responded to our classes, to the activities that really dedicated parents have organized and to the fact that they see adults who care about their faith education engaged in their education. The kids who come from a myriad of different school districts, and even two states, are developing bonds with other kids excited about their faith experience and making memories that will last them a lifetime! … And it has been an honor having a front row seat to watch it all happen!

As word spread among the congregation about these exciting happenings, a number of our Faith Family have shared with me their own cherished memories about their experiences as a child in church. And I love to hear them all! … Because we all know that the easiest way to produce an adult with a love for their faith … is to energize a youth about their faith!

So, as we come to a close on this year’s youth faith education programs, my imagination is on fire about next year! … Can you imagine how much more thrilling this all will be for our kids next September when we come back to church for a full, in-person programming year! … I’m abuzz just thinking about it!

How about you, Faith Family, what is your most cherished memory from your childhood Sunday school or confirmation years? I’d love to hear about them!

Blessings until next month!