Clergy from left, Pastor Deb Church, Deacon Amy Schmuck, The Rev. Mary Ann Hill, The Rev. Lynn Finnegan, Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, retired, and Pastor Nicolé Raddu Ferry. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com
By Pastor Nicolé Raddu Ferry
Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church
Matthew 18:3: “…and Jesus said: Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
In the past month I have been wonderfully “schooled”. For those who have not used this word in a while it is about being educated or trained in a specific activity or in a particular way. I have been “schooled” by those significantly younger than me.
For one week, I entered in to being a part of a residential summer camp at Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp in Hillside, Colo. I was blessed to be with high school students supported by college students as their counselors and with the love and support of adult leaders. Our focus was that we are “Created to Be” loved, fully present, our authentic selves, disciples, and agents of change. During this week I watched high school students live into a full week without their phones, willing to try new activities such as working through a high ropes course, leading skits, and meeting new friends. They were asking the hard questions about faith, were able to hear one another through deep listening without making each other wrong, and they were willing to be vulnerable about those things that matter most to them.
The following week I entered the city of New Orleans with 16,000 high school students and their adult leaders. Each night we gathered in the Smoothie King Center to worship, hear inspirational speakers and consider just what have we been created for? During the days we had interactive learning, service projects throughout the city of New Orleans, and days exploring connections with churches in other regional areas. Again, limited cell phone use, deep listening to those who have different perspectives, and working together where there is great need.
And finally, this week the “littles” among us have been “schooling” me in so many ways. Bethlehem Lutheran Church hosted a day camp with counselors from Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp and we continued the focus of being created by God, praising God that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” Psalm 139:14. These littles are setting a map for how curiosity, including everyone, asking simple yet very deep questions and sharing snacks generously can change our world. As I sat in on bible studies, heard the desire to make the world a better place, saw creativity through art, and saw new friendships with future play dates begin, my heart rejoiced.
We share many ancient texts that are full of hope, promise, and the beauty for what God created us all to be. Thanks be to God for this ancient wisdom. Thanks be to God for the children, youth and young adults who have reminded me that there is so much good in this world. Again, I invite us to live into: may love, compassion, and curiosity guide us in our journey. Amen and amen.
Editor’s note: ‘All Shall Be Well’ is a column written by local women clergy including ELCA Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, M.Div., retired (czoebidd@gmail.com); Pastor Nicolé Ferry, Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church (pastornicole@bethluth.com); The Rev. Lynn Finnegan, Associate Rector, The Episcopal Church of the Holy Faith, Santa Fe (rev.lynn@holyfaithchurchsf.org); Pastor Deb Church, White Rock Presbyterian Church (pastor@wrpchurch.com) and The Rev. Mary Ann Hill, Rector, Trinity on the Hill Episcopal Church (momaryannhill@gmail.com) and Deacon Amy Schmuck, Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church (deaconamy@bethluth.com).