Children at the Table

Last night, we had a great number of youth, children, and babies at St George's. Kenny, stricken with kidney stones--I guess he is that pissed off--would not address my request to invite youth to come celebrate. So I the vicar's wife--meek and mild, ever cooking, even cleaning, ever dutiful in caring for my spouse the priest (NOT!!!), got a little girl about five or six and invited her to the Table when the women tell me I am to go "help" KRK and be the deacon or something (tra la)....So I put my arms around hers and she did ALL the gestures with KRK and she helped me with the chalice. She returned to her seat and began to weep. I got dirty looks from Padre, but when I talked to her mom and her auntee and her sisters, she was crying because of the "Holy Things" she'd been doing...she got it and was overwhelmed! Her mother comes from a long line of Anglicans/Episcopalians and she, in tears, said, "I've never seen anyone do that." I told her of our experiences in two parishes where children were often or ALWAYS present at the Eucharistic Prayers. So I plan to continue this... LO! and behold, I discovered when she and I and her mother were going to extinguish candles, that she is the neice of one of my most favorite parishioners, one of those mighty Smiths who can perform miracles with two Panamanian women! Then I cried! It was one of those moments that make church for me. Her wee little brother, recently baptised, took wine on his mom's finger--which sent the rest of the parishioners into intinction (eye roll); he was outside during the Eucharistic prayer having a yelling spell. His mom could not believe I meant his voice--at whatever volume--was welcome. Otherwise I'd had HIM at the table, too! making gestures and crossing himself! So thank you Lou Lou and Miss L for all your love of children at the Table. And thank you faux-priest, Madre Caroline, for your work in children's services! Godly Play starts Lent I