10/14/18 “Children’s Sabbath” by Chalice Overy and Tommy Cook

A long time ago, in a decade far, far away, May 25, 1977 to be exact, immerged a movie debut that would change the course of cinematic history. George Lucas brought us his first epic space opera “Star Wars, A New Hope.“

Scene One: Before being captured, Princess Leia records a distress message on a small astromech droid (R2D2) … then sends it on a mission to Ta Too ine to find Obi-Wan Kenobi. A few scenes later, Luke Skywalker (a force-sensitive human) purchases R2 and tag along protocol droid C3PO only to discover the message through R2D2’s holographic projector, “Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you’re my only hope.” repeats the Princess like a skipping record.

Children’s Sabbath, although it celebrates our children in their leadership in worship, is also is a distress call seeking hope for all children in a time when hope seems far, far away.
As for our Children here at Pullen, some which you have seen and heard this morning, they are our new hope. Children, you are not the church of the future, you are the church NOW. Our Children’s Committee and me along with unwavering support of our church staff and excellent volunteers, is committed to provide spiritual, emotional, social and communal growth to children and collaboration with parents.
In this very familiar scripture that Megan so eloquently read, Jesus’s followers try to keep the children away from him. I have heard or read that children, women along with slaves were viewed as physically weak burdens on society who had little value in Jesus’ time. Taking another look I found that in the Mediterranean world in which Jesus lived, children were greatly desired. Back then, more than half of the children born never reached puberty. Many died of diseases and of malnutrition. Children were cherished and scriptures that reference children convey an important message.

Because children are precious in his sight, Jesus reprimanded the disciples and called the children to join him. I have always tried to visualize what that scene might have looked like. Maybe Jesus had a child around his neck wanting a ride, or another child talking about her annoying brother. I picture laughter as Jesus told them silly stories.

But as I romanticize about what I would like for this narrative of Jesus with the children to be, I know that every day, through no fault of their own, little children face an empty breakfast table, substandard housing, unsafe neighborhoods, and inadequate schools. Children suffer mental illness without care, being sick and getting sicker without treatment. I remember the thousands of children who have been traumatized after being separated from their families when they crossed our border seeking safety, as of last month, more than 400 have not been returned to their parents’ arms. Where is the hope? Where is Jesus saying… let these little children come to me.

In his last sermon “Remaining Awake through a Great Revolution,” Dr. Martin Luther King challenged his listeners to “to rid our nation and the world of poverty.” The challenge was for us to work, serve, help, love, and march away a world of despair and turn it into hope.
Jesus, living in a different time, but in a time and place where poverty and injustice was great, taught us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger, take care of the sick and visit the imprisoned. As you visualize that scene of Jesus and the children, picture Jesus with children who are neglected, impoverished, failing to thrive due to lack of nutrition. See Jesus comforting children who’ve been taking away from their parents. Watch as Jesus holds a chronically ill child sick from the toxic effects of poverty. Jesus says… “let these little children come to me.”

Now picture yourself, with those same children. Though the despair is extensive, it is up to you and me to meet it with love, justice and action to bring about hope.