As noted yesterday, this morning we held the monthly All Ages Gathering and our Theme was “Joy”. We looked at Joy as a Spiritual Discipline, which can make a sound undergirding for us as we enter into the Lenten Season.Despite a horrible blizzard there was a good turnout and an air of organised chaos reigned throughout the morning!
We sang, we watched this video, we ate mini-cupcakes. Nick and Norman (with the help of Nick’s Muppet style puppet- Bud) had a three-way interview on the topic of “Joy versus Happiness”, we made Joy banners and Lenten Prayer cards, and with Blair as “Gamemaster” 3 Teams worked to match Bible quotes with references, gluing them onto balloons and finally selecting their favourite verse to share with everyone. We joined in prayer and finally we sang again.
Balloons were popping everywhere! It was wild and zooy, but in our own quirky way, I pray it did honour our Lord; a Lord who endured even death on the cross for-“the Joy to come”.The Toumis so kindly drove me home and then there was more shovelling and a blizzardy Wil walk. Trudging through the snow covered streets I took time to reflect on the morning and to consider if the criteria of true worship had been met, and also how we, as a community, can grow by sharing in what might be considered by critics to be somewhat unorthodox times of worship.For me, personally, it is not a cut and dried case of success or failure but more an urgent desire to see the fruits of such an experience. People offering to bake cupcakes, or spending time during the week sourcing Bible verses and prayers and Norman sharing his mother’s special words of wisdom- “Happiness Happens, Joy Overflows”. Watching people working together gluing banners or matching Bible verses, toddlers laughing and engaged with adults.
Did “Joy overflow” in St. Stephen’s House on this cold winter morning? And did the sound of our Joy reach the ears of our Lord and make Him smile too?
I hope so!