Baby Steps

A couple years ago now, one of my daughters was invited to a classmate's birthday party. We had to reschedule a couple of things to make it happen, but my daughter really wanted to go so we did what we had to do. When I called to let the parents know that Mary would be coming, the Dad told me that some of the kids at school had been mean and spiteful to his daughter. They were saying that no one wanted to go to her party so why bother having one. Apparently some of the girls she had invited had already called to say no, they couldn't come for whatever reason. So the Dad said that his daughter would be really excited that Mary was coming. Was I ever glad we had gone to the trouble (though not too much trouble at all, really) to change things around so Mary could go!

Can you imagine inviting a bunch of "friends" to your birthday party and no one came? There is something deeply meaningful about having a group of friends gather to not only celebrate with you, but to celebrate you on your birthday. As we move from "Birth" to the next stage of spiritual growth this week ("Infancy"), one thing we see is the importance of celebrating new birth. A baby's most important emotional need is to be loved unconditionally, to be celebrated simply for being alive. This love and celebration is not dependent on what the baby has done or will do. Family and community express to a baby that s/he is precious, wanted, and an incredible joy. If a child doesn't receive this kind of love and affirmation as an infant, its emotional growth will forever but stunted as a result. They will be more guarded, less able to share joy and love with others, and much more besides.

This need to celebrate new birth also holds true when it comes to spiritual birth and growth. "Baby" Christians also need to be celebrated, to be loved unconditionally, and to be joyfully accepted into the "family" or community. Of course, knowing and experiencing the unconditional, unfailing love of our Heavenly Father is critical to this. But this love and celebration also needs to be embodied by the church (i.e. the "body of Christ").

Isn't it interesting, then, that an informal lunch and skating party has been organised for this Sunday, completely separately from this series of messages? One of our Community Groups decided recently to host this event and to extend an invitation to the congregation, and especially to the newer people and families among us. God certainly does have a neat way of pulling these kinds of things together sometimes! So, whether you like to skate or not, please join us on Sunday after church for lunch, skating (weather permitting), games, conversation, and plenty of celebration! (Directions will be available at church Sunday morning.)