And how are the children...

Rev. Dr. Terrill Murff

Some of you are familiar with the intelligent African tribe called the Maasai. These fearsome and mighty warriors have a tradition of greeting one another by asking: "Kasserian Ingera"...which means...

"And how are the children?" 

It is still the traditional greeting among the Maasai, acknowledging the high value that the Maasai always place on their children's well-being. Even warriors with no children of their own would always give the traditional answer, "All the children are well." Meaning, of course, that peace and safety prevail, that the priorities of protecting the young, the powerless, are in place. That Maasai society has not forgotten its reason for being, its proper functions and responsibilities. "All the children are well" means that life is good. It means that the daily struggles for existence do not preclude proper caring for their young. 

I wonder how it might affect our collective consciousness of our own children's welfare, if in our daily existence, we would greet each other with this daily question: "And how are the children?" I wonder, if we heard that question and consciously passed it along to each other a couple times a day, if it would begin to make a difference in the reality of how children are thought of, and cared about in our own households, communities, cities and beyond?

I wonder what our households, communities and townships would be like, if every adult, every parent and non-parent alike, felt an equal weight for the daily care and protection of all the children in our community, in our town, in our state, in our country.

I wonder...if we began every worship service by answering the question, "And how are the children?" what would be our response?

The truth of the matter is that... the children are NOT well!  

The Church has a responsibility to nurture and care for the vulnerable amongst us! What can we (each church) start to do, to create peace and safety (to protect the young and powerless) as we approach the start of a new school year? 

I wonder what our households, neighborhoods, communities, cities and beyond would look like if we could truly say without any hesitation, "The children are well, yes, all the children are well."

I wonder...

2022 National ONA Gathering

August 5-7, Virtual

National ONA Gathering is the biennial family reunion of the Open and Affirming movement in the United Church of Christ! This virtual Gathering is our first since the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020. Members of any church - ONA or not-yet ONA - are invited to attend. Expect a celebration with exuberant music and inspiring preaching. 

This year is the 50th anniversary of the ONA Coalition’s founding in 1972 - and the Rev. William R. Johnson’s ordination as the first openly gay man chosen for Christian ministry earlier that year. The theme, “Shaping Generations,” will celebrate our movement’s founders - among them, Bill Johnson, the Rev. Anne Holmes, Ann B. Day and Donna Enberg - and many others. We’ll celebrate contemporary ONA ministries throughout the church and say farewell to our Executive Director, the Rev. Andy Lang, who retires from his ministry as Executive Director at the end of the year. Click here to learn more/register.

Info Session on Mental Health

July 27 at 10 AM CST

Join Advocate Aurora Health for an online information session to learn about mental health supports and resources you can use in your community. Learn about:

• The new 988 Suicide and Crisis Dialing Code
• The Advocate Aurora Health Local Services Guide.
• Aurora Healing and Advocacy Services
• Advocate Trauma Recovery Center

Sign-up to participate here.

Other mental health resources:

• Tips for Faith Leaders
• Words Matter: Terms to use and avoid
• Suicide Prevention bulletin insert

Our Faith Our Vote Webinar

Throughout Scripture and in the teachings of Jesus, we hear the faithful call to be in just, compassionate, right relationship with each other. So discipleship draws us to engagement with our common life - what we call the political process - as the way we order our relationships.

The Thursdays for the Soul UCC webinar on July 21st was an opportunity to learn how the UCC "Our Faith Our Vote" campaign can be integrated into congregational life and shape congregational identity, complementing and amplifying other congregational covenants like Open and Affirming and Just Peace.

If you were unable to attend, you can watch the recording here. 

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FAITHFUL FRIDAYS is published by the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ, 1840 Westchester Blvd, Suite 200, Westchester, IL 60154. The Rev. Molly Carlson, Conference Minister; Sarah Lohrbach, Editor. Copy may be sent to: [email protected].