Dear saints,

Yesterday, Ellis Hall was packed with parents and grandparents, teens and toddlers, and an array of parishioners enjoying every minute of the Children's Musical led by our Primary and Junior Choirs. It was also Karol Kimmell's final production in this her swan song year at All Saints' before she moves into a well-earned retirement in the early summer. 

As I sat there, I couldn't help but let my mind wander to think of the hundreds of children who have stood before similarly packed rooms over the years under Karol's leadership, and also the hundreds of children and youth who call this church home today. 

In a very real sense, the future of our block is their future. The children and youth of this parish are most certainly the church of today, but they and their children, and not us, will be the church of tomorrow.

What might we imagine with them in mind? 

That is a practical question, of course, but it is also a theological one. A favorite story of mine from a children's art class is of a precocious child who is asked by his teacher who he is drawing. 

"God," he says matter-of-factly. 

"Well, no one knows what God looks like," his teacher replies.

"They will in a minute," the young lad shoots back.

Children have little sense of inhibition when it comes to matters of faith. They have a lot to teach us. Over these next few weeks we will be sure to ask the children of our parish what they sense God calls us to be on this block. We'll ask what it means for them to belong to this community. We'll ask them what God looks like through their eyes. 

In a way, the work of discernment isn't work at all; it's holy play. One of the more disappointing consequences of being an adult is that we forget how to play and imagine and dream in the way children do.

So, let's get some help. If there's a child somewhere in your life, ask them about who they know God to be, and how they have come to know that because of our church's life. Pick up some wonder with your coffee at the start of an adult's busy week and see what it does for you. 

"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." (Jeremiah 33:3)

Keep on dreaming.