Children's Candlelight Celebration

Yesterday afternoon, our family had the joy and privilege of celebrating the Easter season and the Resurrection with the families of small children in our church. We gathered at the Baptismal Font at the front of the church where each child was given a special item to carry in the procession (Bible, cross, prayer card, tulip, altar cloth). A couple of teachers began by holding up the Easter candle, declaring the Risen Christ to be the Light of the World. The candle was lit, and we processed through the church to the center of the sanctuary and the altar, stopping three times along the way. Each time we stopped, the candlebearer sang "The Light of Christ" and we responded "Thanks be to God".

The children set the altar and put their flowers in vases at the foot of the altar. Then, three of the older children (who just last year couldn't read) read from the Bible. They did so with such dignity, reverence, and applomb! I read the gospel account of the women finding the empty tomb and the declaration of the risen Christ. The candle-bearer lit each of the teachers' candles from the Easter candle, and we in turn lit those of the parents and children attending. As we lit each candle, we declared, "___ (person's name), the light of the Risen Christ is for you." After a few moments of reflection and song, we put our candles into buckets of sand, still lit, and sang "This Little Light of Mine". We processed out of the church with this song and went to eat a potluck (filled with child-friendly and parent-friendly foods) together. (Don't worry, a teacher extinguished the candles as soon as everyone was out of the room. In our training, you never extinguish the "light of Christ" symbolized in the lit candles in front of the children. It's very traumatic.)

As one parent said after the service, "that was so moving. It is so special to have the families with small children together to celebrate in the church, without having to worry about kids running about or what people think." And I added, "and to have the service presented by them and at their developmental level. " Talk about creating a feeling of home and community and belonging for children!

Probably the most beautiful moment of the service to me was when little Arthur (a 5 year old autistic boy) came up to the altar as we were singing "This Little Light of Mine", put his hands over his ears, and stared at the lights and the altar. I am grateful for a faith community that welcomes all children (and all people) as they are, to celebrate as they are able with all others.

This program has been a Godsend to our church, nurturing the relationships of these children with God (and nurturing their families, too). This has been Memphis' first year in the program, and her comments and insights have floored us frequently. For instance, she was captivated by the reading of the Last Supper account on Holy Thursday in church, and later reenacted it with me in private, declaring "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again!" (This is an active THREE year old paying close attention in church!) The cross holds no guilt or negative feelings for her, but resonates of love. It is a blessing to be present to witness her burgeoning faith and to be a student as much as a teacher.