No Small Thing

“Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, “Where I am going, you cannot come.” I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another’” (John 13:33-35, NRSV.)

 Growing up, we were the family that attended church on Sunday mornings, Sunday evenings, and Wednesday nights. If the church doors were open, it was a pretty good bet the Burgess family was there. I knew the church layout by heart, all the familiar hymns, and what dishes went the quickest at the monthly congregational potluck. Most of all, I knew I was loved, and this is no small thing.

I write this message on the last day of Vacation Bible School. It is such a joy to hear the singing, see the smiling faces, and share in the learning going on in our facility this week. A small army of volunteers are making this a memorable week for church kids and guests from all over our community. The kids are growing through crafts, science, story time, and creative play. Some kids might forget the daily lesson, but I believe they will always remember they are loved at St. Mark, and this is no small thing.

 VBS wraps up at noon today, and the sanctuary will transform once again to its usual setup for Sunday worship. We have a service of “Witness to the Resurrection” on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. I talked with the families earlier this week about the upcoming funeral services, and the theme that came up repeatedly is how much these individuals loved St. Mark and how much they were loved in return. This is no small thing.

Sometimes, we look at the world’s problems and wonder how we can ever possibly make a difference. Walking through life can break our hearts. However, I believe there is good news all around for the youngest and oldest in our community. We can persevere in loving each other and the world in a wide variety of ways, and when we feel completely spent, we can come to our community of faith and be reminded of God’s eternal love for us. This is no small thing. It is everything!