Introduction
As a kid, I was a Cub Scout. Probably no surprise there to anyone who knows me. I don’t remember a whole bunch about the activities (except I was terrible at Pine Wood Derby) but I do vividly remember the pins you got for your uniform, especially the bobcat and wolf pins. You started with Bobcat but had to earn a Wolf badge. I remember thinking I would do whatever it took to get one. I wanted to be the kind of kid who had one on his uniform. I thought it would mark me as a certain kind of person, the kind I wanted to be.
This Sunday we’re going to have our very first Vine and Branch Sprouting Ceremony. While we won’t have pins, we will have ways to recognize each of our younger members in ways that affirm and celebrate their presence and importance in our community. Our hope and prayer is that each of them will feel profoundly a part of our little church as well as imagine their continuing place with us as they grow, that they can imagine who they want to become and they experience belonging.
All of the rest of us have a big part to play in this so I’m asking you to make every effort to be a part of this special day.
Grace and peace y’all
John Ray and the teaching team
Text:
Philemon Letter to Vine & Branch Church:
Lord’s Prayer
Christ, who taught us to pray saying:
Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread and forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who’ve sinned against us.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory forever. Amen.
