I am not afraid

There are a number of images of Jesus that resonate with children and have been part of Christian tradition for centuries: Jesus the Good Shepherd…the True Vine…the Paschal Lamb…the Light of the World. In the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS), a faith formation process at Beloved we call “FaithQuest” (offered weekly at Beloved Garden), all these themes are lifted up in various ways over the developmental life stages of children.

Sofia Cavalletti, a renowned Hebrew scholar in the Roman Catholic tradition, and Gianna Gobbi, an Italian woman trained in the Montessori educational philosophy by Dr. Montessori herself, developed this religious formation process more than fifty years ago. The process balances and, at the same time, links presentations from scripture with practices of liturgy that are presented to the child, aged 3-15, as they request new information.

What’s remarkable in the development of CGS is watching how the continuing scientific evidence regarding brain/social/psychological development correlates with observations of both Montessori and CGS trained adults in their work with children over the years. For example, the CGS process for 3-6 year old children focuses on the story of Jesus, the Good Shepherd who calls you by name and cares for his sheep. What leaders in various scientific and social fields acknowledge is that this age child needs, craves and thrives on safety and security. The founders of CGS can validate this belief because over the last fifty years that is exactly what they observed and continue to observe. Children around the world in numerous countries, across all socio-economic backgrounds, recognize and thrive on the secure love of Jesus the Good Shepherd even if they have never seen a sheep or encountered a shepherd.

The need for safety and security is one of the principle reasons that many of the great stories of the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) and even some from the New Testament are not shared with the children until they are at least nine years old. Those nine and up have a global capacity that allows perspective that younger children lack. For example, an older child is able to understand that the flooding in New Orleans is not a recreation of Noah’s flood, whereas a younger child in New Orleans, familiar with the story from chapters 6-9 of Genesis, would immediately believe she was in danger. When the New Testament story of The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32; sometimes called The Forgiving Father) is told to younger children, their focus is not on the repentant son, the forgiving father, or even the jealous older brother (who were the focus of Jesus’ parable). Upon hearing that the younger son repented and returned home, their concern and care for security is summed up in this cry: “But who looked after the pigs?”

Aware of this need for protection and knowing that we are in the Church’s season of Epiphany, which focuses on Jesus as the Light of the World, I recently shared a paraphrased version of a verse from Psalm 27 during the concluding prayer time at FaithQuest: “The Lord is my Light and my Salvation. I am not afraid of anything.” We concluded our prayer time by sharing those things we were all scared of (the dark; snakes; thunder; monsters under the bed; fathers’ angry tempers; etc.) and repeated the phrase out loud. Several weeks later the mother of a four-year-old FaithQuest child shared with me that 45 minutes or so after her bedtime ritual, her daughter appeared at the top of the stairs too scared to fall asleep. The mother offered a simple prayer of protection. As they said “Amen,” the child’s face beamed with a sudden look of understanding as she said, “Oh, I know exactly what to pray: ‘The Lord is my Light and my Salvation. I am not afraid of anything.’” This child, empowered from within by the secure presence of the Good Shepherd’s Light, skipped off to bed and went right to sleep.

Tomorrow, February 2, the Church brings to a close its celebration of Jesus’ birth. On this day when we commemorate that the forty-day old Jesus was presented in the Temple and was blessed by Anna and Simeon (Luke 2:22-40), remember that the Savior’s Light resides in you and is illuminated out of you. Pray that morning, and each morning, for God to present to you someone who needs to experience a blessing from that radiant Light…who needs to know that with that gracious Light, he or she has nothing to fear. Then be willing to offer God’s blessing wherever that person presents herself—at work, at school, in the neighborhood, or grocery store. And remember that with God’s Light, you, too, have nothing to fear.

Clifford King Harbin, pastor

Around Beloved…On Super Bowl Sunday, February 5, Beloved will participate in the Souper Bowl of Caring, a national effort to collect funds for local food banks around the nation. Make sure to bring some cash to throw in Beloved’s soup pot; all proceeds will be given directly to Charlotte’s Second Harvest Food Bank…Sunday Christian Formation for adults and children continues this Sunday…Fusion, Beloved’s combined youth gathering for those ages 9-15, will host a 1st half Super Bowl Party at Beloved Garden beginning at 6pm. Bring a friend and an appetizer to share with others…A few spaces are still available for the Spring Term of FaithQuest, Beloved’s midweek, interactive formation process for children ages 3-15. A check will reserve your child’s spot for the new session that begins next week. For more information about FaithQuest, click here…Link your Food Lion MVP Card to support the ministry of Beloved by clicking here…Join our pastor and priest as they attend Preparation for Life or Teaching to the Test?, a presentation for parents of school-aged children on Friday February 17, 7:30pm at the Westin Hotel in uptown Charlotte. Speaking will be Lynn Lawrence, Director of Training and Schools at the Maria Montessori Institute in the United Kingdom. Refreshments will be served; $10 per person or $15 per couple. Advance tickets can be purchased from Beloved Garden through February 10th or can be purchased at the door.

A Spiritual and Physical house cleaning…Beginning in March, our focus as a congregation shifts to a time of spiritual preparation and “house cleaning” as we prepare for the celebration of Easter. Two weeks of this season, from Sunday, March 5 – Saturday March 18, we have a wonderful opportunity to transform spring-cleaning into a spiritual exercise as we pray and meditate while we clear out the physical clutter in our lives. Any item (or bundle of items) that are worth $30 or more can be sold on eBay and used to further fund Church of the Beloved’s ministries! “I Sold It” is an organization owned by Gina Dalma that will place items on eBay for sale. She will research prices, photograph the item, list it, sell it, ship it and worry about collecting the money for it. We will receive about 70% of the sales generated. It's a great time to begin thinking about items you may have around your home that you no longer need or use. Wedding gifts you have never used? Clothing you haven't worn in a while? Jewelry? Duplicate gifts you have received? Items can be taken to her store 1630 East Woodlawn Road, or if that isn't possible, brought to church for us to take to the store for you. Remember the words of Antoine de Saint-Exupery: “A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral.” Barb Johnston has volunteered to help any who need assistance sorting through their clutter for saleable items. Our thanks to Ann Calandro and the Funding Team for this innovative opportunity!

Beat those Super Bowl Blues…Yes, the bad news is that the Carolina Panthers lost the NFC Championship. The good news is that there is always next year, watching the 2007 Super Bowl on the 42” plasma HDTV you or your friend will win from Beloved’s raffle (to be given away this year when all 1000 tickets are sold). Because the donor is a national vendor, we are able to sell a raffle ticket to anyone residing in the continental United States. We are grateful to Fred Mellon who secured this generous donation and who is coordinating this effort on behalf of the funding team. It’s time to make the investment in selling the remaining $20 tickets. Remember that in 2006 we will not receive any outside financial assistance for Fr. Derek’s salary, so let’s further the mission of Beloved with a beginning of the year cash infusion and make next year’s Super Bowl Sunday a high-def one as someone watches the Panthers make it to the big game once again! For tickets to sell or purchase, please see Fred at worship on Sundays or click here.

Serving at God’s Altar this Sunday at Beloved…Acolytes: Caley Scheppegrell, Jake Scheppegrell, Emily Scheppegrell; Raquanza Miller; Reader: Anna Moore; Presenters: Craig & Marilyn Doyon; Eucharistic Ministers: Anna Moore & Mary Reid; Offertory Basket Passers: Kameryn Fincher, Hannah Friend, Jeremy Lamb, Benjamin Lamb; PowerPoint: Cyteria Knight & Kevin Krantz.

In our Prayers…for Todd Atwood who is working in London and for Catherine, Cecilia and Trinity Atwood who are flying to meet him for some sightseeing in London and Paris…for those serving in Iraq, especially Tom Friend and Scott, Dan Hood's brother…for Nancy and Tony Hodgson's granddaughter, Emily, whose health is rapidly deteriorating…for Deacon Deb during her respite month of leave from Beloved to allow her health to improve…for Marilyn Doyon and Marie Duty who are expecting babies this upcoming year…for Janie Lownes as she recovers from back surgery and for Jessie Powell who struggles with back pain…for Dorothy, Mary Reid's sister who is fighting lung cancer…for Ed and Jean, Dick Reif’s parents who are in declining health in Oklahoma…for Richard, Ginger Leppert’s father, who is recovering from surgery…for Bill, Lee Frickhoeffer’s uncle who has terminal cancer…for Lauren Skrobot as she undergoes medical testing.

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