How beautiful on the mountains
    are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
    who bring good tidings,
    who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
    “Your God reigns!”

Isaiah 52:7

If I was only able to publish just one photograph this week then this would be it (above). Would you look at these children! Life and enthusiasm and joy and excitement and concentration and determination and motivation and more!

Then, and I believe there is both poetry and theology to this, the fact of having the hunt in the old graveyard. I have written before about how the town deeded the Old Town Cemetery to our church, and how we transformed it into a park-like invitational space.

It is poetic to see an easter egg balance atop a tombstone – and good theology too; it is also true of the children playing there. Because the story of the gospel is the story of new life and eternal life and the continuation of real life beyond that thinnest of barriers – death.

So it was a huge statement of faith to see such beautiful children in and around the church, and spilling all over the grounds Sunday afternoon.

Other than the “and they’re off!” race through the gates for the older group, I think this photograph – featuring one of the children caught up in the ecstasy of play – is the most evocative. The innocence, the joy, the total commitment to the moment. I think we can all learn from this image.

Crafts and Lessons:

First, though, with the children gathered together inside the church hall, our children’s director Andrea had all kinds of activities and crafts prepared for them, and she gave them symbolic treats intended to help tell the difficult story of Holy Week.

But what a joyful and redemptive way for all of us to begin! The excitement of Palm Sunday in the morning, with the beauty of a baptism along with a sanctuary ringing with praise. Then all these children in the afternoon, telling the story of love and joy and God’s best for us in the innocence and the conviction of their immersion into play.

Over these next few days, then, let’s enter into these difficult moments of understanding Christ’s passion with renewed commitment and hope and belief. Because we have seen already how beautiful on the mountain are the feet of those who bring good news!

In love, and because of love – DEREK

Two sets of photographs: inside the church, then outside...