Interview with Rev. Gail Cullerton,

Aart: Gail, thank you for contributing to this coach’s corner.  I notice you always coach children and youth very well for special worship services. You also always say what’s on your mind and I take it you want to get something off your chest about children in church.

Gail: that’s right. To begin with, I think children are not the just the future of this church as people and you say, but they are the “now” of the church.

Aart: During last week’s discovery table I asked the youth if they ever felt like a stranger in this church and they said they never did. They seemed to think it was a strange question. I said we never wanted them to feel like a stranger. I have gotten pretty good feedback over the years about how we make children and youth feel important and special. But I guess there is more we can do? And come to think of it, there were times when we used to do more.

Gail: We look lovingly at these young people that surround us during Discovery Table time and social hour, but do we all know them by name and what grade he or she is in?   What is their favorite subject? Why do they come to church?  One young person said, “It’s just what we do!” Yes, family brings them, but how are they a part of this family? They bring special gifts to us. Young people look at worship with new eyes. They bring things to learn but they also bring things for us to learn. They bring to us a new inquisitives. Why do we do that which we do?  It causes us to reflect.

Aart: So you are saying that beyond making them less peripheral to worship, we need their input and participation?

Gail: Yes, they bring joy. It could be fun to worship…..lighten the ambiance.
Help us to see worship with new understanding. They understand the world differently from how we do.  What do they see and hear as mission and ministry?

Aart: People often say they like discovery table. The youth do bring new perspectives. They keep me off balance. I think the congregation kind of enjoys that. As a worship leader I think that means you give up control and I think that is healthy as worship is not about our control, but about God’s grace. The message isn’t always as tidy as we want it to be. Much like life.

Gail: Exactly, I think children and youth need to know that life and worship are not always a neat package. It can only work if they understand what moves us. They need to learn the rhythm of worship…..the prayers….the songs. They need to learn that we bring our happiness and our sadness to this community. We pray for people. They need to learn that they are part of the whole community of God and because we worship, we go out to serve?

Aart: I welcome your input. I am very concerned about Sunday school time for the littles ones right now, to make church part of the rhythm of their life. That’s s why I have been asking for volunteers to work with them once a month like Julie Chew does and so parents can relax in worship, but I see that you want children and youth to be more part of our own spiritual rhythm, that they learn that way. I’ll give you the last word.

Gail: May God bless our ministry. Isn’t that what you say. And “See you in church, Aart.”