Streams of Mercy
In the early 1970s, fresh out of college and filled with the hope that I could be a part of making the world a better place, in addition to teaching in our local elementary school, I became part of an after-school program for children in my home town, a little community nestled in the mountains of southeastern Kentucky. The program was an ecumenical effort of Presbyterian, Methodist, Episcopal, Catholic and Disciples of Christ churches, and the local African American churches of many denominations as well.
We called ourselves “The Thursday Afternoon Program” or “TAP.” Children would come after school on Thursdays for Bible study, with a rotation of Music, Recreation, Drama, and Crafts from week to week. We also had a time of helping with homework and we had supper together, sitting at the table with “our TAP family.” Many families had three generations involved in this effort – for example, my mother helped with the music, I was one of the teachers, and my children, in years to come, would be a part of TAP as well. The program ran for 13 years, and as the children reached Junior High age, they moved up to become a part of the Saturday Night Youth Group. From that group of “TAP” children came the next Superintendent of Schools, several physicians and nurses, teachers, health care workers, and many others whose lives were the fruit of our efforts together during those years.
I remember thinking that this was the best of my “church” experiences at that time – working together with all kinds of folks in all kinds of ways, neighbors helping neighbors, meeting mid-week during the busy-ness of all our lives. I remember one year our lessons were from the Book of Acts, and how the children loved acting out the stories of the early church recorded in that book. Everything about each lesson was so alive, real, and believable!
This summer, I’m preaching on “Love’s New Day” – the early church’s call in Christ’s commission to preach the gospel “in Jerusalem, in all Samaria and all Judea and to the ends of the earth.” As I prepare from Sunday to Sunday, I’m remembering those children all those years ago and the lessons we learned, shared and lived together.
We sang “Scripture Songs” in those days, and I remembered one and shared it in worship yesterday. The song comes from Acts 3, telling the story of the lame man who was healed by Peter and John at the gate to the temple which was called Beautiful:
“Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have, give I thee!
In the name of Jesus Christ, of Nazareth, rise up and walk!
He went walking and leaping and praising God!
Walking and leaping and praising God!
In the name of Jesus Christ, of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”
It was a blessing to me as the Jackson Springs congregation stood and “echoed” this song back to me – as we all made our “lame” attempts at “walking and leaping and praising God!” How very special to share this memory with God’s children in another time and place, and to ponder once more just what the church has to “give” to a world so in need!
“Such as I have, give I thee,” Peter said to the lame man. “In the name of Jesus Christ, of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” Just how can we flesh out those words in daily life? Just how can we “in Jesus’ name” give, so that others can move toward healing and wholeness? Is it about feeding the hungry or providing affordable housing and health care? Is it about addressing the problem of addiction and mental health issues by providing care for treatment and recovery and rehabilitation? Is it about encouraging and supporting parents and children at risk? Is it about working with other churches in our area to make life better for our neighbors?
“Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful.
Kindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created.
And You shall renew the face of the earth.”
I give thanks for memories of God at work in the past, for the possibilities of God at work today, for the promise that in time, God will make all things new, and for those “streams of mercy, never ceasing.”
Elizabeth