Water to Wine and Children's Ministry

Yesterday, I made double chocolate chip cookies to take to my square dance group.

As I put the ingredients on the counter and started measuring them and putting them in the bowl ready for the beaters, I thought about how amazing it is that white, tasteless shortening can transform other ingredients. Sugar, that on its own is hard and crunchy, after baking is undetectable in texture. Eggs that are icky and cold get incorporated and give body and flavour. Baking soda that tastes awful is what makes the cookies rise and have wonderful shape.

The everyday can be transformed. In the right conditions – amount, incorporation method, portioning, baking temperature and time – these ingredients can become something people line up to eat. The chocolate chips help too.

At the wedding at Cana, Jesus needed to be nudged by His mom to help the hosts avoid the embarrassment of having run out of wine during the festivities. He comes up with a solution that allows Him to, more or less, fly under the radar and not make a spectacle of Himself and the power of God within Him. He does His first miracle – turning water into wine – and the hosts save face. His mother is proud and the first disciples who were there with Him see and start to understand just how amazing He is.

Often children’s ministry staff and volunteers are expected to be miracle workers. Not only are the programs and ministries we do supposed to be incredibly engaging and able to compete with video games, electronic toys and the internet, but we’re supposed to be inclusive of all age levels and intellectual abilities, of kids who have never attended church before and don’t know who Jesus is to kids who’ve almost never missed a Sunday and are bored of the repetition, of kids who come broken and fearful or with behaviour challenges and kids who have never wanted for anything and have been taught to avoid their rougher peers. And all of this is to be done with often minimal budgets in a timeframe and with participants that change week to week, and with leaders who have busy lives and sometimes cancel at the last minute.

It is no wonder that turnover can be high in both volunteers and staff. It is no wonder that this can be discouraging and that burnout is a reality for some. And yet, if we are trusting in God that there is purpose to those who have been gathered in our particular context, and if our eyes are open to the people around us, often the ingredients are right there for Jesus to do the miraculous.

Sometimes the best helpers had no idea that this was a place God needed them and that their particular gifts would be an asset, even if just once in a while. Every child, no matter how challenging, brings something to the community that no one else can in the same way. If all participants and leaders and helpers are seen as essential ingredients, then they will all feel valued and will grow in their God-given gifts. If they are gently guided in their participation, stirred and folded together, then something miraculous often happens. God shows up in wonderful ways when our highest goal is honouring the Christ in each one in the group.

Take time to thank God for all of the participants and leaders in your children’s ministry programs and how they are growing in faith. Spend several minutes bringing each one to mind in turn and identify the unique gifts that they bring. Celebrate these rich gifts and be sure to acknowledge them to each person the next time you see them – “Jenny, thanks for your laughter and caring” or “Mike, thanks for listening to Joe on tough days” or “Ben, thanks for always sharing”. The miracle is how what may appear as insurmountable challenges or a rag-tag group of people from seemingly different planets can shine God’s love and joy when brought together. Only God can do that. Only in places breathed with God’s Spirit can we be united and our differences knit together to make us stronger.

Keep your eyes open for the many times that Jesus will take ordinary water and transform it into wine this year in your children's ministry. And when you notice each new miracle, record it, tell others about it, and celebrate God’s goodness and never-ending presence and love.