Of Quilts and Being Stitched Together

For those in Presbyterian circles, this past Sunday was General Assembly, our national meeting of clergy and elders to learn and discern about denominational concerns. I had the privilege of leading worship at a church whose minister was attending GA.

While denominational identity is not as important as it used to be, for many children and youth it can be hard for them to realize just how big their church actually is. There are between 750 and 900 different congregations that are part of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, although we are related to other reformed and non-reformed churches as well through common faith in Christ.

It is a good thing to find time to talk about how the church works and how we do projects together across the country or in regions or with others in the neighbourhood. It’s important that we don’t feel alone in our struggles and that we don’t feel the need to be all things to all people because we can’t. God has put other churches around us to give us strength and which we can strengthen as well.

It is good to celebrate our history and where we came from originally. It is good to know why we are different from the other church down the block or across town. It is okay to celebrate our differences and individual flavour while also celebrating the good things that God does through others. Just like individuals in churches have differing gifts, churches themselves also contribute vital things that vary widely according to their own gifts.

Whenever you find the time to honour the relationships you have with others in your denomination and to acknowledge the other churches around you, consider doing any of the following with your learners:

1. Bring in a handmade quilt, preferably full of many colours. Talk about how all the pieces contribute to the whole and ask what colours they see. Talk about the variety of churches in the denomination and where they are across the country. Talk about what a quilt is for and brainstorm ways that the national church is like a quilt. Pray to thank God for the gifts in your own church and the broader church.

2. Take a walk around your downtown or any area where you live that has churches of different backgrounds. Take a moment to do any or all of these things as you stop at each one – pray for those who lead and worship there, meet the minister or someone else actively involved and briefly find out what is important to that church right now, ask questions about what the church believes or how it does things, have learners do a google search or other research about a church in their town or a denomination and share what they find during the walk, celebrate any connections that exist between your own church and the ones you encounter (i.e. both taking turns at the soup kitchen, joint kids’ programs or worship services, collecting items for those in need, etc.)

3. Have a special guest with history savvy congregation come and share the broad strokes of the history of your particular church and/or the church as a whole. Find a good, colourful timeline showing the development of the church and its different denominations. Talk about the good things that came out of churches separating due to differences of opinion and the bad things that come out of constantly splitting up.

4. Find a map of Canada and put pins on it for places that people have visited a church in your denomination. If there are places special to your learners and adults (i.e. denominational camps or retreat centres, and mission projects) put a different coloured pin. You can label all pins if you wish. Talk about how Jesus’ love reaches across Canada through your own and other denomination’s churches and extends around the world.

5. Talk about the words that are specific to your denomination and how it operates. For Presbyterians (PCC), we have General Assembly, clergy or ministers and elders for a start, as well as Presbyteries and Synods. Depending on the age levels of each group, just knowing one or two of these well may be enough. Talk about how God works and speaks through people who have been given gifts to lead and serve.

So many important Bible stories and character traits and church and faith practices crowd our programs and curriculum that we can lose sight of our roots and our unique flavour in the Christian landscape. Be sure to take at least one Sunday or event a year to cover the basics and celebrate all that you are and have been called to be in community with other churches. Don’t leave it all for membership classes! And give thanks for all the connections that the church has brought into your own life as well.