Dear Family of St John’s
In my head I am still about 27 years old. I’m not sure why 27, that’s oddly specific, but that’s the number that resonates with me. It’s difficult to make this maths work though (even if you try to employ ‘girl-maths’) when your sons are 24 and 28. And, when you’re suddenly confronted with a spate of weddings for ‘children’ that are the same age as your sons. Two of the couples that I’m currently doing marriage prep with have grooms that went to school with my youngest. How is this possible, if I’m only 27?
And then, nothing makes you feel out of touch quite like a group of teenagers! For many years I thought I was keeping up, and still ‘cool’. Until one of my sons pointed out that I was only cool in my own mind. (I need to work on their manners!)
I spent the last weekend with our Confirmation Group at St Francis. I was very encouraged by the two boys I was lifting when, discussing music preferences, they told me that they both loved 80’s Rock. Yes! My music choice is still ‘cool’. That’s pretty much where it ended though.
But, what a fabulous group of kids. Spending time with them always fills my tank. Hearing their thoughts about faith and about God, listening to their questions, watching them joke around with each other – this makes me happy.
And, the time spent with the couples I’m preparing for marriage gives me joy. When I see that they are really spending the time to go through the material properly, and have the deep conversations with each other, when they’re open to talking about their feelings and expectations, I am encouraged.
Life is not easy. And, although our teenagers and soon-to-be-weds might not have the same concerns and responsibilities those of us who are a little older have, they also face challenges, and often carry very heavy burdens.
They’re navigating a world that is often loud, fast, and full of pressure – about who they should be, what they should look like, what they should believe. And amidst all that noise, they’re trying to figure out where God fits into their story – or more importantly, where they fit into God’s.
That’s where we come in.
As a church family, we have a vital role to play in encouraging, supporting, and praying for our young people. They need spaces where they can be heard without judgment, where their questions are welcomed, and where they can encounter the love of Christ – not just in words, but in the way we treat them and include them. Whether you’re chatting to them over tea after church, helping with youth events, or simply learning their names and saying hi – that matters more than you know.
And please pray for them. Pray for the young people preparing for Confirmation, for those entering the adventure of marriage, and for all those standing at the threshold of adulthood. Pray that they would grow deep roots of faith, discover their God-given purpose, and know that they are loved beyond measure – not just by us, but by the One who created them.
Paul writes to Timothy, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12, NIV)
Let’s be the kind of church that helps them do exactly that. And who knows – if they are still listening to 80’s rock, maybe I am still a little bit cool after all… even if only in my own mind!
With love,
Your friend and rector,
Claire