We Belong to Each Other | God Calls Samuel

The story of God calling Samuel, in 1 Samuel chapter 3, is one of my favorite Bible stories of all time, for a couple of reasons. One, Samuel is a kid — he’s maybe nine years old. And second, Eli is an old priest. Samuel and Eli work together and learn from each other, so that God’s message and God’s kingdom can move forward. There’s a lot of change for Eli, which is uncomfortable, and it’s uncomfortable for Samuel to deliver God’s message. But he does it, and God’s kingdom moves forward.

I want to share a couple of ways I’ve seen the young and the old work together to further God’s kingdom here at St. Andrew. First, Frankie Vores is a fourth grader who knows how to livestream worship services and has done it when the regular team isn’t available. A fourth grader livestreaming — amazing. Second, Tegan and Annsley Phillips, who are in fourth and seventh grade, have led the congregation in singing, which just blows my mind — that they have the confidence and the ability and the drive to do that for our congregation.

Another example is Wednesday night dinners. This amazing feast for a couple hundred people would not happen unless we had all generations working together. And finally, maybe the most poignant for me, is Vacation Bible School. We have kids of all ages starting in middle school, high schoolers, parents, grandparents, and even empty nesters come together for a week in the summer to do ministry with and for young children as young as age three. It’s truly a multi-generational event, sharing God’s love in the world.

So all of us, all generations, need each other — and God calls all of us to work together because we belong to each other. So maybe my question for you today is: who, across a generation or two from your own, can you get to know, and figure out what you might do together in God’s kingdom?

Thanks be to God. Amen.