Reckless Abandon

Today’s letter is a simple message- a celebration of twirls and swirls, of children’s laughter and unfettered joy in the house of the Lord. I want to celebrate the sights and sounds of Vacation Bible School- 2025 that still echo through the halls of Lenape Valley.

• This week Lenape Valley was the best dressed church in America! Bears, moose, Alaskan Huskies and king crabs gave our groups their identity, their sign and their sound. Many thanks to our inhouse artists who brought those characters into living color. Imagine our little ones barking, our K-1 class clicking their claws, our 2-3 rd graders growling like bears, and our toocool-to move 5-6 th graders giving their mooooooooooose cry. At every turn, scenes from Alaska inspired our imaginations, with tables covered in shimmering rainbow tablecloths to simulate the aurora borealis, Christmas evergreens brought down from the attic, and a cabin on the stage. But it was the pink kayak in the lobby that became the centerpiece of fun as children posed for pictures.
• Many thanks to the army of volunteers who helped to bring True North to life for our children. Our people showed up with more hands than we needed. It’s true, many hands make light work. When we baptize a child, we make a commitment to help raise that child in the faith. This past week our people answered that call, three generations serving side by side, experience and energy, with one shared purpose- to love our children into the arms of Jesus. A special thanks to our fearless leaders- Amie Bolger and Laura Cooney who spent the year preparing so that we could serve successfully.
• The Youth Room was the site of Crafts. Our oldest children worked with wood to create a masterpiece to keep on their shelf for years to come. Our younger ones found joy with a piece of white tile. They were instructed to scribble all over the face of the tile. (This was my kind of art- no talent necessary!) The tile was spritzed with 81% rubbing alcohol, and then the magic began as each child gently tilted their tile from side to side. Suddenly the chaos of misdirected lines became a swirl of color to mirror the night lights of the northern sky.
• The music of the week still rings in my ears. I loved the simplicity of the new-fangled ditties with enough energy to light New York City.

My God is powerful, He stands invincible.
I will hold onto Him. I will hold onto Him.
Through God, I will overcome.
He’s the rock that will never move.
I will hold onto Him. I will hold onto Him!

The sign for “God” reminded us that our God, who reigns in heaven, so loved the
world that He came to walk with us here on earth. I will leave you to imagine the sign
for “powerful.”

And how beautiful to see our children sing the meaningful words of the old standards
of the church like Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus:

The sign our children learned for “trust” had us reaching up to heaven and pulling in all that Jesus has to offer. And the sign for “Jesus” reminded us of the nails that pierced His hands for our sake. With each song, the good news was woven into the hearts and minds of our children.

• But I must admit that my greatest joy came in watching our children dance. Yes, there was dancing in the sanctuary at Lenape Valley! I know we are a Presbyterian church. Known affectionately as the Frozen Chosen. We know the rules. Stand stoically still while you sing. Heaven forbid the body participate in the experience of worship! But our children haven’t heard that message, so they danced before the Lord with reckless abandon, like David danced before the Ark of the Covenant. When David’s wife Michal criticized him for being undignified, his response as he continued to dance before the Lord: “I am willing to look even more foolish than this!” (II Sam 6:22) As adults, we know the rules of acceptable society. But our children threw caution to the wind, spending the week celebrating with every ounce of their being.
• Each night our children were asked to share their God sightings. Hands shot up all around the sanctuary, children eager to share their encounter with God. Today, my hand is up, because I saw the face of Jesus in every dancing child, every willing volunteer, every grateful parent, and now in you.

I hope the twirls and swirls continue with reckless abandon!

With you celebrating joy in the house of the Lord!
Anita