Last week was a wee bit exhausting… as one of my part-time jobs is working in a church as the children’s/youth worker and Paul goes to a different church for which we both volunteer with their youth group as well, I was a bit busy with church events spread out across the two churches. All in all, I worked 24 hours at OSP, volunteered about 20 hours at St. Philip’s and worked 21 hours at the holiday club for afterschool club. Meanwhile, most of the commuting between my two jobs was on foot – so I put in some serious walking miles last week too. Alot of the work was preparing for church events, but by Saturday morning – it was all go!
We ran a children’s stations of the cross at OSP in the morning. There is so much preparation leading up to such an event, but as the children learned about the Last Supper and planted flowers in the Easter Garden, it was such a joy to see their smiles and hear their questions as they tried to understand the Easter Story. It was particularly amazing to see our youngest participant really grasping the liturgy as he planted his handmade cross in the garden next to Jesus’s cross.
After that, I ran about getting supplies and things ready for the Easter Vigil youth event at St. Philip’s. At 9:30pm, as Paul and I sat outside the church waiting for the other leaders to arrive, I paused to enjoy the night sky and just sit in the quiet space before we were busy again. I knew that this was the last leg of the Easter Week Marathon and if I could just stay awake for another 17 hours…. I’d be able to get home to my bed and sleep and relax for a full day since Paul and I had Easter Monday off from work!
Soon enough, the leaders arrived and soon after that the young people too. Throughout the night we were busy with craft projects, acting, faith discussions, games and finished up with a beach campfire complete with smores! It was a busy night, and we were so tired, but it was so worth it to see the expressions on the teenagers faces as we gathered around the campfire for the sunrise Easter service. Yet again, these young people taught me far more than I could possibly teach them.
Two hours later, Paul was home for a nap and I was back at OSP to help with Easter Sunday Godly Play and creche time. As I worked with another volunteer to help the children decorate Easter Eggs, I was once again struck by the beauty of the moment as we talked about the symbolism of Easter Eggs with the youngest children of our church.
Lent was a busy time and Holy Week was definitely the busiest yet, but in the moments when I put away the “to-do list” and stopped thinking about the details, then I finally stopped trying to minister, and instead was ministered to. The saying I’ve heard so many times is so true - “Let Go, and Let God.” I really believe God did such amazing work this Easter with the children and young people we’re privileged to get to work with at both churches; and in the work God was doing for them, he also ministered to us as volunteers and leaders. This Easter, despite the amount of work and lack of sleep, I’ve come away feeling refreshed, inspired and with renewed hope and purpose. Thanks to God!
Happy Easter everyone!!
