We arrived and the kids decided to be more antsy than usual. Before having a moment to react, Ulrich swooped them up and took them to the nursery leaving me alone in the pew. It was an odd feeling. Andrew does not do well in church nurseries so, for nearly the past year, I've left service with him at some point and gone away to meditate on my own -- either rocking him in the nursery or sitting outside and watching him play in the church garden. I have come to find these moments to be very worshipful as quiet times when I can meditate.
So today, alone in church as a grown-up felt a little different. They began the readings -- John 3. I smiled -- "It's a John year"
The church has a standard set of readings, known as the lectionary, that most of the main denominations use to guide worship throughout the year. There are 3 different sets of readings which rotate annually. Three different Christmas readings, three different Easter readings, etc. Because of this blog and my particular affinity to the season of Lent, I know the Lenten readings well and my favorite set of readings comes when the lectionary focuses on the chapter of John. This year is a John year.
The readings from John reflect deep transformation by way of grace -- Nicodemous in the garden, the samaritan woman at the well, the blind man, the raising of Lazarus. Jesus meets humanity where it is and transforms it with an invitation to step in to grace.
I settled into my seat preparing myself for a sermon that I knew would inevitably focus on transformation and grace. I smiled. A small sign that God is with me on this journey.
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