A synopsis of the “A Message for All Ages” I presented to our congregation’s children (and adults) on January 22, 2017.
I attended the “Women’s March for America” in Boston yesterday. It was not easy to get to because Boston’s Public Transportation system was overwhelmed by how many people were trying to go, but it was well worth the hassle it took to get there.
I thought it would be good to show you a slideshow of some of the things I saw, as well as talk about what that March means for us and our neighbors.
(That slide show is available here: 2017-01-21-womens-march-boston.)
The points made in the discussion and “Question and Answer” session that followed included:
- Many people were there because of how they or others they love are being treated. They were upset, and, they had a right to be, because much of what was said in our recent election was scary to a lot of people, and they are worried about what might happen to them.
- And yet, despite being so crowded and being there for a very long time, everyone was kind to one another. If someone started getting uncomfortable, others did everything they could to help, including making room so that people could leave – which was not easy to do given how everyone was packed together so tightly! (I saw examples of this with older folks, people who don’t like crowds, children, pregnant mothers.)
- When people needed help, like picking up something that dropped, or holding a baby, their neighbors in the crowd did what they could to help them.
- People came together there in the Boston Common that day, and many other places (including here in Pittsfield) because they care about each other. They want to show the world that they care about their neighbors. They want to make a difference.
- (To the children) Many of your parents (and grandparents), including many of the people here in our church today, witnessed similar great things when they were young, like the Civil Rights and Anti-Vietnam demonstrations in the 1960’s and 1970’s. They remember those events as important points in their lives. Those events helped them see how great this country is, and that it is a country filled with wonderful people: people are determined to do the right thing and to take care of their neighbors.
- And, I think that the yesterday’s demonstrations and marches may be the same thing for you. They mark the beginning of a time of great change, and will define what the world will be like when you are grown up. So, I think that when you’re grown up, you’ll like back at these times and be very, very proud that this church, and many people you know, were part of it. And, I know that someday you’ll be there alongside us, working to help others too.
- I am very hopeful because of what I saw in Boston yesterday: people coming together to support each other and take care of each other.
- This is a great country, filled with wonderful, caring, loving people. And because of that, we can be sure that things are going to turn out all right.
– Pastor Allen
Delivered at ARK Community Church, Dalton MA, Sunday, January 22, 2017 (Third Sunday after Epiphany).
Copyright (c) 2017, Allen Vander Meulen III.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
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