June 11, 2021

Dearest Church Family,

Back in March of 2020, I gave my very first Children’s Message on Zoom. I wore a big, floppy hat and talked about how things would be “different for a while.” Who knew that the “a while” time would stretch on for 16 months.

I wonder how you felt then and how you may feel now. About 4 weeks ago, I will admit that I was feeling so tired…exhausted, and weary from doing things differently than what I would have preferred. I have really missed hugs, in-person conversations, and all of the beautiful and interactive moments of theological brilliance that come from our children at UCC.

I remembered something that I shared about 3 years ago and thought this might be a good time to share it again. Back in November of 2018, during the Time for Children, a young friend wondered so thoughtfully, and her parent agreed to let me share her beautiful words:
“I wonder if God is like the air around us.
God is with us everywhere we go.
And since God is love, love is all around us.
Love is what we breathe in and out.
And even when we have to hold our breath,
That air – God – love – is what fills our lungs.
We breathe in the love of God.
And as we exhale, that love will spread out into the world.

"How can we remain tired when we breathe God’s love in and out? While we have been apart, we have still been breathing. We breathed together on Zoom and through Facebook. We breathed in connections through phone calls and emails and texts and hand-written cards. This time of being “different for a while” didn’t mean we stopped breathing. It certainly didn’t mean we stopped connecting.

Children are tender, thoughtful, and inspired theologians and philosophers. What incredibly beautiful connections they make about God and the world. I am grateful beyond words for the privilege and honor of working with such important people.

As we begin to come back together for in-person opportunities, let us remember to keep breathing, friends.

With love, always,
Emily Jamison Guerrero