Trinity News

November 13, 2006

The Fall Family Challenge

Soccer games and shorter days. When’s the next business trip, and how will we cope? Helping with homework, often at the last minute. How is this child getting home while I’m across town? Am I doing the right thing? How are we going to fit everything in?

Several years ago, I read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families by Stephen R. Covey. I don’t agree with Covey’s complete agenda, which is quite conservative, but he does have some good overarching themes in his approach to raising a family.

Covey says to “put the Big Rocks in first,” when you’re trying to cram everything into a fixed schedule. He uses the illustration of putting a collection of fist-sized rocks and a lot of pebbles into a wide-mouthed jar. If you put the pebbles into the jar first, it’s just about impossible to fit the big rocks in. There’s no room. But if you put the big rocks in first, then the pebbles fit around the rocks.

In the midst of the fall family challenge, I encourage you to make coming to church one of the “big rocks” you put first into your family life “jar.” There is only so much time in the week, and worship in community, is important. Somehow, it makes everything else fit.

Come to church to be renewed and have your perspective refocused. Worship with your children and meet other parents of young children at the 9:10 service. Or listen to beautiful music at the 10:00 am service and hear the homily on the scripture readings of the day. Children can go to Sunday School, childcare in Angus Hall, or attend the 10:00 am service with you. Try the 8:00 am Rite I service. It’s quiet and reflective. I enjoyed participating in it several weeks ago as the preacher. The predictable rhythms of our Episcopal liturgy can be comforting when you’re feeling overwhelmed. Or wind up your weekend at the 5:00 pm service.

At every Holy Eucharist, we pass the peace, and then come forward to receive communion. In the midst of the “fall family challenge,” God waits for us to come closer, to rest and be renewed. Afterward, we are sent forth again into life reconciled with God and each other.

Trinity is going through its own fall challenges, as the search for the new Rector continues, and we wrestle with serious budget cuts. Change and growth can be difficult. We are all “Big Rocks” in the life of Trinity Parish. If we put ourselves into the Trinity community first, the pebbles, the rest of the unsolved issues will follow, and will be washed, like the stones at the 9:10 service, with God’s grace and love.

Yours in Christ, Beth Foote
Family Ministries Director