Finding Grace in the Routine …

Posted by The Rev. Jennifer Andrews-Weckerly on

One of the early parenting lessons I learned is routines are lifesavers. Whether it was trying to create a predictable bedtime routine, figuring out how often the child needed to eat to prevent meltdowns, or simply helping the child live into the routine of childcare and school, routines...

Continue reading…

Tags: adults, children, church, god, life, patterns, prayer, relationship, retire, routine, rule, serving, study, vacation

On Mother’s Day …

Posted by The Rev. Jennifer Andrews-Weckerly on

As Mother’s Day approaches, I face it with my usual dread. Though there are so many mothers that we can and should honor (I love you, Mom!!), there are so many people for whom this is a hard day. I am at the stage in life when many of my friends are having children. There are the sonogram...

Continue reading…

Tags: baby, bless, children, difficult, joy, loss, mother's day, mothering, mothers, pregnancy, struggle, bittersweet

The last moment of goodness …

Posted by The Rev. Jennifer Andrews-Weckerly on

In the last couple of weeks we have seen quite a lot of change in our infant. She is finally getting up on her knees to crawl instead of doing her “commando drag.” She is pulling up to a standing position and happily standing for a while. She is trying and enjoying new solid foods...

Continue reading…

Tags: breastfeeding, children, failure, god, grace, joy, parenting, relationship, success

The Vulnerable Village ...

Posted by The Rev. Jennifer Andrews-Weckerly on

Today is the big day. Our older child’s first day of kindergarten. As background, we are used to our child being in the care of others. Since she was 18 months, she has been doing four days a week of full-day care. Though that was hard at first, we quickly saw how she thrives on the...

Continue reading…

Tags: children, community, god, kindergarten, prayer, scary, trust, village, vulnerable

On delight ...

Posted by The Rev. Jennifer Andrews-Weckerly on

As parents of two young children, whose family lives far away, we try to be diligent about documenting our children’s development and milestones. In our family we do that with group emails and links to recent photos. At the beginning of our children’s lives, we share about the many...

Continue reading…

Tags: adult, children, creation, delight, god, spiritual, wonder, look, reflect

The community of faith …

Posted by The Rev. Jennifer Andrews-Weckerly on

My older daughter attends a Lutheran preschool.  During the summer the school runs a camp that is more play-based.  What our family loves is that they keep the religious content present in both programs.  What I especially enjoy is discovering my daughter singing a religious song...

Continue reading…

Tags: baptism, children, christian, community, faith, god, jesus, love, raising

A child of God ...

Posted by The Rev. Jennifer Andrews-Weckerly on

I am a regular advocate for children in Church. I think the practice shapes children at a young age and enlivens worship for the community. Though distracting to some, the noise of children makes me feel like the church is alive and joyful. That is why I always encourage parents with young...

Continue reading…

Tags: children, worship, praise, joyful

Fearfully and wonderfully made ...

Posted by The Rev. Jennifer Andrews-Weckerly on

I grew up in the South, which means I have a particular perspective about the experience of snow. When snow was in the forecast, even a little dusting, schools were usually closed, people stayed off the road, and the grocery store shelves were bare. We did not have the kind of equipment needed...

Continue reading…

Tags: snow, snowman, south, fear, sledding, driving, children, fun, wonder

Holy Chaos …

Posted by The Rev. Jennifer Andrews-Weckerly on

This past Sunday, our church held its annual Epiphany Pageant. Since the pageant involves using Scripture and hymns to retell the entirety of Jesus’ birth narratives, the pageant replaces most of the Liturgy of the Word (the part of the service when we traditionally read/chant the...

Continue reading…

Tags: epiphany pageant, children, kids, scandal, conception, birth, grateful, chaos, life, messy