“One generation shall laud your works to another,
and shall declare your mighty acts.”
–Psalm 145:4
One Sunday many years ago, I was sitting with my family during a worship service led by the youth of that congregation. It was a morning like all Youth Sundays I have experienced as it provided visible evidence of how a community of believers was nurturing the faith of the next generation. I expected to see the fruits of that work in the worship leaders that day and was not disappointed, yet what I didn’t expect was to see the same thing in my own family. I wrote about the experience in a church newsletter article at the time and if you’ll forgive me for quoting myself, would like to recall some of what I said in July of 1998 to that body of believers.
“I was reminded of how busy things are in the pews. From the pulpit, it can seem calm, but that Sunday reminded me that appearances aren’t always what they seem. Instead I witnessed whispered messages and requests for breath mints, times of rapt attention and occasions of yawns, dropped hymnals and bulletin doodling. It’s much quieter in the pulpit area, but then again there’s only two of us there!
“Still, you should know such activity doesn’t bother me because I’m convinced that in the midst of them we display our faith. When squirming children see their parents bow their heads or stand to sing, they learn about praise. When someone with a persistent cough receives candy from a nearby worshiper, we see compassion. When persons of all ages drop their gifts in the offering plate, we affirm our priorities in a world that speaks of different values. Worship happens when a community comes together and while it might not be as perfect as we’d like, something essential happens.
“There was a moment like that for me that Sunday. Sitting next to me was a six year old girl who I will not embarrass by naming, but one who has a special place in my heart (and home!) As the prayers of the people began, she was whispering with a friend, but when the Lord’s Prayer began, the whispering stopped and ancient words came from her mouth. After the service, Lori and I confirmed what we both suspected, namely that our daughter had not learned that prayer from her parents, but her church family. When the prayer ended, so did her focused demeanor, but it’s a moment I’ll never forget.”
Pondering that moment nearly three decades later caused me to think of the words of David we read moments ago. They come from a Psalm that focuses on the praise of God. “I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever,” it begins. The closing verse declares “My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever.” The lines in between continue that theme, as they speak of the countless reasons that God is deserving of our praise.
Yet four verses into that poem, David says this: “One generation shall laud your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.” With those words, that shepherd king spoke of the responsibility to pass on the faith to those who come after us. It’s been said that the Christian faith has always been one generation removed from extinction as the only way it endures is when present-day believers share that faith with the next one.
That’s what I experienced on a Youth Sunday long ago, the way that a community of faith had helped one child of the church learn a prayer handed down for generations. The fact that it was my own daughter receiving that gift made it a moment this father will always treasure.
God of eternity, my time on earth is limited. Help me prioritize sharing the faith with those who come after me. Amen.
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