Devotionals Detail

Acts 16:11-15

Mr. Rogers was not afraid to address difficult feelings and hard issues with children. This was his main focus in his life – using television as a medium to support the well being of the next generation. As a shy college student, it didn’t make much sense that he would be ordained as a pastor specifically to minister to children on television. But when he saw a children’s television show that was filled with slapstick comedy and aggressive behavior, he believed strongly that the medium of television needed to be better utilized to develop children’s emotional, moral and spiritual well-being. This was the moment that fueled his passion to revolutionize children’s programming over the next 30 years. During Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, he addressed the feelings that children experienced in the Vietnam War, divorce, death, disability, natural disasters, and on 9/11 he famously told the children that in times of fear and sadness: “look for the helpers.”

This weekend as we celebrate our country’s 250 anniversary, we are reminded that there are many helpers who have been part of making our nation’s history. This Sunday, we will honor them, and recognize how their help involving sacrifice, generosity, kindness and compassion have become a part of our national fabric. Being reminded of who we are as a country of helpers is not just known in people like Martin Luther King, Jr, or Susan B. Anthony – they happen every day in this country. Just look at the testimonies of so many people visiting the U.S. for the World Cup matches. They are filled with awe of the abundance of hospitality, the generosity of food and the kindness of strangers. This is who we are meant to be as the people of the United States. No matter what our current political climate is, the focus this Sunday is going to be how each of us are called to be the helpers – in times of need and times of celebration – to come together to honor the God that is in each other. Just as in our Scripture passage for this Sunday, Lydia is moved by God to be a helper for Paul, Silas, and Timothy by opening up her home, so does God leads us today, to be helpers for one another.

If you have a moment, between now and Sunday, I would love to know – who are the national helpers that inspire you? Who are the people throughout our nation’s 250 years of history that inspire you to be a helper for others? And why do they inspire you? How do they reflect for you the sacrifice, generosity, kindness and compassion of what it means to be a helper for humanity? I would love to hear your thoughts, just email them to me by clicking the link so I can incorporate them into Sunday’s service!

I hope you will join us for worship this Sunday and maybe we can hear about how we inspire one another to be helpers for the future of our nation - for our children and our neighbors!