Being pastors has meant that every time we have moved from one place to another, we have moved into a community of loving and supportive people. This was true even before we became pastors. Our college was a small, church-related liberal arts college where we formed life-long friendships. We met classmates and upperclass members early in our college careers. They helped with moving into dorms, finding our way around campus and learning the routines of college life. When we went to seminary, community was designed into the learning process. Our first graduate school classes were “intensives” where we shared full time learning with our classmates. The friendships we formed in those classes have lasted us throughout our lives, and have endured around the world. One of our dearest friends is a recently retired pastor of the Uniting Church of Australia. We have served on different continents, but have a deep sense of our connections in the church.

Yesterday, as we loaded the truck for a new phase of our lives, we were deeply aware of the power of community. In the midst of a pandemic, it isn’t easy to hire strangers to come and help. There are greater risks involved when meeting new people. The hard work of loading furniture and boxes is simply too much for an individual. You need help. And we had exactly the help we needed. Strong hands and safe friendships came from the church. The same people with whom we work side by side to deliver firewood to our partners were available to help us load our truck. In fact, we had more offers than we were able to accept of people who were willing to give us their time and labor. Our friends who helped us load the truck are life long friends. Lunch was provided by a member of the search committee who called us to serve this church 25 years ago. We are absolutely sure that we will remain friends with these people for the rest of our lives.

We are surrounded by many networks of care and concern. On this trip my sister will travel 800 miles from her home to spend a few days with her children, then drive 230 miles to our new home, give us a ride 1,200 miles back to Rapid City, where we have our cars and a few chores remaining before completing the sale of our house here. Then she will drive 400 miles back to her home in Montana. When we are in Washington, other family members will help us unload our truck and move into our rental home. All of this is occurring in the midst of a pandemic where people are risking exposure by simply leaving home, let alone making long-distance trips across many state lines.

All children are dependent upon networks of support. Children are born into families who are necessary for their care and nurture. Unlike some creatures where a newborn is soon able to fend for themself, a human baby requires many years of support and care. Families are the center of that support, but nurturing parents need community and child care is necessary to give parents the opportunity for work and other activities. When children are separated from their families, there are others who need to step in and provide care. Foster families are generous people who open their homes to provide love and care for children who started life in other families, but they are only part of the many circles of support that are required to provide for children.

Another circle of care and support is provided by the pubic school system. Teachers are called to a vocation of caring and nurturing and educating children, but they don not act alone. They are supported by circles of administrators and school boards. They work in concert with volunteers and paraprofessionals. Our schools are dependent upon community support not only through taxes, but through generous support of school programs in other ways as well.

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is a national association that support and promotes court-appointed advocates for abused and neglected children. CASA volunteers are specially trained to assist children as they move through the court system. They gather information and make recommendations in regards to the care of children. They advocate for the needs of a child in a system that is often focused on adults. These volunteers are just one of the communities of support who give freely of their time on behalf of children in our community.

The circles of support for children are often staffed by volunteers. Volunteer church school teachers, volunteer sports coaches, volunteers who staff child nutrition programs, and countless other volunteers give freely of their time to help support children.

Despite the politics of our day and the 2016 Presidential election, Hillary Rodham Clinton provided a phrase and a vision for the children of our country. “It Takes a Village” is a book in which she outlined her vision when she was serving as First Lady of the United States. The concept did not begin with her, however. People have long known that it takes more than just a set of parents to provide for the needs of children. Since the publication of her book countless examples of communities coming together to support children have illustrated the concept that is much larger than just a single book. Indeed it takes many communities for children to grow up in our world.

Great God, we give thanks for so many communities of love and support that provide for the children of our world. We are deeply grateful for the calling of professionals and volunteers who dedicate their lives to the care of children. May they find meaning in their calling and support for their work. May the children of our community know of a wider sense of nurture, care, love and support as they meet the challenges of their lives. May we all be a village for the children of our communities. Through Jesus we pray, Amen.

Copyright (c) 2020 by Ted E. Huffman. I wrote this. If you would like to share it, please direct your friends to my web site. If you'd like permission to copy, please send me an email. Thanks!