A Very Moberg Sunday

Mobergs featured very prominently in today's church services at St. John. Not only did Suzanna and Abigail's children's choir sing during the second service (Hillary's choir sang last Sunday), but Susan, Suzanna, and Abigail pretty much WERE the sermon (see the church bulletin for today)! They attended church last Thursday evening and at 8:00 and 10:30 this morning so that they could join Pastor Lisa in delivering the sermon each time. The sermon was based on the Gospel reading from Matthew 20:1-16. Lisa read the first part of the scripture and then paused for Suzanna and Susan to take their seats with microphones placed behind the altar railing and start performing a "staged reading" of a skit. Abigail entered later, followed by the second part of the scripture from Pastor Lisa, followed by the final scene with Susan, Suzanna, and Abigail all together.

The skit was directly related to the Gospel reading. In it Susan played a mom, and Suzanna and Abigail played her daughters. The plot: When Dad has to work late, Mom agrees to lead family devotions with an activity to teach a lesson from a parable. She meets with Suzanna and offers her $10 to clean the garage. Suzanna agrees to the job because she could use the money to buy the CD she has been wanting. Later Mom meets with Abigail and offers her $10 to clean her bedroom. Abigail happily agrees because Mom never pays the kids to perform chores that are normally an expected part of their family life--this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for easy money. Finally Mom brings both girls together and pays each her promised $10. Suzanna cries "No fair!" when she sees that Abigail gets the same amount for an easy, standard chore that she herself gets for a difficult, yucky task. Mom points out that each daughter knew in advance what was expected in order to receive the money, and each daughter agreed to perform those duties. The daughters come to realize that Mom is free to do as she pleases with her money and that we all have the freedom to be generous with our gifts (be they money or talent). Abigail then exercises generosity in offering part of her money to Suzanna.

It was an out-of-the-ordinary way to see the sermon text in action ("Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?"). It was also a good way to continue our church's series of conversations on the theme "Share, Save, Spend" on being fiscally responsible both personally and in terms of giving money to the church.

It was also a button-popping moment for Dad. All three ladies did a terrific job, and our daughters were so confident, so "in character," and so clear and easy to hear that others in the congregation felt good on their behalf, I think, while watching their sermon performance! There were certainly plenty of compliments after each church service. It's good to see all three girls involved in church life and understanding what's going on in church (and not just sitting and staring off into space, impatiently waiting for the end of the service).

P.S. Here is an interesting children's sermon related to today's Gospel text.