| Growing Together in Faith - article by Joel Hempel
From our perch in the choir loft, we have had a vantage point not all of you are privileged to have. Especially we get to see the littlest ones of the congregation and the gentle, attentive parenting and grandparenting the children receive. This past Sunday was no exception.
With couple of our young families sitting in the last two pews with the children seemingly enjoying being in church, Marcia leaned over and whispered: “It would be wonderful if these little ones could grow up together in their faith.” I quickly jotted down her words.
God only knows if these children and their parents will grow up together at GLC, being a support and encouragement to each other. That's how it was in my home church in Canton, Ohio, where I grew up. A bunch of kids at Our Savior Lutheran played together, learned together, got into trouble together, and, yes, grew up together. Following high school, we all went our different directions. But those early years were a blessing to us. However, not until now – in the winter season of my life – have I realized how important we children were to grown-ups back then. Surrogate grandmas love holding the littlest ones. Proxy grandpas are delighted to watch the playfulness of children and any shenanigans we can support.
Yes, growing up together – especially growing up together in the faith – is a blessing to cherish. But growing old together in the faith is also a blessing I've come to appreciate.
In Ephesians chapter four, Paul introduces the metaphor of a human body and compares it to the church, with all the different parts having different functions as they rely on each other and recognize their equal value. Paul then addresses our diverse vocations based on our various gifts and notes how we all need to continue growing up in Christ – whatever our age (also see Romans 4:18-22; Psalm 92:12-14).
Indeed, we are blessed at Glendale Lutheran Church as we grow together as a body of believers, as we continue to grow up in our faith, and as we grow in our appreciation for each other and the good we individually contribute to the whole of us.
Of course, a body can’t grow without outside stimulation and nutrition. Similarly, our Body of Christ at Glendale Lutheran can only grow as we open ourselves up to others who seek to grow in Gospel assurance and the Gospel’s guidance for life. | 
