Altar Rail Is For Prayer

By The Rev. Rebecca Irelan
Novato UMC
(Adapted from the Newsletter Good News Caller)

April 3, 2006

Last month a couple of children were climbing on the communion rail during the children's sermon. I asked them to get down, knowing that many of you would feel that children shouldn't be playing at the rail.

Then it dawned on me that they have absolutely no reason to think that that rail is special at all. To them it is only used as a plant stand at Christmas and Easter time. They have never seen anyone pray there.

So perhaps it is time to invite some of you who still have the ability to kneel to use the rail on communion Sunday. Surely the only way that the children will learn the traditions of the church is if we practice them!

We will teach the children about worshiping God, but they will worship as children do, with joy and wonder and not with quiet reverence. Worshiping with reverence comes much later, when life has taught us a few things and we've discovered that we aren't invincible or immortal.