Sprout was a hoot at church today. Apparently she was moved by the spirit - or they gave her too much apple juice in the church nursery.
DH went to get her from the nursery before communion. She came in and when we all were kneeling in prayer she sat and folded her hands and bowed her head and really tried to say the Lord's prayer with the congregation. She managed a few words here and there and then, after everyone had finished, she shouted, "Amen!" to a quiet church. There was an audible chuckle.
Then, when we were waiting for our turn for communion, she kept begging, "Go up to the church, please!" As we were walking forward, she said, "Go up to the pillows!" (referring to the kneeling pillows at the communion rail). On our way back, she told DH, "Very good job eating!" All of this was in her loud toddler voice in an otherwise very quiet church, so everyone heard the play-by-play.
Back at the pew, she spent a lot of time jumping up and down, she prayed some more, shouted, "Amen!" and "alleluia" at other appropriate times (though a few seconds after everyone else), and then got extremely upset during the recessional hymn when they were putting out the candles. She cried, "turn them back on please!"
So, it was a memorable Pentecost Sunday for us. And I'm a little proud. She may still have a bit to learn about appropriate church behavior, but she clearly was paying attention, was happy to be there, and wanted to participate. I figure we're doing something right!
