At our parish, the first Sunday after school begins is always an intergenerational service, with a homily designed to engage all ages, as follows.

Have you ever played hide and seek? My kids love it, and in playing over the summer, they often turned the house upside down—emptying every closet and filling the house with chaos and noise. Does that sound familiar? Where is your favourite hiding spot—under the bed, in a closet, or behind a tree? Sometimes we think we’ve found the perfect place, but if it’s too good, it gets lonely and boring – we want both to win and to be found!

Psalm 139 tells us something wonderful that connects to this feeling: God finds us wherever we are—in fact, God never loses us. “You know when I sit down and when I get up. You know my thoughts before I think them.” This is not meant to frighten us. It is meant to remind us that we are never out of reach of God’s love. God is with us in the classroom, at the dinner table, on the playground, in the gym or on the court, in the art studio or at a music lesson—wherever we go. It is like having the best coach or cheerleader always at your side in the game of life.

Think of what it feels like to compete in a sport or to run a race: you never do it alone. There are people running beside you, coaches and family cheering from the sidelines, and others who have gone before, showing the way. Many of you know that I do triathlons—swimming, biking, running—and some of the children here have even tried races of their own. This summer my kids, a friend, and even my mom came to watch me compete, and they cheered so loudly. I have not had that kind of support for a long time, and it made a real difference.

That is what Hebrews tells us: “We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. So let us run the race that is before us and never give up.” A race is easier when you know others are cheering you on.

But it’s not enough to have good cheerleaders; having the right equipment also matters. In triathlon, we use many things, from bikes to wetsuits [the kids will see my equipment]. In fact, it is not just three sports—it is really four: swimming, biking, running, and eating! Intentional nutrition and hydration are a huge part of racing well. Without water, sports gels, or Gatorade, you run out of strength. In the same way, prayer and Scripture are our spiritual nourishment, without which we lose energy on the journey of faith.

This morning, here in church, we too will dedicate some equipment: microphones, speakers, cameras, and screens (some new, and some reused!) They help us hear each other more clearly and allow those at home to worship with us. They make our worship a source of spiritual nourishment, just as good food sustains an athlete. They also let us cheer one another on, like being on a running track surrounded by voices in the stands.

Many of those voices are here with us. Others are with God in heaven. People of faith who have gone before—even those who have died—are part of that cheering crowd. Their prayers, service, and generosity continue to sustain us. The bequest that made our new sound and livestreaming system possible is one more way that a faithful parishioner now belongs to that cloud of witnesses, encouraging us to run with perseverance. Their legacy becomes part of how we proclaim Christ in this place, both for those gathered here and for those who join us from afar. It is a never-ending relay race, and we are the ones now holding the baton—or, in a triathlon, wearing the timing chip anklet!

So today we dedicate this gift, promising to use it wisely and with thanksgiving. King Solomon once dedicated the great Temple to God, praying: “Even the heavens cannot contain you… how much less this temple.” He knew that places and tools of worship are important, but they are never about containing God. They are about focusing us, making God’s presence audible and visible. In the same way, this new system extends worship beyond walls, pointing us to God and helping us give thanks for his presence here and everywhere.

Jesus, in Matthew’s Gospel, adds another word for the race of faith: “Do not worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will worry about itself.” At the starting line you cannot waste your energy on the finish—you must focus on the step in front of you. What are some specific things you worry about as we begin this new season? If it helps, look at a small flower, and ask: did it worry about what to wear this morning? Birds of the air and lilies of the field all testify to God’s care.

As we return to school and to our parish routines, anxieties are real and challenges will certainly come. But Christ points us to God’s care in each moment, because God is running alongside us. Sometimes we win, sometimes we simply finish the race. [The kids will see my medals, both for winning and participation.] But what matters is that we are always active participants. We can ask God for wisdom and peace, pray for help in decisions, and seek clarity and calm. Those gifts are worth far more than any medal.

So as we step into a new season together—back to school, back to church, back to our shared life of worship and service—we remember three things:

• God is always with us, even in the places we think are hidden. Technology does not make God present, but it helps us recognize that God is already with us and with those far away.
  
• We are surrounded by a cheering crowd of witnesses, including those whose gifts continue to support today’s ministry.
  
• We do not need to be anxious about tomorrow, for we can pray for guidance and peace. We can run today’s race with trust and joy, even when it is challenging.
  

Together, today’s readings call us to worship with confidence: grounded in the legacy of faith, attentive to God’s presence here and now, and freed from worry so that we can run our race with joy. So let us begin this new season like a team on the track—running together, keeping our eyes on Jesus, who both goes before us and waits for us at the finish line.

Questions to Consider

Psalm 139 — Hiding and Being Found
Where is your favourite hiding place? Draw it. How does it feel to know God is with you even there?

Hebrews 12 — Running the Race
Who are some of the people who cheer you on in life? Write their names or draw them in the stands cheering.

Matthew 6 — Not Worrying About Tomorrow
What are some things you sometimes worry about? Draw or write them in the box. Then draw something that reminds you God cares for you (like a bird or a flower).

1 Kings 8 — Solomon’s Dedication
Solomon dedicated the temple to God. Why do you think it’s important to dedicate things—even everyday things like new speakers or microphones—to God’s work? Write or draw your answer.

Dedication and Community
How do microphones, livestreams, and music help us worship together? Draw yourself worshiping with others in church or at home.