Worshiping In Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood

Worshipping in Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood: Look for the Helpers
 
When Fred Rogers was a boy, and saw something on the news that scared him, his mother’s counsel to bring him comfort was, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” The year 2020 will always be known as the year of COVID 19. Quarantines, stay-at-home orders, masks, and anti-bacterial soaps.
 
While there were many who rose to the occasion by self-sacrificially serving on the front lines, helping neighbors or simply following suggested protocols, others stockpiled toilet paper. It’s normal to fear in situations like this, but could the way we manage that fear and how we respond in a crisis reflect on the trust and hope we find in our God

In 1969, Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood included a memorable scene in which Fred Rogers was resting his feet in a kiddie pool, and he invited Francois Clemmons, an African American actor playing the part of a police officer, to put his feet in as well. This act was viewed by many as an explicit gesture against racism during a very difficult period of integration and civil rights. Jesus spent his life breaking down cultural barriers, revealing a God of acceptance and inclusion. How can the church embrace the example of Jesus and take the lead in accepting, valuing, and embracing diversity?

In 1968, the Vietnam War was being fought; Bobby Kennedy had been shot. Mr. Rogers realized that children were aware of these events, but they had no place where it was safe to talk about these issues. We avoid those things we don’t understand and what we fear. On the program, King Friday builds a wall to keep out what he didn’t like or understand. How does fear build walls? How important is it for the church to be a place where we discuss those things we fear and about which we may be angry?