https://network.crcna.org/ The Network en Wed, 24 Apr 2024 12:59:35 +0000 Thu, 10 Feb 2022 14:44:26 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/crcna-and-synod/most-important-section-human-sexuality-report Last month I had coffee with Jason, a former university student of mine in his early 30s. He works for a Christian parachurch ministry, and is a thoughtful and mature Christ-follower who is wise beyond his years. Syd Hielema https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/crcna-and-synod/most-important-section-human-sexuality-report Thu, 10 Feb 2022 14:44:26 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/crcna-and-synod/discerning-leading-spirit-synod Following Jesus calls us to embody many opposites: we are humbly bold, we are listeners who proclaim, we are leaders who follow our Lord, we wait upon the Lord as we take action.  Syd Hielema https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/crcna-and-synod/discerning-leading-spirit-synod Thu, 27 Jan 2022 14:59:25 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/need-creative-experimentation-all-congregations Brian Sanders, leader of the Underground church movement, provides a simple yet profound analysis of post World War II church history (paraphrased here):  Syd Hielema https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/need-creative-experimentation-all-congregations Mon, 31 Aug 2020 18:06:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/racial-reconciliation/fragile-beauty-and-racism A biblical theme that never fails to stir my heart is summed up like this: the more beautiful a dimension of God’s creation is, the more fragile it is and vulnerable to distortion and abuse. It’s true of the wonders of the created world. Syd Hielema https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/racial-reconciliation/fragile-beauty-and-racism Thu, 11 Apr 2019 13:33:23 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/crcna-and-synod/living-land-ambiguous-fruitfulness I grew up in one of Canada’s fruit-belts, the Niagara Peninsula in southern Ontario, and I spent my adolescent summers picking fruit. I learned at a young age that farmers know early in the season just how fruitful any given year will be. Syd Hielema https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/crcna-and-synod/living-land-ambiguous-fruitfulness Tue, 19 Mar 2019 18:36:06 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/coaching-corner-when-was-your-teams-last-sabbath-prayer In the past four weeks I’ve led four Sabbath prayer retreats: two for church councils on different ends of the continent, one for a CRC Classis, and one for the staff of a Christian High School. And I had to wonder, WHY?  Syd Hielema https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/coaching-corner-when-was-your-teams-last-sabbath-prayer Mon, 25 Feb 2019 00:20:36 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/worship/general-worship/jesus-sleazy-diner November 20, 5 pm, I was driving on 28th St in Grand Rapids, MI, to begin the journey back home to Ontario from the denominational building. A couple hours later, somewhere around Flint, it was time for the double fill-up: gas and food. Syd Hielema https://network.crcna.org/topic/worship/general-worship/jesus-sleazy-diner Tue, 04 Dec 2018 17:11:43 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/pastors-marriage-and-satanists-prayer Forty years ago, newly married, I was chatting with a local Baptist pastor and he told me this story.  Syd Hielema https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/pastors-marriage-and-satanists-prayer Tue, 27 Nov 2018 14:20:24 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/heart-songs-project In the CRC we commonly distinguish between “established congregations” and “church plants.” Stereotypically, the former have many worshipers from Dutch backgrounds and the latter are more community-oriented.   Syd Hielema https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/heart-songs-project Fri, 03 Aug 2018 17:59:06 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/and-then-he-said-when-will-you-see-spiritual-director An older ministry friend and I meet monthly for personal updates and prayer. This special companion is gentle, soft-spoken, insightful, encouraging. Time with him is a rich gift of grace. Syd Hielema https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/and-then-he-said-when-will-you-see-spiritual-director Thu, 14 Jun 2018 13:12:06 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/shrinking-denomination One of the benefits of being a member of the CRC for six and a half decades is that I’ve experienced almost every corner of the denomination and preached in almost 100 different congregations in both the U.S. and Canada. Syd Hielema https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/shrinking-denomination Tue, 17 Apr 2018 15:13:09 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/coaching-your-church-toward-holy-complaint In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food (Acts 6:1). Syd Hielema https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/coaching-your-church-toward-holy-complaint Wed, 14 Mar 2018 18:52:33 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/it-well-your-soul-spiritual-leader You are a spiritual leader. You probably provide spiritual leadership in multiple areas of your world. So do I. Syd Hielema https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/it-well-your-soul-spiritual-leader Wed, 21 Feb 2018 14:23:06 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/im-embarrassed-be-christian At our church, we often end our youth group year by inviting the teens to write down questions they’re struggling with. We as leaders compile them, note the overlaps, and spend time processing these questions with them. Syd Hielema https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/im-embarrassed-be-christian Mon, 16 Oct 2017 00:00:24 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/offering-gifts-sturdy-gentle-graces-reflections-after “Let your gentleness be evident to all; the Lord is near.”  (Phil. 4.5) After a week which included a public display of racial hatred, the murder of a young woman, and the shameful failure of a president to name evil for what it is, how do we respond? Syd Hielema https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/offering-gifts-sturdy-gentle-graces-reflections-after Tue, 22 Aug 2017 12:43:33 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/blessed-blessings-others A True Story Syd Hielema https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/blessed-blessings-others Wed, 24 May 2017 14:21:29 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/being-committed-community From Genesis 1 to Revelation 22, the Scriptures describe our God as one who makes and keeps commitments. God declares promises and then fulfills them. God is committed to the goodness of his creation and the flourishing of man and woman created in his image. Syd Hielema https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/being-committed-community Wed, 08 Mar 2017 16:12:17 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/worship/general-worship/worship-reality-check One of the themes I loved to stress back in the days when I taught a university course on “Foundations of Worship,” is that worship provides a reality check. Syd Hielema https://network.crcna.org/topic/worship/general-worship/worship-reality-check Thu, 02 Mar 2017 13:31:50 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/where-does-jesus-live-your-church-part-4 This is the fourth in an eight part series on congregational culture and its importance for faith formation. Syd Hielema https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/where-does-jesus-live-your-church-part-4 Mon, 05 Dec 2016 16:51:45 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/trouble-authenticity-faith-formation-goal During the eighteen years that I served as a university chaplain and ministry professor, I heard over and over again that millennials prized authenticity as a chief value in their faith journeys. At first I jumped on the train with them, but gradually doubts began to gnaw within me. Syd Hielema https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/trouble-authenticity-faith-formation-goal Wed, 16 Nov 2016 14:37:32 +0000