https://network.crcna.org/ The Network en Fri, 10 May 2024 15:19:32 +0000 Thu, 13 Sep 2018 01:49:57 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-administration/church-admin-finance/taxes-and-legal/church-privacy-policy-templates We recently had an incident where some of our congregation member's email addresses were sent political party solicitation. In addition, the Bridge app, which many of you are using allows for the use of a directory. Daniel Zylstra https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-administration/church-admin-finance/taxes-and-legal/church-privacy-policy-templates Thu, 13 Sep 2018 01:49:57 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/worship/special-topics/funerals/funeral-liturgy Do we have a "Funeral" liturgy anywhere? I'm on the Liturgical Forms & Resources page, but I don't see one. I see one for marriage, but not funerals... Daniel Zylstra https://network.crcna.org/topic/worship/special-topics/funerals/funeral-liturgy Tue, 03 Oct 2017 16:38:21 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/crcna-and-synod/liturgical-forms-committee-and-problem-public-profession-faith This year I am going to Synod as one of the Ministerial Delegates. Daniel Zylstra https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/crcna-and-synod/liturgical-forms-committee-and-problem-public-profession-faith Fri, 03 Jun 2016 15:43:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/whats-trinity What's the Trinity like? I was thinking about this the other day, and though I know I risk heresy by even trying to liken the Trinity to something within human experience, this is what occurred to me: Daniel Zylstra https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/whats-trinity Tue, 14 Jul 2015 16:29:54 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/grateful-whator-whom I love my wife. She’s awesome. But I don’t love here for what she has done. Don’t get me wrong, she’s done some wonderful things for me, but if I loved her only for what she’s done, where would our love be if she could no longer do those things? Daniel Zylstra https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/grateful-whator-whom Thu, 16 Oct 2014 14:29:46 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/hiring-practice-spiritual-discernment I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately: in the church we talk about the someone is “called" to be a minister, or elder, or deacon. We talk about it in other capacities in the church, too. We even, because we’re good Reformed folks, talk about our “jobs” or careers being callings. Daniel Zylstra https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/hiring-practice-spiritual-discernment Tue, 07 Oct 2014 18:52:48 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/celebrating-disorganization Just a few years ago we had the joy of welcoming a new young man to our congregation. He was from a different country and from a different church background. He had grown up in (and learned to lead worship in) a charismatic, contemporary church. Daniel Zylstra https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/celebrating-disorganization Tue, 13 May 2014 13:46:22 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/rolling-aisles I recently did something new. I had the pleasure of being a guest preacher at River Park Church in Calgary, Alberta. That was new, but it wasn’t what I wanted to talk about--the new thing that I did (along with 4 hapless volunteers) was comedy improv. Daniel Zylstra https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/rolling-aisles Wed, 12 Mar 2014 19:57:04 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/mom-and-pop-vs-big-box-church Why do you shop where you shop? Why do you work out at the gym you use? Why do you hire a certain plumber? For most of us, these days, the questions I’ve just asked can be answered in a few different ways. Daniel Zylstra https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/mom-and-pop-vs-big-box-church Tue, 21 Jan 2014 11:39:46 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/advice-or-imperative-how-can-we-know I know some of you haven't taken Greek, and that it's been a while for some of the rest of us, but as I was preparing for a sermon series in the New Year regarding reconciliation, I got to thinking about Greek imperatives. Maybe some of you experts out there can help me (and perhaps others too). Daniel Zylstra https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/advice-or-imperative-how-can-we-know Thu, 05 Dec 2013 11:55:45 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/exegete Okay, well maybe only really fun for nerdy pastor/theologian types, but maybe really important too: Have you “exegeted” your church? “Hunh? Don’t we exegete the Bible?!” you may say. Daniel Zylstra https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/exegete Tue, 01 Oct 2013 10:27:11 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/enders-theology This November, a movie that I’ve been longing for will be released: “Ender’s Game.” Ender’s Game, the book, written by Orson Scott Card, is a modern science fiction classic. Daniel Zylstra https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/enders-theology Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:48:46 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/open-and-shut-case The question has been asked often. Just today, as I was checking out the Network, I found a reference to the question dating back to the early church fathers. Daniel Zylstra https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/open-and-shut-case Thu, 16 May 2013 12:43:42 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/outsiders-our-history-exclusion Unfortunately, the church has created "outsiders" for more than 2000 years. Daniel Zylstra https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/outsiders-our-history-exclusion Thu, 24 Jan 2013 11:00:48 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/no-outsiders-relating-those-who-dont-belong Like it or not, there are those who don't feel welcome or comfortable within the Church, or among Christians, in spite of their own preferences; they'd like to participate in church-life, and associate with Christ-followers, but they can't because of choices that we've made. They're excluded. Daniel Zylstra https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/no-outsiders-relating-those-who-dont-belong Thu, 03 Jan 2013 11:00:00 +0000