I am a life-long church member, and love being involved in ministry. I have worked as a volunteer or on staff in a variety of different roles in churches throughout my life. My favorite verse about ministry is Ephesians 2:10 - "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
I think the Classis suggestion is a good one, and maybe in addition to the letter suggesting it to churches, a letter could be sent to the Clerks of Classes with a copy of the updated presentation on CD/DVD. Perhaps you could even find some network users from around the country to be the face of the network at Classis if travel is cost-prohibitive?
On Philosophy & Beginning, the book Activate by Nelson Searcy. Our church adapted this approach and it's going well.
I just happened to visit http://www.smallgroups.com/ last week, and from what I can tell the philosophy is quite different from the Activate approach, but it might be useful for some churches.
I saw you mention Sticky Church in another thread and I might have to check that out. Larry Osborne's church is in a neighboring city to mine, and I've visited there a few times. They are very serious about getting people into small groups, although their strong won't-take-no-for-an-answer pressure to join a group was a turnoff for me.
I agree with Mavis that Worship is perhaps the best place to post your question. I encourage you to do so and I hope you get some good feedback.
Thanks for your question and thank you Mavis for your suggestion.
-Jonathan
[/quote]
Jonathan,
With respect to you and Mavis, I am going to disagree with you on this one.
As I read the Worship forum, there are the exact kinds of things there that I would expect to find: ideas for worship on certain days, contemporary vs. traditional, questions and ideas about songs, technology and worship planning. Everything there is about worship itself, and what I'm asking about is what's happening before and after worship.
I would like to suggest that maybe there is room here for a new category, possibly something like "Welcoming Ministries" where people can discuss things that make a visitor feel welcome at church; things like greeting and ushering as well as visitor follow up. I recently finished reading Fusion by Nelson Searcy and Jennifer Dykes Henson, about assimilation. He opens this way:
"Next Sunday the Spirit of God will prompt hundreds of thousands of people... to visit a church for the first time. The Sunday after that, He will do it again. God is consistently blessing His Church with regular guests. Are we doing all we can to accept and honor His blessing?"
He asserts that each guest who walks in the door is a gift, and challenges the reader to ask if their church is ready to receive that gift and make each person feel welcome and wanted. I don't agree with everything he says, but he's got some good ideas worth considering.
We have Worship Director and Committee, and they work really hard with our pastor to plan worship that is enriching for regular attenders, as well as offering a glimpse of God and His amazing grace to whoever attends that day. I hope that any guest might sense a bit of that grace each week in worship.
But what happens if nobody talks to them during coffee hour after church?
Or they can't find the nursery when they arrive?
What if they fill out comment card but nobody follows up?
What if any or all these things happen, but against the odds, they come back anyway? Will they feel more welcome next Sunday? What if they don't come back at all because one of these things happened and next Sunday they go to brunch instead? The point is, if they don't come back, they won't be touched by grace next Sunday.
All this to say, I think there are a lot of questions related to this area specifically that are outside of what most Worship Planners or Directors are tasked with. I think there are some people out there that have really good ideas for how to make guests feel welcome (and hopefully every one of them is just dying to post a comment on the network.) I think it's worth considering another category.
I had the same experience today. I started at the home page. I didn't see what I was looking for, so then I clicked on "see more" (which brought me here: http://network.crcna.org/discussion-networks ) and there isn't a search box there either. If you don't know exactly what you're looking for or which forum it might be in, having a search box up front is helpful. Thanks!
Thanks for the update, Tim. I didn't realize that there were two different search functions, so perhaps I need to try my searches again, making sure I hit both areas of content.
It seems like if I'm on the main page of a content area (for example: http://network.crcna.org/content/web) and search there, I get results from the guide content, and can clearly choose to search in that area or "all" areas.
My follow up question is, when I search from a forum page (for example: http://network.crcna.org/forums/web/,) does that search all forums or just the one I'm in? If it's just the one, is there a way now to search the entire forum?
I responded by email but missed the post under comments. I have contacted a few churches and now have a sample from another church with a few duties listed for chairs. You will find "Sample Church #2 Council Responsibilities" under "Church Organization and Administration" and then "Administration." Hope this helps. I'll continue to look for other resources.
[/quote]
Thanks for posting this. I just downloaded it as well as the "Elder Deacon Mandates." Both look like useful resources!
I like that this is not just a small groups story, that Danell explained how this is just one part of how this vision for Discipleship is implemented across multiple ministries. Thanks, Danell!
Well put. I think it's better for students to see that we aren't perfect, that we make mistakes - and then, hopefully, see what it looks like to try and make things right in how we respond. Nobody's perfect, and trying to be perfect in front of those we lead can give them the idea that they have to strive for perfection one day. All too quickly that can become twisted into a belief that we must be perfect before we come to Jesus, rather than trusting that it is his work in us that brings righteousness.
I recently started volunteering with our High School students, and I'm pretty much counting on making a lot of mistakes along the way. I just hope and pray that by showing up, showing love, and doing my best, God will bless us all as we learn together. So in other words: "Yes" is the answer to your final question. :)
No. I would strongly support Synod's consideration of these recommendations.
I think there is room to help all of us grow in our understanding of this issue and how to respond, both personally to those in our lives, and as churches. I especially appreciate the need suggested by the first question.
While I appreciate and respect those who have commented and and encouraged us not to bend to cultural influence, I think the current questions before the U.S. Supreme Court are likely to have an outcome that is going to necessitate that we are more prepared than we are now to respond. (My apologies to Canadians who may be following along, as I am not up to date on the social/political climate where you are.)
Even if I'm wrong, which I may be, and even if any study committee makes no changes to the current theology/position, we help the church by reviewing and responding to the cultural changes, scientific work and Biblical scholarship that has taken place, especially with a long time having gone by since this topic was last addressed.
Posted in: Network Use
I think the Classis suggestion is a good one, and maybe in addition to the letter suggesting it to churches, a letter could be sent to the Clerks of Classes with a copy of the updated presentation on CD/DVD. Perhaps you could even find some network users from around the country to be the face of the network at Classis if travel is cost-prohibitive?
Posted in: Responding to the CRWRC Funding Gap
Wendy, is there a news article or more info online about this that you could link to so I can share it with the deacons at my church?
Posted in: Small Group Resources
A couple to add
On Philosophy & Beginning, the book Activate by Nelson Searcy. Our church adapted this approach and it's going well.
I just happened to visit http://www.smallgroups.com/ last week, and from what I can tell the philosophy is quite different from the Activate approach, but it might be useful for some churches.
I saw you mention Sticky Church in another thread and I might have to check that out. Larry Osborne's church is in a neighboring city to mine, and I've visited there a few times. They are very serious about getting people into small groups, although their strong won't-take-no-for-an-answer pressure to join a group was a turnoff for me.
Posted in: I Have a Question, Where Should I Put It?
[quote=Jonathan Wilson]
Rebecca,
I agree with Mavis that Worship is perhaps the best place to post your question. I encourage you to do so and I hope you get some good feedback.
Thanks for your question and thank you Mavis for your suggestion.
-Jonathan
[/quote]
Jonathan,
With respect to you and Mavis, I am going to disagree with you on this one.
As I read the Worship forum, there are the exact kinds of things there that I would expect to find: ideas for worship on certain days, contemporary vs. traditional, questions and ideas about songs, technology and worship planning. Everything there is about worship itself, and what I'm asking about is what's happening before and after worship.
I would like to suggest that maybe there is room here for a new category, possibly something like "Welcoming Ministries" where people can discuss things that make a visitor feel welcome at church; things like greeting and ushering as well as visitor follow up. I recently finished reading Fusion by Nelson Searcy and Jennifer Dykes Henson, about assimilation. He opens this way:
"Next Sunday the Spirit of God will prompt hundreds of thousands of people... to visit a church for the first time. The Sunday after that, He will do it again. God is consistently blessing His Church with regular guests. Are we doing all we can to accept and honor His blessing?"
He asserts that each guest who walks in the door is a gift, and challenges the reader to ask if their church is ready to receive that gift and make each person feel welcome and wanted. I don't agree with everything he says, but he's got some good ideas worth considering.
We have Worship Director and Committee, and they work really hard with our pastor to plan worship that is enriching for regular attenders, as well as offering a glimpse of God and His amazing grace to whoever attends that day. I hope that any guest might sense a bit of that grace each week in worship.
But what happens if nobody talks to them during coffee hour after church?
Or they can't find the nursery when they arrive?
What if they fill out comment card but nobody follows up?
What if any or all these things happen, but against the odds, they come back anyway? Will they feel more welcome next Sunday? What if they don't come back at all because one of these things happened and next Sunday they go to brunch instead? The point is, if they don't come back, they won't be touched by grace next Sunday.
All this to say, I think there are a lot of questions related to this area specifically that are outside of what most Worship Planners or Directors are tasked with. I think there are some people out there that have really good ideas for how to make guests feel welcome (and hopefully every one of them is just dying to post a comment on the network.) I think it's worth considering another category.
Thanks.
Posted in: I Have a Question, Where Should I Put It?
I like the using the word "Connections"!
What's "Fun Bunch"?
Posted in: Search Everywhere, Easily
I had the same experience today. I started at the home page. I didn't see what I was looking for, so then I clicked on "see more" (which brought me here: http://network.crcna.org/discussion-networks ) and there isn't a search box there either. If you don't know exactly what you're looking for or which forum it might be in, having a search box up front is helpful. Thanks!
Posted in: Search Everywhere, Easily
Thanks for the update, Tim. I didn't realize that there were two different search functions, so perhaps I need to try my searches again, making sure I hit both areas of content.
It seems like if I'm on the main page of a content area (for example: http://network.crcna.org/content/web) and search there, I get results from the guide content, and can clearly choose to search in that area or "all" areas.
My follow up question is, when I search from a forum page (for example: http://network.crcna.org/forums/web/,) does that search all forums or just the one I'm in? If it's just the one, is there a way now to search the entire forum?
Posted in: Linda Wins a Mug for Her First Comment — and Our 1,000th!
Game on! Good luck CRC of St Jo - you're a lot bigger than we are at Crossroads, which should make it easy to meet Tim's challenge.
Posted in: What Should Be Added to This Network?
[quote=slaninga]
Hi all,
I responded by email but missed the post under comments. I have contacted a few churches and now have a sample from another church with a few duties listed for chairs. You will find "Sample Church #2 Council Responsibilities" under "Church Organization and Administration" and then "Administration." Hope this helps. I'll continue to look for other resources.
[/quote]
Thanks for posting this. I just downloaded it as well as the "Elder Deacon Mandates." Both look like useful resources!
Posted in: Shema-Shaped Discipleship: The CrossPoint Story
I like that this is not just a small groups story, that Danell explained how this is just one part of how this vision for Discipleship is implemented across multiple ministries. Thanks, Danell!
Posted in: Youth Ministry is Terrifying
Well put. I think it's better for students to see that we aren't perfect, that we make mistakes - and then, hopefully, see what it looks like to try and make things right in how we respond. Nobody's perfect, and trying to be perfect in front of those we lead can give them the idea that they have to strive for perfection one day. All too quickly that can become twisted into a belief that we must be perfect before we come to Jesus, rather than trusting that it is his work in us that brings righteousness.
I recently started volunteering with our High School students, and I'm pretty much counting on making a lot of mistakes along the way. I just hope and pray that by showing up, showing love, and doing my best, God will bless us all as we learn together. So in other words: "Yes" is the answer to your final question. :)
Posted in: Are We Fully Equipped?
No. I would strongly support Synod's consideration of these recommendations.
I think there is room to help all of us grow in our understanding of this issue and how to respond, both personally to those in our lives, and as churches. I especially appreciate the need suggested by the first question.
While I appreciate and respect those who have commented and and encouraged us not to bend to cultural influence, I think the current questions before the U.S. Supreme Court are likely to have an outcome that is going to necessitate that we are more prepared than we are now to respond. (My apologies to Canadians who may be following along, as I am not up to date on the social/political climate where you are.)
Even if I'm wrong, which I may be, and even if any study committee makes no changes to the current theology/position, we help the church by reviewing and responding to the cultural changes, scientific work and Biblical scholarship that has taken place, especially with a long time having gone by since this topic was last addressed.