Randy Blacketer
AKA Dr. Raymond A. Blacketer. Reformation scholar, sometime professor, native Californian, lover of the Reformed confessions, brought into the Christian Reformed Church through evangelism. Formerly pastor of Neerlandia CRC in Northern Alberta, Canada, and First Cutlerville CRC, Byron Center. Currently working as a theological editor and translator.
Posted in: Let's Keep Thinking about the "Second Service"
In Neerlandia we have our second service first.
It is intentionally not a worship service, but a time for teaching and discussion. We have a lesson on a topic, either from the confessions or some other topic relevant to the Christian life or the denomination (e.g. children at communion). This has been very good for dialogue and for keeping the congregation engaged with what is going on in the CRC and Christendom generally. We have our teaching service at 10:00 and worship at 11:15, with coffee in-between. During this time children go to Sunday school so that at the worship service which follows they can be present. I've been trying to write up a description for Reformed Worship but I haven't gotten to it yet.
Posted in: This Depression: How Could it Be?
Very good post. Mother Theresa had a similar experience; and many pastors probably suffer in secret. And I think of our colleague who suffered from severe depression and disappeared a year and a half ago. Wounded healers.