The article is very superficial in its analysis. I agree that we need to move with our changing society, but it's not all about attracting converts or building attendance numbers.
My other gripe is his assertion that less preaching makes for better preaching. Those pastors who wrote 100-150 sermons and messages each year were excellent at exegesis and applying the Word of God. They had lots of practice, and an urgent need to rely on God's guidance every week. I would say they were the better preachers.
Thank you for this insight into a multigenerational church. Isn't it strange how we view this phenomenon, which used to be the norm.
Two things came to mind as I read it. Firstly, that you are part of the ministry team, and your husband the preacher. Therefore the church was serving their minister and his family, and we wouldn't expect less. But would the same assistance, love, and care be given to all families? The unwed mother of six from the wrong part of town, who can't get her life together? Personally, I have seen congregations falling over themselves to help the minister's family, while ignoring the needs of those they would rather not be part of their church.
My second thought was, where are the children? To speak of intergenerationality means children as well. You speak of yourselves as the younger generation, but there are the very young (including the one you just gave birth to!), and these also belong to the faith community. And they also have a vocation within that community.
As I reread this comment, I realised who did welcome the outcasts and the children. Jesus.
This is also true for children. My church makes few concessions for the children, arguing that if they attend for long enough they'll turn into real people, ie adults. We miss so much when we marginalise or ignore the little, weak, or elderly.
It's great that the library is available to teachers, however this article has some red flags for me, that you may consider. Firstly, the expectation that a Sunday school lesson can be prepared the night before or even 'on the spot'. Our children deserve better than that.
Secondly, the 'take homes'. In this article they are mentioned as being a surprise to the teacher, unwanted by some children, foisted on the parents ( I can't be bothered checking what's in them, your kids don't want them, but you should deal with them). I suggest you either use them properly and excite your students, or give them something more valuable to take home, such as a memorable lesson.
Thirdly, the budget. Should we really be penny pinching when it comes to discipling our kids? There's something wrong with the idea that a church treasurer would suggest that the savings made (by the teachers reading something from their iPad rather than printing a few sheets of paper), entitles them to ask for further resources. Just buy the darned story cards!
You have neatly written out the other half of the comment, regarding children. A related post from 2009 talked about official 'youth' attendees at synod who were aged 18 to 26. In my 'youth' I had four children and people of that age were the elders of the church. Nowadays youth lasts until you're forty.
Children should be attending synod, and they should be heard. I'm speaking about littlies aged 4-14. They don't need to be paid up, done their profession of faith, respectable, coached, scripted, and rehearsed. They can and should be asked for their opinion in matters that affect them, while respecting their tender years.
Come on, people! You are smart enough to figure out a way to make that happen!
I too am a preacher of sorts. But my sermons are made of pictures, pauses, and ponderings, rather than words alone. My congregation includes babes and children, Christian sages and curious non-believers. Today's preachers should move away from the endless speeches (made for auditory learners), and bring their congregations into the process of worship. We can and should be learning and exploring together, and from each other. Thank you for making a passing reference to learning styles.
What I can’t understand is why you all have guns. What did a duck ever do to you to deserve being blasted out of the sky? And several guns? Are you expecting Armageddon?
I’ll take my chances sitting in church next to the guy with the Rolex watch. Unless he’s James Bond I’m safe.
If someone really wants to do something they will find enough reasons and arguments to support it. Jonathan Swift once wrote a compelling argument for eating children.
Posted in: What Disruptive Church Trends Did You See in 2016?
The article is very superficial in its analysis. I agree that we need to move with our changing society, but it's not all about attracting converts or building attendance numbers.
My other gripe is his assertion that less preaching makes for better preaching. Those pastors who wrote 100-150 sermons and messages each year were excellent at exegesis and applying the Word of God. They had lots of practice, and an urgent need to rely on God's guidance every week. I would say they were the better preachers.
Posted in: The Beautiful Mess of a Multigenerational Church
Thank you for this insight into a multigenerational church. Isn't it strange how we view this phenomenon, which used to be the norm.
Two things came to mind as I read it. Firstly, that you are part of the ministry team, and your husband the preacher. Therefore the church was serving their minister and his family, and we wouldn't expect less. But would the same assistance, love, and care be given to all families? The unwed mother of six from the wrong part of town, who can't get her life together? Personally, I have seen congregations falling over themselves to help the minister's family, while ignoring the needs of those they would rather not be part of their church.
My second thought was, where are the children? To speak of intergenerationality means children as well. You speak of yourselves as the younger generation, but there are the very young (including the one you just gave birth to!), and these also belong to the faith community. And they also have a vocation within that community.
As I reread this comment, I realised who did welcome the outcasts and the children. Jesus.
Posted in: Imagination, Tradition and the Divine Gift of Abundance
Brilliant!
Posted in: Build the Ramp for the People Who CAN Walk
This is also true for children. My church makes few concessions for the children, arguing that if they attend for long enough they'll turn into real people, ie adults. We miss so much when we marginalise or ignore the little, weak, or elderly.
Posted in: How DWELL Leaders Can Utilize the CRCNA Digital Library
It's great that the library is available to teachers, however this article has some red flags for me, that you may consider. Firstly, the expectation that a Sunday school lesson can be prepared the night before or even 'on the spot'. Our children deserve better than that.
Secondly, the 'take homes'. In this article they are mentioned as being a surprise to the teacher, unwanted by some children, foisted on the parents ( I can't be bothered checking what's in them, your kids don't want them, but you should deal with them). I suggest you either use them properly and excite your students, or give them something more valuable to take home, such as a memorable lesson.
Thirdly, the budget. Should we really be penny pinching when it comes to discipling our kids? There's something wrong with the idea that a church treasurer would suggest that the savings made (by the teachers reading something from their iPad rather than printing a few sheets of paper), entitles them to ask for further resources. Just buy the darned story cards!
Posted in: How Will Deacon Delegates Change Synod?
If there should be a full representation of the church where are the women and children?
Posted in: Where Are the Women at Synod?
You have neatly written out the other half of the comment, regarding children. A related post from 2009 talked about official 'youth' attendees at synod who were aged 18 to 26. In my 'youth' I had four children and people of that age were the elders of the church. Nowadays youth lasts until you're forty.
Children should be attending synod, and they should be heard. I'm speaking about littlies aged 4-14. They don't need to be paid up, done their profession of faith, respectable, coached, scripted, and rehearsed. They can and should be asked for their opinion in matters that affect them, while respecting their tender years.
Come on, people! You are smart enough to figure out a way to make that happen!
Posted in: Where Are the Women at Synod?
Or are they tearing down the dikes and filling in the channels previously built?
Posted in: Writing, Writing, Writing
I too am a preacher of sorts. But my sermons are made of pictures, pauses, and ponderings, rather than words alone. My congregation includes babes and children, Christian sages and curious non-believers. Today's preachers should move away from the endless speeches (made for auditory learners), and bring their congregations into the process of worship. We can and should be learning and exploring together, and from each other. Thank you for making a passing reference to learning styles.
Posted in: Christians Clothed in Babylonian Silk
What I can’t understand is why you all have guns. What did a duck ever do to you to deserve being blasted out of the sky? And several guns? Are you expecting Armageddon?
I’ll take my chances sitting in church next to the guy with the Rolex watch. Unless he’s James Bond I’m safe.
Posted in: Christians Clothed in Babylonian Silk
If someone really wants to do something they will find enough reasons and arguments to support it. Jonathan Swift once wrote a compelling argument for eating children.
Posted in: Christians Clothed in Babylonian Silk
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