God be with this family, I know you are, but please make it very apparent to them that you are with them today and always. Ben- your pain is no more, you are with your Lord, peace be with you.
~Leena
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Friday, December 26, 2008
I haven't posted in a long while. Mostly I've been figuring out balancing my new ministry position at LCPC and balancing being a wife and mommy and trying to make those two items priority over ministry. Oh, and I discovered Facebook and Twitter. (LeenerBeener on twitter if you tweet too).
There have been two major thoughts running through my mind lately in faith formation and aiding others in their faith, and keeping mine:
* How to talk with others, about faith, when they are dying of cancer at age 30,40, 5o or any age or how to justify (which i don't think you can) that a 3yr old child is being eaten away by a horrible cancer (and the child of a youth minister to boot).
Recently a member of our congregation, just 52 I think (younger than my parents) died from cancer. I only barely met him, Doug was on a committee with him and there are a lot of others I have relationships via ministry who had a neat connection with him. When it is older folks (i have lost a few grandparents this way) who have cancer it doesn't affect me the same as a middle age or younger person. I don't understand how it can get people out of the blue.. it is just damn scary what it does to people, their friends, and family. I hear or read everyone else asking why, God, why and I see people saying "God will provide! God will heal!". That is what we want to believe, and many times that isn't the case. So I have trouble telling someone have hope - so I don't. But I do say I will pray for peace for the person and their family because I believe God will provide that in one way or another. I believe that it is sin that causes the cancer - not the sin of the particular individual or their family, but overall sin in general. I think God can certainly heal a person in a moment if God wanted to ... and does if it isn't time for a person to leave the earthly life. Sometimes death brings people closer to God - like the death of Jesus on the cross (and his rising again to conquer sin and death). We know that in following Jesus, after death, is life and no more pain, no more sorrow. Perhaps not the pearly gates.. but we are back in relationship with our creator. I'm rambling. Sometimes I wonder if I would think differently if I or my husband, or my daughters were inflicted with cancer. I can only pray that I will remain strong or grow stronger in my faith should that ever be the case.
(Rest in peace Steve, God give peace to Gena. God give baby Ben peace and his parents as they grieve and treasure the memories they are still creating.. help them to be there for Ben's baby brother.)
* How to talk with my 4 year old child about other religions and their beliefs - in a way that is holding true to the faith of her parents and not demeaning of her friends and some family members who hold different religious beliefs.
Lil' miss Ellie has a buddy named Grace who is Jewish. Ellie & Grace are constantly talking religion at pre-school (a full time montessori childcare). I think it is great that she has a friend with different cultural/religious traditions. and perhaps they'll be able to remain buddies as they part from their school and go on to Elementary schools. So with this holiday season they have had a lot of chats about what they believe and don't believe. Ellie tells Grace she celebrate's Jesus' birthday at Christmas and gets presents from Santa Claus. Grace says she celebrates Hannukah, not Christmas, doesn't believe in Jesus and doesn't believe in Santa Claus. We've been talking about what Christians believe and what Jews believe and what is different. (Christians believe that Jesus is God and the messiah, Jews believe there was a Jesus, but he's not the Messiah or God.) I've been trying to figure out how much to explain to a four year old, how much does she need to know now, how much can her little mind handle? Somethings I've told her we need to ask auntie L. about because she is Jewish and understands the traditions a lot better than I do. I really hope auntie L. doesn't take offense to the fact that I'm suggesting this to Ellie, and I also hope she knows that we are not at all making, or even intending to make, people of other cultures and faiths to look bad or evil or any such thing.
The other day she told me that maybe I'm wrong about Santa Claus because Grace doesn't believe in Santa and Grace says her step-mom knows everything. Ok, so I really could care less about her believe in Santa. What i was waiting to hear next was - maybe you're wrong about Jesus too. But she didn't say it and she still sang happy birthday to Jesus and continues to sing away in a manger, pray to God at night and asks me to sing Jesus Love Me as she goes to sleep.
A few weeks ago we were in the grocery store getting some groceries for a youth ministry event and we were talking about how I was going to teach the big kids at church about Jesus. She said very loudly, "You know everything about God, mommy, don't you. That's why you work at a church." I said, "I don't know everything, but I like to learn and I like to teach kids about what I learn because it is important for all of us".
I have to remember that it is o.k. to not be 'everything' to your child all the time. I do want to instill a strong faith in Jesus in my little girls. But, like God does with all of us, I need to let them figure it out for themselves, giving them the best guidance I can and having confidence that God will do the work through me and others, it is not one bit of my own accord.
Blagh. Blagh. Blagh... that's what on my mind. What are your thoughts??
Christmas peace to you!
~Leena
Monday, November 10, 2008
I just came across a website that encourages not only children's participation in worship, but also elderly folks who are hard of hearing, have difficulty seeing, and/or are challenged in their mobility. How refreshing as I am an advocate for so many parents and the children who say worship is boring and not for them... and then there are the older folks who aren't excited about more modern technology or opportunities being used to include the children. I hope to learn more about this.
It really hit me a few weeks ago how the pendulum can so easily swing from one side one day to the other side the next day. Our congregation is trying very hard to be child/youth/family/young adult friendly to reach out and include the younger generations. We started 40 Days of Community bible studies.This is a six week small group study dependent on a 20 minute DVD learning segment AND group community and inreach mission projects.
One of the groups started dissolving because there were people hard of hearing who couldn't hear the DVD and it couldn't go much louder in their setting, the blind person felt alienated because they couldn't see the others and weren't sure how they might contribute to a community/inreach mission project with the other. The leader of the group is somewhat hard of hearing and uses a walker and can't do much lifting etc (but she is a great visionary and teacher). It is difficult for her to figure out where to go with her group.
So many older people get so frustrated, give easily, and complain because - as it was described to me - it seems your world and opportunities get smaller as one gets older. So I've been praying to learn ways to inspire the older members in our church to find ways to be involved because everyone has an important role - whether they can see it or not. And I've been praying for awareness for all of us who tend to sit and focus on one end of a spectrum when it comes to worship and education.
To be truly intergenerational, child-freindly, accomodating to all doesn't mean do everything at the children's level but consider all abilities/dis-abilities and build ministry opportunities around that.
Another group of folks I pray for insight when it comes to ministry is those who are developmentally slower and their caregivers. We have a few these persons/famlies in our church and I'm praying for ways to involve them in more than coming to worship (if they want that).
Peace.
~Leena
It really hit me a few weeks ago how the pendulum can so easily swing from one side one day to the other side the next day. Our congregation is trying very hard to be child/youth/family/young adult friendly to reach out and include the younger generations. We started 40 Days of Community bible studies.This is a six week small group study dependent on a 20 minute DVD learning segment AND group community and inreach mission projects.
One of the groups started dissolving because there were people hard of hearing who couldn't hear the DVD and it couldn't go much louder in their setting, the blind person felt alienated because they couldn't see the others and weren't sure how they might contribute to a community/inreach mission project with the other. The leader of the group is somewhat hard of hearing and uses a walker and can't do much lifting etc (but she is a great visionary and teacher). It is difficult for her to figure out where to go with her group.
So many older people get so frustrated, give easily, and complain because - as it was described to me - it seems your world and opportunities get smaller as one gets older. So I've been praying to learn ways to inspire the older members in our church to find ways to be involved because everyone has an important role - whether they can see it or not. And I've been praying for awareness for all of us who tend to sit and focus on one end of a spectrum when it comes to worship and education.
To be truly intergenerational, child-freindly, accomodating to all doesn't mean do everything at the children's level but consider all abilities/dis-abilities and build ministry opportunities around that.
Another group of folks I pray for insight when it comes to ministry is those who are developmentally slower and their caregivers. We have a few these persons/famlies in our church and I'm praying for ways to involve them in more than coming to worship (if they want that).
Peace.
~Leena
Thursday, April 24, 2008
I 'borrowed' this from a ministry blog but think they borrowed in from a ministry e-newsletter who likely borrowed it from someone else. :)
Ministry vs Job
Some people have a JOB in the church; others involve themselves in a MINISTRY.What's the difference?
If you are doing it just because no one else will, it's a JOB.
If you are doing it to serve the Lord, it's a MINISTRY.
If you quit because somebody criticized you, it was a JOB.
If you keep on serving, it's a MINISTRY.
If you'll do it only as long as it does not interfere with your other activities, it's a JOB.
If you are committed to staying with it even when it means letting go of other things, it's a MINISTRY.
If you quit because no one praised you or thanked you, it was a JOB.
If you stay with it even though nobody recognizes your efforts, it is a MINISTRY.
It's hard to get excited about a JOB.
It's almost impossible not to be excited about a MINISTRY.
If our concern is success, it's a JOB.
If our concern is faithfulness, it's a MINISTRY.
An average church is filled with people doing JOBs.
A great and growing church is filled with people involved in MINISTRY.
Where do we fit in? What about us?
If God calls you to a MINISTRY, don't treat it like a JOB.If you have a JOB, give it up and find a MINISTRY.
God does not want us feeling stuck with a JOB, but excited and faithful to Him in a MINISTRY.
Ministry vs Job
Some people have a JOB in the church; others involve themselves in a MINISTRY.What's the difference?
If you are doing it just because no one else will, it's a JOB.
If you are doing it to serve the Lord, it's a MINISTRY.
If you quit because somebody criticized you, it was a JOB.
If you keep on serving, it's a MINISTRY.
If you'll do it only as long as it does not interfere with your other activities, it's a JOB.
If you are committed to staying with it even when it means letting go of other things, it's a MINISTRY.
If you quit because no one praised you or thanked you, it was a JOB.
If you stay with it even though nobody recognizes your efforts, it is a MINISTRY.
It's hard to get excited about a JOB.
It's almost impossible not to be excited about a MINISTRY.
If our concern is success, it's a JOB.
If our concern is faithfulness, it's a MINISTRY.
An average church is filled with people doing JOBs.
A great and growing church is filled with people involved in MINISTRY.
Where do we fit in? What about us?
If God calls you to a MINISTRY, don't treat it like a JOB.If you have a JOB, give it up and find a MINISTRY.
God does not want us feeling stuck with a JOB, but excited and faithful to Him in a MINISTRY.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
I'm not feeling like this right now, but I've definitely been in this place more than once and have known the reasons were not my fault. But it is hard to just keep chugging along sometimes. It does seem to me that the church I'm working with now has been feeling like a failure lately and they need some of this kind of hope... that is my prayer for LCPC.
blessed by failure
Sitting in the church parking lot, I glance at my time on my cell phone . . . again. The rental van is gassed up, tickets ...
Sitting in the church parking lot, I glance at my time on my cell phone . . . again. The rental van is gassed up, tickets ...
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
You Know You're a Children's Minister When...
courtesy of Children's Ministry Magazine (online)
By Mary Van Aalsburg
1. You must resist the urge to recruit your spouse to teach yet another group.
2. You count it a privilege to spend a portion of your Christmas day visiting a sick child in the hospital.
3. You find yourself captured by the hurting look in the eyes of a crying child in the grocery store.
4. You greet children in the shopping mall whom you don't even know, but they seem to know you.
5. Congregation members quickly get engrossed in conversation when you approach them on a Sunday morning.
6. You spend Saturdays at garage sales and craft fairs looking for just that right item for the nursery or the next preschool project. [or childrens or teens event]
7. Your collection of picture books begins to crowd out the novels on your bedroom bookshelf. [As does "Harry Potter" and books about child/teen/young adult/family spiritual development]
8. You find all the comfort you need on a busy Sunday morning in the hug of a preschool child.
9. You stop to wipe the tears from your eyes as you pass a classroom of toddlers singing, "Jesus loves me, this I know."
10. You ask your neighbors to save milk cartons for the three months before summer...just to have enough for that one neat project.
11. You save empty toilet paper rolls from public restrooms.
12. Your automobile tape deck rings with Charity Church Mouse, Psalty, Colby, and all their friends. Music to your ears! [of course, I DO have a 3 year old daughter as well!]
13. You see God work in the life of a teacher through the example of the children in her class.
14. You sit-spellbound-when the kids come through with flying colors for the Christmas pageant.
15. You become known as the Balloon Lady for each and every staff event.
16. You begin to think hors d'oeuvres are red punch and graham crackers [or pizza, soda pop, and veggie trays]
17. You cringe when the phone rings at 9:15 on Saturday night. The question "where can I find a sub?" goes through your mind before you even answer. [or where can I find an easy to teach but quality lesson anyone can lead?]
18. Your light reading for an evening turns to the new "church directory" for possible recruits.
19. You gravitate to the children's corner at a friend's dinner party. [or hang out with the teens banished elsewhere]
20. You designate at least one drawer or shelf in your office for preschool blocks, small trucks, and doll clothes. [and candy and random doo dads that older kids might like]
21. Your ears perk up at the slightest cry of a baby or small child in a church service-and even in a theater.
22. Your phone rings at 5 o'clock on Easter Sunday morning...a teacher needs to use a copy machine.
23. You've stood beside a tiny child's deathbed and wept with a grieving family-more times than you can stand to recall. [Luckily? Haven't had to do this yet]
24. You get your boost and encouragement by reviewing the progress of a teacher-helper who's come through your program and is now passing on what she's learned and done.
25. You're privileged to rejoice with an adult helper who meets Jesus through the words of a little child.
26. Your favorite pastime is holding a newborn for an hour so the new parents can sit comfortably in a worship service. [in addition to balancing my own preschooler and infant girls!]
27. You get a jump start each time you have the honor of writing a child's name in his first award Bible.
28. Your spouse complains that he or she is now known only as 's husband or wife in all areas of the church. [I complain that everyone always tells me they love hearing him play his euphonium and singing in the choir, LoL!]
29. You count more people age 12 and under on your close friends list than you do those age 20 and over. [under 25 really... when you count teens and college-agers. :) ]
30. You find new meaning in the term "simple faith" on a daily basis.
Mary Van Aalsburg is a free-lance writer and former children's minister in California.
courtesy of Children's Ministry Magazine (online)
By Mary Van Aalsburg
1. You must resist the urge to recruit your spouse to teach yet another group.
2. You count it a privilege to spend a portion of your Christmas day visiting a sick child in the hospital.
3. You find yourself captured by the hurting look in the eyes of a crying child in the grocery store.
4. You greet children in the shopping mall whom you don't even know, but they seem to know you.
5. Congregation members quickly get engrossed in conversation when you approach them on a Sunday morning.
6. You spend Saturdays at garage sales and craft fairs looking for just that right item for the nursery or the next preschool project. [or childrens or teens event]
7. Your collection of picture books begins to crowd out the novels on your bedroom bookshelf. [As does "Harry Potter" and books about child/teen/young adult/family spiritual development]
8. You find all the comfort you need on a busy Sunday morning in the hug of a preschool child.
9. You stop to wipe the tears from your eyes as you pass a classroom of toddlers singing, "Jesus loves me, this I know."
10. You ask your neighbors to save milk cartons for the three months before summer...just to have enough for that one neat project.
11. You save empty toilet paper rolls from public restrooms.
12. Your automobile tape deck rings with Charity Church Mouse, Psalty, Colby, and all their friends. Music to your ears! [of course, I DO have a 3 year old daughter as well!]
13. You see God work in the life of a teacher through the example of the children in her class.
14. You sit-spellbound-when the kids come through with flying colors for the Christmas pageant.
15. You become known as the Balloon Lady for each and every staff event.
16. You begin to think hors d'oeuvres are red punch and graham crackers [or pizza, soda pop, and veggie trays]
17. You cringe when the phone rings at 9:15 on Saturday night. The question "where can I find a sub?" goes through your mind before you even answer. [or where can I find an easy to teach but quality lesson anyone can lead?]
18. Your light reading for an evening turns to the new "church directory" for possible recruits.
19. You gravitate to the children's corner at a friend's dinner party. [or hang out with the teens banished elsewhere]
20. You designate at least one drawer or shelf in your office for preschool blocks, small trucks, and doll clothes. [and candy and random doo dads that older kids might like]
21. Your ears perk up at the slightest cry of a baby or small child in a church service-and even in a theater.
22. Your phone rings at 5 o'clock on Easter Sunday morning...a teacher needs to use a copy machine.
23. You've stood beside a tiny child's deathbed and wept with a grieving family-more times than you can stand to recall. [Luckily? Haven't had to do this yet]
24. You get your boost and encouragement by reviewing the progress of a teacher-helper who's come through your program and is now passing on what she's learned and done.
25. You're privileged to rejoice with an adult helper who meets Jesus through the words of a little child.
26. Your favorite pastime is holding a newborn for an hour so the new parents can sit comfortably in a worship service. [in addition to balancing my own preschooler and infant girls!]
27. You get a jump start each time you have the honor of writing a child's name in his first award Bible.
28. Your spouse complains that he or she is now known only as 's husband or wife in all areas of the church. [I complain that everyone always tells me they love hearing him play his euphonium and singing in the choir, LoL!]
29. You count more people age 12 and under on your close friends list than you do those age 20 and over. [under 25 really... when you count teens and college-agers. :) ]
30. You find new meaning in the term "simple faith" on a daily basis.
Mary Van Aalsburg is a free-lance writer and former children's minister in California.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
I really like what this article has to say about comparing and competing when it comes to youth ministry and faith formation...
compare and compete
I gave the sign a position of honor in one of my earliest youth ministry offices. The words still echo in my head often: “If you ...
I gave the sign a position of honor in one of my earliest youth ministry offices. The words still echo in my head often: “If you ...
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
I perused the PC-USA website to see what is available for Lenten/Easter time resources and came across these quippy ad/banners. LOL!
"How meaningful yours kids' Easter is depends on which guy they worship"
"A Church That Believes Easter Should Do More For Your Children Than Raise Their Blood Sugar Levels"
"Instead of one trip to church on Easter, take the whole journey"
"How meaningful yours kids' Easter is depends on which guy they worship"
Sunday, February 03, 2008
I'm listing a few links I have come across this past week in regards to helping families grow in faith together, and helping parents be the pastors/spiritual guides for their children.
* 10 Day Journey -- http://www.the10dayjourney.com/
" The purpose of each 10 day Journey is to create conversations, dialogue and ideas that will help families keep God and HIS Word central. "
Geared towards teens and their parents, and with the idea of asking families to spend more time together when they are at home, not adding another night for them to go to church. Has a Baptist spin on it. I wonder how it can be tweaked for mainline protestants? (I almost forgot that I'm in a Presbyterian church and was going to type 'Lutheran'. LoL!)
* National Association of Family Ministries -- http://www.familymin.org/
" The National Association of Family Ministries (NAFM) exists to network, resource & equip people involved in family ministries. If any of the following describe how you feel about your ministry, we understand, and we can help: Weaving family ministry foundations that are near to your heart into the fabric of your church's life ~ How to make "family discipleship" happen ~ Having ongoing ministry for family units that gets beyond splitting kids and parents up ~ Ministering to the unique groups of congregants that are in single or step families ~ Equipping spouses and parents ~ What resources to point your church community toward, to strengthen their families ~ Establishing and leading a family ministry team ~ How to lead yourself so that you can maximize your giftedness for His glory in your ministry"
This sounds really cool to me! I need to look deeper into this resource, how did I not know about it until now. I just happened to spot the link out of the corner of my eye in some youth ministry e-mail.
* BabyCenter.com "How to Raise a Spiritual Child" Series --
Children Ages 12-24 months (1-2 yrs)
Children Ages 2-4 years
Children Ages 5-8 years
Even Babycenter.Com has some articles on parenting with spirituality in mind.. Gah! This amazes me!
Kudos to Babycenter for providing resources with a holistic approach to parenting.
* 10 Day Journey -- http://www.the10dayjourney.com/
" The purpose of each 10 day Journey is to create conversations, dialogue and ideas that will help families keep God and HIS Word central. "
Geared towards teens and their parents, and with the idea of asking families to spend more time together when they are at home, not adding another night for them to go to church. Has a Baptist spin on it. I wonder how it can be tweaked for mainline protestants? (I almost forgot that I'm in a Presbyterian church and was going to type 'Lutheran'. LoL!)
* National Association of Family Ministries -- http://www.familymin.org/
" The National Association of Family Ministries (NAFM) exists to network, resource & equip people involved in family ministries. If any of the following describe how you feel about your ministry, we understand, and we can help: Weaving family ministry foundations that are near to your heart into the fabric of your church's life ~ How to make "family discipleship" happen ~ Having ongoing ministry for family units that gets beyond splitting kids and parents up ~ Ministering to the unique groups of congregants that are in single or step families ~ Equipping spouses and parents ~ What resources to point your church community toward, to strengthen their families ~ Establishing and leading a family ministry team ~ How to lead yourself so that you can maximize your giftedness for His glory in your ministry"
This sounds really cool to me! I need to look deeper into this resource, how did I not know about it until now. I just happened to spot the link out of the corner of my eye in some youth ministry e-mail.
* BabyCenter.com "How to Raise a Spiritual Child" Series --
Children Ages 12-24 months (1-2 yrs)
Children Ages 2-4 years
Children Ages 5-8 years
Even Babycenter.Com has some articles on parenting with spirituality in mind.. Gah! This amazes me!
Kudos to Babycenter for providing resources with a holistic approach to parenting.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
I have wanted to begin a blog specifically for forming my thoughts and gathering my findings for faith formation - more specifically children, youth and family ministry. So, here goes. I was recently hired on as Director of Faith Formation at a Presbyterian church. I've come from 31 years of ELCA Lutheran background, but I'm married to a man who grew up Presbyterian. We agree we are Christian first and then identify with a denomination. Above all we identify ourselves with Jesus.
I'd love to learn your thoughts and experiences with faith formation as you read my blog.
"For God so loved the world He gave his only begotton Son. That who so ever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." ~John 3:16
I'd love to learn your thoughts and experiences with faith formation as you read my blog.
"For God so loved the world He gave his only begotton Son. That who so ever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." ~John 3:16
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