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

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.

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 ...

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.

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 perused the PC-USA website to see what is available for Lenten/Easter time resources and came across these quippy ad/banners. LOL!

"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"

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.

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