paradox3
Peanuts Fan
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Wow, that is a lot of new members. Where did they come from? New to the area?
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revjohn
Well-Known Member
I attended Gower Street United in the heart of St. John's, NL.
The Reverend Dr. Paul Crittenden was the minister of my home congregation as I finished my candidacy and was ordained. I probably know his son, the Reverend Dr. Jeff Crittenden a smidge better.
Sizeable congregation present this morning. I sat at the front so never turned around to do a head count.
Strong sermon bridging texts from 1 Samuel and the Gospel of John with an examination of things not being what they appear. Sung some old chestnuts of the faith, enjoyed the worship space and mingled minimally afterwards.
One of the benefits of being without my own call or appointment is the opportunity to worship with colleagues and listen to them in action.
The Reverend Dr. Paul Crittenden was the minister of my home congregation as I finished my candidacy and was ordained. I probably know his son, the Reverend Dr. Jeff Crittenden a smidge better.
Sizeable congregation present this morning. I sat at the front so never turned around to do a head count.
Strong sermon bridging texts from 1 Samuel and the Gospel of John with an examination of things not being what they appear. Sung some old chestnuts of the faith, enjoyed the worship space and mingled minimally afterwards.
One of the benefits of being without my own call or appointment is the opportunity to worship with colleagues and listen to them in action.
Mendalla
Happy headbanging ape!!
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I think Barrie and Orillia (she's somewhere in that area) have been experiencing a fair bit of growth, at least if the area around my company's branch in Barrie is any indication. We just opened up a new office in Orillia, which used to be serviced by Barrie. Still, a dozen new members at once is quite a bit for a mainstream church these days. Even in its heyday in the eighties, I don't think my family's United Church ever welcomed that many at one go (though maybe in one year, since we usually had two membership services per church year).
Mendalla
Happy headbanging ape!!
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Is there any reason why the Crittenden name would ring a bell with an old ex-UCCan hand like me? It does and I'm not sure if that's coincidental or if I somehow encountered the name somewhere back in the day.
We had a great church service. Our special speaker was one of our own members (our Pastor is visiting Kenya). He spoke, mostly from John 1:1-14, on the presence of God.
My part in the service was to collect the offering and then say a prayer over it. Very thankful that I managed to do this - and be serious about it.
My part in the service was to collect the offering and then say a prayer over it. Very thankful that I managed to do this - and be serious about it.
BetteTheRed
Resident Heretic
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It is a lot of new members, for us, though we've been a gradually growing, not decreasing, church, over the last half dozen years. We've been the beneficiary, if that's the word, of one closed pastoral charge in the past year, with another upcoming downtown church closing this year. If a local-ish church closes, and members are looking for a "progressive" sort of congregation, ours tends to be chosen. Also, we've got a free children's music program running, now in its third year, and I think we've gained a few members thanks to that.
revjohn
Well-Known Member
The Reverend Dr. Jeff Crittenden is Senior Minister at Metropolitan United Church in London so you may have come across the name before. He has been President of London Conference during some interesting times in the Church and may have been interviewed in relationship to them.
He is also an assistant professor of Homiletics at Huron College.
Dude gets around some.
Mendalla
Happy headbanging ape!!
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Ah, that's it. I have not been to Met but have seen his name in that context. Merci, beaucoup.
You just never know
Blip, blip, blip....
Sermon today was preached by Stephen Harper...no not the politician guy but by a very engaging candidate for ministry in the United Church who shares a name with the politician guy. Today was a continuation of the Oscar nominated films series of sermons. Lion was the movie and Stephen preached on seeking and finding home. He said he has found a spiritual home worshiping at Hillhurst United. He also spoke of a stressful job he had in the past and as he got away from it at the end of the day he would start to breathe again as he got close to his physical home. I can relate to the feeling of leaving work behind and breathing normally again, not so much with church feeling like home, but I'm sure it is that way for some lucky folks.
Amiens home is castle ... maybe ... depending on what the competition is about! You could be dead ... or revived! I know of a couple of chaps that returning from the pub work almost got hit by cast iron grill ... an effort at female Panning? Daemons in the 'ommoes house ...
'Ommoe'n search .. requiring a big I'D girl ... some say an AUM dinger ... with idea's of Ur oan! A wee red boat ...
Seeler
Well-Known Member
We had an intergenerational service. Usually I don't care for these; I often find them busy, disjointed, with no central message, and without knowing who their 'audience' is. But this one was fairly well done. We have a lot of talented youth right now. They shared their gifts in dance, music (both playing and singing), reading scripture and leading in prayers, but it was well done, the flow was good and it did not come across as a talent show, as I've seen happen.
Part way through the service the younger (generally 6 or 7 and younger) children left for Sunday School. A child did the prayer of preparation for the scripture; her grandfather read and explained the scripture and preached the message. (He just happens to be a former UCC Moderator and an excellent speaker.) All in all, a good service, followed by a soup luncheon with donations going to our outreach program.
Part way through the service the younger (generally 6 or 7 and younger) children left for Sunday School. A child did the prayer of preparation for the scripture; her grandfather read and explained the scripture and preached the message. (He just happens to be a former UCC Moderator and an excellent speaker.) All in all, a good service, followed by a soup luncheon with donations going to our outreach program.
Seeler
Well-Known Member
Thinking about Bette's congregation welcoming a dozen new members.
That could happen in my church if the stars lined up: we've had an upsurge in youth in recent years, last year a group of seven were confirmed (including Grandson). This year I believe we have five between the ages of 12 and 17 or so taking classes. Let's say two couples who moved to the area decide to transfer to our congregation. And one or two adults who have been attending for years (perhaps formerly RC or Baptist or no formal affiliation) decide to take the plunge. Yes, we could have a dozen in one year - and maybe only two or three the next year.
That could happen in my church if the stars lined up: we've had an upsurge in youth in recent years, last year a group of seven were confirmed (including Grandson). This year I believe we have five between the ages of 12 and 17 or so taking classes. Let's say two couples who moved to the area decide to transfer to our congregation. And one or two adults who have been attending for years (perhaps formerly RC or Baptist or no formal affiliation) decide to take the plunge. Yes, we could have a dozen in one year - and maybe only two or three the next year.
Mendalla
Happy headbanging ape!!
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I have found intergens to be a mixed bag, too. Done well, they can be wonderful services and I have seen some great ones. Done badly, they can, as you describe, rather disjointed.
My fellowship started doing one a month as part of the plan to fill Sundays after we went to quarter-time ministry but I never went. However, our RE team was doing the organizing and they are a pretty good bunch so I hope they are going well.
I know some of older members fondly recalled the days when the children were never in church, let alone participating, but I think that attitude had largely died out (sadly, it was mostly because those holding it were dying off or becoming too frail to attend regularly) by the time they became a monthly thing because I don't recall hearing much opposition.
BetteTheRed
Resident Heretic
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Read John Pentland's Fishing Tips. We got some good ideas out of it, but more importantly, discovered that we were already on the same sort of path.
You just never know
Blip, blip, blip....
Today was the eighth anniversary of Hillhurst becoming an affirming congregation. A fine sermon by our Affirming co-ordinator Pam Rocker. Also, some sad news for Hillhurst as Pam is moving on do ministry at McDougall United starting in July. She is not an ordained minister, but always has good sermons when she preaches so the McDougall folks have lucked out.
Seeler
Well-Known Member
I always look forward to this thread popping up on Monday morning, with interesting comments about the various churches people attended on Sunday.
This Sunday service was 'different' from the norm. Not just the children doing the palm parade which is quite usual on Palm Sunday, but, well, different.
We usually follow a familiar pattern - gathering, children's time, 2 or 3 scripture readings, sermon, response (announcements, offering, closing), interspersed with hymns and prayers. Yesterday there was none of this. Instead we had a service of hymns, scripture, prayer and short inspirational poems and reflections read by members of the congregation and choir. It covered the life of Jesus from birth (yes we had a nativity reading from Luke), through his life and teachings, to his death (preparation for the glorious celebration of life on Easter). It was interesting, well planned and executed, inspirational. It felt like worship.
But
While I welcome inovation occasionally, I really miss the 'usual'. To me the rhythm of a regular worship service with the Invitation, Word and reflection on the Word, and Response, is very meaningful. I see a well prepared and delivered sermon as the center of the worship service. I like a sermon that informs, explains, questions, and challanges me. One that wrestles with scripture and occasionally brings to light something that I may not have noticed reading on my own - something perhaps pertinent to the present time.
But it is probably impossible to be all things to all people. Many positive comments during the gathering time after the service.
This Sunday service was 'different' from the norm. Not just the children doing the palm parade which is quite usual on Palm Sunday, but, well, different.
We usually follow a familiar pattern - gathering, children's time, 2 or 3 scripture readings, sermon, response (announcements, offering, closing), interspersed with hymns and prayers. Yesterday there was none of this. Instead we had a service of hymns, scripture, prayer and short inspirational poems and reflections read by members of the congregation and choir. It covered the life of Jesus from birth (yes we had a nativity reading from Luke), through his life and teachings, to his death (preparation for the glorious celebration of life on Easter). It was interesting, well planned and executed, inspirational. It felt like worship.
But
While I welcome inovation occasionally, I really miss the 'usual'. To me the rhythm of a regular worship service with the Invitation, Word and reflection on the Word, and Response, is very meaningful. I see a well prepared and delivered sermon as the center of the worship service. I like a sermon that informs, explains, questions, and challanges me. One that wrestles with scripture and occasionally brings to light something that I may not have noticed reading on my own - something perhaps pertinent to the present time.
But it is probably impossible to be all things to all people. Many positive comments during the gathering time after the service.
It's interesting to me to consider different regular orders of worship. This is something my class group and I discussed in the Spiritual Formation course I am just finishing up...
BetteTheRed
Resident Heretic
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Ours was out of the usual order, as well. We galloped through everything except the reading and message, then finished the service with readings and acting of the two parades on Palm Sunday.
I don't mind missing the pattern for special occasions, but would prefer it were not a regular occasion.
I don't mind missing the pattern for special occasions, but would prefer it were not a regular occasion.
I liked the application to the horse and colt and avoidance of the Golden Hynde that carried wealth into England for the people of avarice that took it from the original land of Avalon (Spanned) by legalised piracy ... that Drake fellow working on the decree of Queen Liza ... a differing illumination of history evolving around the family of the Great Book!
The cooking of morals and ethics in the Gael lion ... sometimes expressed on shields as a red deer of particular attributes ...
The cooking of morals and ethics in the Gael lion ... sometimes expressed on shields as a red deer of particular attributes ...