How was church today?

Welcome to Wondercafe2!

A community where we discuss, share, and have some fun together. Join today and become a part of it!

Register Log in
This communion is very familiar to me. I didn't know it had a name.

Balloons are for more than children - are you familiar with Do \Balloons belong In Church -Weems?(sp)
 
BALLOONS BELONG IN CHURCH
blueballsr.gif
by Ann WeemsPresbyterian Elder



    • I took to church (synagogue, temple, solemn retreat) one morning a happy four- year-old-boy holding a bright blue string to which was attached his much-loved orange balloon with pink stripes.

      Certainly a thing of beauty. And, if not forever, at least a joy for a very important now.
      orgball2.gif
      When later he met me at the door, clutching blue string, orange and pink bobbing behind him, he didn't have to tell me something had gone wrong.
      "What's the matter?" He wouldn't tell me. "I bet they loved your balloon..."       Out it came then, mocking the teacher's voice: "We don't bring balloons to church (synagogue, temple, solemn retreat)." Then that little four-year-old, his lip a bit trembly, asked: "Why aren't balloons allowed in solemn places? I thought God would like balloons."
      Where did we get the idea that balloons don't belong in church, synagogue, temple or solemn retreat?
      Where did we get the idea that God loves gray and sh-h-h-h and drab and anything will do?
      I think it's blasphemy not to appreciate the joy in God's world.
      I think it's blasphemy not to bring our joy into God's church, synagogue, temple or solemn retreat.
      What beautiful gift cannot be offered unto our Higher Power?
      Whether it's a balloon or a song or some joy that sits within you waiting to have the lid taken off?
      The Scriptures say there a time to laugh and a time to weep.
      It's not hard to see the reasons for crying in a world where hatred for others is manifest;
      But it's also not hard to see the reasons for laughter in a world where God's love is so manifest.



    • pkball.gif
      So celebrate!
      Bring your balloons and your butterflies,
      your bouquets of flowers!
      Bring the torches and hold them high!
      Dance your dances, paint your feelings,
      sing your songs, whistle, laugh.
      LIFE is a celebration, an affirmation of God's love.
      LIFE is distributing more balloons.
      blueballsr.gif

      For God so loved the world...
      Surely that's a cause for joy.
      Surely we should celebrate!
      Good news!
      That God should love us that much.
      Amen!




  • This is from a handout used at the 1998 retreat for Hospice Volunteers at the University of New Mexico. The basic text is authored by Ann Weems. Modifications were made by Hospice Chaplain Marie Stockton to allow for usage in places other than a Christian Church. Chaplain Stockton also wrote the benediction at the end.
    The Balloons belong in Church article was forwarded to us by Michael Bischoff at SIMPLY LOVE, with the message "Please pass this on to anyone you feel could benefit from it."

Last updated October 5, 1998 All material, unless otherwise specified, is copyrighted 1997-8 by Journey of Hearts A Healing Place in CyberSpace. We invite you to share the information on this site with others who may benefit, but ask that you share from the heart only and not for profit.To contact the Domain
 
These are just some of the words. I once used it for a service with slides. It was quite wonderful .Unhappily. Ann Weems died of complications from a brain tumor .
 
crazyheart said:
BALLOONS BELONG IN CHURCH
blueballsr.gif
by Ann WeemsPresbyterian Elder



    • I took to church (synagogue, temple, solemn retreat) one morning a happy four- year-old-boy holding a bright blue string to which was attached his much-loved orange balloon with pink stripes.

      Certainly a thing of beauty. And, if not forever, at least a joy for a very important now.
      orgball2.gif
      When later he met me at the door, clutching blue string, orange and pink bobbing behind him, he didn't have to tell me something had gone wrong.
      "What's the matter?" He wouldn't tell me. "I bet they loved your balloon..."       Out it came then, mocking the teacher's voice: "We don't bring balloons to church (synagogue, temple, solemn retreat)." Then that little four-year-old, his lip a bit trembly, asked: "Why aren't balloons allowed in solemn places? I thought God would like balloons."
      Where did we get the idea that balloons don't belong in church, synagogue, temple or solemn retreat?
      Where did we get the idea that God loves gray and sh-h-h-h and drab and anything will do?
      I think it's blasphemy not to appreciate the joy in God's world.
      I think it's blasphemy not to bring our joy into God's church, synagogue, temple or solemn retreat.
      What beautiful gift cannot be offered unto our Higher Power?
      Whether it's a balloon or a song or some joy that sits within you waiting to have the lid taken off?
      The Scriptures say there a time to laugh and a time to weep.
      It's not hard to see the reasons for crying in a world where hatred for others is manifest;
      But it's also not hard to see the reasons for laughter in a world where God's love is so manifest.


    • pkball.gif
      So celebrate!
      Bring your balloons and your butterflies,
      your bouquets of flowers!
      Bring the torches and hold them high!
      Dance your dances, paint your feelings,
      sing your songs, whistle, laugh.
      LIFE is a celebration, an affirmation of God's love.
      LIFE is distributing more balloons.
      blueballsr.gif

      For God so loved the world...
      Surely that's a cause for joy.
      Surely we should celebrate!
      Good news!
      That God should love us that much.
      Amen!




  • This is from a handout used at the 1998 retreat for Hospice Volunteers at the University of New Mexico. The basic text is authored by Ann Weems. Modifications were made by Hospice Chaplain Marie Stockton to allow for usage in places other than a Christian Church. Chaplain Stockton also wrote the benediction at the end.
    The Balloons belong in Church article was forwarded to us by Michael Bischoff at SIMPLY LOVE, with the message "Please pass this on to anyone you feel could benefit from it."
Last updated October 5, 1998 All material, unless otherwise specified, is copyrighted 1997-8 by Journey of Hearts A Healing Place in CyberSpace. We invite you to share the information on this site with others who may benefit, but ask that you share from the heart only and not for profit.To contact the Domain
Click to expand...

It is a lovely piece of writing crazyheart. May I ask why you're sharing it with me? I am not opposed to balloons being brought to church.
 
crazyheart said:
The point I was making - balloons are for more than kids.
Click to expand...

Okay. However, at the particular church I was at (which is what I wrote about), the balloons were brought to the service to be given to the kids after the Children's Time.
 
Air'b ladders as past Saints who understood Aramaic in tongues ... sometimes said to be ancient gene sous in science ... when once observable .. before western burning experiences ... strange empirics ... empire formers?

Never formed a' thought on consequences of interference ... without humus ... fecundity of thought? NOSH-it!

Thus reliance of story as pure intellect is non penetrating to a dulled psyche ... some giggle and jiggle prerequisite ... waves?
 
Church today was busy. Peerhaps too much so.
Usual opening - candle lighting, invitation to worship, prayers, hymn.
Children's time and solo by a very talented teen member of the congregation.
Then baptism of four (babies and young children). Even with two ministers participating it took quite awhile (we seldom have more than two baptisms at a time). But it was great to welcome these little ones into our church. Proud parents and grandparents. Cute kids.
Second hymn - following the baptism
prayer
third hymn - "Spirit God, be Our Breath" from More Voices - and we switched our attention from baptism to Pentecost
Then the scripture readings from Acts and John, an anthem by the choir, and the reflection on "The Church is Born/Reborn"
fourth hymn
Then a reception of a new member renewing his baaptism vows and recommiting himself as he transfers his membership from a UCC in another NB city to our church. Always nice to receive a new member and Pentecost seems a most appropriate time.
Offering, prayeers
fifth hymn and commissioning
Social time including time to speak to the parents of the babies, and to peersonally welcome the new member.

The seervice was long, perhaps 20 minutes over. I saw some people leaving after the offering before the long prayer (perhaps they had commitments - seniors' homes serve lunch at noon (not 1:00 o'clock))
I didn't mind the length, but to me it seemed disjointed, unfocused, and hard to catch the mood.

How do other churches handle this type of 'busy' service?
 
Seeler said:
Church today was busy. Peerhaps too much so.
Usual opening - candle lighting, invitation to worship, prayers, hymn.
Children's time and solo by a very talented teen member of the congregation.
Then baptism of four (babies and young children). Even with two ministers participating it took quite awhile (we seldom have more than two baptisms at a time). But it was great to welcome these little ones into our church. Proud parents and grandparents. Cute kids.
Second hymn - following the baptism
prayer
third hymn - "Spirit God, be Our Breath" from More Voices - and we switched our attention from baptism to Pentecost
Then the scripture readings from Acts and John, an anthem by the choir, and the reflection on "The Church is Born/Reborn"
fourth hymn
Then a reception of a new member renewing his baaptism vows and recommiting himself as he transfers his membership from a UCC in another NB city to our church. Always nice to receive a new member and Pentecost seems a most appropriate time.
Offering, prayeers
fifth hymn and commissioning
Social time including time to speak to the parents of the babies, and to peersonally welcome the new member.

The seervice was long, perhaps 20 minutes over. I saw some people leaving after the offering before the long prayer (perhaps they had commitments - seniors' homes serve lunch at noon (not 1:00 o'clock))
I didn't mind the length, but to me it seemed disjointed, unfocused, and hard to catch the mood.

How do other churches handle this type of 'busy' service?
Click to expand...

Do some like busy churches and others like in quiet ... then some revert to nature out there away from the institutions and appreciate that different hum ... once they hear it ... it begins to seem like everything! Harmony, or dissonance? Depends on where your coming from ...
 
I am now home again after spending an entire week at my version of church. Nothing rejuvenates, and refreshes quite like going camping with my honey and the dog. We went to Kananaskis, walked some gentle trails, cooked, ate, read, slept and did it all over again.

There was some mild difficulty with grizzlies - one got shot and one paid us a visit at our campsite. He was so beautiful- silvery tipped and as Trump would say YUGE. He didn't 'bother' us at all, just walked past our site checking us out. That meant he was at the front of our car and we were at the back - pretty close for a grizzly. Too bad we had three cameras and two cell phones in the car that we decided not to go and get!
 
Too close for my comfort zone - but then I'm not used to grizzlies. I'm not overly nervous if I meet a moose - I just yield the right-of-way and stand and admire, or back slowly and quietly away.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top