Renovating or Reconstructuring in the United Church

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chansen said:
Isn't that an obvious growth opportunity, given the general anti-LGBTQ+ beliefs common among many Christians in and from Africa. And one I don't think I've ever considered.
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I agree. Ottawa has a large immigrant community from many different nations.
 
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My wife has a coworker she coordinates with closely. She's from Jamaica. From all accounts seems lovely to talk to. Absolutely hates gay people.
 
Ahhh ... JimKenney12 - nice to see you engaged wth the Laurentian initiative. I've known Cathy & Stephane from from other UCCan initiatives - they are terrific - so it certainly seems a visionary team has connected well.
Very sorry to hear about your broken leg!! I hope you are healing well. C.
 
jimkenney12 said:
I aree. Ottawa has a large mimmigrant community from many different nations.
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Carolla said:
Ahhh ... JimKenney12 - nice to see you engaged wth the Laurentian initiative. I've known Cathy & Stephane from from other UCCan initiatives - they are terrific - so it certainly seems a visionary team has connected well.
Very sorry to hear about your broken leg!! I hope you are healing well. C.
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Sadly, Cathy will be moving to the Eastern Towmships. Leg is doing well. Two green breaks inTibia and fibula
 
KayTheCurler said:
Hope you heal well. That sounds like a nasty injury.
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Except for crawling up the stairs, getting to our car, and getting into a wheel chair at the hospital, I have had very little pain in the ankle area where the breaks are. Most pain now is in the chest areas near the arm pits where the strain and pressure from using the crutches and in the right leg from doing most of the work when I am moving around. I am able to do stuff like carefully tidy and sweep out our garden storage shed to make room for most of the components of our new trampoline. Our older grandchild is now old enough for trampolines.
 
hah, for a moment there, i thought that you had bought yourself a trampoline. Wasn't sure if i should applaud, or issue safety warnings
 
JayneWonders said:
hah, for a moment there, i thought that you had bought yourself a trampoline. Wasn't sure if i should applaud, or issue safety warnings
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We got it in June. Our daughter and grandchildren love it when they visit. And I am violating my expectations for this thread.

Back to renovating and tramsforming churches
 
jimkenney12 said:
Except for crawling up the stairs, getting to our car, and getting into a wheel chair at the hospital, I have had very little pain in the ankle area where the breaks are. Most pain now is in the chest areas near the arm pits where the strain and pressure from using the crutches and in the right leg from doing most of the work when I am moving around. I am able to do stuff like carefully tidy and sweep out our garden storage shed to make room for most of the components of our new trampoline. Our older grandchild is now old enough for trampolines.
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Crutches are a pain in several ways. . Remembering a nephew who thought they were cute fun things until he broke his leg.
 
JayneWonders said:
hah, for a moment there, i thought that you had bought yourself a trampoline. Wasn't sure if i should applaud, or issue safety warnings
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I first met a trampoline MANY years go. It was used for training divers and the rules included ome trainee and FOUR r spotters. I still shudder when I see several people bouncing and no spotters in sight.
 
Our neighbours have a trampoline that I can literally see over our 6' privacy fence. It has a safety net as a "wall" around it and I think the parents keep an eye on things.

Thinking about crutches, how much of the reconstruction happening in the UCCan is "crutches" that are really temporary, visible measures just keep churches on their feet vs. actual longterm fixes that will heal the church and strengthen it for the long haul?
 
Mendalla said:
Our neighbours have a trampoline that I can literally see over our 6' privacy fence. It has a safety net as a "wall" around it and I think the parents keep an eye on things.

Thinking about crutches, how much of the reconstruction happening in the UCCan is "crutches" that are really temporary, visible measures just keep churches on their feet vs. actual longterm fixes that will heal the church and strengthen it for the long haul?
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SHuffling deckchairs is another common image.....and I think that many initiatives are doing that. In some (many?) cases I feel that closing the congregation and starting from scratch would be more profitable than tryin to reform the existing. Of course that only works if the phoenix that arises from the ashes really wants to be a new different thing rahter that recreate in the shape of the old
 
Mendalla said:
Our neighbours have a trampoline that I can literally see over our 6' privacy fence. It has a safety net as a "wall" around it and I think the parents keep an eye on things.

Thinking about crutches, how much of the reconstruction happening in the UCCan is "crutches" that are really temporary, visible measures just keep churches on their feet vs. actual longterm fixes that will heal the church and strengthen it for the long haul?
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I’d say Campus United and campus ministry in general has nothing to do with propping up churches, it’s evangelism and doing ministry where young people are at, not expecting them to come to us—reaching a cohort and generation where over 80% of them have never heard of UCCan.

Same for many church plants, they’re engaging younger people and new immigrants where they are at.
 
There are some interesting things going on with various Diaspora 'congregations' - like the "Ikea church" gathering on Sunday mornings - in an IKea cafeteria - sign on the table (multilingual) inviting people to stop by. Making connections, growing relationships - often with lonely folks perhaps new to Canada trying to furnish a new place to live. I understand they've connected with quite a few people, had some other outings & picnics etc. along with more informal 'worship' moments.

There are also some 'wild churches' popping up too - gathering outdoors - walking in the woods etc. A friend of mine leads one in Guelph; I think there's also one in the Ottawa area - and many others too I'm sure.

So far I haven't heard of any Trampoline Churches .... but who knows? Jumping with the Spirit might be good!
 
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LAM is having an open council meeting on October 17 with reps from each congregation, 9:30-16:30 to discuss the future of LAM. They passed a strategy document over a year ago but I thought it lacked significant goals.
 
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