So the fourth Sunday of the month is a little different at the Underground Church. I really didn't know that going in and was caught off guard.
Announcements are always funny. It shows some of the humor of the church and it's really nice.
Jenny did a great job with the music this morning. They need a keyboard player to help out. I don't know who out there reading this blog that might know one who might be interested, but just a bug in (coughcoughTim'scoughcough) the ear of anyone who might have some talent.
Then Pastor Kevin got up in front and started with questions that people have posed and answered them using scripture. One of them is a discussion that has been going on in virtual church (Facebook) about Does God Change His Mind. The other question was about prophecy. I was amazed at how many in the congregation had experience prophecy and were willing to share the experience. I was also challenged by this way of doing church.
To not have an agenda, to take responses from the crowd, to allow the church to think was really like being in a living room with close friends discussing politics, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It seems more real and genuine than any place I have ever worshipped. I really enjoy going there.
I think I will look forward to 4th Sundays.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Que Sera
Today after church (more about that in another post) we tried to go to Okie Dokie's in Swannanoa for some BBQ. I had read about it on Chowhound and Mike went by there this week and said it was really good. However, they aren't open on Sunday.
We drove down to Black Mountain and really couldn't find anything we knew about to be open and you must have reservations at the Red Rocker Inn to eat there. We were going to turn around when we found Que Sera. After perusing their menu we decided to give it a chance.
The atmosphere is quaint. It isn't a large restaurant. They do have a wine menu and they have a $4.95 mimosa special for lunch. I had the lightly blackened red fish with a Creole meuniere sauce over asiago cheese grits with black eyed peas. It was scrumptious. Mike had the eggs Benedict with Canadian bacon. It was also yummo. I did have dessert (chocolate peanut butter surprise) and it was homemade.
A great meal including tip for $36.
We drove down to Black Mountain and really couldn't find anything we knew about to be open and you must have reservations at the Red Rocker Inn to eat there. We were going to turn around when we found Que Sera. After perusing their menu we decided to give it a chance.
The atmosphere is quaint. It isn't a large restaurant. They do have a wine menu and they have a $4.95 mimosa special for lunch. I had the lightly blackened red fish with a Creole meuniere sauce over asiago cheese grits with black eyed peas. It was scrumptious. Mike had the eggs Benedict with Canadian bacon. It was also yummo. I did have dessert (chocolate peanut butter surprise) and it was homemade.
A great meal including tip for $36.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
10,000's
In the early 90's I learned how to play this simple game with dice called 10,000's. It's a fun game and several people can play at once. It moves fairly quickly also.
Sunday night we went over to some friends (The Kwiatkowski's) for a meal and to play the game. Brooklyn loves to play with Ben and Andy (they have some pretty cool electronic toys!) so we went over about 3:15 and hung out for a while. Jan cooked a scrumptious dinner and then we played 10,000's.
After Jan won an all-adult game we brought the kiddos in and taught them how to play. Brooklyn did something I've never seen done before. She rolled 3000 points in 2 rolls. It was utterly amazing (and you would have thought that she had found gold). Yes, she won that game because none of us could catch her. I guess it was beginner's luck!
After Jan won an all-adult game we brought the kiddos in and taught them how to play. Brooklyn did something I've never seen done before. She rolled 3000 points in 2 rolls. It was utterly amazing (and you would have thought that she had found gold). Yes, she won that game because none of us could catch her. I guess it was beginner's luck!
Now that I've read the rules on Wikipedia I find that I've been playing differently than the rules say as far as scoring. The last time we played I rolled 6 ones and I should have automatically won. Oh well, we can add the point system changes now that we know about them.
Sunday School Last Post My Perceptions
After reading through the past couple of posts I just want to say this: How ever you decide to do "Christian Education" whether through small groups or Sunday School or parental partnering, please be intentional about it. Have a plan for each step and make that step clear.
The steps might change and evolve as technology changes and as culture changes but the worst way to tackle it is haphazardly and without a plan.
The steps might change and evolve as technology changes and as culture changes but the worst way to tackle it is haphazardly and without a plan.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Sunday School part 2 - My Perceptions
Okay, so Sunday School for kids is the predominate way that children are exposed to the gospels, Old Testament and New Testament stories, crafts, and Jesus. In most denominational churches they use their denominations lessons to teach these lessons. There is a flow to the teaching as each denomination has a "Scope & Sequence" they follow so that the stories can be revisited every so many years.
My question is why? One church has their children over 4 with them in service and they have activities they do when the service gets to a certain point that reinforces the message for the children. Another has classes that the kids go to each week with papers that the parents usually end up throwing away. Another does Children's Church with high energy music and a large group bible story and then they break into small groups and do many activities that reinforce the lesson for the child.
And of course all the parents are spending time every day to teach their child the Bible and do studies with them and teach them how to pray and talk to their best friend, Jesus. Oh, they don't? Why not? Soccer games until 6:30 and then a meal on the run and the child is doing homework in the car and then a rushed shower. They can't get up early because they have to sleep.
As a church, we have told parents for the past 20-30 years: give us your children and we will teach them the Bible. Never mind that Deuteronomy says it is your job as a parent. We will handle it. We will take them to camp, have VBS, a class every Sunday morning and maybe, just maybe you will attend our Christian School where we will teach you every day bible classes.
I was meeting with a group of Christian Educators that said it took us 20-30 years for this cycle to build it isn't going to stop over night. Parents are responsible.
So where do the lines cross? What is the appropriate amount of "Christian Education" offered by the church and where do the parents fit in?
More later...
My question is why? One church has their children over 4 with them in service and they have activities they do when the service gets to a certain point that reinforces the message for the children. Another has classes that the kids go to each week with papers that the parents usually end up throwing away. Another does Children's Church with high energy music and a large group bible story and then they break into small groups and do many activities that reinforce the lesson for the child.
And of course all the parents are spending time every day to teach their child the Bible and do studies with them and teach them how to pray and talk to their best friend, Jesus. Oh, they don't? Why not? Soccer games until 6:30 and then a meal on the run and the child is doing homework in the car and then a rushed shower. They can't get up early because they have to sleep.
As a church, we have told parents for the past 20-30 years: give us your children and we will teach them the Bible. Never mind that Deuteronomy says it is your job as a parent. We will handle it. We will take them to camp, have VBS, a class every Sunday morning and maybe, just maybe you will attend our Christian School where we will teach you every day bible classes.
I was meeting with a group of Christian Educators that said it took us 20-30 years for this cycle to build it isn't going to stop over night. Parents are responsible.
So where do the lines cross? What is the appropriate amount of "Christian Education" offered by the church and where do the parents fit in?
More later...
Monday, April 7, 2008
Sunday School
Why do only about 1/4 of church attendees attend Sunday School? According to Barna...
27% of women compared to 21% of men attend Sunday school in a typical week. (2006)
38% of born again Christians and 65% of evangelicals attend Sunday school in a typical week. (2006)
Sunday school remains a draw primarily in the South, where three out of ten adults (29%) attend in a typical week. In contrast, 15% in the northeast, 26% in the Midwest and 24% in the west have attended Sunday school in a typical week. This may be related to the comparatively high incidence of Southern Baptists in the South, for whom Sunday school remains a central focus of the church. (2006)
According to the Assemblies of God website study: Sunday School teaches every person at his level of understanding. The small group, graded structure of Sunday School allows teachers to tailor Bible study for the age-level needs and interests for children, youth, and adults.
Personally, I don't want to attend Sunday School. You have 45 minutes to skim the surface of a lesson found in a quarterly, brochure, or something the class teacher (hopefully they are a gifted teacher) chooses to lecture on. You don't build relationships with the others in your class unless once a month, once a quarter, once every six months or once a year your class gets together. You usually (some churches do have options) are in class with other couples your own age (what about a 38 year old that is married to a 52 year old with a 10 year old in the house and 28 year old living on her own?) or it is a singles class (single again, etc.)
Personally, I would rather serve one hour and attend one hour if given the chance. Let me change diapers, play games with a child, rock a crying baby, take up the offering, greet, sweep the floor, make coffee, etc. How do you chose who is serving and who gets to go to class? My friends that are moms are usually teaching and never get to build relationships with others.
Personally, I like big group/small group for kids and home groups for adults.
Why? For adults you have the opportunity to build relationships. Most small groups eat together (they are people of the table - I love that title) Then they get to know each other. They help each other move, they give each other small baby showers, they mow yards for each other when their is sickness or death or they hold your hand through a failed marriage or hopefully they hold your hands together as you work to salvage your marriage.
The best Bible study I ever attended was a small group on parenting. We stayed on that topic for months and I'm a better parent for it. We prayed together, laughed together, cried together and they helped us move twice during that study!
Tomorrow I'll post why my preference is not Sunday School for kids either.
27% of women compared to 21% of men attend Sunday school in a typical week. (2006)
38% of born again Christians and 65% of evangelicals attend Sunday school in a typical week. (2006)
Sunday school remains a draw primarily in the South, where three out of ten adults (29%) attend in a typical week. In contrast, 15% in the northeast, 26% in the Midwest and 24% in the west have attended Sunday school in a typical week. This may be related to the comparatively high incidence of Southern Baptists in the South, for whom Sunday school remains a central focus of the church. (2006)
According to the Assemblies of God website study: Sunday School teaches every person at his level of understanding. The small group, graded structure of Sunday School allows teachers to tailor Bible study for the age-level needs and interests for children, youth, and adults.
Personally, I don't want to attend Sunday School. You have 45 minutes to skim the surface of a lesson found in a quarterly, brochure, or something the class teacher (hopefully they are a gifted teacher) chooses to lecture on. You don't build relationships with the others in your class unless once a month, once a quarter, once every six months or once a year your class gets together. You usually (some churches do have options) are in class with other couples your own age (what about a 38 year old that is married to a 52 year old with a 10 year old in the house and 28 year old living on her own?) or it is a singles class (single again, etc.)
Personally, I would rather serve one hour and attend one hour if given the chance. Let me change diapers, play games with a child, rock a crying baby, take up the offering, greet, sweep the floor, make coffee, etc. How do you chose who is serving and who gets to go to class? My friends that are moms are usually teaching and never get to build relationships with others.
Personally, I like big group/small group for kids and home groups for adults.
Why? For adults you have the opportunity to build relationships. Most small groups eat together (they are people of the table - I love that title) Then they get to know each other. They help each other move, they give each other small baby showers, they mow yards for each other when their is sickness or death or they hold your hand through a failed marriage or hopefully they hold your hands together as you work to salvage your marriage.
The best Bible study I ever attended was a small group on parenting. We stayed on that topic for months and I'm a better parent for it. We prayed together, laughed together, cried together and they helped us move twice during that study!
Tomorrow I'll post why my preference is not Sunday School for kids either.
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