If we don't, who will? Report from Saturday

Laikyne and I are still at the Children Worship & Wonder event in Elyria, Ohio.

The second day of training was quite full. We heard multiple examples of the Bible stories using the Children Worship & Wonder style and even had an opportunity to work with the story props ourselves and practice telling a couple of stories. Perhaps the most meaningful story to me was the baptism story developed by Kaye Edwards that explains the Disciple approach to baptism. (The model was developed by other groups of Christians and so does not reflect the Disciples of Christ practice of believers baptism and immersion while accepting and respecting the baptism of other groups: once baptized, always baptized.) As she told the story and moved the props developed for this children's story, tears took advantage of gravity and fell from my eyes. I felt the Holy Spirit in that time and place. And, that, my friends is the essence of this model: the stories of our faith are told to the children in a way that young children are given the space to experience God while learning about God.

So, before Laikyne and I head off to morning worship at Washington Avenue Christian Church, the host church, followed by a full afternoon of additional training I leave you with these questions:

If the church with the big round window doesn't open that window wide enough to fully welcome our children, who will?

If the church with the big round window doesn't open that window wide enough to encourage children to listen for and hear the love of our God, who will?

Reflection on Friday Evening at the Children Worship & Wonder Training

As chairs of the Education Committee Laikyne Marling and I are in Elyria, Ohio this weekend for training regarding a promising model of educating our young children.

Laikyne and I arrived just in time for the start of Session 1 of the Children Worship & Wonder training at Washington Avenue Christian Church in Elyria. We were greeted warmly and slowly began to refocus on the purpose of our weekend trip rather than on our 3-1/2 hour journey.

The focus of the evening centered around worship: after introductions, we entered the Children Worship & Wonder room and began to worship led by Kaye Edwards, Director of Family & Children's Ministries at Disciples Home Missions. This approach to working with young children trusts both the children (and God) to worship, to commune, to communicate, to be together just as we as adults worship, commune, and communicate with God in our worship service. The experience follows the same pattern as the adult worship service except that it is approached in a way that children from three through seven years old can understand.

Part of the approach involves having a defined worship space, a sanctuary, that is designed for children to worship and entering the sacred space as just that, sacred space.

Following worship, we talked about what it takes to implement this type of program during Children's Church time or Sunday School time. And would you believe it? Patsy Kinder's words were echoing in my head! Patsy and I have discussed areas for growth in children's Christian Education over the last several years, specifically our concerns that the children are not learning the stories of our faith as consistently as we feel is important. It seems to me that this Bible-based, storytelling approach may very well answer those concerns:

Children Worship & Wonder is helpful to congregations who:
1. Are experiencing low church school attendance.
2.Are concerned that young children are not learning the stories of God.
3.Have programs for young children during the congregational service of worship that are not developmentally appropriate worship opportunities for young children.
4.Have problems with current "children's church", such as children acting out, difficulty recruiting volunteers, lack of program consistency, lack of resources.
--from the training materials from last evening

While not all of these apply to our circumstances, it seems to me that many of them do. Questions for us as adults to consider:

If we as church do not provide our children with safe, quiet places to explore their relationship with God, who will?

If we as church do not tell the stories of our faith to our children, who will?

More later...enjoy your Saturday.

Tim

Wow! A Powerful Bible Study at Sessions 2008!

Rev. Dr. Rick Lowery of Lexington Theological Seminary began the Bible Study this morning by reading Romans 12: 1-2 to us. "I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." began Lowery. Then he raised his tone and volume and continued reading from Paul's letter "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God--what is good and acceptable and perfect." [emphasis added]

Several things Rev. Lowery said that were particularly significant to me as I listened to him:

• When Paul refers to "this world", he is not talking about the planet. Paul is talking about the worldview of the Romans. Lowery went on to describe the worldview of the Romans as one in which the assumption is that those who are at the top of the class structure are there because they are more deserving. Further, he said that the emperor of Rome was considered to be "ordained by God."
  
• The Roman worldview included the idea that power was achieved through force. That the state religion was propagated through conquest: "might makes right."
• Paul's statement in his letter to the Romans to "not be conformed to this world" was a very, very radical suggestion.
  

As Dr. Lowery neared the end of the Bible Study, he shared a story of his recent trip to Congo with his wife, Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins, the General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada. Again, several key comments that were significant to me:

• He told us that there are now more Disciples in the Congo than in North America. He described the amazing work they are doing in the service of Jesus Christ with very little in the way of resources.
• Lowery described a parade and welcome by the Disciples in which they were cheered for and danced for as they arrived at the Mission Station. One of the other individuals told him that they were uncomfortable with the magnitude of the welcome saying that he was not deserving. Dr. Lowery replied to this man that it is we, those of us who have ceased to see God in each other that are wrong here. Everyone deserves to be welcomed as a loving child of God with this kind of enthusiasm.
• Lowery said that in his trip to the Congo, I saw them doing so much with so little to further God's work. He paused and then continued, Then I come back here and sit with our American churches with so much whining about not having enough.

This Bible Study was amazing. I will plan to pick up the dvd of it to share with the men and others upon my return.

Sessions 2008: Renewing Our Minds

I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God--what is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12: 1-2 NRSV

As Sessions 2008, the Disciple Men's North American gathering, began last evening with a meal, an inspiring worship service, and a concert by the Christian group Acappella the focus for the men gathered is on these verses from Paul's letter to the Romans.

Some observations, experiences, impressions, and feelings from the first evening of Sessions:

• Dad and I arrived shortly before dinner and wandered around the exhibits. I ran in to Bart Hanna at the Lexington Theological Seminary table. He and I keep bumping into each other (Regional Assembly, Oreon Scott Lectures at Bethany, and more). As I head to seminary this fall, I am finding this new friendship reassuring that our God will indeed provide for me.
• We also ran into Jim Moran from the Fairmont church. We have seven West Virginia men here for Sessions. The other men rode on the Princeton church's bus. I am alternately sorry not to have been with them and glad to have been able to have the private time with my father. I spoke with Don Riggenbaugh and Joel Potts from New Martinsville later at dinner, waved at Gary Lyons from the Princeton church, and saw James Trader and Jim Trader from across the sanctuary.
  
• I sat at dinner with Tom Mason from Lincoln, Nebraska and Verity Jones, the Editor of DisciplesWorld, our Disciple journal. Tom and I compared notes on our children who are independent world travelers. His son has been a Disciples Peace Intern among other things. His son is currently working in fields in Italy. Verity and I were talking and I made a random comment about "my son, Isaac". Her eyes lit up and she exclaimed, "Oh!! You're Isaac Graves' dad. He's written for us!" I am now in possession of her business card and the imperative to see that Isaac and his sister call her about writing for Disciples World.
• Rev. Mark Briley, the Minister of Youth and Young Adults at Geist Christian Church in Indianapolis, delivered the message "Renewing Your Mind" at the worship. He challenged us to renew our minds, to talk about the elephant in the room, and reflect on our lives as Christian men.
• I was impressed by Rev. Briley's appropriate use of visuals as an integral part of his sermon. They fit and were intertwined in such a way as to enhance rather than distract from his message. He is leading a resource group this weekend called "Googling God: Tracking Faith with 20 and 30 Somethings". I hope to attend it, although, I have circled more sessions to attend than I can physically be at--unless I can clone myself.
• Rev. Briley also truly spoke the language of today--the language that the younger generation lives. He inspired me to continue reflecting on how my ministry will utilize my various gifts including my comfort with technology.
  
• The evening ended with a concert following worship by the musical group Acappella. You have to hear their sound and see them perform to fully appreciate it. These young men perform with only their voices and you would swear that they have backup instrumentation but it is only their God-given voices. Amazing.

Well, I have rambled enough for the time being, Dad and I need to have breakfast and get over to the church for Bible study with the Rev. Dr. Rick Lowery at 9:30. I will try to have more for you this evening...perhaps even giving you the results of this afternoon's softball game among the men...

Sessions 2008 Journey #1

Sunny skies don't hide soggy fields.

I left Wheeling this morning at 7:30 headed to St. Louis (to pick up my Dad) and then onward to Oklahoma City for the North American Disciples of Christ Men's Event, Sessions 2008. I am stopped at the Panera in Terre Haute, Indiana for a late lunch. Some impressions so far on this journey to be with other Christian men:

1.) I am responding to Maggie's sermon yesterday that we can respond to our anxieties by asking "God to grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference" by realizing I cannot change the high cost of gasoline but I can slow down to 60 and get better mileage. I can't say that is wisdom but I am almost 400 miles into my trip and the gasoline empty light just came on.

2.) I know I have not yet reached the hardest hit areas but I have already noticed soggy fields, creeks and small rivers over their banks as I've cruised along Interstate 70. I'll be interested to see the Mississippi as I head into St. Louis. I'm wondering how the in-town reports of the flooding are the same or different.

3.) I was struck how people just want to be seen, to be noticed, and heard. I stopped at a quick mart/gas station to get something to drink long about 11:30 (yeah, yeah I was looking for caffeine). Anyway the clerk accidentally shorted my change $1. I pointed it out to her and she promptly gave me the additional change and apologized. I said "it happens" and smiled and she saw an opening to tell me how she's had more trouble with making change lately because of numbness in one of her fingers. She really seemed to appreciate after the line of customers and the grunts as money changed hands to be noticed as a full-fledged human being. Her error provided that opportunity for me to be the person to notice.

Well, I must buy gasoline and get back on the road...178 miles before I stop in St. Louis.

Tim
3:30 p.m. EDT

An Irritated and Loving God

Daily Lectionary Readings
Job 38: 1-11
Matthew 17: 14-21
Acts 2: 43-47

God is so faithful to us and, yet, we forget our morning prayers or have the faith of a mustard seed not believing that God will do as God promises. I appreciate the image of the irritated God in Job and the aggravated Jesus in Matthew. It truly does remind me of parenting. As we step on a lego left in the middle of the floor we shout in aggravation, “How many times do I have to tell you…?” And, sometimes, when our children are whiny and they want what they want and they simply don’t understand the big picture of bills and work and adult responsibilities, we just go on a rant as God does when he is fed up with Job’s lamentations. I suppose I like these images of Jesus and God because 1.) I don’t feel as bad about my aggravations as a parent, and 2.) I know how very much I love my children even when I lose my cool with them. If God and Jesus love us even that much, and the Bible tells us they love us even more than that, then there truly is nothing that can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8: 38-39)

Loving and forgiving father,

Thank you for all that you have done for me even when I forget my morning prayers because my routine has changed, even when I treat someone poorly because of my selfish feelings or needs. I am grateful that you love me as a father loves his child.

Amen

The Very, Very Full Day

Saturday at the Regional Assembly was full: full of activities and events and full of the presence of the Holy Spirit. The day began in the breakfast room here at the Super 8 as Disciples ate their continental breakfast. We heard testimony from Rev. Vance, a pastor on the Gulf Coast, talk about his experience wandering into a church where the 80-something past was singlehandedly working on rebuilding his church and waiting for God to send help, we heard a lecture and Bible study that challenged how we think about the body of Christ led by Larry Grimes from Bethany. We heard Arnold Nelson, we learned about various aspects of the church, we had lunch with the other Ministers and Mates of the Region, we had interest groups in the afternoon (which is where Joni and I held a session on Safeguarding God's Children), we had dinner at Central Christian Church where the youth of the Charleston United Disciples Church presented a skit that brought forth the Holy Spirit. Finally, our day ended with worship and the consecration and installation of Rev. Thad Allen as Regional Minister.

I have thoughts, I have feelings, and I have videotape of parts of this very busy day. I will be sharing these and others in the coming days. I genuinely wish all of our family of the Big Round Window had the opportunity to be present.

More later...

Play Day

While the grown-ups (Dorothy Brownlee, Joni Blum, and Tim Graves) were at a serious and reportedly FANTASTIC elder's workshop, Daniel and I had play day.  We swam in the indoor pool until I was completely a prune.  Only one incident - I slipped on the step getting into the pool at one point and went down on my bum.  Just walking carefully now.  But the pool was great because Daniel and I were the only ones there.

After we dressed, he and I went to the lobby for a couple of rounds of Mastermind, Scribbage (really old game) and Tri-ominoes.  

Then it was off to downtown Huntington to see Horton Hears a Who.  We only had to circle the block a few times to figure out where parking, etc. was.  We purchased our popcorn and drinks and went into the theater (we were there for the noon show) and to our delight we again were the only ones there.  So we could make comments during the movie, giggle, and not have to worry about others around us.

What a wonderful thing to spend the day with a child giving him my full, undivided and RELAXED attention.  I was recently visited by the head of Big Brothers/Big Sisters (who is Jim Kettler's niece) about the church participating in a new program with them.  We talked about the importance of mentoring young people and adults just spending time with kids, undistracted by all the "have-to's" in our lives.

I highly recommend play-days with a young person.  It energized me, I learned some things about and from Daniel, and I just had fun.  Go play.