Good stuff…
Thanks for your prayer. The evening went well for the most part. Our pastor looked relieved at the end and it was encouraging to see that a lot of people were looking to the future and that change is an option.
The various departments within the church were presented, which took some time. Afterwards, representatives of the clubs and associations in the village gave feedback and ideas how we could do better. The consensus was that we didn’t publicise ourselves enough: Church members should publicise what we were doing more in the various associations.
The representative of the Sports club complained that many sport activities used to take place on Friday afternoon, but that the “Abenetuerland“ children’s club had pulled more and more children away. Oh dear, oh dear... The sport club asked if we could work together; perhaps have outdoor services on the sports field, with music from the church and snacks by the sport club. This shows how effective the Abenteuerland and youth work is becoming- would a sport club ever listen to a pastor making those suggestions?
We spilt off into groups to discuss the different areas of the church. I went to the “Services” group, which numbered three people, and which was very much in favour of moving the services forward, more modern music and different styles of presentation. Two major questions were why the parents of “Abenteuerland” children didn’t come to the services, and what freedom there was to change. In presenting to the wider church the group leader put a list up of common service elements and said: We ask why parents don’t come? Look at this list”.
Not so good stuff…
Thankfully this is much shorter. We are still over-epmhasising the importance of music: “Church Music” had a whole section to itself on a level with the service; kindergarten, and whole social care in the village. We really need to move on from this because it focuses on one small area of worship and gifting at the expense opf many others. Secondly, suggestions that perhaps we could have a second service to increase freedom and focus on different groups were ignored, despite it working elsewhere in Germany. The main service must reach everyone from 0-99, in one hour exactly, 10am to 11am, not a minute more. Assuming ten different focus groups, that gives each one six minutes per service…
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1 comment:
But but but but but.
Music must be the most important thing in all churchiness - the Bible's biggest book is full of songs!
And if people don't feel that a service speaks to them/meets their needs, then they're coming to church with the wrong attitude entirely - it should be about them praising God, not what they can get out of it. THEY're the ones who need to change.
Obviously.
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