Into School

Yesterday, I visited one of the schools my supervisor is chaplain to. I generally observed the teacher giving the RME (religious and moral education - took me ages to work out what the M stood for!). I did have to explain a bit about the bible - especially the Old and New Testament. I think I did so reasonably well, as the children seemed satisfied with the answer (and were open to asking me questions; at least some of them). I suppose my experience of teaching young church and leading a youth club helped with this.

One child did ask something I didn't know why it had happened. And I did say so. Perhaps I should have phrased it a bit better - perhaps asked why they thought it might have happened, but I also think it's good to not think I do have all the answers. Definitely need to find the right balance with that.

Once the teacher had taught their section, I sat with and helped a small group of the children with the remainder of the lesson. As that was sort of a young church-sized group, with the class room assistant, it was fine. I hope they got the sense that I cared. As a representative of the church, I think that's really important that those who the church cannot reach in 'traditional' ways (i.e. them going to the church) see Christians as interested and concerned in their lives. And why do I think that? Because the children asked if I would be going to their Easter service. They'd only just met me too.

I'm looking forward to going again. A good, positive experiencece all round, I think. Definitely something I can, and will, build on.

On the phone

Eagleside has a phone ministry and on Sunday a member of the phone ministry team told the congregation about it. (Which in itself I thought was a great idea - how often do churches start new things, which become successful, but they don't think to tell the congregation about it or how it's developing. I know it's maybe not a part of worship, but when is a good time?). The phone ministry is to replace the traditional quarterly elder visiting of members of the congregation, which is especially helpful in a gathered congregation.

As this was a toe in the water (I believe), members of the congregation were invited to sign up for a phone call rather than visit. The take up seems pretty reasonable and feedback good to. I know I would prefer a phone call to a visit - I don't have to tidy the house or feel I have to tidy myself. It also saves time; if the person isn't in (or answering their phone), it's not a wasted journey. The people in the phone ministry team were recruited for their communication skills and given training on phone pastoral care, so the support for them has been good to.

This does not mean to say no visits will take place. People who have signed up for this can ask for a visit or a visit can be suggested to them. It may even be the case a visit is made on the back of the call.

I think this is a great way of offering additional pastoral care to a gathered congregation  (which many are these days). The support to the congregation that visits will still take place has to be there, as does appropriate training and support for those undertaking the ministry.

As a little side bar, I wonder if there are many Christians who have call centre experience who wonder how that skill could be used for the church. They already are great communicators over the phone, so here's a way they could use a skill they didn't even maybe realise they had nor thought would be useful to God.

Photo shoot in The Up! House

As a HUGE fan of Pixar's Up!, I thought this was sooo cool and just had to share.

Wedding anniversary shoot at the Up! House

Warning, if you have watched the film, the picnic scene and old couple chairs may bring a tear to the eye. Certainly did with me.

Lectionary leanings

As part of this placement, I am to learn how to use the lectionary. Having used the lectionary for services since on co-ordinated field assessment, this wasn't too much of a leap. My home church also uses lectionary-based resources, which cover worship and every age of their young church. So, as as a young church leader there, I was used to using usually using the lectionary.

I think it will be my default setting. It saves me always preaching on what I want to, rather than what I need to preach on. It will encourage (force) me to use the difficult parts of the bible, parts I may ignore or avoid as they don't 'fit' with my idea of God etc. It means, if the young church (or Sunday School, if you must..) can have resources which tie in with what is going on in the rest of the service (if they leave after the children's address).

There are other reasons, but those are, for me, the most important. Of those, the service tying in with young church I think is especially important. The minister (or who ever is leading the children's address) merely needs to introduce the theme, that then feeds into the rest of the service and the young church time. The depth behind that introduction can then be taught to everyone at a level they can relate to, adults and children. There are some things which aren't especially useful to discuss with children around (there are some very brutal things in the bible, lets face it). It takes the pressure off the minister getting a teaching point across to the children. What a 12 year old will understand and a 3 year old are very different (though I have had some of the most profound insights for the latter). By introducing the theme to the children, the young church leaders can get the message across in an appropriate way. That enables the children, gives them a great spiritual depth (believe me, I have sen this as a young church leader) and their leaders. The leaders feel they are part of the teaching and worship team (as worship for the children continues in young church). And, perhaps most importantly, the young church is an important part of the worship and fellowship of the church, not a place to dump the children while the grown-ups talk about things they can't with them around.

So, I will prefer to use the lectionary and hope a church will use (or be willing to use) resources for the whole church so they are all singing from the same hymn sheet (so to speak). There will be times it's not appropriate, though I would always see what the lectionary had. There are times where I may wish to run a series or services on a particular theme. Then, I would work with the young church leaders to ensure what was going on in the service could tie in with them, though they may be happy using the resources they had. The children would be fine, as they would already have that spiritual depth (and often get to the message when I've barely started!) because of the lessons in the past.

A good preacher?

During a recent discussion with my supervisor, he told me that I have to potential to be a brilliant preacher.

Me? Really? Wow. Looks like I'm setting a high bar for myself. It's very encouraging hearing this (especially as I know my supervisor wouldn't just say this without good reason), yet challenging, daunting and not a little bit scary. Most of all, it's humbling to think I have this gift and I pray I have the grace to use it wisely.