Over this past summer, our music minister enlisted the help of our children to chime the hour. Some children are able to use a handbell while others use a chime. It has been amazing, and a true testimony to the importance of having children in worship. Take for instance this past Sunday.
[Read more...]
A statement that many find challenging is one that says, “a congregation, while a legitimate expression of church, is not equivalent to it.†(see The Hidden Lives of Congregations) So, here’s a riddle: When is a congregation not a church? And when is a church not a congregation.
[Read more...]
Many folks who find themselves engaged in the task of congregational education tend to be able to jump right in and keep the programs running. And they do an acceptable, if not admirable, job of keeping things going smoothly. Programs run efficiently, people are happy, and no one complains. But dig a little and it becomes apparent that, for many, there is not much theological reflection or educational thinking below the surface of what may appear to be a successful program. The danger here is that efficiency is not necessarily an indicator of educational effectiveness.
[Read more...]
Tomorrow marks the official “back to school†mark for me with the requisite faculty “retreat†(that in quotes as there’s nothing akin to a retreat about it. Let’s all just admit that it’s work-related, therefore work). So, summer is officially over, and along with it, summer travels.
They say traveling is educational in the sense that it expands one’s worldview. I got world travel out of my system when I was much younger, and today don’t feel much compelled to put up with the discomfort and inconvenience of tourist travel (not the least of which is putting up with airline travel). But I’m happy for the memories and experiences of those interesting places I have visited.
[Read more...]
Fall in Virginia is quite a different matter from the same season in New York or Oregon, the other two places in which I have experienced its bittersweet mingling of pulsating life and coming death. It has always been my favorite season of the year, but here in the steamy South (I know it gets steamier south of here, but this is all the steam I can bear) it is a completely different matter. Fall, when it finally comes here, is a more about the weather than the calendar, and when the weather finally cools I tap into that combination of renewed energy that comes with a new academic year and the melancholy of remembering that winter will soon close in around us. My melancholy has an extra depth this year as I watch my sister’s struggle with pancreatic cancer, a struggle she stands no statistical chance of winning, but still we hope.Â
[Read more...]
The GRACE writes blog has been upgraded to Wordpress 2.2.2! If you notice any wrong, please report it to the administrator. Thank you for being an active reader, encourager and fellow traveller on this journey.
The following is from the book Myths: Fact and Fiction about Teaching and Learning by Israel Galindo. How well do you know fact from fiction?
MYTH: The reason why coffee is such a popular morning beverage is because of the caffeine, which serves as a stimulant.
[Read more...]
As second chair leaders who focus primarily behind the scenes, our contributions to the community of faith, often gets lost in the myriad of congregational events that are quite visible and take center stage. Sometimes I wonder if what I do is making an impact. In my impatience, I want to see immediate results that make a difference in people’s lives. Sometimes that happens, but much of the time what I do doesn’t bring immediate measurable results. Like a planted seed, the impact of my decisions as an educator flourishes in its own good time.
[Read more...]
Remember the good ole days? As a young lad growing up as a sand-lapper in Beaufort, SC I have fond memories of mosquitoes, Spanish moss, red bugs, marshlands, and even that strange Gullah dialect that was embedded in the people in the backwoods of the estuary. These were days when we left our doors unlocked, rarely made appointments for anything, shared our resources, trusted neighbors and strangers, and lived a relatively simple lifestyle.
[Read more...]
Can you recall a recent time in your life when you felt out of place or lost in a particular environment? We all have experienced this feeling in our lives. Perhaps, the last time you began a new job you had that “Gee, I feel out of control†feeling. A recent visit to a new doctor’s office or hospital might have stirred a “how do I get to where I’m going?†feeling. Finding what you need in an unfamiliar store may create a bit of frustration. Navigating your way around an unfamiliar city creates anxiety.
[Read more...]