Equipping for

New Life in a Vacancy: Space for the Spirit to Inspire Vital Mission and Ministries

admin — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 23:01:08 +0000

by Brian Fraser

My approach to working with a congregation during a ministerial vacancy has changed significantly over the past 30 years. I used to see such congregations as bereft of leadership, grieving their loss, and needing to focus on the problems they had to solve before calling a new minister. I was there to provide interim leadership and help them solve their problems.

I now see such congregations filled with potential for refreshed leadership, acknowledging but moving through their loss, and wanting to focus on possibilities for the future. I’m there to create and hold the space for the Spirit to inspire the congregation to explore their future and to discover a new sense of life and mission that will attract the minister of Word and Sacraments whom God is calling to work with them.

This approach has been shaped by new perceptions of organizational development and social psychology that have emerged in the last 20 years – Appreciative Inquiry and Positive Psychology. The focus and impact of both disciplines are captured in this description from the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania:

Understanding positive emotions entails the study of contentment with the past, happiness in the present, and hope for the future. Understanding positive individual traits consists of the study of the strengths and virtues, such as the capacity for love and work, courage, compassion, resilience, creativity, curiosity, integrity, self-knowledge, moderation, self-control, and wisdom. Understanding positive institutions entails the study of the strengths that foster better communities, such as justice, responsibility, civility, parenting, nurturance, work ethic, leadership, teamwork, purpose, and tolerance.

The Christian version of this approach is found is Galatians 5:22-25, where Paul describes the fruit of the Spirit as evidence of God’s presence and action in a community of faith.

Instead of a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats), we use what’s known as a SOAR analysis (Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations and Results). The focus is on a desired future rather than a regretted past. Problems are not ignored; they are just not given a place of defining privilege. They are barriers to be overcome while moving toward the desired future, and they are dealt with as they arise, not put front and centre from the very beginning of the process.

Let me give you a taste of this process as we’ve used it at Brentwood Presbyterian Church, in Burnaby, BC, where I’ve been ministering for the past two years.

Brentwood is a very small congregation in one of Canada’s most ethnically diverse neighbourhoods. That diversity is reflected in the congregation. Among the 25-30 who gather for worship on a Sunday morning, we have Koreans, second-generation Chinese, third-generation Chinese, Taiwanese, Ghanaians, Jamaicans, Trinidadians, Poles, Netherlanders, Scots and Canadians. The Presbytery of Westminster had plans to close the congregation, but the congregation succeeded in getting a chance to see whether they could develop a viable ministry in the community. I was invited to work with them to help that happen. The Interim Moderator and Interim Minister (we call them Transitional Ministers out here) had worked with the congregation for 18 months prior to my arrival and deepened the congregation’s determination to flourish. That foundation was crucial.

We began with what I call an Appreciative Awareness Survey with the whole congregation. There are three questions:

What do you value most about what this congregation offers you?
What is this congregation doing to deliver that value?
What are the most critical challenges this congregation faces?

Three things are accomplished through this process:

Everyone is given a voice at the very beginning of the process.
Their focus is drawn to the positives in the congregation before they describe the negatives.
I learn the “local dialect” the congregation uses to talk about what’s most important to them.

We took all the raw data from the answers we received and transcribed it into 20 pages of text. The questionnaire was filled in by 75% of the congregation. The session went through the raw data and identified the most commonly used and the most powerful words. What we valued most was worship, learning, fellowship and service. Most of the challenges had to do with growth in numbers.

We explored things further with a series of face-to-face interviews by someone from outside the congregation. She was seeking to discover what built the kind of trust that leads to collaboration and community. She discovered that the key element to trust building for newcomers is the welcome they receive when they come to the church. From a sense of feeling genuinely welcomed came willingness on the part of newcomers to stay and share their gifts in the work and witness of the congregation.

With that wisdom from the community in mind as we further analyzed the data, session developed a draft vision and mission statement in the form of an invitation:

The friendly folk at Brentwood Presbyterian Church warmly invite you

to get centred in Jesus Christ in worship and learning,

enjoy community with Jesus Christ in fellowship,

and experience the compassion of Jesus Christ in service.

As we grew together over the next few months, a tag line emerged from our ongoing conversations about being the church at Brentwood:

We nourish souls to flourish in the grace of Jesus Christ

Both the invitation and tag line grace the cover of our Sunday bulletin and the slide that’s on the screen when people arrive for worship. This is the promise we make to ourselves and to those seeking a new church home.

As a session, we are keenly aware of our responsibility for helping the congregation deliver on that promise. After testing these statements out with the whole congregation and getting their unanimous approval, we developed vision and mission statements specifically for the session and identified four strategic priorities for the near future:

Vision
A church blessed with gifts to do the work of Jesus Christ with joy and contentment

Mission
To serve together to make wise decisions that further the work of Jesus Christ at Brentwood Presbyterian Church

Strategic Priorities

Make the fact that we exist better known
Articulate the benefits offered by Brentwood Presbyterian Church
Realize a fuller utilization of the building
Identify and implement specific ways of increasing our membership

So where has all of this led us? In the past two years, we’ve welcomed six new members. We’re doing a monthly jazz vespers service that attracts 25-40 people normally not at worship on Sunday morning. We’ve written a 12-page booklet that lets people know what we have to offer. We’ve developed, with the assistance of the Experimental Fund, an English as a Second Language through Music program. We strive every Sunday to provide an experience of worship that nourishes souls to flourish in the grace of Jesus Christ.

We are slowly, but I think surely, nourishing a flourishing community of followers of Jesus Christ. And we have a clarity about vision, mission and strategic priorities that help us keep track of how we are doing.

Leadership is about creating the space for the Holy Spirit to convene conversations that generate flourishing communities. Presbyteries should appoint clergy as Interim Moderators and Interim Ministers who understand the importance of such space. From what the Holy Spirit creates in that space, renewed life will emerge, even in a vacancy – perhaps especially in a vacancy, if that space is created and held with wisdom, compassion and humility.

The Rev. Dr. Brian Fraser has been ministering with Brentwood Presbyterian Church in Burnaby, British Columbia, since November 2009. You can find out more about their ministry at www.brentwoodpc.ca.

Live Together, Die Alone: How to bring new life to youth ministry with a presbytery youth ministry team

admin — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 22:44:09 +0000

by Mavis Currie

In 2006, a team of adult leaders from the Presbytery of London returned from Canada Youth at Brock University in St. Catharines, filled with ideas, enthusiasm and a new sense of comradeship. The leaders wondered about the possibility of creating a smaller but similar experience of youth conferencing for the younger youth within our churches. We knew that this undertaking would be impossible for individual churches within the presbytery, but hoped that together we could create an event that would bring new life to each of our separate youth programs. It was then the Presbytery of London Youth Ministry Team was born.

This team has been functioning well for the past six years despite a number of transitions within the leadership of the team. Every December, approximately 100 care packages are compiled and distributed to students at our local University and College in London. In the early spring, a full-day conference, which includes worship, small group experiences, recreation, meals and mission projects, is held for youth in grades 6-8. Our high school youth are brought together for events leading up to and following Canada Youth, and we have undertaken two ten-day youth mission trips to lead Vacation Bible Schools in Cape Breton and in Winnipeg.

What are the keys to this ministry’s success? They can be summarized with the acronym “TOGETHER.”

T – Think big: Take one meeting per year to “dream.” Don’t allow your conversation to be limited by money or time constraints. Ask questions like these:

What is God calling us to accomplish as a youth ministry team?
What kinds of projects would excite the youth of my church and inspire them to become involved?
How can we work together to help nurture youth ministry in each congregation?
What are creative ways that we can use the gifts of our team?

O – Organize yourselves: One person needs to agree to call the meetings and be the contact person for the group. The Presbytery of London Youth Ministry Team has been task oriented. We have one full team meeting per year when we “dream” about the following year. Then we work as sub-committees to bring the dreams to fruition. Early in your team’s formation, it is helpful to set some parameters and goals for your work together. The Presbytery of London’s youth ministry team set the following goals:

To foster opportunities for young people to engage in meaningful worship, mission, recreation and faith development activities that individual congregations are not able to provide on their own (due to resources or number of participants).
To create opportunities for leadership development for adults involved in youth ministry.
To aid in communicating wider church youth activities to individual youth leaders.

Some team members may be paid staff and have well-developed youth ministry programs within their congregation. The team needs to be sensitive to those congregations’ existing ministries. The Presbytery of London Youth Ministry Team evaluates ideas for ministry based on the criteria listed above when we fine-tune our plans for the upcoming year. We know we could run many programs together, but we choose to involve the entire team only in projects that meet at least one of the above criteria.

G – Get a budget: Jesus himself said, “Where your money is, there your heart is also.” As presbyteries, we cannot claim that we are passionate about having children and teens in our congregations when we have no money in our budgets to promote ministry to youth.

E – Everyone has a gift: Even churches with no youth have adults who are passionate about youth ministry. Engage as many members of your presbytery as possible, regardless of their ages, in your planning and implementation. The Presbytery of London’s One Day Wonder Event for grades 6-8 would be impossible without the donations of supplies and food from churches within the presbytery that have only one or two youth or no youth. It is easy to think that youth events can only be held at larger churches with expensive facilities. Youth, however, are equally charmed by a small rural church’s ample yard space, or an older city church’s nooks and crannies. Every individual has a gift to share. Every church has something to offer the team’s overall ministry.

T –Talk to each other: The Presbytery of London’s youth ministry team includes several clergy, but many laypeople from churches within the presbytery. These laypeople have jobs outside of the church. Many have young children at home. People are busy. In order for the team to work, you need to communicate, communicate, communicate. Communication does not always have to mean a meeting. Have email conversations to discuss matters in-between regular planning meetings. Distribute posters; advertise in church bulletins; talk on Facebook; pick up the phone. Make sure you communicate any planned events well and in a variety of ways. Remember to send notices to churches that are in neighbouring presbyteries.

H – Help each other: In 1 Thessalonians 5, we are reminded to “encourage one another and build up each other.” Youth ministry can be discouraging, particularly at churches that are struggling or small. While it is tempting for leaders of established youth ministries to invite youth from other churches to just take part in their ministry, a better way is to partner with a struggling church to help them grow their own ministry. Avoid inviting youth at presbytery youth events to individual church youth programs.

E – Evaluate: Not every event will be a success. Keep your sense of humour and be prepared to laugh at the things that go wrong. Take some time after the event is over to take stock of whether it is worth repeating. Our presbytery hosted a volleyball tournament for high school youth for several years. As time passed, interest in the event dwindled and we experienced scheduling challenges. While the event had met our needs at one point, our needs had changed and we decided to put volleyball on the back burner. We decided to invest in other ministries to this age group.

R – Report back: Often youth ministry folk have no voice within the courts of our church, because they are not elders or ministers. Ensure that at least one person on the team is a vocal member of presbytery. This communication helps to ensure that ministers and congregations are connected to your work; it allows the presbytery to see where the budget money is being spent and it connects the grassroots ministry with the church’s governance.

One of the greatest by-products of a presbytery youth ministry team is the informal network of support for people engaged in youth ministry within a geographical area. We cannot help but learn from each other as we work together on ventures in ministry. Resources are shared. People are supported and encouraged. A network of support might not be the goal of a presbytery youth ministry team, but it is undoubtedly one of the most meaningful results. Live together. Die alone. Presbytery youth ministry work is all about Presbyterians living together and finding new life for our individual congregations within the context of community.

The Rev. Mavis Currie is the newly inducted minister at Knox Presbyterian Church, St. Thomas, Ontario. For the past nine years, she served as minister to youth and young families at Westmount Presbyterian Church in London, Ontario. She is the convenor of the Presbytery of London Youth Ministry Team.

Renewing Liturgy at Holy Week

admin — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 20:19:57 +0000

by Ian McDonald, Associate Secretary, Canadian Ministries

Holy Week is the most dramatic and arguably the most important week in the Christian liturgical calendar. However, most people do not have an opportunity to experience the full narrative of Holy Week, due to the patterns of attendance at worship and because the events of Holy Week are easily eclipsed by Easter Sunday. It is not uncommon for worshippers to experience the hosannas and hallelujahs of Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday and miss entirely the equally significant events of the final week of Jesus’ earthly life: the Last Supper, his arrest, betrayal, trial, judgment, and the crucifixion.

In this edition of Equipping for Worship, we have gathered some worship resources and information to help congregations experience, as fully as possible, the highly condensed events of Holy Week in creative and faithful ways.

If the congregation uses hangings and colours to mark the liturgical seasons, purple is usually used for the season of Lent. From Palm Sunday/Passion Sunday to Holy Saturday the hangings are often changed to red, if the congregation has them. Some congregations continue to use purple, while others opt to remove all hangings during Holy Week.

A Prayer for Lent (based on a an ancient prayer of the church)

Give me, O God, a steadfast heart, which will not be drawn down by unworthy distractions;
Give me a courageous heart, which will not be worn out by trials;
Give me a pure heart, which no trivial matter may divert.
Give me understanding to know you,
diligence to seek you,
wisdom to find you,
and faithfulness that will finally embrace you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Palm Sunday/Passion Sunday Liturgy

The Sunday immediately before Easter Sunday is designated as Palm/Passion Sunday. The double-barrelled name acknowledges two aspects of this important time. The first is the triumphant arrival of Jesus into the city of Jerusalem, where he is hailed as king; it also marks the tragic beginning of Holy Week, where Christians recall Jesus’ passion (suffering and death). Some congregations celebrate only Palm Sunday and have a celebration of communion during Holy Week or on Maundy Thursday. Other congregations may omit Palm Sunday, preferring to focus on a celebration of communion. The service in this resource provides for the full remembrance of many of the themes and events of Holy Week in one service.

This Palm/Passion Sunday liturgy is in the style of a “Lessons and Carols” service, an order of worship we are familiar with from the seasons of Advent and Christmas. The strong use of scripture drives this service forward as the events of the last week of Jesus’ life are told in story and song. The style and mood of the music matches the tenor of the readings so that the arc of the service moves the worshipper from joyful praise to quiet contemplation. While it might be worth creating and embedding some brief meditations within the service to help orient worshippers, by no means are short reflections necessary. Using a variety of readers and brief silences between the readings and the hymns may highlight features of the scriptures and give people an opportunity to reflect more fully on each part of the narrative. In a week filled with many events and services, a contemplative service that departs from the ordinary may be welcome and very meaningful. Congregations that do not have a regular worship leader or a minister may find this resource especially useful as well as simple to plan and lead. This order of service could be easily amended and used on Maundy Thursday or Good Friday.

The Gathering

Consider placing the announcements at the beginning of worship so the service can proceed uninterrupted.

The members of the congregation who are willing may be invited to gather at the back of the sanctuary with their palm branches or other signs of celebration (flags, ribbons, banners, handkerchiefs, etc.) and song sheets as the first reading is heard.

Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem

READING: Matthew 21:1-9 (or Mark 11:1-10 or Luke 19:28-40 or John 12:12-19)
HYMN: 214 All glory, laud and honour

During this hymn, the congregation (or some portion) processes to their seats while singing the hymn and waving the palms, etc.

Call to worship (see the bulletin insert used by PWS&D or the worship resources on The Presbyterian Church in Canada website )
Prayer of Adoration
Prayer of Confession
Assurance of Pardon

Sharing a Meal Together

READING: Matthew 26:17-20, 26-30 (or Mark 14:12-16, 22-25 or Luke 22:7-23)
HYMN 224 An upper room did our Lord prepare (verses 1 and 2)

If it is the practice of the congregation to celebrate communion on Palm/Passion Sunday, it may be celebrated here.

Jesus Washes the Feet of His Disciples

READING: John 13 (selected verses)
HYMN: 224 An upper room did our Lord prepare (verses 3 and 4)

Prayer in a Garden

READING: Matthew 26:36-45 (or Mark 14:32-42 or Luke 22:39-46)
HYMN: 230 Go to dark Gethsemane
PRAYERS FOR THE WORLD AND ONE ANOTHER:
The prayers may reflect some of the themes of Holy Week by remembering those within the community who have reason to celebrate, those who do not have enough to eat, who serve, who feel rejected and forgotten, who are dying and grieve, etc.

Denial and Acceptance

READING: Matthew 26:69-75 (or Mark 14:66-72 or Luke 22:54-62 or John 18:15-18, 25-27)
READING: Matthew 27:28-31; 33-37 (or Mark 15:16-32 or Luke 23:26-43 or John 19:16-27)
HYMN: 220 My song is love unknown

Death and Destruction

READING: Matthew 27:45-51 (or Mark 15:33-41 or Luke 23:44-49 or John 19:28-30)
HYMN: 217 Ride on, ride on in majesty

Dismissal

Leader: As the drama of this week unfolds, are you prepared to come to the table and share a meal with Christ whose life is poured out for you?
All: By the grace of God we are.

Leader: Are you prepared to serve one another as Christ has served you?
All: By the grace of God we are.

Leader: Are you prepared this week to watch with Christ and pray in the moments of quiet and contemplation?
All: By the grace of God we are.

Leader: Are you prepared to follow Jesus into the dark night of betrayal, chaos and death?
All: By the grace of God we are.

Leader: Are you prepared to seek new life and the resurrection?
All: By the grace of God we will.

There may be an appropriate benediction said here or all may depart in silence. Some congregations maintain the tradition that there is no benediction at the end of the services during Holy Week, as the services are considered parts of one service culminating with the benediction on Easter Sunday.

A Simple Maundy Thursday Service

You will need bread, wine, and juice for communion and a table, basin and water.

Leader:
We gather to mark the last day of the earthly life of Jesus. After the story is read, sing the printed refrain each time, using the familiar music of “Were you there when they crucified my Lord,” and spend a few moments in silent reflection.

Leader: This is the day,
All: that Christ gathered with his disciples in an upper room.

Leader: This is the day,
All: that Christ shared a meal as a sign of his great love.

Leader: This is the day,
All: that Christ took a towel and washed the disciples’ feet and showed us how to serve others.

Leader: This is the day,
All: that the Lord has made.

Matthew 26:17-25 – The Passover with His Disciples

Were you there when he gathered with his friends?
Were you there when he gathered with his friends?
O, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when he gathered with his friends?
(silence)

Matthew 26:26-30 – The Lord’s Supper

Were you there when he gave them bread and wine?
…………………when he gave them bread and wine?
(silence)

Consider a simple communion service with everyone gathered around the table. You may use a simple service like the one below that does not necessarily use responses, so that people can have their hands free to pass the bread and wine.

Invitation:
We gather together and spread this table to remember the love, care and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Let us pray.

Prayer:
Creator of heaven and earth, you spoke and order emerged from chaos, creation from the formless void, and light from darkness. You formed us in your image and called us to be your people. You spoke words of truth and law and created us a community. Through the prophets you called us to justice and peace. In the fullness of time your word became flesh and lived among us, and in him we saw your full glory. He shared our human nature; he lived and died as one of us. He taught those who sought to follow his way; he healed the sick, ate and drank with outcasts, cured the blind, and proclaimed the good news of your kingdom. We give you thanks for Christ, for the gift of your love and grace. Pour out your Spirit upon us and on these gifts of bread and wine, that they may become the body and blood of Christ and that we, nourished by them, may become the body of Christ in the world.

Remembering the story:
On the night he was betrayed, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take, eat; this is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

After supper he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins; do this, as often as you drink of it, in remembrance of me.”

Sharing the Bread and Wine

Prayer after Communion:
Holy God, on this night Jesus gave his disciples a new commandment, to love one another as he loved them. Write this commandment on our hearts and strengthen us in service, in unity and in love. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen

John 13 (you may chose selected verses) – Jesus Washes the Feet of His Disciples

Were you there when he knelt and washed their feet?
…………………when he knelt and washed their feet?
(silence)

Leader: On the night of his arrest, Jesus gave the disciples a new commandment and set an example for them by washing their feet. In this act of service, he reminded them to care for and serve one another. Therefore, come forward to be washed and to wash one another, to serve and to serve one another. Remember your baptism and remember you are called to serve humbly as Christ has served us.

A basin of water is placed on a small table or stand before the communion table. Members of the congregation gather around the basin and briefly wash each other’s hands in turn, so that each person has their hands washed by the person ahead of them and then washes the hands of the next person. When everyone is done washing and being washed, they return to their seats.

Matthew 26:36-45 – In Gethsemane

Were you there when he knelt and prayed to God?
…………………when he knelt and prayed to God?
(silence)

Matthew 26:47-56 – The Betrayal and Arrest

Were you there when his friends betrayed and ran?
…………………when his friends betrayed and ran?
(silence)

At the conclusion of the service, the congregation leaves in silence. Consider sharing a simple meal together after the service.

A Prayer for Good Friday
First and Last,
Creator of the world,
Lover of the world,
Life of the world,
beside you there is no other.
We come to the foot of your cross,
and we bow our heads with disciples;
we ponder the mystery of your life and death with Mary;
we proclaim the truth of who you are with those who witnessed your life and death.
We come to you this day, because you first came to us.
We come loving you, because you first loved us.
We come to serve you, because you first served us.
We come to worship you as the Creator,
Christ,
and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and always.

A Prayer for Easter (based on a prayer by John of Damascus)
O Day of Resurrection!
Let us shine with joy,
for Christ has led us
from death to life, from earth to heaven.
Christ has risen from the dead!

The Rev. Ian McDonald is the Associate Secretary of Canadian Ministries/The Vine at Church Offices in Toronto.

Session Starter Number 26: The hours and forms of worship

admin — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 19:03:59 +0000

by Don Muir, Associate Secretary, General Assembly Office

Prayer: A prayer by Jean Calvin, 16th Century Reformer (paraphrased)

Almighty God, shine on us through your word so we will not stumble blindly in midnight darkness nor lull ourselves to sleep in its still shadows. Rouse us daily by your word. Standing in awe of your holy name, may we present ourselves, and all our pursuits, as a living sacrifice to you. Dwell in our hearts and rule them perpetually until you gather us into your heavenly home where eternal rest and glory await. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Introduction: Book of Forms section 111.1
The session is responsible for regulating the hours and forms of public worship and for arranging special services. The session determines the appointed times and provides for the administration of the sacraments.

Scripture: Acts 20:7 NRSV
On the first day of the week, when we met to break bread, Paul was holding a discussion with them; since he intended to leave the next day, he continued speaking until midnight.

A Brief Commentary:
Some Bible commentators claim this verse provides a glimpse into an early Christian worship service. While Christians, no doubt, prayed and sang hymns on their own, they also gathered together on the first day of the week to worship God, be instructed in the faith and break bread, probably as a Eucharistic meal.

Reflection:
In the 25th session starter, we considered how the minister is responsible for the conduct and content of public worship (Book of Forms section 111). In this starter, we mull over the session’s role in determining its “hours” and “forms.”

The “hours” of public worship refer to when the congregation worships. The session might decide that worship will be offered on Wednesday evening to serve those not available on Sunday…that Sunday morning worship will move from 11:00 to 10:00…that the Good Friday service will take place in the evening. While it is obvious individuals may gather any time to sing, pray and reflect on God’s word, it is the session that is responsible for determining when public worship occasions for the whole community of faith will be held.

The second sentence in section 111.1 suggests the phrase “forms of public worship” primarily refers to the sacraments. For example, the session might decide that the sacrament of holy communion will be administered once a month instead of four times a year, or that the Muir request to have their children baptized on Mother’s Day be approved. The words “special services” are vague but could refer to public worship that involves other areas of session oversight. For example, the session might approve the date for receiving new members.

The legislation in sections 111 and 111.1 should not divide minister and session when it comes to worship matters, but they do assign ultimate responsibility. Whether considering the “conduct and content” or the “hours and forms,” it is beneficial for minister and session to pray, discern and act in harmony.

Discussion:
Discuss how the session can cooperate with the minister when making decisions about the hours and forms of public worship.

Spiritual Community: The Renewing of the Church

admin — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 18:47:17 +0000

by The Rev. Dr. Lonnie S. Atkinson, Teaching Elder at St. Paul’s, Ingersoll, Ontario

Once upon a time in a church near you, the elders longed for better days. Some harkened back to the glory days gone by. Others imagined a time when people would flock through their doors. Many believed if they could only find the perfect program led by a charismatic leader, all their problems would be solved. Oh, yes, and they needed more money.

But where were the “add water and stir” solutions? the silver bullets? the straight roads in the wilderness?

Each month the elders met, faithfully following their long established agendas and protocols. After reporting and recording, comparing and commiserating, they would go out again into the long winter’s night discouraged.

Being a Christian leader in North America in the 21st century is challenging. We were told in the 1970s of a rising biblical illiteracy (The Strange Silence of the Bible in the Church Today, James S. Smart). In the 1980s, disillusionment and despair among church leaders rose rapidly (Ministry in Crisis, Roy A. Harrisville). By the 1990s, cultural and religious shifts were clear in the Canadian landscape (Fragmented Gods, Reginald Bibby). In the past decade, the impact of the growing influence of an ever-increasing secular society has demanded paradigm shifts for Christians.

Where do we turn? Surely, to God alone. We can look to biblical models of leadership. In Exodus, 1 Peter, 1 Timothy, Acts and the gospels we see called, commissioned, ordered, responsive, shared servant shepherd leaders formed in community and framed in hope.
As I wrote my Doctor of Ministry thesis, “Following From In Front – The Eldership as a Model of Spiritual Leadership,” I became more convinced of the potential the eldership offers to the church.

As Presbyterians, we have a unique gift in the eldership. In a denomination of 105,886 professing members, we have over 10,000 teaching and ruling elders (1,343 teaching and 8,931 ruling elders – Acts & Proceedings 2011). Our elders are ordained for life to share in servant leadership in a spiritual community.

Signs of the Spiritual Community

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42).

Imagine: session meetings focused on study and prayer; presbyteries sharing the Lord’s Table and fellowship at every gathering; and the General Assembly being a community more than a court.

The steps to change are not radical, but the conversion of the hearts and minds of each body of elders is a challenge. Breaking away from the long taught spiritual sandwich model of church meetings (a brief opening and closing prayer bookending the real meat of a meeting) can seem frightening or, to some, unfaithful to our tradition.

This is where the Acts church’s Four Elements of Spiritual Community can open and inform as we seek to no longer simply conform but be transformed (Romans 12:2).

Four Elements of a Spiritual Community

Apostles’ Teaching
Fellowship
Breaking of Bread
Prayer

Our ministers of Word and Sacrament are to be teaching elders. This gift is often used in limited ways in worship and the occasional study group. What if at every meeting of session, where devoted leaders of the church family gather, significant discipleship training and spiritual formation was offered? This model can have a natural, organic faith nurturing impact on a much wider community. Equally so, more frequent communion experiences and being active in prayer lead to immeasurable blessings.

The session of St. Paul’s, Ingersoll, Ontario, sought to follow this example of spiritual community. The meeting agenda is presented as an order of worship rather than a business docket. Its regular meetings include two times of gathered prayer, study sessions and limited time spent on organizational matters. Pre-circulated reports, increased responsibilities and authority for leadership teams, and a focus on discernment have aided the change. All leadership teams, including the board of managers, share in quarterly study and visioning sessions.

Over the past five years, elder-led teams have offered congregational worship leadership each time the minister is absent. Increased participation and leadership in prayer has occurred. In recent months, a longing for future direction in ministry has led to holding two meetings weekly, one for prayer, the other for discernment.

The revisioning of the church and its ministry has not been solely locally focused. St. Paul’s has sought to consult on the future life of our denomination. In the past year, a team of elders met with senior church leaders to prayerfully seek direction and to discover ways each congregation and session could actively seek the way of God for us as Canadian Presbyterians.

The Presbytery of Paris, through the encouragement of the Education and Nurture Committee, agreed to follow the Acts church community model. Now each meeting has a longer worship service with more regular communion celebrations, a study session and table fellowship. A presbytery prayer partnership was begun.

Growing Spiritual Leadership

To engage and empower the elder leaders of the church, we must affirm their leadership, equip them spiritually and surround them in prayer.

At St. Paul’s, we started by developing an accessible leadership venture called “The Spirit Centre.” National and international Christian leaders, visionaries in many fields (health care, business, social change) and the principals of the three PCC theological colleges have all offered leadership. In-depth studies, including Foster’s Celebration of Discipline and Yancey’s What’s So Amazing About Grace?, have sought to deepen individual spiritual development of elders and the whole faith community.

During this time, missions and ministries have become more focused and energized. Spiritual leaders long to be servant leaders as well.

Steps Forward to a Spiritual Community

Spiritual communities are led by spiritual leaders.

Spiritual leaders are formed and informed by prayer and surrounded in care.

Sessions and congregations longing for a spiritual community are encouraged to open themselves to discover God’s direction, to believe in their purposefulness as Christian communities, and to be thankful for the privilege of being called apostles of Jesus.

To explore and deepen their spiritual journey, sessions are invited to consider the following practices:

Pray. Start with daily prayer, keep spiritual journals, develop prayer chains, have prayer groups/gatherings.
Study. Form online reflection groups, study at every church meeting or gathered time, encourage faith development for all ages. Remember Christian education is not just for children.
Enjoy community. Gather regularly (formally/informally) with your church community. Have fun together. Open arms will open hearts.
Review your spiritual commitments. Plan recommittment celebrations for marriages, baptism, profession of faith, eldership ordination. Each elder, ruling or teaching, is invited to prayerfully review the vows they made at ordination and renew their devotional commitment.
Give thanks. Surround each day in thanksgiving. Sing praise at home, work and in community.

For Reflection

Each elder and session is invited to:

read and study Acts 2:42-44, Romans 12 and Philippians 2:1-11;
pray for discernment and wisdom;
discuss what you believe about spiritual leadership; the spiritual life of the courts of the church; where God is calling us to go as spiritual communities;
invite others to join you in this exploration – ask your presbytery to engage in new forms of Christian community.

Holidays for ministers: Part 1

admin — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 18:37:54 +0000

by Don Muir, Associate Secretary, General Assembly Office

When a congregation calls a minister, the congregation makes a number of promises to that minister. For example, if you read the 2011 version of Appendix A-29 in the Book of Forms, you will see that the congregation promises to offer “all due respect, encouragement, and allegiance in the Lord” and to provide a stipend that meets or exceeds the minimum set by the General Assembly along with suitable housing or a housing allowance.

Other promises follow. One of them is “to provide five weeks holiday annually.”

This article addresses three questions about minister holidays.

How soon after being called to a congregation is a minister entitled to take vacation?

There is no probationary period that a minister must complete before being eligible for holidays. In other words, a minister could be called to a pastoral charge, arrive on September 1, and immediately take up to five weeks of holiday. I don’t know any ministers who have done this, but there could be circumstances that lead to this decision. It is certainly a legal option.

In a similar vein, to some it seems excessively generous that a brand new minister should receive five holiday weeks in the very first year of employment. The rationale behind this agreement is that, whether you are in your first or fortieth year in ministry, a minister needs adequate time away from the responsibilities of the parish to rejuvenate body, mind and spirit.

May a minister carry holidays over from one year to the next?

There is no ironclad “use it or lose it” rule. Guidance is offered, however, in the promise of five weeks annually. The word “annually” implies that the five weeks are intended to be granted and used within a 12 month period.

In my view, this is one of those situations in which grace may abound. For example, if for some reason the minister was not able to use all five weeks in one year, it might be reasonable to carry some holiday time over to the next. It may not, however, be reasonable to carry over all five weeks. These are matters that should be addressed fairly and sensibly by minister and session.

Does a minister need the permission of the session to take holidays?

The minister does not need the permission of the session to take holidays. This benefit is assured by the congregation and supported by the General Assembly. It may be pastorally wise, though, for the minister to discuss holiday plans with the session so all are informed and thoughts about holiday timing can be voiced.

Blessings,
Don Muir
Associate Secretary,
General Assembly Office

What’s on your mind?

Do you have a question about the polity of our church? Are you confused by something that happened at session, presbytery, synod or General Assembly? Puzzling over a section of the Book of Forms? Send your questions to The Rev. Don Muir and he will strive to answer them in future issues of For Elders in a manner that maintains confidentiality and seeks to be helpful to the church at large.

Contact Don at: dmuir@presbyterian.ca 50 Wynford Dr., Toronto, Ontario M3C 1J7

416-441-1111 ext 223 or 1-800-619-7301 ext 223

Planting a Seed – Growing a Church

admin — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 17:35:27 +0000

by Allyson McLeod

This is a story of how a group of strangers became a church, and how a new church plant grew into the vibrant congregation known as Keswick Presbyterian Church. In the beginning, it was just a seed, a vision, to plant a church in a growing community. Friends from the Presbytery of Oakridges spent a Sunday afternoon walking block by block with us in Keswick, Ontario, knocking on every door, inviting people to come and join us. When we started, we were just a handful. None of us knew one another very well. We were a group of strangers gathered together for worship. Looking back and considering how God has transformed that seed into a living church, three important themes have emerged — growing as a family, integrating with the community, and overcoming challenges.

From those earliest days, creating a family was foundational to becoming KesPres. Keswick is a bedroom community for Toronto. It’s the kind of town made up of first time home owners and long distance commuters. Most of the people who live here aren’t actually from here and have no roots or family in the community. So we invested in building relationships.

As pastors, we helped make connections. In the beginning, we were on the front lines and knew everyone. As we met newcomers and got to know their families or their interests or talents, we would introduce them to others in the church with a shared background or interest, giving them a natural starting point for conversation. At church, we celebrated every occasion and sometimes made up excuses to throw a party just to spend time together, to create memories and share stories. We developed a ministry we called TGIF – Thank God It’s Friday – where small groups of families gathered together first for a meal and conversation before moving into organized activities, sometimes intergenerational games, sometimes breaking off into age appropriate activities or discussion.

Practicing hospitality at KesPres has always meant making others feel like they are part of the family. When someone new joins us, their first comment about their experience is usually about the warm welcome they have received, not just from the pastors but from members of the congregation who are eager to make them feel at home with us.

As important it was to us at KesPres to grow together as a family, it was equally important to bring the church into our community. When we initially knocked on every door in Keswick to invite people to come and join us, we gave them a fridge magnet with our logo and contact information. We hoped that it would become a daily reminder, and when they were ready to look for a church home they would remember our invitation. More than a decade later, people still mention the fridge magnet.

Another way we integrated with the community was through our kids’ programs. When the cost of our rental space made Vacation Bible School a financial challenge, we converted VBS into BackYard Clubs and held four week-long programs in different neighbourhoods in our community. We also established playgroups in family homes for stay-at-home parents of young children.

We engaged in Random Acts of Kindness, handing out lemonade outside a shopping area on a hot summer day or picking up garbage along the main roadway. And as a means of identifying ourselves to our friends and neighbours, members ordered KesPres gear – t-shirts, jackets, even ball caps. Wearing the gear helped us to recognize one another but also helped the community to discover that we were everyday people just like them.

One of the greatest challenges we faced as a church plant also proved to be a significant opportunity. It can be tough to establish your presence when you don’t have a building to call home. Though we had a good rental space, there were restrictions. Rather than feeling limited by our circumstances, we saw this as an opportunity to be creative and consider new avenues for ministry in our community. We held our worship services at the local hockey arena and so, seeing a natural partnership, we offered an after school ball hockey program for kids. When the arena held a Sunday afternoon family skate, we turned that opportunity into a potluck and skating party.

But our most significant challenge of all was when the town informed us that, because they give their staff the night off to be home with their families, we would not be able to rent the facility for a Christmas Eve Service. So we held our service, which would become known as Parkas and Praise, in the parking lot outside. We lit firewood in barrels, served hot chocolate and sang by candlelight. And people came, year after year, by car but also on foot and in stroller or wagon. We gave out candy canes to the kids and homemade treats to the dogs. Many of those families may not have gone to a more traditional Christmas Eve service but made this service a part of their family tradition. One woman who came to that service for several years before ever venturing inside on a Sunday morning is now one of our elders!

It began with a seed: to plant a church in a growing community. It began with a few strangers gathered for worship in a cold hockey arena. But a surprising thing happens when God shows up: a seed is transformed into a strong and healthy plant, strangers become a family called church, and the church makes a mark on the community and plants new seeds.

The Rev. Allyson McLeod is serving in team ministry with her husband, The Rev. Kirk McLeod, at Keswick Presbyterian Church in Ontario and is also completing her ThD at Knox College in Toronto.

Monday Night in Canada: Hospitality for newcomers seeking new life in Canada

admin — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 17:29:13 +0000

by Laurie McGugan

In 2010, St. John’s Presbyterian Church in Toronto embarked on an outreach program called “Monday Night in Canada” to show hospitality to newcomers to Canada. It was a great success and we are now in our second year. It is a unique and valuable offering to the community, but it also gives us the opportunity to have greater understanding of our own culture, one that includes all newcomers.

The Goal

It is important to note that our goal was not to find a way to recruit new members to our church, but purely to express hospitality.

What Is “Monday Night in Canada”?

MNIC is a weekly program set up to address a need in the community to provide hospitality to new immigrants. It is a chance for newcomers to experience common Canadian cultural activities and to practice English while doing these activities.

The format: a free community dinner at 6:30 p.m. (a simple grace is said) followed by an activity or special guest and/or conversation groups on various topics. At 8:10, everyone (participants and volunteers) cleans up, including doing dishes and taking down tables. We do everything in English. Babysitting and homework help are available. We are out the door by 8:30 p.m.

Will It Work for Your Church?

If there are English as a Second Language classes offered in your community or neighbourhood, then you have a group of people who could benefit from a Monday Night in Canada. A simple web search for ESL classes in your area will be a great place to start. St. John’s is an inner-city church with a multicultural congregation near a Chinese neighbourhood. Many people start their new life in Canada in big cities like Toronto, but there are many small towns and communities that have people who are new to the country, feel very isolated and could use some help getting settled.

Getting Started

MNIC is run by a team of people, but having a paid coordinator is an important part of our success. The coordinator is hired for 11 hours per week and spends an average of four hours involved in research and outreach into the community to find participants to attend. The remaining time is allotted to creating and preparing the evening’s activities, organizing the volunteers and helping with the dinner when necessary. Other duties include advertising, keeping contact information and attendance, and developing relationships and volunteers within the group of participants when possible. Choosing someone with some teaching experience would be advisable. Providing a designated babysitter each night is also important.

Developing a team for this project is crucial and could not be possible without at least seven volunteers each night. We have over 22 volunteers (from a congregation of 120) over the course of 30 weeks and a consistent core of about 10 regular volunteers. Having a couple of volunteers in charge of the menus and dinner service is very helpful and allows the coordinator to focus on registration and running the evening. Beyond the dinner preparation and service, the role of the volunteers is to greet people and engage in conversation. All volunteers take part in all the activities.

Training for volunteers is minimal. We have a one-page list of tips for language modification and help from those who have ESL experience. ESL teachers are everywhere. If you know of any in your congregation, they can be a tremendous resource for you.

How to Find Participants

Our poster explains all the essential details, and we rely heavily on it for advertising. The fact that we have a catchy name does not hurt. It reflects the tone of what we are trying to do. Could you name your program Tuesday Night in Canada? Can’t see why not. Don’t underestimate having a fun title.

This fun title also attracts attention from those who are already servicing newcomers, such as ESL teachers, settlement officers, schools, etc., who are very important recruiters of participants for the program. The most effective advertising is to meet face to face with these teachers and workers. Going to ESL classes when they are in session and asking the teacher for permission to speak to the class has been one of the most effective ways of attracting participants.

Registration

People are asked to register over the phone, but many just arrive. Participants sign in at the door and give us their contact information. Returning people check an attendance chart that is revised each week. Having this information helps us to remember names and to see patterns in attendance, and it allows us to e-mail some people for gentle reminders after a break, or to mention community activities and special church events they might be interested in.

Over a 30-week period, 120 different people attended our program. The average each night was 20 participants.

The Food

We provide a simple dinner for everyone. Having a vegetarian option is important. Food is a big part of the social experience, and the menu is always the first topic of conversation. We try to be finished by 7 p.m., always leaving the dishes until clean-up time.

The Activities

The most successful activities were most often very simple. We often have one active activity followed by small discussion groups. The discussion groups are provided with conversation sheets offering starter questions. Topics of mutual interest to both the volunteers and guests were the most successful. Here are some activity and discussion ideas:

Talk about names – who gave us our names, what meanings they may have
Tell a story about what is happening in a picture
Discuss stress
Discuss happiness
Language of polite refusal – how to say “no” politely
Manners – a play of two table settings, with Mr. Wrong and Mr. Right, with Chinese and British table settings
Water conservation – how to wash dishes without using too much water
Shrove Tuesday activities – pancake recipe, cooking demo, maple syrup taste test
Nutritious foods
Bake brownies and chocolate chip cookies – discuss recipe, measurements, etc., and eat them for dessert
Hockey Night – tried on equipment, took turns shooting on a net with a soft puck
Speaker from the Returning Office for Elections Canada before the federal election
Nurse speaker to discuss first aid, medical services, 911, etc.
Firefighter speaker showing how they dress for a fire, fire safety
Bingo
Singing
Floor puzzle of map of Canada
Word games such as Pictionary

Friendliness, Flexibility and Fun

Besides friendliness, flexibility is one of the most important guiding forces for both the coordinator and the volunteers. You never know who is coming, how many are coming for dinner, what level of English they will have, what ages they will be, or what interests they may have. However, this informality is one of the keys to success of the program.

It is important to have fun too! There will always be unexpected turns along the way, and you should be prepared to roll with the punches. Always have a couple of conversation sheets and modifications in your back pocket. If the level of language needed for an activity is too high for some, one-on-one help can easily be organized. Having lots of volunteers makes this possible. The language gaps also give more proficient speakers leadership opportunities. Be prepared to laugh at yourself, as there is nothing more comforting to a newcomer than when the volunteers get it wrong. Laugh and carry on.

Respect

One of the lessons learned at Monday Night in Canada is that “we” are not there to teach “them.” It is a subtle but important note. We all live together, and the newcomers have as much to teach us about the world as we have to teach them about Canada.

Laurie McGugan is the coordinator of Monday Night in Canada, an artist, and a member of St. John’s Presbyterian Church, Toronto, Ontario. She has completed several public works of art in Toronto as well as a mural for St. John’s that represents the multicultural make-up of the church.

Holy Reading to Renew the Soul

admin — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 17:11:49 +0000

by David Sherbino

There are many different ways to study the Bible, but how do we study the Bible so that it shapes and forms us? Many have learned to read the Bible for information, but Holy Reading is a method that helps us to understand and hear God’s word in a way that can be transformational. Through this approach, we discover an increasing ability to respond to what God has said to us as we offer ourselves and our relationships to God.

The Process

There are four steps in the process of Holy Reading, whereby we begin by reading the text and conclude with prayer.

1. Reading and Listening

The practice of Holy Reading requires that we develop the ability to hear what God is saying to us as we read the scriptures. Find an inviting place where you will not be disturbed, take a few moments to become still, and then offer a prayer asking God to speak into your life from his word. Read a short passage of scripture, and as you are reading listen for a word or phrase or concept that captures your attention. Some will find it helpful to read out loud. This helps to slow down the pace and it will keep your mind from wandering.

2. Meditation

The second step is meditation. Having read the text and listened for a word or phrase or concept that speaks to you in a personal manner, take a few minutes to meditate upon this. Meditation is more than thinking about an idea; to meditate means to ponder or to mull over in your mind a thought or concept. An example of meditation is found in Luke’s gospel, when the shepherds came to Mary and Joseph and told them what the angel of the Lord had spoken: “Do not be afraid; for see – I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11). Then we are told that Mary “pondered” all of this in her heart. In other words, she thought about what they said and the implications for her life, for her child and ultimately for the world. Meditation involves taking in the word of God and allowing it to interact with our thoughts and hopes and dreams.

3. Prayer

The third step is prayer. God has spoken to us through the Bible and we have meditated upon what he has said; now we speak back to God. This reinforces the concept that prayer is a dialogue and not a monologue. God speaks and we speak. Because God addresses different issues in each person’s life, each of our prayers will be quite different. Your prayer might focus on thanking God for some insight he has given to you, or you might seek guidance from him, or you might ask God for forgiveness, or your prayer might be one of adoration and praise. Do not try to censor your prayer, that is, speaking what you think God wants to hear rather than speaking from your heart. Speak plainly and directly. What you will discover is that God’s word speaks powerfully into your life, and from that place you speak back to God.

4. Contemplation

The final movement of Holy Reading is to simply rest in the presence of God. There is no agenda. You have read God’s word, meditated upon it, and as God has spoken into your life, you have spoken back to God. Now you simply wait in God’s presence. For some this will be difficult, especially if you are an activist. If you find your mind wandering, simply go back and read the text, meditate on it, and rest in the presence of God.

The Practice of Holy Reading

If you are engaging in this practice for the first time, there are a few simple guidelines to follow that may be helpful.

Listen to the word of God

Sit in silence for a few minutes.
Read the passage slowly and possibly out loud.
Listen for a word or idea that captures your attention.
Say the word or idea over in your mind.
Remain silent for two minutes following the reading as you meditate.

Ask: How is my life touched by the word of God?

Read the passage a second time.
After reading the text, sit in silence for two minutes and meditate upon this question.
Write down any insights that you might have received.

Ask: What does God want me to do with this?

Read the passage a third time.
After the reading, sit in silence for two minutes and meditate upon this question.
Write down what you discern God wants you to do.
Pray according to what God has spoken into your life. You may find it helpful to write out the prayer. You can go back at a later date and reflect on what you have written.

Rest in God

When you conclude your prayer, simply rest in God’s presence.
You might write in your journal any thoughts that could be helpful to keep as a reminder throughout the day.
Conclude this time with a short prayer of thanksgiving.

Group Setting

Holy Reading can be done by individuals or in groups. Perhaps you might try this with your family or with a small group. In a group setting there will be a leader who will lead the group through the four stages, reading the chosen text and asking the reflection questions. However, there are some different steps to take when you read as a group as compared to reading the passage on your own.

First, the leader reads the passage out loud, and participants listen for a word or concept that speaks to them. In the silence, they meditate upon that word or concept. Then the reader will invite each person to briefly share this with the group without any further comment.

Second, the scripture is read again. In the silence, participants meditate upon the word or concept they’ve chosen and how it speaks to their lives. The reader will invite each person to share with the group, in a sentence or two, the connection between the word and their life.

Third, the scripture is read again. In the silence, participants meditate upon their word or concept and what God is inviting them to do in response. This is now shared with the group.

Fourth, each person is prayed for by a member of the group so that they may respond to God’s invitation.

In this group process, there are a couple of factors to note. In the third step, not everyone may know how God wants them to respond. There may be times when a person needs to process this information over a period of time. In group reading, there is no contemplation at the end of the third reading; we simply conclude with the prayers. We need to be sensitive to people who may not feel comfortable sharing what they perceive to be personal. People always need to have the option of saying nothing. As a group grows in trust and commitment to one another, the depth of sharing will increase

If there are young children in the group, because it is a family setting, the passage needs to be very short and it is helpful if it is a story they can easily recall. Be attentive to their attention span. Two minutes of silence can be difficult for adults, let alone a child. Some families have found this to be an engaging way to have family devotions. Adapt as necessary.

Suggested Readings for a Week:

Day 1. Psalm 23

Day 2. Isaiah 40:25-31

Day 3. Matthew 6:25-34

Day 4. John 13:1-17

Day 5. Philippians 1:3-11

Day 6. Colossians 1:9-14

Day 7. Ephesians 1:15-21

Suggested Reading for Families with Young Children:

These readings are based on a theme ‘Learning from Jesus’

Day 1. Mark 1:16-20

Day 2. Mark 2:1-12

Day 3. Luke 2:41-50

Day 4. Luke 8:5-8

Day 5. Luke 15:1-7

Day 6. Luke 15:8-10

Day 7. Luke 15:11-24

(This material is adapted from Re:Connect: Spiritual Exercises to Develop Intimacy with God, by David Sherbino. Available through The Book Room.)

The Rev. Dr. David Sherbino is Professor of Pastoral Ministries and Spiritual Formation at Tyndale Seminary, Toronto, and minister at Cornerstone Community Church (PCC), Kleinburg, Ontario.

Planting Seeds, Watching for Harvest

admin — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 16:18:22 +0000

by Jessie Schut

Last spring, we carefully chose seeds that would grow well in our garden and in our climate. As an afterthought, we scattered a packet of mixed flower seeds in an empty space. The results of our work were mixed. Some vegies did well, and others fizzled. But the flower garden was unexpectedly beautiful!

The garden has lessons to teach us as we engage in church work. We can do a lot of planning, but sometimes the random acts create a greater splash. It’s as though God has ideas for our church that we haven’t even thought of, and if we are open to following an idea, though it is only a sketchy, dim vision, we may be in for a surprise. The story of Margaret Evans’s stay at Comox Valley Presbyterian Church (CVPC) last summer, funded in part by PCC grants for projects that are innovative and creative, illustrates this idea.

Last year, student Margaret Evans visited CVPC in February to speak of her experiences as a PWS&D volunteer in Kenya. Several folks who heard her speak were so impressed by her maturity and insights, they wondered if she could work in our church over the summer. Her youthful enthusiasm and insights might be just the boost we needed to breathe new life into our congregation.

This in no way implies that CVPC is a dying church. Planted in the ’90s, the congregation built a multi-use facility on two acres of land. It has a reputation as a warm and welcoming place. We have a great choir, and last year built a community garden that is much appreciated by folks in the Valley. The Comox Valley’s population has boomed in the last decade, thanks mostly to an influx of retirees, and a number of these have joined the church. More are likely to do so in the future.

But, like so many other congregations, we have a huge demographic hole where the young families and children should be. It was hard to find committed leadership for our very small Children in Worship program, especially when children’s attendance was sporadic. Yet our congregation loved children. Were we doing something wrong?

We thought Margaret might show us new ways of ministering in a meaningful way to young families. She was excited about the idea. We decided to go for it, although it was only an idea with potential. The possibility of having Margaret come was like spreading those flower seeds. Who knew what would come of it?

Applications were made to the Creative Ministry with Children and Youth Fund, which assists PCC congregations planning innovative and creative ministry projects. We also applied to some other church funds as well as to the Canadian government for subsidies for a summer student. When all the funding came through as requested, we booked Margaret’s ticket. Even when the government subsidy was withdrawn at the last minute, another benefactor came through with the money. We were delighted with these blessings.

Margaret arrived June 2, 2011. We decided on three projects. Margaret would organize a week-long program for children in the community; she would also plan a summer barbecue for the congregation to invite members’ feedback on programs at CVPC and suggestions for new avenues of service; and she would investigate possibilities of cooperating with neighbouring churches. Registrations for our Day Camp “Passport to Adventure” came in quickly, so we were off to a flying start.

The summer was a busy one for all who were involved. There were many times when we wondered what we had gotten ourselves into. We found out that carefully planned activities sometimes fizzled while last minute ideas were hugely successful. We learned that insurance is a huge part of planning activities, that churches get messy when occupied by children, and that more advance planning would have avoided practical problems. We learned, more importantly, that we could cope with these last-minute, practical problems.

We also found out that neighbouring Comox United Church was a great resource and was very willing to cooperate, even providing several leaders and youth helpers for the Day Camp. The Valley’s Youth for Christ organization was also enthusiastically supportive. When asked, many CVPC members gave good, useful feedback on the strengths and potentials for growth in our congregation.

Through Margaret’s creative planning, we learned that a traditional morning VBS program isn’t the only way to reach children. Our all-day program with church-centred activities in the mornings and field trips in the afternoons was highly successful. The International Pot-luck on Friday evening filled the church with families sharing their favourite dishes from around the world. Margaret also attempted to organize outings for the parents of the children, such as kayak trips. Such a thing hadn’t occurred to us. She preached in our church, and we saw the gospel through new eyes. Having her as part of our congregation was a truly rich gift.

We also faced some hard realities. While we have an idyllic dream of a church full of young families, we may not ever achieve that dream. We found out what it was like to have 30 active children running through our church building day after day, and we learned that it taxed the limits of our energy. Bringing children from the community into our church for a day camp is a start, but it does not result in more children on Sunday mornings. Only one child, to our knowledge, didn’t have a church home. We realized that to minister to the children, we also need to minister to the parents. A summer program with good intentions is only a drop in the bucket. There is work to be done.

We learned that in our congregation there are many gifts, and a generosity in using them. Some volunteered as leaders, but many more provided assistance behind the scenes. As well, Margaret’s presence in our congregation was a challenge and a blessing. The questions she asked opened us up to new ways of looking at our church. She became an important part of our community, and loved us. She showed us how to focus on what we have, rather than on what we’re missing. New life is not incompatible with older members!

We learned that in our congregation there are many gifts, and a generosity in using them… New life is not incompatible with older members!

Most of all, I think we learned that when we challenge ourselves and step out in faith, being open to possibilities, God blesses us, sometimes in ways we couldn’t have planned. Our congregation now has more information and ideas than it did last year. We would love to have more children, but in the meantime we are charged to do our absolute best with those who do come, and to love their parents as treasures. The summer showed us that we as a congregation have the makings of being wonderful “grandparents” to these younger families, and we can build on this idea.

Would we…will we…do it again? I think so! Margaret, who is now a theology student preparing for ministry in Vancouver, wants to come back and build on what she’s learned. Our experiences last summer have revealed other avenues we could explore. A footstep at a time, we are walking, trusting that God is laying the ground before us in this garden we call the church.

The Creative Ministry with Children and Youth Fund of The Presbyterian Church in Canada (PCC) assists sponsoring groups in planning new one-time or ongoing ministry projects within the PCC. Details of the fund and the application can be accessed through The Presbyterian Church in Canada website.

Jessie Schut is a writer and church educator, formerly with Faith Alive Publications. She is married to Al, mother of four, and grandmother of five. She is one of the retirees mentioned in the article, having moved from Edmonton five years ago, and is now a member of Comox Valley Presbyterian Church.