Jesus loves me, this I know
For the Bible tells me so
Little ones to Him belong
They are weak, but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
The Bible tells me so.
A number of years ago, I stumbled on a recording of me singing that song when I was just a little tyke. I might have been three or four years old; I don’t know for sure, but I do know that someone taught me that song. Someone helped me learn those precious words that even now are burned into my heart, and I need absolutely no music to sing them by. Just like another song learned long ago.
Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Red and yellow, black and white,
They are precious in His sight.
Jesus loves the little children of the world.
Again, as I sing that song, my mind takes me back in time to sitting in the old parsonage in my home congregation. Our Sunday School group met in what once was the living room, and Mrs. Kepler would lead our opening singing and playing the piano. Actually, I was a little afraid of Mrs. Kepler. She was an imposing figure, and when I was little, this intimidated me. But as I grew, those fears abated, and now I realize those songs of faith that still reside within me because she was willing to play and sing with us little kids: This Little Light of Mine, Kumbaya, If I Were a Butterfly, and others.’
If I were a butterfly, I’d thank you Lord for giving me wings.
And if I were a robin in a tree, I’d thank you Lord that I could sing.
And if I were a fish in the sea, I’d wiggle my tail and I’d giggle with glee
But I just thank you Father for making me, me.
For you gave me a heart and you gave me a smile.
You gave me Jesus and you made me your child.
And I just thank you Father for making me, me.
And I remember growing in faith through Vacation Bible School. In those days, you didn’t have fancy snacks or anything. We got one cookie and a little cup of Kool Aid, and we thought we were doing great. We’d play games outside, and do arts and crafts, but eternally burned into my memory was the march. At a certain time during the morning, the previously mentioned Mrs. Kepler would head to the piano. We children were given little drums, bells, triangles, and sticks. Mrs. Kepler would strike up “Onward Christian Soldiers,” and we would march around the building, making as much noise as we possibly could. I think this is one of those reasons I still love that hymn even if at the time I could not possibly have remembered the lyrics.
Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war.
With the cross of Jesus, going on before.
Christ the royal Master, leads against the foe.
Forward into battle, see his banners go.
Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war.
With the cross of Jesus, going on before.
And as I grew there were other people who influenced my life of faith–who taught me about the greatness of God and depending only on Him. There was the day my grandfather was meeting with an extension agent about spraying his cotton for an infestation. They debated about when to spray. Grandpa figured it was going to rain soon, and if they sprayed and it rained, it would wash the poison off, and his crop would be decimated. If he delayed too long, the insects would destroy the crop. It was a troubling situation. The agent finally looked and grandpa and said, “Do you have crop insurance?”
Grandpa, without a moment’s hesitation said, “No. If the Good Lord wants me to have a crop, I will have a crop!”
That was the final answer, and the extension agent simply looked dumbfounded. And then and there, a young teen saw what true conviction really was.
I also saw that conviction in what for me was a very scary moment. We were painting the exterior of our house, and my dad had climbed a ladder to paint around where the electrical wires entered the house. He proceeded to scare the living daylights out of me by telling me the danger he could face if he slipped and accidentally touched the wires. Of course, I was in no mood to hear such talk. I didn’t even want to consider the possibility of my dad dying. But dad talked about it with such a matter of factness. There was no evading the conversation.
And as dad stood atop that ladder, painting around the electrical wires, talking about death, he said, “Kevin, that is one song I want sung at my funeral. “What a Friend we Have in Jesus.” I know dad said some more after that, but I don’t remember those words. Those have long sense gone away, but the assurance my dad had with his faith remains to this day.
What a friend we have in Jesus. All our sins and griefs to bear
What a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer.
Oh what peace we often forfeit. Oh what needless pain we bear.
All because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer.
As you can probably see, my faith formation took place over many years and was influenced by many people. It continues to be formed and molded to this day and influenced by others. While the Holy Spirit indeed brings us to faith, we are instructed in that faith in our relationships with one another. St. Paul illustrates this beautifully in our second lesson this morning from 2 Timothy: 5I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. 6For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; 7for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline 8 Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God, 9who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace.
Timothy had a long history of faithful relatives: his grandmother and his mother. Paul appeals to that history as he seeks to strengthen Timothy in his own faith as Timothy becomes a follower and proclaimer of Jesus Christ.
Today, we as a congregation, celebrate the installation of our own youth and family director: Christa Klar. She comes to help us do what Paul is doing to Timothy. She comes to help us do what my relatives and church members did to me. She comes to help us pass down our faith to another generation so that they may reach out with the good news of Jesus Christ. She comes to help us rekindle the gift of God that is within each and every one of you.
May God grant her grace and strength in this task, and may God grant the rest of us courage and a willingness to have our faith rekindled that we may gladly work in this endeavor as well. Amen.
Showing posts with label Youth Director. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Youth Director. Show all posts
Monday, October 7, 2013
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
It's Hard to Get My Head Around This
The last two days have been quite the whirl wind. I have been training and working with a new addition to our congregation's staff: a part time youth director.
Sometimes, I have a hard time getting my head around this fact.
When I first started serving this congregation nine years ago, we had a baptized membership of 189. Our average worship attendance was 65. Most would have not considered it a viable congregation--at least not for a full time clergy. Most would have considered it needing to be yoked to another church in a dual point parish.
Yet, the people here had a sense of call about them. They rejected any such notions and wanted a full time pastor. Not only this, they had discerned a call to add a part-time secretary--something they had never had in their history.
I came on board, and within a few months, we hired a secretary. Life was good.
I arrived in Cat Spring from a large congregation in Seguin. My previous congregation had nearly 1400 members, and the work load was intense. I generally was up at the church 4 nights per week. Sometimes, the meetings were grueling lasting two and a half to three hours. After four years there, I was tired, worn out, ready for a change.
Coming to Cat Spring was very, very different. There were hardly any meetings at all! There wasn't a full staff. But things were getting done, and getting done in a big way.
Congregational growth has been tremendous. In those nine years, our membership has more than doubled to 430. Our average worship attendance hovers at 120. Of course, if we weeded out the "summer slump" we would be at 140-150. Offerings are steady and very good. People do things--good things on a consistent basis--without having meeting after meeting after meeting.
As the congregation has grown, we have consistently added staff. First, the secretary. Then, a worship and music director. Then, came the leap of faith last year. The congregation decided to seek a part-time youth director. We budgeted for the position in the annual meeting, sent out advertizements, prayed, and waited.
Last week, the position was filled, and I woke up Monday, the head of a staffed congregation.
Now, at this point, there are some pastors who would begin telling you, "If you want your church and congregation to do the same thing, then here is what you need to do..." I'm not going to do that because I really don't know what technique to use to make any church grow. I really don't. I don't know the magic pill to make a congregation take off and grow like gang busters.
Too often, I think our congregations become obsessed with a theology of glory--a proverbial step by step plan that leads to growing attendance, offerings, and participation. If you do this, then you will be blessed by growth. If you follow the Lord just right, then He will add numbers to your congregation.
Problem is--I've seen numerous congregations strive to follow the right steps and still experience no growth. I've seen congregations throw out the welcome mat, make people feel warm and fuzzy, have all sorts of programming geared toward children, youth, young adult, middle-aged, and elderly; congregations who incorporate traditional and contemporary music; who become more conservative and more liberal, and nothing works.
I don't believe there is a secret formula to church growth or participation. I think much of it, like salvation, rests upon God's work upon the individual believer. I think much of it, like salvation, involves God's Spirit delving into the hearts and minds of people inspiring them to become a community of compassionate, caring, generous individuals who seek to do His will in the things they say and do. I think church growth revolves around God's action and not our own. Of course, we Lutherans proudly proclaim this to be Word, Sacrament, and the mutual conversation and consolation of the believers.
I do not know what the final outcome will be as this congregation moves into the realm of a staffed congregation. This congregation has never been there before. Sometimes such a move is met with tons of blessings. Sometimes, it so shakes the dynamics of the church that the opposite takes place. We are dealing with an institution made up of humans, after all. Yet, I keep reminding myself that it's not totally up to me. It's not totally up to my secretary or my music director or my youth director. Heck it's not totally up to the congregation members. For without God, we could do nothing. He makes the whole thing work, and if He needs me to lead a staff here at this church, I submit to His will.
I just have a hard time getting my head around it.
Sometimes, I have a hard time getting my head around this fact.
When I first started serving this congregation nine years ago, we had a baptized membership of 189. Our average worship attendance was 65. Most would have not considered it a viable congregation--at least not for a full time clergy. Most would have considered it needing to be yoked to another church in a dual point parish.
Yet, the people here had a sense of call about them. They rejected any such notions and wanted a full time pastor. Not only this, they had discerned a call to add a part-time secretary--something they had never had in their history.
I came on board, and within a few months, we hired a secretary. Life was good.
I arrived in Cat Spring from a large congregation in Seguin. My previous congregation had nearly 1400 members, and the work load was intense. I generally was up at the church 4 nights per week. Sometimes, the meetings were grueling lasting two and a half to three hours. After four years there, I was tired, worn out, ready for a change.
Coming to Cat Spring was very, very different. There were hardly any meetings at all! There wasn't a full staff. But things were getting done, and getting done in a big way.
Congregational growth has been tremendous. In those nine years, our membership has more than doubled to 430. Our average worship attendance hovers at 120. Of course, if we weeded out the "summer slump" we would be at 140-150. Offerings are steady and very good. People do things--good things on a consistent basis--without having meeting after meeting after meeting.
As the congregation has grown, we have consistently added staff. First, the secretary. Then, a worship and music director. Then, came the leap of faith last year. The congregation decided to seek a part-time youth director. We budgeted for the position in the annual meeting, sent out advertizements, prayed, and waited.
Last week, the position was filled, and I woke up Monday, the head of a staffed congregation.
Now, at this point, there are some pastors who would begin telling you, "If you want your church and congregation to do the same thing, then here is what you need to do..." I'm not going to do that because I really don't know what technique to use to make any church grow. I really don't. I don't know the magic pill to make a congregation take off and grow like gang busters.
Too often, I think our congregations become obsessed with a theology of glory--a proverbial step by step plan that leads to growing attendance, offerings, and participation. If you do this, then you will be blessed by growth. If you follow the Lord just right, then He will add numbers to your congregation.
Problem is--I've seen numerous congregations strive to follow the right steps and still experience no growth. I've seen congregations throw out the welcome mat, make people feel warm and fuzzy, have all sorts of programming geared toward children, youth, young adult, middle-aged, and elderly; congregations who incorporate traditional and contemporary music; who become more conservative and more liberal, and nothing works.
I don't believe there is a secret formula to church growth or participation. I think much of it, like salvation, rests upon God's work upon the individual believer. I think much of it, like salvation, involves God's Spirit delving into the hearts and minds of people inspiring them to become a community of compassionate, caring, generous individuals who seek to do His will in the things they say and do. I think church growth revolves around God's action and not our own. Of course, we Lutherans proudly proclaim this to be Word, Sacrament, and the mutual conversation and consolation of the believers.
I do not know what the final outcome will be as this congregation moves into the realm of a staffed congregation. This congregation has never been there before. Sometimes such a move is met with tons of blessings. Sometimes, it so shakes the dynamics of the church that the opposite takes place. We are dealing with an institution made up of humans, after all. Yet, I keep reminding myself that it's not totally up to me. It's not totally up to my secretary or my music director or my youth director. Heck it's not totally up to the congregation members. For without God, we could do nothing. He makes the whole thing work, and if He needs me to lead a staff here at this church, I submit to His will.
I just have a hard time getting my head around it.
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