I love/hate lock ins. Mostly I love them.

Lock Ins, at least in my experience of the protestant church world, are an opportunity for youth to gather in their church, along with other youth from their church and community, and run the place (in a safe, hospitable, and sometimes ridiculous way).

I say “run the place” because that’s what Lock Ins are all about: empowering youth to make their church and the ministry done at the church their own. [Read more →]

Last night we had a young adult gathering for my church.  Our group is not huge, but they are loyal and are growing close through our meetings.  The group has only been in existence since November and although most were around as youth and children they are re-entering the congregation as adults for the first time in several years.  We have had several social events in the evening, but in February are taking the group to the next level.  We will start a young adult Sunday school with two objectives.  First, is to gain basic tools and understandings about faith as adults.  Second, is to build relationships with the larger congregation so this group can be sustainable with out my leadership.  I have developed a variety of ways to do this, but want to hear your ideas and feedback…. [Read more →]

Yesterday I was blessed with the opportunity to meet with the Children’s Sunday School Teaching team at my church. We gathered to set our schedule, to touch base about how everything was going, and to share our success stories and powerful teaching moments. These women humbled and inspired me. They came with thoughtful hearts, open minds, and strong voices.

Because Sunday School is once a week, for a short amount of time, filled with fun activities, creative story telling, and exciting learning, it can be easy for forget how important Sunday School really is to the development, inclusion, and faith formation of the Body of Christ. Today, I was reminded of the passion, heart, vulnerability and wisdom that it takes to take this responsibility and privilege head on as a teacher. [Read more →]

Buddy Christ, from the movie, "Dogma"

Growing up as a Young Life going, Youth group attending, mission trip summering, Jesus Freak (DC Talk) kind of teenager, I was taught many things about my friend, Jesus. I was taught that Jesus was loving, that Jesus saved people, that Jesus could teach, preach, do miracles and led a group of men around. I was also taught that Jesus was in my heart now that he left the earth and would guide me, teaching me what to do and letting me know I was never alone. I wanted to be like the Jesus of the bible, in fact, I even wore my rainbow WWJD bracelet proudly through middle school and high school. But most of all, life was good because I knew that Jesus was there for me and that I always had a friend in him. This was the Jesus I clung to.

Today, after many years of higher education in religion, Jesus still means the same thing to me… but he also means so much more. How can we, as adults involved with faithful youth and kids encourage a more well-rounded Jesus?……… [Read more →]

Will your pageant be AWESOME or AWFUL?

Angels and Shepherds and Kings, Oh My! Ah yes, Pageant season is “all up ons”.

As I sit down to write the script for our church’s annual Christmas pageant, I am reminded that a lot of work goes into re-creating the Christmas story. Every year I wonder why the children, youth, parents and Christian Educator spend so much time on this one event, indeed the whole of Advent culminates with our Pageant. Why?

Sometimes I wonder if it is all worth it, but deep down I think the Christmas Pageant, in all its glory, is one of the best events, indeed ministries, of the Holiday season. The pageant tells the story of the birth of Christ, it allows the children to lead and to shine, and allows the congregation to connect in ways they don’t on a normal Sunday morning. The pageant is a great ministry, but it doesn’t always seem that way.

Should the Advent season be the “Pageant Season?”…….

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Change is hard… in fact, even though I am not supposed to use this word at youth group, change SUCKS.

In June next year, I am transitioning into a new role, new state and new life. When Adam and I graduate, we will move to Kansas and begin full-time ministry in the United Methodist Church. While I am excited to fully live into my calling to education, hospitality and social justice, I am extremely sad to be leaving the congregation and communities that I have been serving for what will be four years when I end my time in Illinois… [Read more →]

Have you been wondering about the timeline of the Southern Kingdom?  Desperate to find out about Deuteronomistic History?  Looking for outlines for nearly all the OT books?  Well do I have a treat for you.  One of my favorite professors (he is on our blog roll as Anumma) is taking pedagogy to the world of web 2.0.  When I took his class we had to memorize outlines for books of the Bible and create hardcopy notes (which I have lost) to study for our INTENSE mid-term and final exams.  But those were the good old days.  This term he had his class create a Wiki (an online collaboration of ideas and notes) so that they could build off the collective whole.  There work is impressive and is available to anyone who is interested in seminary level information about the OT.  My mathematical mind really likes the outlines and timelines, but there is lots of info for the harvesting.

While I will never be a seminary prof (thank God) I am inspired by this type of learning.  I am waiting for an opprotunity when a small group or Bible study could have a Wiki, a blog, or a discussion board…….. [Read more →]

I had a great experience today at the monthly gathering of a confirmation class I co-teach. In trying to teach the narrative of the Hebrew Bible in one four-hour Saturday morning gathering, we decided to focus on telling the story of the People of Israel through the lens of their relationship with God and understanding of the closeness and presence of God in every part of their life. We ran through the story, from Creation and Noah to the Ancestral Period, from the Judges to the divided Kingdom, exile and building of the 2nd Temple, acting out the parts and moving about the room. We worked through the Ancient Israel understanding of God by looking at the Hebrew names of God and viewing artwork ascribed to that name. It was an interactive and amazing lesson, but without the worship service that we participated in first, I don’t think it would have connected in such a deeply personal way………. [Read more →]