. . . Turn and face the strain
I have a friend who is pushing 90. She tells me that when she watches TV or reads the newspaper or reads e-zine articles (she's almost 90 but trying to keep up), she feels like the world is leaving her behind. This results in her hard and fast belief that nothing should change in church.
"The church," she says, "is the one place where I want everything to be the same as it was all my life: same hymns, same food, same architecture, same prayers." I love this woman.
But she is wrong. Only Jesus never changes, and yet . . .
Even church has to change because the world changes and the culture changes. And so . . .
We -- in my particular community of faith -- are getting ready to make another dramatic change. We are getting better at this, but still, it's not easy. We are on the cusp of calling a new "Minister of Discipleship" who has never been to seminary or been Presbyterian.
Crazy? Or inspired?
Probably both. (Can't wait til he starts.)
Friday, August 24, 2007
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7 comments:
Wow! Cool.
It will be so intersting to hear about what he will teach and learn in this new adventure.
I believe I know the individual in question, and would hazard that he is both.
Crazy...and inspired. :-)
I'm interested in hearing how and what he does.
Inspiration blows to us from the other side of sanity. The gifted stand with one foot in it. Geniuses travel back and forth.
Verrry Interesting. Keep us posted!
sounds like a great move. Let us know how it goes.
Hmmm ... If I remember correctly Jesus' first disciples hadn't been to seminary either (and I'm real sure they weren't Presbyterian) And he was thought to be crazy and inspired too! Blessings on this next chapter!
I can understand the older person's difficulties. So much in our world has changed so quickly/drastically he or she wants to grasp onto something that is a comfort zone - a familiar church/ music/liturgy/ surroundings. As a pastor you will have people excited by challenges and new approaches such as the 'emerging church' idea, but others who only want a hug and massage on the hands. Let her be - accept her position too.
But don't let people like that determine everything you do!
w.
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