Children
-
A Sunday (43) in Life of a Pastor/Mother: the Family Business
This last week was one of the busier weeks for the family. In the midst of my husband’s church meetings and mine, we have to fit in soccer games, dance lessons, tae kwon do, and play dates. A typical weekend can look like this: My husband leaves Saturday morning to set up for the food…
-
Interactive Prayer Stations on Hunger Awareness
The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” (John 21.17) Our Missions Team declared October to…
-
Interactive Prayer Stations on Love
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens” (Ecclesiastes 3.1) I borrowed a sermon. Yep, I said it! I borrowed a sermon . . . actually, I adapted a sermon from Rabbi Judy Shanks at Temple Isaiah in Lafayette, CA. She wove in her sermon with the musical…
-
A Sunday (37) in Life of a Pastor/Mother: Blessings
For the past nine years I served at my church, I have counted my blessings, especially as they have changed and made space for me to pastor while being a mother. When my son was born, he was one of few babies born. It’s hard to believe eight years later, we have had 10 babies…
-
A Journey in the Intergenerational Worship Experiment
This is a picture of this past Sunday, our first Sunday switching to an intergenerational worship format. On the floor, you see tubs of play dough, tools, cookie cutters, and mirrors. Since I was preaching on James 1.22-25, I had the kids look at their reflection in the mirror and use play dough to recreate…
-
A Sunday (36) in Life of a Pastor/Mother: Death & Sex
So this past week has been quite a busy week. Not that every week isn’t busy, but this past week seemed to be quite eventful. Both personally and in ministry, it’s been a fine balance between death and well rebirth or in the case of sea monkeys – sex and lots of it. You see,…
-
Children in Worship: It’s More than Having Coloring Sheets
In the first issue of PLGRM, Rev. LeAnn Watkins, rector at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in St. Paul, MN, shares how after numerous attempts of increasing attendance of bible studies and other church-related programs, her staff decided to cancel it all – everything during the weekdays except seasonal services. You can hear her tell her…
-
A Sunday (35) in Life of a Pastor/Mother: RIP
Today was the last day that children’s sermons take up space in worship. Beginning next Sunday, worship will move to being more intergenerational. These next two months, we will experiment with music, seating layout, preaching styles, and liturgy. We will explore ways that are inviting to all ages, extroverted and introverted, cerebral and tactile, and…
-
A Sunday (34) in Life of a Pastor/Mother: Roller Coasters
I love roller coasters, especially the old ones where the tracks are still made out of wood. As you ride you can hear the wood warping and creaking at every turn. Don’t get me wrong, I like the new ones too that whip you in circles and up and down. The problem is I’m the…
-
A Sunday (33) in Life of a Pastor/Mother: Not Drinking the Water
Every summer at my church, it seems a handful of babies are born or about to be born. With 160 members and 90 children, you would think that there is something in the water or maybe the coffee we serve during fellowship hour. It is not unusual to hear the noises of babies and wandering…
Still Waters 