I haven't done scientific study, or even run the numbers, but just looking out at the congregation on any given Sunday morning, I think it's fair to say that the average age of folks in worship has been trending downward. I don't have any solid reasons as to why that is, though I suspect having had a pregnant pastor in recent memory doesn't hurt in that department.
I love that we have so many young (and young at heart) people in worship. I know there are plenty of congregations in which the expectation would be that the littlest ones all go to the nursery and the elementary-school aged children would head either to Sunday School or "Children's Church." I am thankful that the habit/culture of CtK is for as many children as possible to stay in worship as much as possible. (Yes, the screaming tantrums might necessitate a brief departure, but I am grateful the default position is "Everyone in worship.")
Here's a great blog post from another mom, on keeping kids in worship: Dear Parents With Young Children.
Enjoy!
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Friday, September 13, 2013
Why "Keep These Words"?
Welcome!
This blog is intended for the parents, godparents/baptismal sponsors, friends and youth of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Bozeman, Montana. It's also for anyone else who wants to pass on Christian faith, primarily in families. Of course the Holy Spirit can do whatever the Holy Spirit wants to do when it comes to forming faith in us, but studies show that there are some things we parents and other caring-adult-types can do to "set the stage," if you will.
Things like pray. With our children.
Worship. With our children.
Read our Bibles. With our children.
Serve in God's world. With our children.
Not exactly rocket science. But not as easy to put into practice as it might seem, either.
"Keep These Words" will serve as a landing place for all kinds of resources, links, and ideas, for me and for my household, sure, but mostly for the families I am blessed to serve as pastor. We are undertaking a fairly radical shift in our method of instruction for Affirmation of Baptism, aka Confirmation. I'm hoping this blog will be a useful tool for those families undertaking this journey as a class of guinea pigs of sorts.
I know I spend more time on Christian Education and Faith Formation websites and blogs than your average American. However, there's no way I'm ever going to find everything worth sharing. So, if you find something in your internet perusing which I have missed, please feel free to comment on a post and share, or send me an email and let me know: ctkprlindean (at) qwestoffice.net.
Why the title? It's from one of my favorite passages in Deuteronomy (yes, you can have a favorite verse from Deuteronomy!).
I love that, and have for a long time. For many years, though, I focused mostly on verse 5 - loving God with heart, soul and might - with everything. When I hit seminary, though, a professor focused my attention on verse 7: recite them to children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise.
Right. When you're at home - talk about them. And when you're not at home - talk about them. Hmmm. That would pretty much mean wherever you are.
When you lie down, presumably at night - talk about them. And when you rise, good morning! - talk about them. Hmmm. That would pretty much mean all the time.
Keep these words.
This blog is intended for the parents, godparents/baptismal sponsors, friends and youth of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Bozeman, Montana. It's also for anyone else who wants to pass on Christian faith, primarily in families. Of course the Holy Spirit can do whatever the Holy Spirit wants to do when it comes to forming faith in us, but studies show that there are some things we parents and other caring-adult-types can do to "set the stage," if you will.
Things like pray. With our children.
Worship. With our children.
Read our Bibles. With our children.
Serve in God's world. With our children.
Not exactly rocket science. But not as easy to put into practice as it might seem, either.
"Keep These Words" will serve as a landing place for all kinds of resources, links, and ideas, for me and for my household, sure, but mostly for the families I am blessed to serve as pastor. We are undertaking a fairly radical shift in our method of instruction for Affirmation of Baptism, aka Confirmation. I'm hoping this blog will be a useful tool for those families undertaking this journey as a class of guinea pigs of sorts.
I know I spend more time on Christian Education and Faith Formation websites and blogs than your average American. However, there's no way I'm ever going to find everything worth sharing. So, if you find something in your internet perusing which I have missed, please feel free to comment on a post and share, or send me an email and let me know: ctkprlindean (at) qwestoffice.net.
Why the title? It's from one of my favorite passages in Deuteronomy (yes, you can have a favorite verse from Deuteronomy!).
Hear, O Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. You shall love the LORD your God with all you heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deut 6:4-9
I love that, and have for a long time. For many years, though, I focused mostly on verse 5 - loving God with heart, soul and might - with everything. When I hit seminary, though, a professor focused my attention on verse 7: recite them to children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise.
Right. When you're at home - talk about them. And when you're not at home - talk about them. Hmmm. That would pretty much mean wherever you are.
When you lie down, presumably at night - talk about them. And when you rise, good morning! - talk about them. Hmmm. That would pretty much mean all the time.
Keep these words.
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