DNTO

Since we're working at identity and core value issues as a church, the comment made me stop and think:  is knowing who you are not (i.e., definitely not the opera), the same thing as knowing who you are?  As Emmanuel Mennonite Church, we might also say, we're definitely not the opera...but is that enough to define who we are?

Earlier this year, one of our adult Sunday school classes identified these three core values for our congregation:  Anabaptism, Community, Global Perspective.  What do these things really mean?  Do they adequately define who we are? Do we agree with this list?  Or is there some other value that should be listed in the top three, and if so, which of these gets demoted?   

Sep 24, 2009 at 8:20 PM

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Jesus Matters has arrived

If you ordered a copy of Jesus Matters--or if you didn't order but would like one anyway--please pick up a copy at the Welcome Centre this Sunday after worship.

With the author's discount, the cost per book is $13 including tax and shipping costs. 

Thanks to the clerk at the post office who carried the almost 50 lb box of books to the car for me, thanks to Trent for carrying the box from my car to the Welcome Centre, and thanks to Gary for being at the Welcome Centre!

Sep 24, 2009 at 8:16 PM

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What Happened last Sunday

Last Sunday’s sermon and talk-about on “Jesus be the centre” seemed to generate a lot of discussion.

Some suggested specific sermon topics: Discouragement – how do we handle it? Conflict – how do we handle it? Stewardship. The importance of valuing one another. Are other religions wrong? Some asked for copies of the sermon. Some wondered how bounded set/centred set thinking applies to other areas of life. One asked, why not embrace the centred set completely? (short answer: because every model is limited in some way, and no one model seems to be able to answer everything, and Scripture seems to exhibit both bounded set and centred set perspectives . . . . I’m indebted to The Shaping of Things to Come: Innovation and Mission for the 21st-Century Church by Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch for their application of set theory to the church).

For some, the talk-about time was too short (which was a good thing, since they could continue their conversation later), or too long (I’m sorry, it WAS longer than the two minutes as advertised), something to definitely try again (although not next Sunday!), or not (I noticed that some preferred to continue reflecting on their own, which was fine too).

I actually found the morning to be very energizing (which some would say defines me as a classic extrovert) but also tiring (which is my introvert side). For me it was a great start to a new year! 
 

Sep 17, 2009 at 3:33 PM

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We have a winner!

Ruth Sawatzky says there were several entries in the name-that-class contest, and the winner is (drum roll, please) "On The Way: topics and Bible teaching related to Christian Living."

My husband, Gary, caught the double meaning right away.  The class is "On The Way" i.e., concerning the Christian life which was referred to in the book of Acts as "The Way," and also "On The Way" in the sense of being along the way, on the road.   So this year we have two adult electives: "On The Way" which meets in the banquet room and "Wineskins" which meets in the fireside room and focuses on current events.

Sep 16, 2009 at 8:47 PM

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Please Disturb

Last weekend Gary and I stayed at the Coast Hotel in Victoria for my nephew's wedding, and I was able to take an early morning walk along the inner harbour. At one point, a women ran past me, and I noticed her t-shirt said on the back "Workout in Progress--please do not disturb." That's exactly the opposite of ministry, I thought. If I had a t-shirt, it would have to say "Ministry in Progress--please disturb."

When I'm at the church, I actually LIKE interruptions--that's after all why I am there--to be interrupted by questions, concerns, to have conversations about the deep things of life....all of that is just as much a part of ministry as spending quiet time alone in prayer or working on a sermon.  And ministry is also about being disturbed in another way--not just in terms of interrupted time, but in facing disturbing questions, in being disturbed by the way things are in the world and even in the church, in being disturbed out of my own comfort zone to where God is calling.  That's part of what it means for me to be in pastoral ministry, and part of what it means for every Christian to be engaged in life.  So, yes, ministry is in progress--please disturb! 

Sep 11, 2009 at 9:08 AM

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The Two-Minute Talk-About

On Sunday mornings, we sometimes take the time to greet one another during the worship service, we sometimes give opportunity to introduce people, we sometimes have a general word of welcome from the worship leader. I don’t always do it the same way, in part because I like variety and being spontaneous and allowing the Spirit to move, and in part because standing and greeting people you’ve already said hello to and maybe even sit beside most Sundays seems redundant and kind of superficial. So I’ve been pondering how to move beyond hello to something more.

At the same time, I know there are a number of people longing for more interaction in worship and more of a sense of community as a church.

So I’ve been thinking….why not actually add some small group discussion time to the service immediately after the sermon? A couple of weeks ago, we had some quiet time for reflection after my sermon on church unity. As I said at that time, “A sermon isn’t really finished until you’ve had a chance to think about it, to talk about it, and most important to live it out during the week. That’s the real sermon.” So instead of simply reflecting quietly on our own as we did to close the sermon time that Sunday, why not go a step further and actually talk with one another about it? Our time is limited, but why not at least try a two-minute talk-about?  That at least gives us a chance to say something beyond hello and could spark further conversation and interaction after the service too.

I realize this may be scary for some, but I know that others will welcome the chance to say something more than good morning to whoever is sitting beside them. So I’d like us to try it on our Back to Church Sunday, Sept. 13. Are you willing to give it a go?

Sep 4, 2009 at 7:25 AM

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The "No-Name" Sunday School

For years, Emmanuel’s “adult Sunday school class” has been called just that. But we’re looking for a new name—something that’s appealing, not too long, somewhat descriptive so people know what it’s about (a mix of different discussion topics and Bible teaching). To generate some new ideas, we’re having a name-that-class contest with a Ten Thousand Villages gift certificate and Shirika CD as prizes. I have it on good authority that so far there’s just ONE entry, so start brainstorming and send your ideas to Ruth Sawatzky, or add a comment on the next page....

Here’s some of my brainstorming to get you started:
Potpourri; Gather ‘Round; Disciples Class; Hearers and Doers; Learning for Life; The Learning Circle; Early Risers; Sunday Sampler. More ideas anyone?
 

Sep 4, 2009 at 7:22 AM

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Thank you, Shirika

I always enjoy Shirika's ministry among us, and last Sunday's music, testimony, and sermon were no exception. The music of course was wonderful, but I was struck also by much of what was said on Sunday.

So thank you, Mike, for your words about community: "God created us for community, not isolation." Thank you, Charles, for your words about the fellowship you have together as a group, and thanks to all of you for being part of our fellowship and community as a church.

A thought came to me also as Cheny talked with the children.  He said that God calls us because we are special--because we are each special in God's eyes.  That's true for young and old--we ARE special in God's eyes.  But what's even more true is that God calls us because GOD is special! That's something to sing about!!

Sep 2, 2009 at 10:51 AM

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