I Hate.......

I don't like LifeWay VBS music. I appreciate that they don't want to pay royalties to other artists or songwriters, but one thing they forgot is that they're not songwriters, either. Pay the royalties and put some decent songs in - like GroupVBS does.

 

hummm
I don't know, I might have think about that one. Nothing imediately comes to mind, but I'm sure I can think of something. Every church has something.

 

when I have to go home

 

I've attended churches that occasionally have Youth Sundays (where the "youth" take over); however,

1) only ONCE did a young man take over the sound system so that the adult(s) who normally operate it could actually ENJOY a service,

2) NOT ONCE did any volunteer to stay behind to clean up the auditorium in preparation for the Sunday evening service so that the custodian(s) could actually ENJOY a leisurely Sunday afternoon with their families.

I do NOT blame the Youth Dept leader(s) for this, I blame the PARENTS who've failed to inculcate in their children's hearts what it REALLY means to "serve."

If I'm "in the flesh" over this, please tell me so.

 

I've actually got the preview kit, and while the music's better than last year, there's only one "really" good song - the others are typical LifeWay VBS songs.

And you're right about Amazon Outfitters. That was an exception. We're going with GroupVBS again this year - "Serengeti Trek."

 

As Bro. Ed would say;

AMEN BROTHER JAMES NEWMAN! PREACH IT!!!


In HIS service;
Jim

 

There is nothing here to dislike;

www.tvbc.org

Try it! You'll like it!

In HIS service;
Jim

 

I hate it when after the smoke clears and a local church has split, Christians who have know each other and fellowshipped together for decades won't even talk to each other.

HankD

 

I agree, Diane, about ladies, or a married couple, that are perfectly capable regardless of age that won't help in the nursery. Or anywhere else . . . .

 

Are you asking to be on the committee that selects such materials? A friend of mine helps the church to design the materials that the church wants to use. They may reference materials from other sources and respect copyright, but they do create supplemental material to advance the purchased packs.

It is wonderful that your church is allowing the teens an opportunity to contribute. Often, teens pull away and this is just one way to include them in a manner that insures that they may hear the message and be equipped to share it later with others! The equipping of the saints is a major responsibility of the pastor and deacons. I would be using every young person I could where they learn to contribute and become active! How blessed these teens are!

Imagine in the early Church how those who preached the word of God had to 'project' without any kind of assistance to the croud! Imagine Jesus standing on a rock or cliff area, using a frail human body to project the great commission!

 

Legitimate points, I'm sure, but see Diane's post on youth using sound equipment. Maybe the youth
in your church are not trained to use the expensive sound equipment?
My two would not know how and have never been shown. To some degree, the committee in charge needs to recruit and train people in your church, if this is perceived to be a problem.

Regarding cleanup, just like any event, people need to have clear expectations spelled out. It can be a trifle unfair to have unspoken and unexplained expectations, and then blame them for not picking up on it. In other words, sign kids up for the cleanup ahead of time, instead of just hoping they and their parents will figure it out.

In my case, I have my kids do what we agree to do. But no, unspelled out expectations would not necessarily occur to me. I would presume the people in charge planned the cleanup too. And that my just jumping in and taking over would upset their arrangements and seem to be a criticism of them. And yes, we have helped with cleanup of things plenty of times. And will do so.

Karen

 

I have never been asked nor do I volunteer to work in the nursery. I'm not good with little babies. I like them when they are about 8 years old. Presently, I can't work in the nursery or extended church because of other duties.

The other duty that I will not volunteer for is the kitchen committee.

 

Each of you has some valid points. No one likes to do the clean up. Sometimes, we need to do the cleanup. Think of it as an experience in humility. I love to consider the experience of the disciples when Jesus washed their feet! Imagine the Son of God stooping down to wash your feet!!! What would it be like for the Pastor to take ten people from the congregation each week and wash their feet? In order to lead, we must be willing to serve. This is one reason that we have requirements of activity for those who wish to follow a calling as a deacon! Why do we complain endlessly about serving in our church? It is equalization of responsibility. My sister once joined a Church (the first she had been steady in for 30 years) and she was EXPECTED to care for the three children in this small church in the nursery. She was alone. Not one other adult would spend time in that room with her and three children! Two services, and she was there for both, yet could not attend either! Who was ministering to the needs of the servant? Jesus Christ, her Lord and Savior, sat with her as she ministered to those children. When we share the load with others, the load is lightened for all. This reminds me so much of the "footprints in the sand" card.
You want to complain? Suffer on the cross for all of man kind who deny you, forsake you, and accept you not.

 

Wonderful Diane. It sounds as though you and your husband understand well about service. Are you mentoring others in your church toward service? Perhaps inviting young people to be involved (without promoting that they might take over at some point) will help equip others for service.
It's funny. In my first church, I had the tools and understanding to help people with home upgrades and repairs, transportation to and from the hospital or whereever, youth guidance, mentoring, and a host of other areas. In addition, I am able to contribute as a social worker (within ehtical boundaries). I have the ability to help with taxes and even to sit with the elderly. I volunteered at one point but was never called on. In another church I was at, I was called to five years of ministry to men who were homeless. It was a wonderful experience. Yet, I could not find the support at times to carry it through at the level the people I worked with deserved.
The point is that there will be times when resources abound...yet if we do not utilize them they will dry up and blow away. There may be seven months of good harvest and seven months of poor harvest. During the good months, we need to equip, empower, and guide people, developing their gifts and helping them to find a place in the family in which to serve. If we do so, we will have greater resources for the additional seven months.

 

At my Dallas Church, I was actually in a class where everyone (except myself) was over 60 years. I was, at the time, in my 30's. It was great because they had so much to share. I did not think at first that they were very active in the church...then I was given some insite...
You see, the people in this class were driving eachother to the hospital for cateract surgery, cemotherapy, physical therapy, etc. The few who drove were picking eachother up for Sunday School and Church. There were some who were making craft items for neighbors (knitting hats and scarves for cold children). What was really ironic is that I had no idea that all of this ministry was going on under my nose!!! They were caring for eachother where the Church, over all, had not. Do we, the younger members, ever say "Will you teach a younger sunday school class how to crochette or knit those beautiful scarves?" Will you help us to train our young people in caring for each other by helping them to understand how your class [of elderly adults] cares for eachother?"
ANother issue is how we try to accomodate our young people to keep them in our church. "Let's have a contemporary service for the young." Does it occur to us that some of our older people could participate or might like to if it was at the same time that they normally attend? You know, there are older people who know how to play the piano quite well and hold their own.
The point being that we build up the walls between generations, rather than build bridges. When was the last time that a young school teacher in your private school has asked two seniors to tell weekly stories about "when I was young" or "How I learned to drive." The stories really are amazing! My older sister is 45. She loves the idea of storytelling. We went to a storytelling center that I believe was located in Kentucky. It was amazing. YOu could buy storytelling materials left and right. Find that one retired senior who likes wood work. Have her or him help you build a stage. There are women who build quilts. Can they make curtains for the stage? There are former actresses, teachers, etc. throughout our churches. Can they write scripts, teach dramatics, etc.? If you can find these and match each with two young people, you have a puppet ministry! We must be creative! We are called to equip the saints for ministry! God gives us the opportunities every day and they are often overlooked. Find ways to use each and every persons special gifts! Is there a homebound person who needs company? Do you lack things to do with them while there, creating massive bordom and a very uncomfortable experience? Perhaps they would become a prayer partner for those in the church who are hurting? Everyone has something they can do.