New Format for Sunday
Posted November 9th, 2007 by JC
in
Here’s an idea for a happy medium. EVERY week we should have Jeff do about 30 minutes of his teaching, and then ask people who want more of a discussion/interaction about the subject to go to the gym to discuss. After the breakout group leaves, Jeff will continue with the last half of his teaching to those that want to listen.
Then, no one should be able to complain…those who want to listen, get to listen…those who want to talk, get to talk.
Some weeks the breakout group may have lots of people…sometimes just a few. It becomes your choice…not a forced choice like we have had. Also, you will know that the people who are in the breakout group are authentic about their interest in talking about the subject.
(this will probably just be more work for Jeff, as he will have to find a good stopping point in the middle of his teaching)
you lost me
you lost me at EVERY
Let's play nice
Jeff,
I’m sure it wasn’t your intention, but your comment comes across unkind. You disregard this post before you even read the first line. Some people don’t like change and need something to be the same each Sunday. That hasn’t happened recently at The Journey and it throws those people off.
whoa,
I by no means intend any of my comments to be unkind. I would like to be able to be real but I agree that short dismissive comments suck and John, for that I apologize.
I understand what you are getting at John; but my initial reaction to doing the same thing every week was to shutdown and all but dismiss the rest of your idea. I’ve tried to think of a concise way of describing why but haven’t much success. It might have something to do with a feeling I have that the church (and Journey) is stuck in the rut of singing songs and listening to talking. We might try to make it look different but in the end its sill the same. Is doing something else, whatever it is, EVERY week trading our current rut for another one?
John (and a good many of others on this site) might not know me all that well. I don’t really get anything out of the “discussion times” that have been characterized as interaction at the journey. Being told to turn to your neighbor and answer a random question rarely does it for me. What is it? I really enjoy the insight and perspective Jeff brings. Should it be for me? I like the singing we do as worship. Is that strange though for a non-christian? I enjoy hearing different people’s opinion when we ask questions to the entire group. I met so many people at the unconference. At the same time i could listen to a perspective from Jeff offline (not in a group setting) and be able to comprehend more and not be so distracted. Recently (the past 5 or so years) singing in church seems so robotic, sure theres times where as a group a connection is made but it doesn’t seem like the norm. Asking a question of a large group will still only get you a response from 3 or 4 people and only the most out-spoken at that. An unconference every week?, ugh.
Im also not a person that screams from the side-lines.
So the next question that comes to mind is what do we do to build a better community? What can we do to connect better with God? What can we do to show more people Jesus? Whats the formula, what are the steps?
We’ve done a lot of things, and even more recently.
I dont have the answers. I can hardly tell you how I feel about it. (just ask my wife how long it took to get these thoughts out). One thing i read recently resonated with me; some points in a post from Bruce Reyes-Chow.
again i want to apologize for my initial response.
you lost me too
and you lost me at…no one should be able to complain! Yeah - right!
just trying to help
it’s better than having this ongoing discussion about talkinchurch/listen in church…
(this post has been revised)
agreed
agreed
Keep Going
Hey JC - I love it that you are trying to offer additional ideas… Jeff Mincey is just being a “pain” because he knows we try not to do the same thing “every” week - never have… probably never will.
This move into more interactive Sundays and weekdays is challenging.. especially for those who like more or less discussion than we already have. We will continue to move forward… not to find a ‘happy medium’ - but to find what works to produce the spiritual environment of real growth / interaction / sticky-ness / and engagement of people seeking spiritual truth.
Keep your ideas coming… :)
and keep stretching personally to see what works best for you and the friends you are inviting into our faith community.
Vertigo
JeffM…thanks for the apology, I appreciate that.
I just know that there has been this struggle out there between those that want change, and those that do not…but the similarity with the two groups is that both groups continue to struggle with who the Journey is so that they can make a decision on whether they like it or not.
I am all for changing the things that are not working like JeffM described…but some constants are not a bad thing either.
I do not care if the Journey takes a direction that I am not comfortable with (I do not have the right to make the Journey lean in any direction, as I am not involved as much as those that have put blood, sweat, and tears into the Journey)…I just want to know who the Journey is so I can try to adjust.
…and forget the EVERY, I should have known better.
Balance
God designed symmetry into most all of his creation; and I believe we need balance going forward. Don’t be so quick to dismiss your opinion because you aren’t as involved, but if you don’t care about the direction the Journey takes then maybe you are in the wrong place.
~
I like the point reyes-chow made (in the link above) about allowing the past to ground our future. The idea isn’t to start over with a fresh canvas… but rather to continue with the next frame in a series. I dont think we should throw everything out just cuz we did it at Santa Teressa! Heck, my favorite worship song will always be Amazing Grace.
So, we had an (un)conference where we asked, “How do we increase the spiritual impact of the Journey?” We thought we were going to get an outline of what a perfect Sunday morning would be like. Did you see what happened? Anything but that. The only topics that made it to the website (and tagged) were talking about a combined service and having communion more. I seem to remember a few more; but the point is, well, i don’t know the point is. What does it mean? We tried to ask an open ended question as to not constrain the ideas. We tried to define a structure so that anyone could have equal voice. Does it mean that Sunday is not as important? or does it mean that Sunday is just fine the way it is?
I am still confused about who Sunday morning is suposto be geared toward.
geared toward
I see and hear about a lot of people at the Journey who are hungry for more of God but as a community we seem to be “spinning our wheels” trying to get people to that point… even though we appear to be doing a lot of the right things. I am pretty confused myself. I have been for a long time as I have been watching and praying for the church for the past few years now. I tend to think Sunday AM for any church should be geared toward God first and then making him accessible… making an entry point for people to take steps to approach Him… using a language and a style that attempts to make the supernatural accessible… removing unnecessary barriers without compromising the faith.
You think you are confused...
Jeff, You think you are confused?I have been coming to The Journey for I don’t know 4-5 years and have had the opportunity to be a key leader in our church. I feel I have gone close to the top in ministry only to stop all of my existence in the Journey for 6-8 months just so I can figure out where I fit in. If I fit in at all at The Journey. I have been back at The Journey a few times since we moved and every time something pulls me in and I feel like climbing back onto the ride of leadership at The Journey. I think the thing I am learning the most is that I should not worry about the spiritual growth of The Journey or anyone elses spiritual growth that attends. For now I need to worry about my own and how my growth is affecting my family. Am I being the spiritual leader of my family? Am I taking the right steps to be the husband, the father or brother that I’m supposed to be for my family. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still plugged in running the mens softball team, Joining my wife at the Thursday nights couples group. I’m having fun learning how to grow for myself and not others. So, Sunday morning from my perspective should be geared for people like you and me, Who are still not sure about things in our faith or our life. Faith or not we still have the responsabilty of teaching our kids how and where to find Christ. We do this so they have the correct direction htey are supposed to have in life. Man, I hope I helped you out hear and didn’t just ramble on. You have a wonderful family. Reilly, my 3 year old said tonight before he falls to sleep. “Daddy, Will I see Landon at church tomorrow”? I said to him that he would and that he would have fun playing with him. This is a cool time in our life, Enjoy it my brother!
~Frank