It turns out that almost all the kids in my youth group have a YouTube page with videos. Now, if I can only get them interested in doing something for the church. Hmm…. Oh wait! We are doing something – that’s our summer project.
Here are the youth’s websites:
Godfather410
King Productions, Inc.
Their talents never cease to amaze me.
This weekend I was pleasantly surprised to to have the church volunteer coordinator ask me if there wasn’t some way to get volunteers to confirm/change their Sunday assignments via an online system. Well, this was music to my ears. I had looked at some systems in the past. However, I was certain they would meet with resistance and limited use. So, even though I would have used it, I did not want to tilt at windmills trying to get my fellow volunteers to use the system. But, when the coordinator is asking, you can be sure the time has come to implement the new thing. On the heels of a volunteer for an electronic newsletter, I am quite pleased. Seeing the new efforts reinvigorates me.
It has hard keeping your options open when no one asks what they are.
My church has been using FB for quite a few months now and I am still astounded how much conversation takes place between Sunday services. Not a day goes by without someone discussing a personal experience or offering a topic for discussion. While I expected some participation, this is larger than I thought. I am glad to see that we continue to grow the bonds of friendship and Christian fellowship when we are apart. Even if those experiences are virtual, the closeness is evident every Sunday in worship.
And I think it will set the future course of the Episcopal Church here in the USA. As a late comer to the party, I am still feeling my way around this church. I have found much to my liking. I have also found some things I profoundly dislike and find distasteful. However, this is the same in every church. Not one is immune. While I pray for wisdom and a sense of inclusiveness for all, I understand the disagreements.
Do we allow homosexual marriage? (In my opinion there is no such thing. You can’t redefine something. Marriage is defined already. Use another term.)
Do we allow homosexual ordination of priests and bishops? (Well, we already have a homosexual bishop, so that is our answer. The followup is whether we continue the trend or stop it.)
Do we continue to litigate disagreements or work for amicable resolution? (I tithe to my church. However, if I leave, I can’t take the building with me. I just won’t worship there any longer.)
What of the new/proposed province in North America? (I understand their unhappiness. But, I stayed and think they should have also.)
I will wait and see what our deputation can accomplish. I believe in participation and earnest discussion. I also believe God has spoken on several of these issues and it is not for us to disagree.
