Oh so many thoughts this morning. Buckle up! We’re heading out all over the universe.
For several weeks I’ve been thinking about “body life” of the church. What works in church life?
Since I am committed to two different “bodies” I am seeing all sorts of stuff that works, and what doesn’t.
After my traumas I chose to step back, heal, and watch. Being me, Corgi, I set myself in a new direction: China. This is a real theme in my little Minnesota life. I eat and breathe, pray and learn about China these days.
I hear about the underground churches meeting in China, and the example of fervent faith they set. I don’t see that much here, but through social media, particularly Instagram, I am (by chance, mostly) exposed to a set of young folk who really show fire for the Lord.
That’s exciting.
I am privileged to be on the “worship team” on Sunday mornings at my local church. I am not a member of the church, but I have been given permission to serve as a musician. I am not the “A” team, but rather a substitute. I fill in.
(That is currently my role in my entire life. I am a substitute in all areas of my life! It’s interesting to see life as someone who fills in where needed!)
Anyway, I can look out on the congregation and see how “healthy” the numbers are. By attendance our body is healthy. Over a hundred people worship with me there on Sundays. This is a good number.
The congregation is mostly young families.
That is healthy.
There are silver haired folk scattered throughout, too. This is a good thing. Kids make a welcome ruckus during the service. This is also good.
Sadly, though, our church did not have a vacation Bible School (VBS) this summer because of a lack of volunteers. There is always a plea for help with Sunday School, Awana, and Nursery duty.
Recently I had a conversation about Children’s Church. This really made me think about the formula for church that I experienced growing up.
For me, it worked. I am sure that many of my peers found fault with the way things worked back then, but I was blissfully unaware. I loved church. I was there practically every time the doors opened.
Let me describe the formula.
Sunday morning:
Sunday School; One hour, all grade levels for kids, at least two adult classes. Nursery up to three.
Worship Time; One hour, whole congregation together for singing and “special music.” Children dismissed at sermon time for Children’s Church (which involved Bible memory and singing, a game, and a Bible story. Snack.)
Sunday Evening: 7:00 Church!!!!! Often Disney was on at 6:00 and I never saw the end of any Disney program. It took 10 minutes to get to church. This service lasted for One Hour.
(Maybe this is why I hate mysteries and I always read the end of a book first! )
Monday Evening: Pioneer Girls and Boys Brigade. 7:00 to 9:00, as I recall, maybe only until 8:00 pm.
Tuesday: Usually leadership meetings. In high school I had rehearsals for a girls’ singing group, “Daughters of the King,” after school.
Wednesday: PRAYER MEETING at 7:00pm. (Whatever happened to Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting??????) Wednesday night was also the time designated for catechism, Bible quizzing, and “Youth Group.” Our local schools held Wednesday evenings sacred and never scheduled athletic events. Choir rehearsal!
Thursday: Showers for babies and brides were usually scheduled these evenings. Women’s prayer band met on Thursday mornings at church. First Thursdays of the month were always busy.
Friday: Men’s prayer breakfast, 6:00 am. Our church had a stellar crew making breakfast at the church kitchen for the men. The men were off to work afterwards. Also, I remember practicing special music on Fridays—as my mom would often serve as a pianist at church.
Saturday: Church work days, special events, weddings—-or nothing.
Monday was also the preacher’s day off.
No small groups, just body life. You were expected to show up for every one of these things that you were involved with. Vacations were normal. If you were gone too long you would be visited.
This sort of schedule really worked for many people. I know, because I saw it play out for two decades! I think my 90 year old mom would say she experienced it for many decades.
It wasn’t burdensome. People found time to volunteer and be participants. No one was expected to do everything.
After EACH one of these One Hour Events people stayed for fellowship. No requirements, but friendships were formed, particularly on Sunday evenings, after the service. We kids would play all sorts of fun games outside (or downstairs in the church basement) while our parents chatted after the service. So many wonderful friendships were forged.
Body life. Unscheduled. Those were the days when moms stayed home with kids, but there were several women in the church who had careers, and day jobs. Men generally worked 9 to 5 but we had many first-responders and police and fire officers that attended. Often the alarms would go off during church and several guys headed out of the service. We prayed as the service continued.
People took part as they could and relationships grew. I think I knew something about every person sitting in the pews. I knew some better than others! It was nice to know people.
There was a dear woman, Verna, of whom I’ve written about before. She is a saint if anyone ever could be. She made it her goal to invite a family over for Sunday dinner EVERY SUNDAY! She made a beeline for any new family visiting.
So many people came to our church and STAYED because of Verna. Roasted meat was in her oven, potatoes, a salad—she was prepared for however many people showed up! What a blessing!
Sunday dinner was an institution for many of us, and we gathered at each other’s homes for this meal, not every Sunday, but often enough.
In the fall, usually in October, there was scheduled a “Missions Conference.” This was very special, as EVERY evening a missionary speaker spoke and shared their work around the world. There was always a banquet that week, too.
In the spring the young people had a banquet. There was usually a women’s banquet event, too. These special times were always fun to dress up for, to mark time. To celebrate.
Christmas time always had a children’s program. Vacation Bible School happened in June, and it was really like a school—all day, Monday through Friday, bag lunches and orange drink. Games and crafts, Bible story, Missionary story, Bible Memory. Snacks. Easter time usually had a special Sunday evening “cantata” presentation. The church choir worked hard for weeks on this pretty musical event.
Summer camp. I started going to Camp Shamineau in the summer after third grade. I loved summer camp!
Body life. Fellowship. Church life. It worked. I think it worked well.
With our technological age, our busy family life, sports and all the practices, School events—shopping, life experiences; this formula may seem out-dated.
I wonder. It seemed to cement us as a body and feed our souls. It wasn’t wearing. It was revitalizing.
Jesus is coming soon. Do you wonder what life with Him, in the flesh, will be like? I look forward to that with all of my heart. I know that He will make me whole, worthy, to be with Him. I feel so unworthy now! That will be erased, and He will be glorified.
We will have fellowship with each other, made perfect in Him, eternally.
I long for this, more than ever.
MARANATHA!