Ministry in the Middle

It's that time of year again.  The final few days when people can enjoy doing (and eating) what they want before they make big changes starting on January 1.  (Or January 2, because January 1, you know, is a holiday.) Over the years, I have made my own resolutions too.  So I won't judge anyone else for setting goals.  And I've known people whose New Year's resolutions have inspired great and meaningful changes in their lives.  People who have given up smoking.  People who have given up toxic relationships.  People who have continued a new exercise routine far beyond January. I'm delighted when we can celebrate such accomplishments.  Deep down, I'm a Calvinist, with a pretty strong conception of human sin.  I know we are all broken and need plenty of "fixing up."  Each approaching new year can serve as a secular Ash Wednesday, reminding us of our mortality, and encouraging us to atone for our mistakes and try to get our acts together....

When can you begin having Christmas music during worship services? Some suggest that the liturgical calendar requires 4 weeks of Advent preparation before Christmas begins.  So you don't hear a note of Christmas music until Christmas Eve.  Others believe that Christmas music is appropriate during the weeks of Advent. While I can see the merits of both sides, I personally fall into the second category.  Then again, I've celebrated "Christmas in July" before in congregations, complete with Christmas carols and outreach mission efforts, so I might be an outlier in this conversation, given that I think Christmas music is appropriate during the season after Pentecost. Partially, this is because I think that most Christians are more familiar with the cultural calendar nearing Christmas, rather than the liturgical calendar.  It can be weird to hear Christmas music, including religious music like "Joy to the World" or "Do You Hear What I Hear?" on th...

This is the third in a three-part series on weather cancellations and the church.  You can read part 1, "When to Cancel." here.   You can read part 2, "Who Makes the Call?" here. There are many ways to communicate about weather cancellations and the church.  Some TV and radio stations are willing to broadcast the news.  There are ways to share over the Internet through email and social media.  Or you can use the phone, either with an old-fashioned telephone tree or with newer mass texting or robocalling applications. The challenge is two-fold.  First, decide which means of communication are best for your congregation.  Second, prepare people to expect  how  you will communicate long before the harsh weather arrives. Some means of communication need to be set-up some time before the need to use them will arise.  Most media outlets will create access accounts for people to use their weather notification systems during the fall. ...

The second of a three-part series on weather cancellations and the church.  You can read part 1, "When to Cancel?" here. If weather and road conditions make travel treacherous, or if the forecast strongly suggests that travel will become treacherous, someone needs to decide whether worship services or other church activities will be canceled or not. In most situations, the person making the final decision should be the congregation's senior minister or solo pastor.  Partially, this is because the pastor should have the best understanding of who would be attending the worship service or activity and what their travel would be like.  Mostly, though, this is because a senior minister should have the respect of the congregation to abide by the decision, even if they disagree. In almost no situation should the senior minister or pastor make the decision in isolation, though.  It is a good habit to discuss the matter with other leaders in the congregation (understand...

This is the first of a three-part series on weather cancellations and the church. Late last month, our congregation's office received information from a couple of TV stations about changes to their weather-related closings and delays announcement procedures.  This is a timely reminder of the need to be prepared for the ways that winter weather can affect -- and force changes to -- church activities. The first part of this preparation is to decide the conditions that will force a congregation to delay or cancel worship services, other activities, or regular office hours.  Creating criteria ahead of time can make it easier to decide whether to cancel or not.  In fact, it may even allow you to prepare the congregation for what to expect. No one likes to cancel activities that have been planned, especially worship services, but sometimes that is the most responsible decision.  There comes a point where the risk is unnecessary, and there are times when it is wise to...

Without question, one of the weirdest things that happens in my ministry is when someone in the church quotes me to others.  It is particularly weird when I find out that my words have been shared in a newsletter article or meeting beyond our congregation. As far as I know, it doesn't happen that much.  The few times that it has been mentioned to me, though, I have caught my breath, hoping that what they had remembered was something good and worthwhile, rather than the alternative.  Frankly, I desperately hope that I haven't led them in the wrong direction. I don't know what I expected when I was preparing for ministry.  I frequently quote things that I've learned from books, articles, and presentations, including from teachers I have had.   Given that much of my ministry is centered on public communication -- preaching, teaching, and writing -- I hope that what I am doing is valuable and nurturing for many people. Don't get me wrong.  I'm not a ...

Over the weekend, I attended a service project with my local college alumni group.  Per usual, I enjoyed it.  We do this once a year, and the organization we volunteer with only asks for two hours of work.  So we talk, we do some basic labor, and we are finished before lunch. Sadly, not many of us participate from year to year.  This year, I could have opted out.  First, I had multiple church responsibilities that day, including one I chose not to go to so I could support the service project.  Second, I had to arrive before 8:30 on a Saturday morning.  Third, I drove through torrential rain to get there that morning.  I wanted to be there.  I wanted to show my support of the alumni service project (which we do in coordination with alumni groups in many other cities) with my presence.  I wanted to see other alums that I know in the area -- all of us there had important things to share about recent things in our lives.  I wanted t...