Comments on: For One Brief Shining Moment http://ceruleansanctum.com/2009/02/for-one-brief-shining-moment.html Looking for the 1st century Church in 21st century America Wed, 17 Mar 2010 05:19:40 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Keith Brenton http://ceruleansanctum.com/2009/02/for-one-brief-shining-moment.html#comment-43601 Keith Brenton Sat, 07 Feb 2009 00:21:22 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/?p=1135#comment-43601 I don't have answers. The church where I work and worship has never had "one brief shining moment." She has slogged through 52 years of living together, trying to be like Jesus in her neighborhood, serving others, growing steadily from a handful to about 1,700. Moved once in 1972. Only three preaching ministers in the past 25 years, each unique but none of them recognized as "super-apostles" in our fellowship. We also have three youth ministers, a body life minister, a children's minister, a pastoral care minister, a worship minister. There's a director for the Family Life Center and a director for the day school. There are staffers like me to tend to other operations (I handle communications). The elementary school that meets in our facility is a whole separate entity with its own staff and teachers. So far, our church has managed to avoid a mid-life crisis, although she's come close in the past few years. But I don't think there's ever been a time when she's ever had everything going for her; any "glory days" that anyone looks back on with inordinate wistfulness; any crowning achievements that make all others since pale by comparison. Maybe that's not a bad thing. I don’t have answers. The church where I work and worship has never had “one brief shining moment.” She has slogged through 52 years of living together, trying to be like Jesus in her neighborhood, serving others, growing steadily from a handful to about 1,700. Moved once in 1972. Only three preaching ministers in the past 25 years, each unique but none of them recognized as “super-apostles” in our fellowship. We also have three youth ministers, a body life minister, a children’s minister, a pastoral care minister, a worship minister. There’s a director for the Family Life Center and a director for the day school. There are staffers like me to tend to other operations (I handle communications). The elementary school that meets in our facility is a whole separate entity with its own staff and teachers.

So far, our church has managed to avoid a mid-life crisis, although she’s come close in the past few years.

But I don’t think there’s ever been a time when she’s ever had everything going for her; any “glory days” that anyone looks back on with inordinate wistfulness; any crowning achievements that make all others since pale by comparison.

Maybe that’s not a bad thing.

]]> By: Diane R http://ceruleansanctum.com/2009/02/for-one-brief-shining-moment.html#comment-43573 Diane R Wed, 04 Feb 2009 01:58:45 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/?p=1135#comment-43573 Dan, He hasn't been the pastor in years. I beleieve these are old programs. However, sometimes as the pastor emeritus he might be a guest speaker and perhaps some might be from there, I don't know. The pastor now is named John and he has been there for a few years. Before him was Scott who was Hayford,s son-in-law and he had been there a few years before he died. Dan,

He hasn’t been the pastor in years. I beleieve these are old programs. However, sometimes as the pastor emeritus he might be a guest speaker and perhaps some might be from there, I don’t know. The pastor now is named John and he has been there for a few years. Before him was Scott who was Hayford,s son-in-law and he had been there a few years before he died.

]]> By: Michael http://ceruleansanctum.com/2009/02/for-one-brief-shining-moment.html#comment-43556 Michael Tue, 03 Feb 2009 01:18:43 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/?p=1135#comment-43556 My nephew's mother goes to First English Lutheran in our city from time to time. It is called "First English" because it was a German-speaking church that opened a mission church to English-speaking people. Fancy that. Now there are hardly any people speaking German in my city. My nephew’s mother goes to First English Lutheran in our city from time to time. It is called “First English” because it was a German-speaking church that opened a mission church to English-speaking people. Fancy that. Now there are hardly any people speaking German in my city.

]]> By: Dan Edelen http://ceruleansanctum.com/2009/02/for-one-brief-shining-moment.html#comment-43554 Dan Edelen Mon, 02 Feb 2009 20:49:37 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/?p=1135#comment-43554 Diane, They still show Hayford preaching on his show "Spirit Formed." If he's not at Church on the Way, then where are they filming those teachings? I know he's the head Foursquare guy, but it sure seems like he has some base of operations somewhere. Anyway, I'm blessed to be in a very collegial church with a solid pastor who defers to others and makes strong use of the elders and laypeople. Diane,

They still show Hayford preaching on his show “Spirit Formed.” If he’s not at Church on the Way, then where are they filming those teachings? I know he’s the head Foursquare guy, but it sure seems like he has some base of operations somewhere.

Anyway, I’m blessed to be in a very collegial church with a solid pastor who defers to others and makes strong use of the elders and laypeople.

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