tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post4054025370191341260..comments2024-03-27T15:47:46.091-05:00Comments on Pastoral Meanderings: Great Frustrations... and some very little onesPastor Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653554256101480140noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-29551461049306205772011-04-27T08:27:42.249-05:002011-04-27T08:27:42.249-05:00"I asked him which did he think would get his..."I asked him which did he think would get his pastor in more trouble, not serving Holy Communion on Christmas Eve, or not singing "Silent Night" with the lights out and individual candles lighted? Which would get more complaints, no Easter egg hunt or no Communion on Easter?" <br /><br />Rev. Bergstrazer is right on in identifying this problem! We get so focused on all the things we are doing and not on what God is doing.Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13013921386098199810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-39592409050243249532011-04-26T15:25:57.920-05:002011-04-26T15:25:57.920-05:00Anonymous
You give Circuit Counselors you waaayy ...Anonymous<br /><br />You give Circuit Counselors you waaayy too much credit/blame.<br /><br />We (yes I am one) have zero authority of our own. We can do little to nothing without the DP. <br /><br />PlainsState CCAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-56093036761653494582011-04-25T15:11:23.676-05:002011-04-25T15:11:23.676-05:00My church has contemporary worship at the late ser...My church has contemporary worship at the late service on the 2nd and 4th Sundays. Since Easter fell on the 4th Sunday this year, they decided to go with contemporary. We've had members leave for this exact reason. Why are we trying to pull in the unchurched if it drives our own members away? I was unable to attend the early service as my grandson was being baptized in the Methodist church in a nearby town. I really missed my tradition Easter worship! But was happy to see my little guy be baptized (and my DIL too!!). That was worth missing my own worship.Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04503743050696171950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-61858959041308755392011-04-25T11:44:52.073-05:002011-04-25T11:44:52.073-05:00This is a story book my pastor read during the Eas...This is a story book my pastor read during the Easter message. He had the pages on the book on the screens in the sancuary.<br />This is a youtube of the story.The pastor's reading was not animated like this. Then he showed a couple minute video clip of John 20:1-8 to tell the story. Then this book, to speak about living forever and ever in eternity because Jesus rose from the dead. He also stated "Will Live "Forever" is what Easter is all about."<br />This whole Easter message was very upsetting and frustrating to me. story.<br />Below is the link to the youtube.<br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6z-oBkgJ4Ow<br />This link below is a link to the words because it is too long to post.<br />http://www.rogerknapp.com/inspire/loveforever.htm<br />Love You Forever<br />by Robert MunschAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-73433310838031799572011-04-25T10:08:40.765-05:002011-04-25T10:08:40.765-05:00Yes, I had a few visitors for Easter who were look...Yes, I had a few visitors for Easter who were looking to avoid the typical dummheit that you described. I’ve experienced the prom decorations as well, said which became a nuisance and a distraction and actually blocked sight of the altar. Pastor Peters, I’m glad that some of the people who were looking for some sanity in their Easter Sunday worship were doing so for good reasons, i.e., sound doctrine and therefore sound practice. I've seen and heard the same sort of issues with Christmas Eve/Day services and funerals. <br /> However on Easter even the C & E's want a 'traditional' Easter service as well because it is their traditional day of worship. By traditional I refer to the Norman Rockwell image that people have in their minds as to what Easter or Christmas Eve ought to be. I had a conversation with a member of my congregation a while back who had mentioned that what he liked about the Lutherans is we weren't as hidebound to tradition as the Catholics were. I asked him which did he think would get his pastor in more trouble, not serving Holy Communion on Christmas Eve, or not singing "Silent Night" with the lights out and individual candles lighted? Which would get more complaints, no Easter egg hunt or no Communion on Easter? There’s that sort of thing going on as well. <br /> Anyone who has been in the ministry for a few years (especially if you started out young) can point to a really silly idea you had and unfortunately no one had the love wisdom or courage to tell you ‘Pastor don’t do that.’ By the time I was certified I could read and write Greek and Hebrew, I’d studied Latin, German and a smattering of Spanish. Yet no one taught me how to translate what my congregation was saying. I learned the hard way that ‘whatever you want Pastor’ mean ‘you’re wrong but I won’t tell you so.’ <br /> I’m not sure if some of these complaints are caused by poor Seminary instruction or unsuitability for the ministry per se-I rather doubt it. I think it’s often simply ignorance; that is not having a sense of what is appropriate which comes with experience. That is where the vicarage/internship is critical in the Pastor’s formation in my opinion. Sometimes I think it’s working from a contemporary playbook, catalog, etc. that promises an Easter like no other and we believe it. Mostly we have to keep in mind that it is nothing more than hubris to think that we will adorn the Resurrection of our Lord in a way that will somehow make it better or more relevant. To be sure, there are times when the reason why the Pastor has ‘got nothin’ on Easter is because that is exactly what he has to give you, that is when it is appropriate for Christians to go elsewhere. <br /> I thank God for the liturgy, the lection, and an approved hymnal, because they often protect the congregation from the Pastor’s folly.Rev. Allen Bergstrazernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-36205373629825698202011-04-25T08:48:28.758-05:002011-04-25T08:48:28.758-05:00Concerning BIG Frustrations.....
It all points to ...Concerning BIG Frustrations.....<br />It all points to inept and lazy<br />pastors who do not have the passion<br />to serve the Lord with their best<br />effort. District Presidents and<br />Circuit Counselors are the weak link<br />in demanding pastoral accountability.<br />Why is there such disparity in <br />pastoral competence from parish to<br />parish in the same circuit? Are the<br />Seminaries guilty of failing to weed<br />out the misfits? Lord have mercy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-74977667149065259242011-04-25T08:46:20.764-05:002011-04-25T08:46:20.764-05:00Fr. Peters,
Au contraire, if you MUST do somethi...Fr. Peters,<br /><br />Au contraire, if you MUST do something weird, do it ANYWHERE but in 'church' at ANY time! xx<br /> ~Janis Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02947508427040251166noreply@blogger.com