September 30th, 2009 | 
Author: The “Sharing Ideas” section is just that. Please share things that you have found works in your current setting. It may be a particular worship service, how you formed your council, evangelism ideas, Bible studies, etc. Most pastor-leadership seminars or worship seminars, are geared for the large and fast growing churches. This section is a place for rural pastors to share ideas for the small church. Let’s help one another out.
Share your idea’s about anything below with a quick reply.
About the author
I realize that my timing is probably really bad here, but I want to share with you some Sunday School material that is working really well for our church. It’s from Cokesbury and its called, “One Room Sunday School.” Because our Sunday school at both churches consist of about fifteen kids (if all of them show up), we found that the rotation Sunday school, wasn’t working as well as when we had a larger group.
The One Room Sunday School begins class, by having all the kids in the Sunday school gathering together to hear a story from the Bible. The story is shared in one of many different ways. After that, the group is divided into two groups and they then work on age appropriate material that delves deeper into the Bible story. We divide our classes into: pre-school through second grade and third through sixth grade.
Not only do the kids like it, we found we don’t have to “recruit” as many teachers, since we don’t have five grades needing teachers, and also when some kids don’t show up (which happens always!), it doesn’t leave the teacher with a single student.
Check it out, it may be what you’ve been looking for to meet your Sunday School needs. Dan
“Feed My Sheep” Ministry
We are beginning a new ministry at Apple Grove and Yellowstone, and it’s simple, easy and really important. It’s a type of farmers market. We have many gardeners who, throughout the summer, find that they have more fruits and vegetables than they can use. Also bring meat, items like bouquets of flowers to buy for loved ones or a stringer of fish! What we are asking is that you bring your extra to church on Sunday and set your produce out on the picnic table. We’ll announce each Sunday what is out there for people to purchase (free will offering). All proceeds will go to support our local food shelves that are really being taxed during these difficult economic times.
(See the blog from July 31 which explains how this ministry began)
One thing that has been a smashing success at our parish is having our Sunday school youth lead the dismissal. It is the traditional in our denomination that during the closing hymn the pastor walks to the back of the church when the hymn is completed, he or she says, “Go in peace. Serve the Lord.” The congregation then replies, “Thanks be to God.”
I try to do two “youth sermons” a month, but our Sunday school numbers are small and during the summer, it became downright embarrassing to lead a youth talk with one other child. How could I involve the youth in some way without having to do youth talks? One Sunday I was explaining the closing the service to the kids during a youth talk, and I told them that I wanted them to help in the dismissal. So during the closing hymn, I followed the acolytes to the back of the church and had all the kids leave their pews and follow me. When the hymn ended, I counted to three and the kids yelled out, “Go in peace. Serve the Lord.”
The congregation burst out laughing at their enthusiasm and an idea was born. Every Sunday for the last ten years, the youth leading the dismissal has been their part of the service.
January 27 – Joint Choir
Neither one of our churches has a choir anymore. The hey-day of the Wednesday night choir practice and weekly choir anthems each Sunday disappeared in the 1960s. But it is still mourned by many who remember those glorious days.
One way I have found to still have a choir is to take advantage of joint services between the two parishes I pastor. On special days like Lent services, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, when we come together to have one service, we have a joint choir.
Not having enough singers at either one church, together we can come up with a group of ten or more.
In preparation for the choir anthem, and knowing no one would come out on Wednesday’s anymore to practice, what we do is for the four Sunday’s leading up the service, we practice the song separately at each church, with the members from that congregation.
Then on the day of the service, we all come together forty-five minutes early and practice as one large group. We all know the song by this time, so all we really have to do is work at blending our voices together.
Not only does this allow us to have great music on these special Sunday’s, but it gives the parish the added benefit of working together, which is something a lot of churches, though yoked together, don’t do a great deal of.
God bless and good luck with your choir!
If you haven't already, you may consider going to local campgrounds and ask if you can come in and do something for the kids. I dress up as a clown and give away some free coloring books made from my printer. I always includethe plan of salvation. You can find one of the children tracts on my web
This blog some interesting! Keep up the excellent work!
Thank you so much for the compliment. Please feel free to post your own blogs/comments and experiences you have had. Dan
One of my friends already told me about this place and I do not regret that I found this article.