I hope no one takes offense at this picture, but to me it helps show why our church is full of young families again after an era when the average age of members seemed to creep ever upward. Our minister preached today about Jesus calming the storm. For those who are unfamiliar with this story:
According to the Gospels, one evening Jesus and his disciples were crossing the Sea of Gallilee in a boat when a furious storm came up, with the waves breaking over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion, but the disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" The Gospel of Mark then states that:
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"
During the children's message our pastor invites the children to sit with him on a handmade quilt. Today he used this boat and figures made of Legos to illustrate the topic. The kids re-enacted the story and shared their own experiences in boats. One little boy said he had never been in a storm in a boat, but he had had a similar experience on a train. Our minister thanked him for sharing.
The Lego construction remained on the communion table for the remainder of the service, illustrating how important it is that our faith should be accessible to all.
I think more and more people are becoming comfortable with some "updates" as long as they don't go too far overboard (no pun intended). More people realize the importance of understanding how our faith works and how we should live it everyday- so a sermon illustration on the Communion table doesn't ruffle feathers. Heavy metal renditions of the hymns might be too far for them during the service, but little things are a nice balance and as you noted it helps to draw people in. Nice capture!
That's a wonderful story to share, and I think it was obviously a perfect way to draw the children in by letting them share, too. Good for the pastor to find new ways to bring people back to church!
Love it! Sometimes, I think the children's sermons do a better job of relating to the whole congregation than the regular sermon. Our church was the same way not too long ago, too, but now we have quite a few younger families and young children (actually part of the reason we chose this church over others when we moved here 4 years ago).
You know Allison, for so long church has been so rigid in its teaching and in the presentation of the Gospel, but I too have witnessed some drastic changes where we go. I have always attended a Baptist Church, and that is pretty much a straight laced crowd you deal with. In the last several years, there has been such a relaxation in the congregation, in the music, the dress, etc. You see a much younger crowd, more of a free spirit about it, and you know what, the Gospel hasn't changed. Lives are still being changed. Man can be his own worst enemy when it comes to spirituality, and all his perceived limitations.
