Blessing of the Animals

From Gretchen Gunderson, St. John’s, South Bend, WA

At St. John’s we have begun having a blessing of the animals the first Sunday in October.  We are a very (!) small congregation with few animals.  I suggested to a local Baptist pastor the other day that we might have an ecumenical celebration in a park (hosted by St. John, pun slightly intended)l; suggestion well received.  He thought a picnic might be a good addition, tho October isn’t always picnic weather.  Maybe a hot-dog roast, though. . . .

If it is rainy, we could hold it at our church and  grill hot dogs on the deck.

Just an idea in the works.  We’ll see how it pans out.

Pastoral Care Ministry Team

For many churches in retirement areas, there is a continuing need for pastoral care and visitation of those who are recovering from illness or who are struggling with life threatening conditions.  Once seen as the sole responsibility of the clergy, many congregations are discovering new ways of ministering to those who can not come to church.  In addition to visits from the Rector, Vicar or Assisting Clergy, this can also be an important ministry for other members of the church community.  Many congregations have created “Pastoral Assistance Teams” that extend ministry through the calls, cards and visits of  people who wish to explore an opportunity for compassion and care.

These teams are not expected to provide spiritual counsel or guidance, nor are they equipped to offer physical assistance.  They are primarily a ministry of reaching out and listening; a regular contact with those in the process of healing.

Each week, one or more people are scheduled to visit and if needed, coordinate meals or local transportation based upon another sign up list of parishioners who volunteer to offer food or a ride to others.  The week begins with a meeting between the Priest, Deacon, Eucharistic Visitors and the “Pastoral Assistants”; information is shared and care is coordinated for that week. 

In addition, altar flowers can be taken to those who are at home.  You can even recycle old sanctuary candle glass to use as a  ”vase”.

This expansion of the church’s pastoral care ministry not only benefits those who are home, in hospital or nursing care, it also provides a valuable opportunity for more people in the congregation to explore their ministry, live out their Baptismal covenant and make a difference in someone’s life.

Lessons from the Chamber of Commerce

“The only certain means of success is to render more and better service than is expected of you”

Og Mandino

Look at your building.  What is it about your building that draws someone to come in?

Is your sign written for people who are not yet members.  Does it contain an invitation or just an announcement.

Listen during the coffee time after the service.  How much do people laugh or smile?

How is your phone answered.  Are people greeted on the phone by name (caller ID)?  Are they met by a friendly, enthusiastic voice?

Outdoor Way of the Cross

The following is from Peter DeVeau in West Seattle.  This sounds like a great idea for an ecumenical gathering that could be done in any small community.

“This is an invitation for you to walk “A Way of the Cross,” at Noon, Good Friday, April 2.

 While Good Friday is only a week away, please consider participating prayerfully in this corporate act. Do invite members of your congregation or community to join you.

 This Good Friday walk, simply and profoundly, is a time to hear Scripture, to sing together, and to keep silence for inner prayer. The Lord’s prayer and a simple sending concludes the walk. No more than that.

 This personal and corporate act involves walking to eight “stations” in the Alaska Junction, beginning at the southwest corner of SW Alaska St. and California Ave SW.

 At each “Station” a different person reads a portion of the passion according to Luke. Readers are asked to read in their best outside voices.

 Following a silence for prayer and reflection all are invited to sing, “Jesus remember me,” a chant from the ecumenical Taizé community.

 As in Jerusalem and in other parts of the world today, a wooden cross is carried by persons in the gathering, taking turns along the way.

Come on Good Friday ready to walk, listen, pray and reflect.”

 From Peter DeVeau

St. John’s, Seattle

Buy a Barbeque

One of the best investments we have made is to buy a barbeque. The bigger, the better. If you can swing it, buy an industrial strength barbeque; preferably one on a trailer so you can haul it around with a car or truck.

Buying a large barbeque did several things for St. Luke’s;

1) People who were comfortable with a barbeque stepped forward to cook, expanding our kitchen crew.

2) Because we can cook meat outside, we were able to serve more people without enlarging the kitchen.

3) The sight and smells of a barbeque at the church were a positive image for people who saw the church having fun and enjoying the experience.

Last Sunday we had a hamburger barbeque after the 10:00 service. We had hamburgers, beans, salad and a huge sheetcake in honor of a parishioner who was celebrating her 90th birthday. It brought people from the early and later services together. We didn’t charge for the barbeque, instead we set out a basket and used it as a fundraiser for Haitian Earthquake Relief. We encourage people to invite family and friends and it becomes an outreach. People who often eat alone sat down with their church family for a big party.

We fed over a hundred people and raised over $1,500 for the Episcopal Relief and Development Fund.

Everybody wins!

We often have these Sunday barbeques. People love the chance to get together, to share in the cooking and the combination of inreach and outreach is wonderful.

Our next barbeque is a sockhop with a live band. 50′s and 60′s music. The Vestry is acting as the “Senior Prom Committee”. It is on a Thursday night because when you’re retired a Thusday is as good at a Friday or Saturday. We’ll start at 5:00 and probably be done by 8:30. The band loves it because they get to go home early, Thursday nights are not in high demand, and they’re playing to an audience that loves their music.

Like I said, the barbeque is one of the best investments we ever made.